A nine-acre parcel that eventually is supposed to be the new home for the Wayland Ford dealership in Hopkins Township won a zoning issue Monday night from the Hopkins Township Board.
Wayland Ford not long ago announced its intentions to move from its current site in the City of Wayland across the U.S.-131 expressway west into the township, saving a lot of money on property taxes. To help accommodate the move, the township created a downtown development authority district for 13 properties on the west side of U.S.-131 in an effort to entice businesses to locate there.
The Schanz Family Trust, the seller of the land, was represented by Mike Houseman of the Wolverine BuildingGroup.
However, the Hopkins Township Planning Commission earlier this year did not recommend to the Township Board the dealership’s conditional rezoning proposal, from C-1, neighborhood business district, to C-2, general business district.
Planning Commission members explained there wasn’t enough infrastructure, secure as water and sewer, to accommodate the project.
But commission members changed their tune afterward, insisting, “Because the applicant’s conditional rezoning request presents these specific circumstances and benefits, but limits the potential negative effects that may arise with respect to public water and sewer availability with an unconditional C-2 unconditional rezoning of the subject property, this is a unique circumstance where conditional rezoning is appropriate.
So the rezoning proposal was presented again to the Township Board, this time with the Planning Commission’s blessing and it was approved on a 5-0 vote.
In other business at the meeting, the Township Board:
- Tabled a plan to plant 28 trees in Maplewood Cemetery, mostly because the township sexton outlined several reasons the project may include long-term risks, particularly blocking the road with the trees.
- Purchased an easement for $1 for the Hilliards Park, on property the township already has purchased.
- Agreed to pay $625 to Past Preservation LLC to repair a headstone that has no family connections and could be an obstruction down the road.
- Noted the resignation of Mike Alberta as janitor for the township hall. His resignation will be effective next month. The job pays $19 an hour.
- Agreed to pay for a Miscosoft subscription for $2,000 a year and up to $840 a year to Google to handle e-mail services. Supervisor Cade Bolser said the moves will save the township$640 a year.
- Noted that Allegan Solar LLC has withdrawn its application and the Michigan Public Services Commission now is in control of local solar requests.
