After more than a year of presentations and discussions, the Independence Township Planning Commission has turned down a rezoning request from Orco Investments in favor of their own.
During the April 27 meeting, commissioners voted twice on Orco’s request to rezone almost 70 acres from single family residential to planned shopping center and highway commercial (C2 and C3) ? once to table the issue and later to deny the rezoning. The property is located on the northwest corner of Sashabaw and Waldon roads near the I-75 interchange.
The commission’s first vote of the night tabled Orco’s request so board members could consider their own, self-initiated rezoning.
The planning commission’s rezoning would change the parcel from single family residential to local commercial, planned shopping center, office service one, office service two and multiple family. Considerations for the rezoning are based upon recommendations from Township Planner Dick Carlisle’s Sashabaw Corridor Study.
‘The manner in which these are proposed are very logical and in patterns that reflect other uses in the area,? said Carlisle, ‘very typical of what we are seeing in the town center area.?
Carlisle also spoke about potential liability problems arising with the passage of the commission’s rezoning request. He particularly spoke in regards to the timing in relation with Orco Investment’s proposal.
‘I understand Mr. Carlisle’s concerns about liability, but this also means responsibility. This plan also has some legal liability down the road,? said Trustee Larry Rosso, who represents the township board on the commission.
? I believe though the density represented here truly represents the density across the road and the density surrounding the area. I believe this is the best way to protect this property.?
‘I think it’s time to take a stand for people in regards to these two proposals,? added Commissioner Richard Egan.
After lengthy discussion, the planning commission voted unanimously to accept the rezoning.
In regards to Orco’s presentation, Robert Jacobs, Esq., a representative for the company, spoke briefly on the request:
‘We can’t use the property as currently zoned. The current zoning is not appropriate? Furthermore, our testimony, experts and the reports we have given to you in presentation we believe establishes that the commercial zoning that is being requested is both reasonable, appropriate and needed?
‘We believe that the zoning initiative, because I know that it is going to be the next matter before you, is not appropriate. We do not believe that the rezoning initiative by the township is a reasonable or appropriate use of the property? the property simply can’t be used under the zoning initiative,? Jacobs concluded.
During his remarks on Orco’s proposal, Carlisle informed commissioners that the request is ‘not consistent? with the Master Plan, Vision 20/20 Overlay District or recommendations set forth in the Sashabaw Road Study. He did not recommend approving Orco’s request.
Township commissioners Dr. George Krull and Egan agreed with Carlisle, but took a slightly different approaches in the conclusion.
Dr. Krull referenced the many communities fighting ‘big box? developments and questioned whether Orco’s representatives would want to be in that situation, ‘If you were working in one of those towns, would you want big development next to you??
Egan did not agree with the answer received from Jacobs, ‘It was a little disingenuous to say that, in your written submission you were saying that this is the ideal, unique location for a big box store, and then to say you’d be happy living beside that yourselves if it was done well ? I’m not going to go any farther with that.?
No public comment was held during the meeting. The planning commission voted 7-0 to deny the rezoning.
Whether Orco Investments will pursue further avenues is uncertain at this time. The developer goes before the township board at 7:30 p.m. for a residential proposal also on the table for the property.