BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Editor

Even as many residents are not in favor of the 67-acre Waldon Village proposal that is eyed for the north side of Waldon Road between Sashabaw and Walters roads, the developer wants to air his side of the situation.
Buzz Silverman, chairman and CEO of Silverman Companies, said the proposed development, which would include housing, retail and park space, has received near-unanimous approval from Independence Township as the planning commission recently voted 5-2 in support and the board of trustees voted 7-0, also in support.
“For the last year and a half, we have been involved in community outreach, neighborhood meetings, multiple meetings with Independence Township committees and commissions, and have evolved our Waldon Village PUD (planned unit development) plan over 27 versions as a combination of that collaboration,” said Silverman. “We utilize best in class design and engineering professionals and current market preference research to ‘do the right thing,’ and then do it right.
“Our view is one thing, but more importantly, the majority public, commissioners and trustees’ views are we feel the most important and relevant.”
One issue that some residents have had is the traffic with the development being near Clarkston High School. A recent traffic impact analysis done by Silverman’s group shows that may not be a problem.
During the apartment development, widening of Waldon Road between Waldon Road and Waldon Center Drive will take place as well as the installation of continuous right-turn lanes for proposed site access points.
In Phase II, which is for the rest of the Waldon Village property, the right-turn lanes will remain, with the addition of a traffic signal and Waldon and Waldon Center Drive and signal timing modification at Waldon and Sashabaw roads.