Independence Township residents, unsatisfied with Deerhill Farms development plans, contacted township Treasurer Paul Brown with a complaint about a development in Birmingham.
The resident group Clarkston Citizens for Integrity said the property, which is owned by Deerhill developer Michael Furnari, is in disrepair. Furnari should not be allowed to develop property in Independence Township, they said.
Brown visited the Birmingham property.
‘I did note that the top coat has not been applied to the roads yet and while there was one door with peeling paint, the rest of the buildings looked very nice. The roads being incomplete is certainly concerning for a development that was started in 2006,? he said. ‘While I don’t have all the facts, in fairness, it appears that Mr. Furnari is cleaning up someone else’s mess on this project and did a great service for the original 51 owners by getting things finished after the first developer failed to complete the project.?
The group said Brown is shielding Furnari.
‘Paul’s efforts to deflect attention from problems in other communities and promote an inflated ideology of the developer appears at odds with his role as a board member and duty as treasurer,” they said.
Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle said Deerhill Homeowners Association will address the Township Board on Sept. 8 to voice concerns and provide recommendations for the proposed development.
No Board action will be taken at the meeting, Kittle said.