Orion Township residents came out in force to talk about the proposed Master Plan update for the M-24 corridor.
The public hearing was held by the Township Planning Commission on Mar. 1.
Township Zoning/Planning Administrator Beth McGuire said the hearing was one of the largest she has seen in her time with the township.
McGuire estimated that at least 25 people took advantage of the opportunity to address the commission, and many interested observers had to stand in the back of the board room.
‘In my five plus years on the Planning Commission, this is the best behaved group we’ve ever had,? Planning Commission Chair Robert Pote told the audience.
‘I was very encouraged to see people come out and participate in the process,? said commission member and township trustee John Steimel. ‘We had a packed house.?
Those that spoke ranged from business owners hoping to expand an existing location, residents concerned with how changes could affect their nearby property, and even Lake Orion Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel.
Others expressed their concern for the natural areas along the corridor.
‘I want to see us save Bald Mountain,? said longitme resident Geraldine Rathburg of Lapeer Road, to which the audience applauded loudly.
Pote reminded those on hand that an 85-acre parcel (referred to as Parcel 3 in the update) was transferred from DNR property to private ownership.
That land transfer happened completely out of the commission’s control.
‘We got very good citizen input,? said Steimel, who noted that the next step in the process is the commission’s deliberation.
The commission will consider the comments from citizens as well as neighboring communities. The township board will also have a chance to give input, though approval of the proposed plan does not need their approval.