Officials from the Michigan Dept. of Transportation, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and other state and local agencies Monday night presented the final in a series of meetings in Howell about a potential commuter rail service connecting Howell and Ann Arbor.
Nicknamed âWALLYâ, the service so far is just a proposal, and would require much more work â including a local millage â to get it going. The service would use the existing rail lines of the Great Lakes Central Railroad, with stops in Howell, Genoa Township near Brighton, Hamburg Township, Whitmore Lake, and near Ann Arbor. Buses would take the passengers to Ann Arbor's downtown. A few in the audience questioned whether there was enough local support to pass a supporting millage and if there is that much need for such a service in rural Livingston County. However, others pointed out that US-23, which connects Ann Arbor and Brighton, is stretched to the limit, and that a coming âflex laneâ will not fully address the congestion problem for commuters.
Neal Billetdeaux of SmithGroup in Ann Arbor, who led the discussion, tells WHMI it was a productive meeting with lively discussion and a variety of opinions expressed by the audience. One of seven options on the table would involve four trains with full service, and projections are that average daily ridership would be about 1,840 passengers combined. For the more basic shuttle service, an average of 1,670 daily riders is projected.
The complete service would consist of four trains in the morning and four returning. It would operate on annual capital funding of $122 million, whereas the shuttle service would operate on about half that. The proposal would have to be supported by local voters through passage of a millage issue, with projected millage rates ranging from .34 mill for the shuttle service to .84 mill for the full service, although those are just ballpark figures at this time. The service would be based on 50% federal funding, 25% combined federal-state funding and 25% local, to be paid for via local millages and rider fees.
There are two more meetings left on WALLY â one to take place tonight at 6:30 at the Northfield Twp. Hall in Whitmore Lake, and the final one on Wed. at Eberwhite School in Ann Arbor. Billetdeaux envisions that even if WALLY becomes a reality, it would be the year 2020 at the earliest. (TT)
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Final Forum Held on Proposed WALLY Commuter Rail Service Final Forum Held on Proposed WALLY Commuter Rail Service
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Proposed Brighton Twp. Budget Draws Criticism At Public HearingProposed Brighton Twp. Budget Draws Criticism At Public Hearing
A public hearing in Brighton Township Monday night opened the floor up to residents to express their thoughts on the municipalityâs proposed budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
Citizens spoke during a public hearing held for the townshipâs proposed budget for 2017-2018. Manager Brian Vick says staff began working on the budget in October and presented a first draft to the board of trustees by December 1st. Additionally Vick says last nightâs meeting was the fifth public meeting at which the budget has been discussed. But several residents claimed it was released just this past Friday, March 17th, and that they did not have time to review the material which was part of an approximately 700-page packet.
Township resident Mike Palmer (pictured) requested that the board postpone the public hearing on the budget because of what he believes was tardiness in making it available. Palmer, who unsucessfully ran for trustee last November, says the board didn't fulfill their fiduciary duty by failing to get the information out to the people in a timely fashion. "Get the packet out on time, 700 pages worth. Does that make sense, or are you people just that stuck on stupid for the last decade?" But Vick says the drafted budget has been available at the clerkâs office and online since March 10th.
While a handful of residents accused Vick of lying about when the material was published, he insists it was made available by the required date. He says the recent power outage that the county experienced couldâve contributed to some confusion, as township hall lost power and ran on a generator for several days. Vick says anything that needed to be posted during that time was done so at a public library.
Resident Doug Taylor pointed out during the public hearing that the proposed budget shows the future road improvement fund has projected expenditures of $2.1 (m) million versus the $1.5 (m) million allocated. Vick says the townshipâs âmajor stepâ in helping fund road improvements will be a topic of discussion at a meeting with Mike Craine, Director of the Livingston County Road Commission, at a meeting next month.
Another item that is a part of the budget and on Mondayâs agenda was township employeesâ pay, however no one motioned for an increase, thus maintaining the same wages and salaries as last year. (DK)
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Man Arraigned In Home Depot Incident That Led To Police Chase & LockdownsMan Arraigned In Home Depot Incident That Led To Police Chase & Lockdowns
A suspect has been arraigned in connection with a retail fraud incident yesterday and subsequent search that prompted a lockdown of several schools in Brighton.
27-year-old Andre Recardo Webb was arraigned this afternoon on a charge of Retail Fraud â Theft 1st degree. Bond was set at $10,000 cash/surety.
Webb and another male suspect, who remains at large, entered the Home Depot store around 9am Monday and loaded up a cart with generator panel switches and nail guns, valued at over $2,000, and attempted to leave the store. Brighton Police referred to the two as "an organized retail fraud pair". Loss Prevention officers, who were aware of the two, stopped them outside the store. The suspects refused to go back inside and left the merchandise before getting into a vehicle and driving away.
When responding officers made a traffic stop on the vehicle, the passenger fled the scene, while Webb was taken into custody and his vehicle impounded. A perimeter was set up and local schools in the vicinity were placed on lockdown while a K9 unit from the Fowlerville Police Department assisted with a track, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Area buildings and businesses were also checked.
The case remains under investigation. (JM)
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County Approves Airport Lease Agreement With Hawk Hollow FarmsCounty Approves Airport Lease Agreement With Hawk Hollow Farms
An airport lease agreement was approved during Mondayâs meeting of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners.
Hawk Hollow Farms LLC currently has a ground lease and hangar on the Grand River side of the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport. The company is said to be in the process of acquiring a different aircraft and will require a larger hangar to accommodate storage needs. A memo states the company weighed several different options and ultimately decided to construct a hangar north and east of the airport terminal building, which will utilize existing ramp space that was constructed in 2005.
During Mondayâs meeting, commissioners approved a resolution to concur with the Aeronautical Facilities Board to enter into the lease agreement. Itâs described as a standard lease agreement. It includes an assessment for a portion of the water line that will need to be constructed to service the hangar and others in the future. (JM)
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Howell High School Students Art Selected for Lansing Gallery ExhibitHowell High School Students Art Selected for Lansing Gallery Exhibit
The various works of Howell High School students will be featured in a Lansing Art Gallery Exhibit.
For the second year in a row, a Howell High School student has claimed top honors in the Lansing Art Gallery's Art Scholarship Alert. Each year students are encouraged to submit a digital portfolio of original works of art to the ASA exhibition. A jury of art professions determines acceptance into the ASA exhibition and awards based on the quality, consistency, and depth of work in the portfolio.
Senior Kaden Staley was selected as the winner of the ASAâs Sara Jane Venable Scholarship, which is the highest honor awarded as part of ASA. As the winner, Staley will receive a $1,000 scholarship and have the winning piece (pictured) displayed during the Lansing Art Galleryâs ASA exhibition April 1st through the 27th, which is free and open to the public.
In addition to Staley, eight other Howell High School students were selected to have their artwork displayed as part of ASA. Those students are Joey Beno, Alexandria College, Vivian Huotari, Abigail Martin, Donovan Mattson, Joey Siep, Nicolette Thompson, and Breanna Weems. Thompson was selected as the Eleventh Grade Portfolio Award Scholarship.
For more information, visit the Lansing Art Galleryâs website. The link is provided. (JM)
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Time And Money Run Out On Saving Historic DepotTime And Money Run Out On Saving Historic Depot
Efforts to save a 19th century landmark in Milford have fallen short and now the old train depot faces demolition.
When the planning commission approved a proposal for a luxury apartment complex on the site the historic Milford Railroad Depot last year, history enthusiasts set forth on trying to relocate and preserve it. Earlier this month, The Milford Historical Society and Save the Milford Railroad Depot group suspended efforts, having seemingly run out of time and money. Society chairwoman Linda Dagenhardt told WHMI that they had everything in place legally along with architect drawings for a new location at Southside Park, but couldnât raise the $180,000 needed for the project.
Dagenhardt expressed a disappointment that Village Council would spend $200,000 on a new park amphitheater, but not the money needed to save a piece of Milfordâs history. She said that while moving forward with new development is important, she hoped the public wouldnât lose sight of the past. She warned about how quickly old houses and buildings that were a part of Milfordâs history are disappearing, and said she hopes people become aware of it.
Dagenhardt told WHMI that while some fundraising money was needed this past year, donors who gave $100 or more will get most of, if not all, of their money back. Smaller donations will go into Historical Societyâs general fund. The depot has stood guard near the tracks on Huron Street, east of Main since 1871. (MK)
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Lane Closures Announced For US-23 This WeekLane Closures Announced For US-23 This Week
Area motorists are being reminded of upcoming lane closures on US-23 in Livingston and Washtenaw counties.
The Michigan Department of Transportation reports closures are needed on Northbound US-23 at North Territorial Road to install an overhead truss or gantry as part of the upgraded ITS or Intelligent Transportation System for Flex Route. Also on Northbound US-23 between Barker Road and 8 Mile Road Thursday, single lane closures are needed for beam setting at Barker Road and the railroad bridges.
M-DOT has multiple locations along the US-23 corridor, almost the entire length from M-36 to M-14 under construction. North Territorial Road will eventually include a roundabout at the ramp and a new bridge is being built at 8 Mile Road, just north of the existing one. 8 Mile will also include roundabouts at the new bridge terminus.
M-DOT spokeswoman Kari Arend tells WHMI since it is a very active work zone with multiple work locations, they just try to highlight the immediate traffic impacts coming up. Arend says M-DOT has been able to do a lot of the lane closures on US-23 at off-peak hours, generally overnight, to try and minimize those traffic impacts. The below closures are the most recent announced by M-DOT. (JM)
The following closures are needed for installation of an overhead truss or gantry as part of the upgraded Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) for Flex Route:
- Single lane closure starting at 9pm on Thursday, March 23 through 7am on Friday, March 24
- 15 minute intermittent freeway closures between 1am and 4am on Friday, March 24
Northbound US-23 between Barker Road and 8 Mile Road
The following closures are needed for beam setting at Barker Road and the railroad bridges:
- Single lane closure starting at 9pm on Thursday, March 23 through 7am on Friday, March 24
- Single lane closure starting at 8pm on Monday, March 27 through 7am on Tuesday, March 28
Southbound US-23 between Barker Road and Joy Road
The following closure is needed to implement a traffic shift:
- Single lane closure starting at 8pm on Friday, March 24 through 8am on Saturday, March 25
Note: the back up day in case of a weather delay will be Saturday night, March 25.
Northbound US-23 between Joy Road and N. Territorial Road
The following closure is needed to implement a traffic shift:
- Single lane closure starting at 8pm on Monday, March 27 through 7am on Tuesday, March 28
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Snyder Warns State GOP About Impact Of Obamacare OverhaulSnyder Warns State GOP About Impact Of Obamacare Overhaul
Gov. Snyder is reminding Republican members of the stateâs congressional delegation tens of thousands of Michiganders could lose coverage if they support a GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.
Snyder says the legislation would drastically cut funding for Healthy Michigan, the state's Medicaid expansion program that has insured some 650,000 lower-income Michiganders while also cutting support for the traditional Medicaid program. Snyder says the legislation would shift financial risk to state taxpayers, and he is concerned it would also lead to "significant cost increases" on older residents who buy insurance in the individual market.
Despite that warning, most of the state's Republican House members remain fully behind the plan. Among them is 8th District Congressman Mike Bishop who said, "Medicaid is not on a sustainable financial footing and it cannot stay intactâ if they, âcontinue to kick the can down the road." The Rochester Republican told the Detroit News that their ânew amendment, which is not reflected in the governorâs letter, goes even further to provide a more substantial reimbursement for older and disabled Medicaid recipients.â
The governorâs open opposition to the House GOP plan comes at a key moment with votes expected to begin as early as Thursday. With Democrats likely to vote en masse against the replacement plan, Republicans could only lose about 20 of their members if they hope to pass the legislation on to the Senate. West Michigan Republican Congressman Justin Amash, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, says they have at least 22 members ready to vote ânoâ, which would prevent the legislation from passing. Amash says the bill lacks meaningful reforms, doesnât do enough to reduce costs and breaks the Republican commitment to repeal Obamacare. He tweeted Monday that the plan is the same general framework as Obamacare and that GOP leaders have âseriously miscalculatedâ and donât have the votes to pass it. (JK)
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Hamburg Township Holds Strategic Planning Meeting For New BudgetHamburg Township Holds Strategic Planning Meeting For New Budget
A strategic planning meeting was held by the Hamburg Township Board of Trustees as they prepare to plan their fiscal year 2017-18 budget.
The board met Tuesday afternoon for what has become an annual staple for early budget preparation. During the 5 hour meeting they reviewed the goals and objectives of the many departments operating throughout the township. Supervisor Pat Hohl said when they started having these meetings 12 years ago, it was a more significant challenge to balance the budget, being in a time of reduced revenue. He said these new policies developed from it have made it much easier for the board to plan their budget and have allowed them to build up their capital reserves and general fund balances to the point where they now have a safety net.
Hohl said that the Hamburg Township general fund has 125% of its annual budget in reserve. The township has $1-million in their general unallocated capital reserves, set aside for replacement and maintenance of capital equipment as it is needed. The police and fire departments are operating with 25% in reserve. The police department set a few goals for the 2017-18 fiscal year, like maintaining 2 officers on road patrol at all times and preparing a new millage proposal as the current 10-year millage is set to expire soon. The fire department aims to build upon their monthly CPR program, which has trained 750 6th graders in the last 3 years, and their smoke alarm program, which saw 170 smoke detectors installed in 2016. Continued maintenance on Station #11 is also needed, with fixes to roof, floors, and lighting systems all planned. The board will put the new budget up for adoption in June. (MK)
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Opiate Awareness Presentation In Fowlerville Thursday Opiate Awareness Presentation In Fowlerville Thursday
An opiate awareness presentation is planned for the community tomorrow night.
Parents, grandparents, teachers and the public at large are all invited to attend the Opiate Awareness presentation. Organizers say too many young people are losing their lives to these types of drugs and its important community members know what they are and signs to look for. The event is being sponsored by the Fowlerville Police Department, in cooperation with the United Brethren Church on west Grand River. Thatâs where the presentation will be held on Thursday, March 23rd. It will run from 6 to 8pm and feature guest speakers that have survived opiate addiction along with law enforcement and court representatives. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.
An event flyer is attached. (JM)
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Longtime Elections Coordinator Plans To RetireLongtime Elections Coordinator Plans To Retire
The Livingston County Clerkâs Office is looking to begin training a new employee soon to replace their Elections Coordinator who intends to retire.
Livingston County Clerk Betsy Hundley says Elections Coordinator Joan Runyan recently tendered her letter of intent to retire this September. Runyan has worked in the elections division for 16 years and Hundley says she has done a âfabulous job running the departmentâ. Hundley says against her better judgement, she accepted Runyanâs letter of intent and the Clerkâs Office is planning to begin training her successor soon.
A resolution was approved by the Board of Commissioners Monday night to fill the Elections Coordinator/Deputy Clerk position on May 1st. The chosen candidate will begin training immediately and will work alongside Runyan until her retirement. Runyanâs replacement will need to become accredited through the state as an election official in Livingston County, which Hundley says is about a three-month process.
Additionally, the county is in the process of selecting a vendor for new election equipment, and the Clerkâs Office wants the new employee to be trained by the chosen vendor on programming. They will then be put in charge of training all of the countyâs election inspectors. According to Hundley, the state decides when the new equipment will be put to use, whether itâs this November or 2018. (DK)
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Livingston County United Way Celebrates 40th Anniversary Livingston County United Way Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Volunteers and major contributors were honored today at the Livingston County United Wayâs annual âSpirit of the Communityâ breakfast held at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Genoa Township.
In addition to being the annual recognition event, it also marked the 40th anniversary of the Livingston County United Way. Executive Director Nancy Rosso tells WHMI that the United Way is the result of a vision by community leaders 40 years ago of combining resources and going from individual community chests to a county-wide effort. A number of awards were handed out at the breakfast. Among them were: The Volunteer of the Year â Dianne Samples; Spirit of Michigan Award â Lindhout and Associates architects; and the Lifetime Community Service Award â Nancy B. Johnson and Jane Sutterfield. About 250 people attended the event, which is considered a record.
The Livingston County United Wayâs Annual Day of Caring will be held this year on Aug. 16, and the 2017 United Way campaign will start this fall. About $1.5 million is realized annually through the campaign. (TT)
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Pharmacy Owner Acquitted On Murder Charges For Meningitis OutbreakPharmacy Owner Acquitted On Murder Charges For Meningitis Outbreak
A mixed verdict has been reached against the man authorities say is most responsible for the deadly meningitis outbreak that killed dozens of people, some from Livingston County.
Barry Cadden, the owner and head pharmacist of the now-closed New England Compounding Center, was acquitted on murder charges stemming from a nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis in 2012. While the jury found that he wasn't responsible for the deaths, they did find him guilty of racketeering, conspiracy and mail fraud charges. The verdicts were announced this morning in U.S. District Court in Boston.
The outbreak killed 76 people nationwide, with at least 15 of those deaths related to tainted steroid injections received in Livingston County. Federal prosecutors in 2014 charged Cadden and twelve others, alleging that drugs distributed by the pharmacy contained expired, untested ingredients and that officials mass produced drugs for fictitious patients.
Cadden, who had faced up to sentence of life in prison, was the first of the defendants to go to trial. In December, NECC's national sales director, Robert Ronzio, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He is cooperating with prosecutors and is expected to testify at the trials of other NECC defendants before his sentencing in September. (JK)
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Amber Alert Canceled After Two Kids Are Found SafeAmber Alert Canceled After Two Kids Are Found Safe
Police say two young children whose mother says they were in a car that was stolen this morning from a Genesee County gas station have been found safe.
An Amber Alert was issued for the 2-year-old girl and a baby boy after their mother said they were taken about 7am from a gas station in the Flint-area community of Burton. Police at a news conference say the children and car were found a few hours later in Flint and the children were reunited with their mother. They say they're seeking a man suspected of stealing the car, described as a blue 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with a Michigan license plate number DKZ4121.
The mother of the children, Kaytlin Fletcher, told WNEM in Flint that she went inside to buy cigarettes and a lighter while the children were in the backseat. Kaytlin said she ran out of the gas station and screamed for the man to stop because her children, 2-year-old Ariana and 9-month-old Lincoln Buning, were in the backseat. It's unclear if the car was left running. (JK)
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Appeals Court Denies Appeal In Fatal Genoa Twp. Road Rage Appeals Court Denies Appeal In Fatal Genoa Twp. Road Rage
The Michigan appeals court has upheld the murder conviction of a Livingston County man who killed another motorist during a road rage incident.
Martin Zale of Marion Township raised several issues on appeal, including jury instructions. But they were swept away by Judge Peter O'Connell. Two others on the three-judge panel agreed that the second-degree murder conviction should stand but didn't join the seven-page opinion, which also rejected assertions of prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective defense counsel. Derek Flemming was shot September 2nd of 2014 after he confronted Zale about aggressive driving at the intersection of Grand River and Chilson Road in Genoa Township.
Zale told jurors he felt threatened as he sat in his pickup truck. He insists he fired in self-defense. But the prosecutor said Zale should have kept the window up or simply driven away. He was 69 years old at the time. Zale, now 71, isn't eligible for parole until 2041. (JK)
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Hartland Twp. To Move Farmer's Market To Newly Opened StoreHartland Twp. To Move Farmer's Market To Newly Opened Store
A large retailerâs grand opening this weekend will help support the rural nature of its community.
Rural King is holding its grand opening event beginning today and running through this Sunday, in Hartland. The superstore which specializes in farming, work, and recreational items is in the location of the old Wal-Mart on M-59. Township Supervisor Bill Fountain said that Rural King is going to be the new home for the Hartland Farmerâs Market moving forward. Fountain said that organizers have already established a solid working relationship with Rural King and that they will be able to use the parking lot as well as some of the sheltered area. He told WHMI the store was an important part of the growing development of the township. He said that they continue to work at finding the best balance between the rural, commercial, and new housing stock.
The Supervisor said he believes that at end of the day the township is in a position to have smart growth and work with businesses that want to come into Hartland and be successful. (MK)
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No Injuries Reported After Separate House Fires In Green Oak & Lyon TownshipsNo Injuries Reported After Separate House Fires In Green Oak & Lyon Townships
No injuries resulted from separate structure fires reported in Lyon and Green Oak Townships this week.
The Green Oak Township Fire Department responded to a fire on Koneta Drive, west of Whitmore Lake Road around noon on Wednesday. A man who resides at the home noticed smoke and called 911. Chief Kevin Gentry tells WHMI crews found a working fire on two levels of the home. It was brought under control within roughly 15 minutes, with assistance from the Brighton, Hamburg Township and Northfield Township fire departments. No injuries were reported and damage was said to be moderate. The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation.
Meanwhile on Tuesday morning in Lyon Township, firefighters and an Oakland County Sheriffâs Office fire investigator responded to a residential structure fire at 7 Terrace Road in the Country Estates Mobile Home community. Flames were said to be visible upon arrival and the residence was evacuated. There were no reports of injuries and the cause of that fire has been determined to be accidental. (JM)
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Vaupel Anxiously Awaiting Outcome Of Vote On GOP Health Bill In WashingtonVaupel Anxiously Awaiting Outcome Of Vote On GOP Health Bill In Washington
A local lawmaker says heâs waiting very anxiously to see what comes out of Washington with the House GOP health bill.
Republicans leaders want to push their bill repealing and replacing much of the 2010 health care law through Congress by April. The GOP-led House plans to consider the bill today. If the legislation is passed, its fate in the Senate is uncertain.
Michigan House Representative Hank Vaupel tells WHMI itâs a very complex issue, with the goal being a plan to make it the best and fairest for everybody. The Handy Township Republican chairs the Health Policy Committee and says WHMI heâs just speculating but it would look like whatâs been proposed would leave a lot of how health policy is going to be handled up to the state.
Vaupel says it looks like there would be a lot of similar restrictions to what the Affordable Care Act has had and less funding, so he feels it really wouldnât be tenable. Vaupel says whatâs proposed in Washington would be very difficult to implement in the state so theyâre watching it very closely and if it does come back to the states, theyâll be working on how they can try to provide affordable, accessible healthcare for everybody in the state of Michigan.
Vaupel commented that many more people are now covered through Medicaid and the expanded Medicaid or Healthy Michigan but it seems as though theyâve almost done it at the cost of people who had been covered before and are now seeing their insurance premiums rise incredibly fast and their deductible going up rapidly. He feels itâs really hurting the segment of the population age between 50 and 64 before they become eligible for Medicare, saying itâs really increased premiums and almost decreased coverage so itâs a complicated problem and theyâll be looking closely at what comes out of Washington and then go forward in Michigan.
Governor Rick Snyder says House Republicans have begun addressing concerns about premium costs for 50- to 64-year-olds, but he has not seen progress on his concerns with shifting costs onto states that may no longer be able to enroll as many Medicaid recipients. Snyder says the federal health law is not working "in many respects" but the replacement bill "needs to be improved." He sent a letter this week to Michigan's congressional delegation warning the legislation would hurt residents in Michigan's traditional Medicaid program and end the expansion of coverage to others.
Meanwhile, three Congressional House committees - Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Budget, have already moved the legislation ahead. Top House Republicans were working on eleventh-hour changes designed to get them the 216 votes needed for passage.
Including vacancies and expected absentees, the bill would be defeated if 23 Republicans join all Democrats in voting "no."(JM)
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Special Event Honors Two Military War DogsSpecial Event Honors Two Military War Dogs
The Michigan War Dog Memorial is holding an event honoring two K-9 heroes this weekend.
The Memorialâs mission is to recognize the animals that fought alongside servicemen and women going back to World War I. This Saturday, March 25th , they are holding a presentation where the handlers of two military war dogs will be presented portraits of their four-legged hero. Renowned artist Loreen Pataleone specializes in these paintings and will at VFW Post 9914 in Highland for the presentation. One of the dogs being honored is MWD Chyan. Chyan Served for 7 years with the Navy Seals, but had to retire when found to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. His handler at the time couldnât continue taking care of him, so he was put up for adoption and adopted by a Catholic priest in Marine City where he lived to be 15 years old.
His handler there, Father Rooney, will be presented the portrait. The other military war dog being honored is MWD Beyco. Beyco served with the Marines for three tours in Iraq before passing away at the age of 12 in 2013. His handler, Joe Kelley Sturm USMC will be presented his portrait. The event begins at noon and is free to the public, with a light lunch being provided. A display will be set up for people to purchase Michigan War Dog Memorial items with 100% of the proceeds being applied to the improvements of the memorial and cemetery the dogs rest in. More information can be found on the Memorialâs website, the link is below, or on their Facebook page. (MK)
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Twp. Officials Approve Rezoning For Portion Of Hartland Glen Golf CourseTwp. Officials Approve Rezoning For Portion Of Hartland Glen Golf Course
Hartland Township has approved rezoning for a portion of Hartland Glen Golf Course, which could open up an opportunity for housing developments.
The owners of the golf course made a zoning request for 73 of the propertyâs 400 -plus acres, located in the northern portion. Township Trustee Joe Colaianne says since the 2000sâ, the property has been considered for a housing development because of its access to the sewer system along M-59.
The township had been presented with a conceptual idea for the land, which led to split votes amongst planning commissioners. Several commissioners reportedly wanted to see an overall plan for the site, but Manager James Wickman encouraged the Board of Trustees to âdisregardâ the plan for all intents and purposes. Colaianne says thatâs because the request was to just rezone a portion of the land, not for a planned development.
The request was unanimously approved by the townshipâs Board of Trustees Tuesday night, rezoning the respective acreage to high density residential. The zoning change will permit detached, single-family homes, but no apartments or manufactured housing. High density residential would allow for detached housing where the lot size is smaller and the homes are closer together. Township officials likened it to Heritage Meadows or Walnut Ridge. Colaianne says the conceptual stage of what development could look like is overall consistent with the townshipâs comprehensive master plan.
Development would eliminate nine holes located in that area of the golf course. Colaianne says where the owners choose to go from here is up to them, however they must comply with the zoning ordinance related to any open space, environmental, or detention issues as well as residentsâ concerns. (DK)
-Facebook photo
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