7/3/14 - A proposal to rezone agricultural land in Handy Township as industrial was recommended for approval by the County Planning Commission last night. A special meeting was held for the vote since there was not a quorum of the commission at its last meeting. The 206 acres of land being considered were recently acquired by Handy Township in a legal settlement. They had been slated for residential use by a developer, but that plan fell through during the recession, dropping millions in sewer debt onto the township. Now officials want to rezone the land, located at the southwest corner of Grand River and Nicholson Road, for industrial use and sell it off to a company to cover that debt. Residents in the area have voiced their concerns throughout the process, including last night. They say industrial rezoning will change the character of the area, damage property values, and only serve economic interests of the township rather than improve the area. Planning commissioners voted to recommend the change, saying there was already industrial zoning in the area and that economic reasons are valid for rezoning as a way to preserve township services, like sewer. The only planning commissioner to oppose the rezoning, James Sparks, says the location is not a good choice for industrial development. The proposed rezoning will now go the Handy Township Board, which will vote on final approval on July 8th. (TD)
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