9/10/14 - The Handy Township Board of Trustees Tuesday night unanimously approved the purchase offer by GreenGrid LLC for 200 acres of property on Grand River that was originally envisioned as a huge residential development. The purchase price is $3.2 million, which will be paid on a one-year land contract, with a balloon payment at the end of the year. Township consultant Fred Dillingham tells WHMI that the developer will be working with a major university to provide energy in the planned industrial park. Township consultant Fred Dillingham of Livingston Business Development Associates tells WHMI that the developer hopes to turn into a high-tech, green energy industrial development. Township Supervisor Hank Vaupel says the development could prove to be an economic boon to the township. Vaupel says the way the energy would be produced would be high-tech and likely have a petroleum component, but declined to go into specifics at this time. The property was originally planned as a large residential development of about 300 homes, but was never developed. When the real estate bubble burst, the developer abandoned the site and sued the township, saying sewers had not been provided. The township was left holding the bag, with millions of dollars in special assessments, taxes and bonds attached to the property. The bill was paid through the countyâs delinquent tax revolving fund, but the interest charges on the debt continued to add up. The township was ultimately awarded the property by the courts. Only six citizens showed up at the meeting Tuesday night, and none voiced disapproval of the purchase agreement, although at previous meetings some had objected, saying it would decrease property values and increase noise and traffic levels. Jeffrey and Sandra Kassab were on the agenda Tuesday to ask if they could buy one of the five parcels to use as a buffer zone. However the item was tabled until a future meeting. Vaupel says it would be a moot point from the townshipâs standpoint if the purchase agreement is signed by GreenGrid, since they would own the entire 200 acres. At that point, Vaupel says, it would be their prerogative whether they want to sell the 3-acre parcel to the Kassabs. A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening, at which time attorneys for both sides, plus Dillingham and Vaupel, will be present to discuss the addendum. (TT)
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