10.12.07
Harsens Island residents upset about proposed condominiums
By NICOLE GERRING Times Herald
CLAY TWP. - Nearly 30 township residents spoke out at Wednesday's public hearing on a plan to build condominiums on Harsens Island.
And none of them were happy.
Their concerns about the proposed $170 million, 380-acre development range from a possible negative impact on the island's ecosystem to traffic congestion to space on the ferry that takes island residents to the mainland.
Island resident Charles Miller said he's worried about what will happen if there's no buyer interest in the 348 condos that would be on the former Boys Club property.
"Michigan is in a depression, a recession," he said during the meeting. "What about the forecasts for selling this out in 12 years?"
Other concerns include the necessary rerouting of a portion of North Channel Drive and that Grande Pointe Development LLC would have to receive special land use consideration for the proposed "cluster housing."
More than 200 people attended the hearing before the township planning commission. People who couldn't fit into the cramped township meeting room stood in the foyer, hallway and doorways, watching the 2½ hour hearing on a TV screen.
Norm Rhodes, a member of the advocacy group Citizens for Responsible Development of Harsens Island, said the township should not treat the developer differently than residents.
Grande Pointe Development LLC is managed by casino developer Michael Malik.
"We're not trying to keep Mr. Malik and the developer from developing that property," Rhodes said.
"There is no hardship that the developer has to request the outrageous site plan, and the clustered housing that is there. To create this dream of theirs on the backs of the citizens of Clay Township is not the way to go about it."
Dorothy Deboyer, chairwoman of the planning commission, said the commission will take into consideration public opinion, but that it can't be the sole factor in the township's decision to approve or reject the project.
"We can't make our decision based on emotions, we have to take into account the laws," she said.
The planning commission will discuss the proposal at its Nov. 14 meeting.
By NICOLE GERRING Times Herald
CLAY TWP. - Nearly 30 township residents spoke out at Wednesday's public hearing on a plan to build condominiums on Harsens Island.
And none of them were happy.
Their concerns about the proposed $170 million, 380-acre development range from a possible negative impact on the island's ecosystem to traffic congestion to space on the ferry that takes island residents to the mainland.
Island resident Charles Miller said he's worried about what will happen if there's no buyer interest in the 348 condos that would be on the former Boys Club property.
"Michigan is in a depression, a recession," he said during the meeting. "What about the forecasts for selling this out in 12 years?"
Other concerns include the necessary rerouting of a portion of North Channel Drive and that Grande Pointe Development LLC would have to receive special land use consideration for the proposed "cluster housing."
More than 200 people attended the hearing before the township planning commission. People who couldn't fit into the cramped township meeting room stood in the foyer, hallway and doorways, watching the 2½ hour hearing on a TV screen.
Norm Rhodes, a member of the advocacy group Citizens for Responsible Development of Harsens Island, said the township should not treat the developer differently than residents.
Grande Pointe Development LLC is managed by casino developer Michael Malik.
"We're not trying to keep Mr. Malik and the developer from developing that property," Rhodes said.
"There is no hardship that the developer has to request the outrageous site plan, and the clustered housing that is there. To create this dream of theirs on the backs of the citizens of Clay Township is not the way to go about it."
Dorothy Deboyer, chairwoman of the planning commission, said the commission will take into consideration public opinion, but that it can't be the sole factor in the township's decision to approve or reject the project.
"We can't make our decision based on emotions, we have to take into account the laws," she said.
The planning commission will discuss the proposal at its Nov. 14 meeting.
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