Did anyone else read the Aug. 26 Oakland Press article about the republican candidate for Independence Township Supervisor? In the article Dave Wagner says that if elected in November he wants to attract to our community ‘new developers from throughout the region.?
I apologize for speaking out again so soon, but I am astonished that such an important issue is apparently going unnoticed. After all, why do we need new developers? Until now we have had our pick of developers and have been able to select only the quality developers and quality developments.
For the last 30 years the people and leaders of Independence Township have worked hard to make this a quality residential community. Anyone who has seriously sought public office has expressed their concern and commitment to orderly growth. As a result, although our community has undoubtedly grown, we can be proud so far of the manner in which it has happened. Imagine what might have been if we encouraged just any development.
In this time our leaders have been dedicated to a special kind of vigilance. They have discouraged big box and other large retail developments and heavy industry. They have also strengthened our Master Plan to avoid much of the intense residential development that plagues other communities.
In the run up to the August primary election for township officials, several candidates were virtually silent about their views and commitments to the nature of growth in our community. But none of them dared say they were seeking office to encourage more development. So now it seems we are unknowingly on the verge of electing a new supervisor who intends an about face on the central issue that has dominated this community for more than 30 years.
Have we really decided to make such a fundamental change in policy? Have we given up on our goal of a quality residential community? Have we decided to now encourage development? Does this mean that we can expect new shopping centers, big box retail and heavy industry? Will the northern part of the township be stripped of its rural charm as ‘new developers? are brought in to build the kind of intense development this community has so long rejected?
Perhaps it isn’t too late to ask candidate Wagner to take the pledge. Will he now publicly say that if elected supervisor he will be committed to our Master Plan and work to strengthen it and to strengthen the ordinances, rules, regulations and procedures which serve to make this a quality, residential community? Will he now commit to orderly growth and protecting us from large retail shopping centers, big box developments and an influx of heavy industry? And will Wagner promise us that the north part of the township will not be stripped of its rural charm? Can Wagner honestly say to our community now that The Oakland Press misunderstood and that he does not intend to attract new developers to our community.
I hope that we hear from him soon. But if not, what do we do? Do we really want these kinds of changes for our community.
Neil Wallace
Independence Township