Ortonville- There were tears, anger, and 568 petition signatures, but none of it could stop approval of a site plan for Pet Supplies ‘Plus.?
The Village Planning Commission approved a plan for the business to go into the old Rite-Aid building at 1 Mill St. by a 5-0 vote at their meeting Sept. 5. Members Debbie Broecker and Kay Green were absent.
About 20 people were present for the meeting, including Edith Hastings, owner of Edith’s Pets & Supplies, 1605 S. Ortonville Road, and several of her supporters, who spoke out against a new pet supplies store coming to town.
Arguments at the meeting against Pet Supplies ‘Plus? moving in were based around it putting other local pet supply stores out of business, including Edith’s, Buk’s Feed and More in Goodrich and Hamilton’s Feeds in downtown Ortonville.
‘What will happen to family-owned businesses and this town if we let large chains in?? asked one woman. ‘We’ll turn into Rochester or Clarkston. It’s inevitable.?
‘I don’t want to lose my store,? said Hastings, crying during the meeting. She held sheets that she said contained 568 petition signatures, including 367 signatures of people living in Brandon Township.
Brian Mills, owner of Pet Supplies ‘Plus,? said he thinks his store will be an asset to the community and his intention is not to run the other stores out of business.
‘I can work with any local competitor,? said Mills. ‘I’m not a big giant trying to smush anyone. I have the ability to bring more people in from outside the community.?
Mills found support from one meeting attendee, who noted that even with pizza chains like Jet’s Pizza, Hungry Howie’s and Little Caesar’s, independent pizza business Papa Bella’s was doing well.
‘If you have a quality product, they’ll stay,? she said. ‘We’re in a recession, we need to build up the tax base. We should let them in.?
The board agreed and Village Manager Ed Coy explained to the audience that the board had no option but to approve the site plan, since it meets all six requirements, including design of the road and parking areas; design of the building (it fits into the neighborhood); the plan won’t unreasonably impair value of the adjoining property; it won’t be a detriment to orderly development and use of property in the village or to the public health safety and welfare; it won’t endanger or impair the air, water, or natural resources; and it will not create a clear inconsistency with the master plan.
Dave Van Dis, planning commission member, said after the meeting, ‘We’re here to listen to the community. But so often, what they are saying doesn’t have a bearing on our decision…We are guided by ordinances in the village and county and state guidelines. If (a business) meets the requirements we have little to no recourse to not allow them in.?
Hastings said later she understands it was a decision the board had to make. She has spoken to Mills and called him a ‘nice man,? but doesn’t believe their businesses can co-exist.
‘Business is down everywhere,? she said. ‘Our town is small.?
Mills acknowledges that if he were in her shoes, he would be upset, too, but he believes they can make a go of it for everybody.
‘We’re very excited about coming into the community,? said Mills, who hopes to open the business, whose new address will be 22 N. Ortonville Road, by mid-November, pending approval of the Groveland Township Planning Commission. ‘Our goal and intention is to create a fun atmosphere for the community to do their pet shopping and work side-by-side with the other pet businesses so we all can be successful.?