Brandon Twp.- The planning commission turned away a preliminary site plan for a proposed retail development at their meeting Sept. 11, saying the plan would unnecessarily intrude on wetlands.
An audience of about 30 applauded the decision.
Building and Planning Director Tim Palulian said the planning commission has tabled the site plan review in hopes the developer, B.L.L. Commercial Property Company, LLC, will explore alternatives to eliminate or minimize encroachments into wetlands and 25-foot wetland buffers.
‘There are a number of areas of concern that need to be addressed before approval of a plan,? Palulian said. ‘There is also a question of whether there is a need for a second access drive. The board feels there can be a single access, thereby eliminating disruption into regulated wetlands.?
Steve Robinson, president of Silverman Development Company, represented B.L.L. in requesting approval of the preliminary site plan for the 15,000 square-foot retail/commercial center off Ortonville Road north of Seymour Lake Road.
Silverman sold 70 acres of property to Centex Homes in 2004, for the Long Lake Village subdivision, but kept 4-and-a-half acres of M-15 frontage that is zoned commercial. The center is the final phase of the project.
The center, Long Lake Crossing, would be located just south of the entrance to the subdivision. Robinson has said that despite a sagging real estate market, he is not concerned about tenants and has had interest from banks and medical buildings.
After the planning commission board declined to approve the preliminary plan, Robinson said, ‘The DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) gave us a pat on the back and you gave us a slap on the other side.?
In responding, Planning Commission Chairman Joseph Rohovsky said, ‘The DEQ doesn’t live in Brandon Township.?
Palulian notes that besides requesting to fill in wetlands for the second access drive, B.L.L. also failed to turn in permits from the DEQ and the Michigan Department of Transportation, which also contributed to the matter being tabled.
‘We participate in limited access to M-15 with MDOT and the idea is to minimize the number of cuts made onto M-15, for traffic control and safety,? Palulian said. ‘We don’t believe the intensity of use (of the property) necessitates… two drives. They can do it with one broad single access, possibly with a defined boulevard. If the DEQ approves it, (B.L.L.) is going to have to show us hard and fast evidence as to why two accesses are necessary and why they are filling the wetlands. The township is not keen on any additional wetlands being filled, with or without permit.?
‘They can request whatever they want and we have to listen to them by law, but we do not have to give it to them,? said Rohovsky. ‘They don’t have permits from DEQ and MDOT, so it’s premature.?
Palulian expects B.L.L. to come before the planning commission at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 9, at the township offices, 395 Mill St., hopefully, he says, with a revised plan that incorporates the changes the commission feels are necessary.
Robinson was not available for comment.