Several area townships are joining forces voting in opposition to a bill introduced in July that would dictate the number of dwellings allowable on township lots.
At issue is House Bill 4919, which would provide rezoning ordinance which calls for land development density of eight dwellings per acre if public water and sewer are available or can be available to the land. If public water and public sewer are not availability then one dwelling per acre will be the maximum density.
Springfield Township voted last month to oppose the bill which is now in the Committee on Land Use and Environment. The Village of Ortonville passed a similar resolution on Monday and both Brandon and Groveland township officials will have a resolution opposing the Bill on September’s agenda.
‘Just imagine 20 homes where there’s one today,? said Robert DePalma, Groveland Township Supervisor and president of the Michigan Association of Township Supervisors. ‘Such an action would destroy the quality of life residents have moved here for.?
In both Brandon and Goodrich townships the minimum acreage is two and a half, while Atlas Township is one acre.
Dennis Toffolo, Community & Economic Development for Oakland County says ‘home rule,? rather than ‘state rule.?
‘Pretty soon they are going to tell us where to live. Communities and market forces should dictatethe future.?
‘In these communities, the community should be able to make decisions not the state. The tools for planning are available.?
Representatives Marc Shulman, Jacob Hoogendyk and Fulton Sheen introduced the bill on July 2, 2003 and were unavailable for comment as of Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2003.