High-end shops. Safety paths. New landscaping and better lighting.
Business owners have big ideas for improvements they’d like to see in Springfield Township’s Dixie Highway Corridor.
Most, however, agree a carefully planned, pragmatic approach is best.
‘The first thing is to get a better infrastructure, and that boils down to sewers,? said Lowrie’s Landscape owner Tom Lowrie. ‘Until we know what we can do, there’s no sense in planning further, or putting in landscaping; it would just have to be torn up to put a sewer in.?
Lowrie, who’s been operating out of his current location on Dixie Highway for some 20 years, said he wasn’t interested in seeing the corridor ‘turn into a city.?
‘A lot of people have been here for many years and they don’t want things to change,? he said ‘That’s why I think we should stay focused on the Dixie Highway Corridor and not go into the rural areas.?
But, he noted, more newcomers have moved to the area in recent years, and many say shopping and restaurant amenities are lacking, and therefore go elsewhere to shop, eat and purchase services.
‘As a business owner and investor, we want to enhance and protect the property values,? he said. ‘Commercial, just like residential values, have gone backwards; my property isn’t worth what it was three years ago. Sewers will help, sidewalks, maybe a bike jogging path will help. We also need to look at landscaping, and getting some better lighting.?
Calvin Bordine, of Bordine’s Nursery, listed traffic safety and sewers among his top concerns, noting he couldn’t envision ‘serious developers? taking an interest in an area without sewers.
Bordine, who lives in Springfield Township with his family, said controlled growth is key, and would have numerous benefits to the community.
‘But so much depends on the economy,? he said. ‘My ideal would be something similar to the Village of Rochester Hills, with high-end shops and many different restaurant choices. It’s probably not realistic; there aren’t enough customers out here to support it. But I’d like to see some kind of mixed development that could be supported by the local economy.?
Bordine said he’d also like to see numerous traffic safety issues addressed, including issues with the Dixie Highway I-75 interchange, the misalignment of Big Lake Road and Deerhill Drive, and the fact that traffic turning off Lavon cannot legally get on I-75.
‘The boulevard concept has been talked about for quite some time,? he said. ‘I think what they did on Sashabaw Road is really nice. I’d really like to see something that helps with the safety in front of our store.?
But, he noted, any future development must have a solid foundation to build on.
‘It’s very hard to do without good planning,? Bordine said. ‘But I think our property and our business would benefit from multiple other businesses in the area; being a stand alone business isn’t the way people want to operate these days, it’s better to be part of a cluster. We’re much in favor of being part of a future development.?
Springfield Township Supervisor Mike Trout said the township is in the process of gathering information and talking to surrounding communities about a number of issues brought to light by Dixie Highway business owners.
A decision on sewers, he said, will involve an engineering feasibility study to explore tie-in options.
But, Trout noted, he’s not convinced sewers are the best option, one way or the other.
‘We need to look carefully at the environmental element,? he said. ‘We don’t want to have a negative impact on the lakes, streams and other natural areas that line the Dixie Highway Corridor from one end to the other.?
In Springfield Township, only the Softwater Woods subdivision uses sewers through a tie-in with Independence Township. Other residents use single or community septic systems.
Taking a careful, detailed look at both the potential positive and negative effects of sewers, he said, is necessary before a decision can be made.
Still, Trout said he wants to address ideas and concerns brought forth by those involved in the study.
‘My belief is we should follow through to look at those issues,? he said. ‘Business owners took the time to participate; we have an obligation to count their input as valuable. We’ll be taking small steps, but based on the priorities they thought were important.?
In addition to Lowrie and Bordine, other participants included Pastor Todd Vanaman, Dixie Baptist Church; Tim Wickersham, Wickersham Homes, Inc.; and Randy Hosler; Randy Hosler Pontiac Buick GMC.