Last September, the Orion Township Board of Trustees indicated to the Road Commission for Oakland County that the township had no objection to abandoning Island Pointe, after a group of residents petitioned to abandon a portion of the road.
Now, another group of residents have come forward objecting to the abandonment, which they say would take away the only lake access many people in the neighborhood have.
“We’ve been to court to document the rights of people to use the road to get to the water,” said Pine Tree resident Joe Maniache, adding that the petition for abandonment of Island Pointe was brought forward after the Orion Township Zoning Board of Appeals decided not to grant a variance to a petitioner, but instead raised the issue of abandoning the road.
“It’s not strictly people who are not on the water who want privileges to the lake,” he said. “The abandonment would also not guarantee that the ZBA would grant (the petitioner) a variance.”
Maniache suggested creating an association that could have part of Island Pointe vacated, but the rest dedicated to meet the needs of the water.
“A definition of a road protects our rights,” he said. “But as soon as we abandon…we don’t have control.”
Maniache said the road was not an “automotive issue,” as it has mostly pedestrian traffic.
When trustees passed their resolution last year, they indicated the township had no objection as long as an easement was preserved for the maintenance of sanitary sewer. The board said the township has no legal jurisdiction over the roads, and cannot approve or deny the abandonment, or take sides.
“The road commission is postponing their decision on this until March 27,” said supervisor Jerry Dywasuk. “When we made our decision in September…there was nothing (that indicated) all the neighbors had to be notified.”
“It just sounds to me like the neighbors need to be working together,” clerk Jill Bastian said. “We don’t have much jurisdiction.”
The board voted to send the minutes of the March 17 board meeting to the road commission, which would include the comments of those opposed to the abandonment.
“These comments will show (the road commission) that there isn’t no objection,” said Bastian.