It’s back to the drawing board for rezoning plans in Springfield Township.
Township trustees flatly refused a request by the planning commission Thursday to appoint a steering committee to study hotly contested rezonings.
Property owners? concerns about the proposals need to be solved by the planning commission, officials said.
‘It is’my opinion that the township board appointed a committee to deal with planning issues,? said Collin Walls, township supervisor. ‘It’s called the planning commission.?
The issue first came to light at an Aug. 2 public hearing attended by about 150 angry residents.
Surprised by the outpouring of property owners who said plans were vague, unnecessary, and would ultimately result in lost income and decreased property values, the planning commission passed a motion Sept. 17 requesting the township board assemble a steering committee to look at proposed rezoning at Bridge Valley and Caribou Lake Estates.
A large number of complaints came from property owners in these areas.
But the board’including Planning Commission Chairman Roger Lamont, who also serves as a township trustee’unanimously voted against the measure.
Walls said he’d like to see the planning commission discuss various parcels, along with comments and issues raised at the public hearing and follow-up meeting.
‘There are some pretty clear, easily identified issues that don’t take a committee,? Walls said. ‘They just take some discussion by the planning commission.?
Walls said he was disappointed the meeting minutes didn’t reflect discussion of issues raised at the public hearing by the planning commission.
‘But if the planning commission chooses to appoint a committee to handle some of those issues, that should be up to them,? he said. ‘And I think they ought to establish some guideline and criteria for that committee, and I think they can first narrow this down considerably.?
Township Clerk Nancy Strole agreed, noting the Bridge Valley Corridor encompasses many different parcels, and looking at where property and zoning lines are’and where they should or shouldn’t be’may require closer examination.
Maps, help from consultants, and input from property owners and others could prove beneficial, she said.
‘The planning commission might be able to accomplish quite a bit,? she said, ‘if they put those area that are a matter of concerns’in some cases legitimate questions and concerns’under a microscope.?
But Len Gorz, who owns property in the potentially affected area, asked that the motion be returned to the planning comission with instructions to abandon rezoning efforts in particular areas.
‘This is about the taking of our property,? said Gorz, one of a small handful of property owners to show up at Thursday’s board meeting ‘You don’t need to talk to land owners any more. This is a legal issue that’s going to strap the township citizens in legal fees to begin with, and in awards later on.?
Gorz has several times told both the planning commission and the township board he is prepared to litigate as far as necessary to halt the rezoning of his land.
‘I ask you to carefully consider that and have the lawyers start looking at this,? he said, ‘so the citizens know what exposure the planning commission is setting forth, and eventually what you people will vote on and will have to address’probably at the polls.
The planning commission started work on the rezoning project about a year ago when a state-mandated review revealed inconsistencies between zoning districts and the township’s master plan, as well as some zoning designations that did not reflect current use.
‘The intent of the planning commission was to properly zone property in Springfield Township to reflect its use, or its planned use,? said Planning Commission Chair Roger Lamont last month. ‘And to arrive at the best solution to ensure the desires of the residents and the future needs and goals of our township are met. Our intent was never to be unfair or take property.?
In order to accomplish those goals, the commission created three new zoning districts: public service, parks and recreation, and resource conservation, which has caused the more ire among residents and property owners.
Documents about the proposed rezonings are available at the civic center. Call 248-846-6510 or visit www.springfield-twp.us