Who should pay for the upgrading of Sashabaw from a two lane road into a four lane boulevard?
That was the question debated at the Independence Township Board meeting on March 4 before a crowded meeting room at the library.
A plan was presented on how to pay for the $12 million project which had the federal government paying 80 percent of the cost ($9.6 million), the Road Commission of Oakland County contributing 10 percent of the cost ($1.2 million) and the local contribution also being 10 percent. Of the local $1.2 million cost, 10 percent ($120,000) would be contributed by Independence Township with the remaining money coming from a Special Assessment District. Additional township money from safety paths will be used on other aspects of the project.
While most of the residents who spoke during the public forum agreed the boulevard is much needed and would enhance economic growth, they did not agree with the plan to pay for it.
“People use Sashabaw all the way from Waterford to Pine Knob. I have lost patients because it is difficult for them to get in and out of my office,” Dr. Jack Shader said. “I look at the numbers and of the local $1.2 million the people in the SAD are going to pay 90 percent. That is inequitable to me and doesn’t seem fair.”
Other questions raised during the hearing included why DTE Energy Music Theater was not providing any money, why this is not covered with the gas tax and why businesses seemed to be in the SAD yet many residential areas were left off.
“We feel this is the furthest we can extend the Special Assessment District and be able to defend it,” Supervisor Dale Stuart said.
The Sashabaw Road project has been researched and discussed for more than two decades according to Independence Township Planner Dick Carlisle.
In the Vision 2020 Strategic Planning for Independence Township it states: “Promote the Sashabaw Corridor between Waldon and Maybee Roads as a new Town Center with a compatible mix of land uses, consistency in architecture, interior street and pedestrian pathway systems, and common design elements such as landscaping, lighting and signage. Sashabaw Road is ideally positioned for this type of development because of the central geographic location within the Township, proximity of I-75, availability of utilities and significant tracts of vacant land which can be comprehensively planned in advance of development.”
Planning for the Sashabaw Corridor has been directed towards avoiding the problems of unplanned development, lack of coordinated infrastructure, unsafe and/or uncontrolled roadway access and the blighted appearance that goes with a strip development.
“The Sashabaw Boulevard is a concept that has evolved over many years resulting from a great deal of public input,” Carlisle said.
Trustee Dan Kelly suggested the board pay a bigger percentage of the cost. No action taken by the board.