Groveland Twp.-The township planning commission is expected to discuss rezoning about 1,000 feet of Grange Hall Road frontage west of Dixie Highway for future development.
On Jan. 11, the township board of trustees voted 5-0 to move forward with rezoning some of about 96 acres of township-owned property located on the north side of Grange Hall Road currently zoned extractive which was established about a half-century ago for mining, said Bob DePalma, township supervisor.
‘It’s time we stayed out in front of development and made the property more attractive to commercial use,? he said. ‘With the park plans moving forward, the Grange Hall Road property would be ideal for an off-road vehicle dealership or for Jeep sales. The whole area will just explode someday and we want to be one step ahead.?
The township and area businesses are anticipating a possible economic boom after extensive plans to reclaim some gravel mining property and create a multi-purpose outdoor recreational facility encompassing about 200 acres along the western fringes of the township.
DePalma said township officials were approached in 2014 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Commission and the Oakland Department of Parks and Recreation regarding acquiring six parcels of property between Grange Hall Road to the south, Holdridge Road to the north, I-75 to the west and Dixie Highway on the east side of the proposed area. The mixed use recreational area will be near the Groveland Oaks County Park.
A grant for $2.9 million was approved from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for the purchase of the property located near Mt. Holly for the expansion of Oakland County Parks.
Appraisals for five parcels of land currently owned by Gibraltar National Corporation, Nick Nichols? farm, Desert Sands, Steve Stolaruk of Star-Batt, Inc. and Leoni of Holly Disposal were appraised for the project.
Rob Corbett, parks and recreation land specialist from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, declined which offers or values of the property eyed by state officials.
While deliberations over the property continue, some area businesses continue to move forward with expansion plans.
Steve Nannoshi, owner of Alex’s Market and Grill, 6410 Grange Hall Road, Holly Township, located at I-75 exit 101, recently announced construction plans for a new business.
‘It’s going to be a destination spot for those heading to the Holly, Groveland Township area,? said Nannoshi. ‘It’s truly an up north feeling without driving all the way up north. There’s plenty to do in northern Oakland County from Mt. Holly in the winter, to the state and county parks to the Renaissance Festival in late summer’this has become a resort area.?
Nannoshi’s is planning a 30,000 square feet, three-story building on which construction is expected to start later this year on the north west corner of Grange Hall Road and I-75 at Exit 101. The new facility, to be located across the street from Alex’s Market and Grill, will be on seven acres and employ about 75 people when up and running.
Alex’s Tap & Grill will include batting cages, go karts, bumper cars, bumper boats, mini golf and a driving range. Inside will feature laser tag, virtual golf, billiards and six lanes of bowling.
‘There will be 101 specialty beers on tap’based on exit 101,? he added. ‘Many of the niche beer are not bottled, so we’ll provide growlers to take home your favorite brew.?