By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
Woodside Bible of Orion Township has a new home.
The Planning Commission of Orion Township approved the application for special land use January 15 for Olde World Canterbury Village’s ‘Always Christmas Store? and ‘Expo Center.? Woodside Bible Church is purchasing the existing 80,000 square foot building at the south end of the development, requiring a special land use in order to combine the parcels and designate the aggregated site as a religious facility.
Planning commissioners discussed a few concerns at the hearing, the main being an increase traffic Sunday mornings, and surveying that many people at all at one time, Chairwoman Carol Thurber said.
Members of Woodside Bible were present at the hearing in support.
‘I’m a father, I have two children with five grandchildren located here in the township of Orion, and we attend church separately. To me it’s important to have churches in our community, churches have activities for both adults and children and outreaches that provide help and demonstrate caring to the needy,? David Janman said, resident of Silverbell Oak Subdivision. ‘They install stability to the community, teach and represent morality, and provide spiritual help to those that are in the community,? he said, adding he supports this land use permit.
Not everybody at the meeting was in favor, however.
‘This new concern of mine is not for the church, but I’m really concerned on how this is going to affect me and the value of my property,? Bonnie Axelson said, resident on Notty Willow Lane adjacent to the future church. She said Woodside is a great church, but ‘if it’s going to degrade my property any further, then maybe my taxes should be decreased as well.?
The Planning Commission approved the special land use and site plan with conditions. The main condition is that parish goers would not enter the site off of Joslyn Court, Thurber said.