A rezoning request that could have led to the development of 60 condominiums along Lakeville Road was denied 6-1 by the Oxford Township Board last week.
‘I think that’s one of the worst areas you could have multiple family,? said Treasurer Joe Ferrari. ‘Multiple family is not what we need more of and we don’t need it at that location.?
Jim McGowan, owner of 7.94 acres on the south side of Lakeville Road, just outside the village limits and across from Beaver Stair, had requested his property be rezoned from light industrial (M-1) to multiple family (RM).
Currently, the property is home to McGowan’s company Oxford Products International (544 Lakeville Road), which does contract sewing for automotive companies such as Saturn and makes other things such as pool table covers.
McGowan wished to sell his property to Jim Lawrence, a developer from Brighton, who wanted to turn it into approximately 60 condominiums called ‘Oakwood Bluff.?
But the township board did not agree that was the best use of the land.
‘I don’t think multiple family belongs there,? said Ferrari. ‘I wouldn’t even be real crazy about single family.?
Township officials prefer the land eventually be used for what the new Master Plan shows it as in the future ? office/service.
‘I think the planning commission hit that perfectly (when they planned it for office/service),? Ferrari said. ‘That’s exactly what should be there.?
‘I’d love to have a dentist there. I’d love to have a veterinarian there,? the treasurer explained. ‘We have a lot of residential (development) coming. We’ve got to have places for our residents to go.?
‘There’s no way I would even consider rezoning that to multiple family,? the treasurer said.
Lawrence disagreed that office/service is the best use of the land. He argued that Lakeville Road does not have ‘enough? traffic ‘to sustain business and service in our opinion.?
While representing Beaumont Hospital in their search for a medical office in the community, Lawrence said he took them to McGowan’s property and ‘they wanted nothing to do with it.?
‘They require high traffic and visibility,? Lawrence said. ‘Any business nowadays that wants to succeed needs visibility and high traffic. Lakeville (Road) doesn’t offer that.?
‘Everyone I’ve talked to wants to be on Lapeer, Washington, M-24, in this area because that’s where the traffic is, that’s where the exposure is,? he explained.
Lawrence also noted that multiple family would have ‘less impact? on the area’s traffic, water/sewer services and surrounding residential neighbors and property values than light industrial or office/service.
Township officials were not persuaded.
‘I’m sorry Mr. Lawrence, none of the arguments you presented convinced me that multiple family is better than office/service,? Ferrari said.
It was noted during the meeting that although it appeared the township planning commission recommended the rezoning Feb. 9 by a 3-2 vote, it was later determined that vote was ineffective and did not consitute a recommendation.
Planning commission by-laws state approval of rezonings require ‘the affirmative vote of a majority of members of the commission,? which means five out of the nine members must vote ‘yes.?