It appears a contaminated industrial site in Oxford Township targeted for redevelopment will be receiving federal grant dollars for an environmental assessment.
‘There is contamination on the site,? said Michael Polsinelli, president and CEO of the Bloomfield Hills-based Talon Development Group. ‘It’s a question of how much, where and what. That’s what we’re trying to get into in the next 60 to 120 days.?
Talon Development Group has a contract to purchase the 21-acre site on the west side of M-24 (north of W. Market St. and across from Meijer), which previously housed Odyssey Industries until it moved to Orion Township two years ago.
Longtime residents remember the property as the site of the Sea Ray facility from the early 1960s to the early 1990s.
‘We have approximately two years to work on environmental issues, planning issues and a series of other items that are peculiar to that particular site,? Polsinelli told township officials at last week’s meeting.
Before Talon can demolish the existing 210,00-square-foot building and develop a new complex of buildings (no site plans have been approved by the township), the extent and impact of the contamination must first be determined.
That’s why Talon has secured ‘verbal approval? from Oakland County to obtain funding to pay for the Phase I environmental assessment through its Brownfield Redevelopment Program.
ASTI Environmental, of Brighton, is the firm which will conduct the assessment.
Brownfields are industrial and commercial properties which currently are contaminated, abandoned, underused or obsolete. Between 600 and 900 brownfield sites are located throughout the county.
Oakland County’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority works with developers to obtain funding ? provided through grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ? for the first two phases of brownfield assessments.
Phase I assessments include examining historical documentation to determine if there’s reason to suspect contamination. Phase II is more in-depth and includes soil and ground water testing.
Financing is also available through the county’s brownfield program to remediate sites thereby helping to offset development costs.
To get Phase I funding from the county, Polsinelli told township officials all Talon needs is a letter from the township stating it’s in ‘support of potential redevelopment and clean up of that property.?
‘This does not in any way cause the township to enter into any other agreements,? Polsinelli explained. ‘It doesn’t support a plan. It doesn’t speak to rezoning. It’s just a notice of support.?
A letter from Polsinelli verified in writing that the township’s support of Talon’s efforts to determine the environmental condition of the site ‘would not be tied to rezoning or site plan approval.?
Township officials unanimously approved writing such a letter at last week’s regular meeting.
‘I’ve been in this area for over 50 years and I’ve always wondered what’s on that site,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘I’m glad somebody’s going to take a good look at it.?
Once the Phase I environmental assessment’s been completed, Polsinelli said Talon can move on to Phase II, which includes the appropriate testing ‘to determine what impact, if any, the contamination has caused, can cause, and what we need to do to remediate that effect.?
He noted there’s potential contamination in the ground water and/or in the lake abutting the property to the west. Known as Lake Dewls, it’s located just south of Stony Lake.
‘At this point we’re fairly sure, and REI (developer of Waterstone) has somewhat confirmed the fact, that there hasn’t been anything contaminating the lake,? Polsinelli told officials.
‘Some of the reports we have on the Sea Ray piece would suggest that there is some (underground) contamination in the way of a plume that’s up close to the road,? he noted.