The property on the corner of Baldwin and Maybee roads is still in zoning limbo.
The issue that came before the Orion Township Board of Trustees at their Feb. 2 meeting was whether to deny the rezoning, as recommended by the planning commission.
The motion to deny the rezoning did not pass in a 2-5 vote. This does not mean the board approved the rezoning, but, instead, they didn’t approve denying it.
The board then voted 5-2 to send the matter back to the planning commission for review.
The drugstore chain CVS requested the rezoning and appeared before the planning commission several times, including a public hearing, before the commission ultimately voted not to recommend the rezoning in a 4-1 vote on Dec. 9, 2008.
At issue was whether the change in zoning went according with the master plan, which is currently under review with several major amendments in the works.
Also, the lease on the current CVS at 3015 Baldwin Road is up in December of 2010. The new CVS would be directly across the street from a new Walgreen’s.
Stacy Cagets of Fazal Khan, a representative of CVS, said if the drugstore isn’t allowed the rezoning, they might not keep a location in Orion.
Cagets urged the board to ignore the master plan for now because of the urgent nature of the project.
‘If we don’t move forward now, we won’t make the deadline,? Cagets said, referring to site plan review and construction of the new building.
‘They [CVS] want to stay in this community,? Cagets said. ‘They just don’t have time to wait.?
The board motion, which was to accept the planning commission’s recommendation to not allow the rezoning, was voted down 5-2.
Trustees JoAnn Van Tassel and Mark Crane were the two votes not in favor of it.
‘I don’t think the township is that hard up for dollars that we should impose a spot rezoning without more thorough study,? said Van Tassel. ‘I think the planning commission acted properly with their recommendation.?
Whether or not it was ‘spot zoning? was up for debate. Crane made his views clear.
‘I do think this is spot zoning. It’s the equivalent of knocking down that first domino. You are seriously going to damage the people to the east if we allow this to happen,? said Crane.
Many residents were also against the rezoning.
Ginglleville resident Robert Pote took offense at the pronunciation of his home area.
‘If you’re going to come change my community, at least learn how to say the word,? Pote said of Ginglleville.
Melissa Attinoto didn’t like the message rezoning for a corporation like CVS sends.
‘We are a bedroom community. Regardless of what we want to be, we are not Auburn Hills, we are not Sterling Heights,? Attinoto said.
Also at issue was the sour economy and the properties already zoned for commercial in the township that are vacant.
‘Fill the existing commercial land you have,? said Len Sznewjas, one of the owners of the Shops on Waldon, where the CVS is currently located. He stands to lose a tenant.
‘I think you’re doing yourselves and the township an injustice,? he added. ‘It’s not going to help the businesses, it’s not going to help the township, it’s not going to help anyone.?
But ultimately, the board voted to grant the rezoning with votes from Supervisor Matt Gibb, Clerk Penny Shults, Treasurer Alice Young and Trustees Neal Porter and John Steimel.
‘I’m looking at economic factors here,? Gibb said. ‘It’s not lost on me that Orion Township is not receptive to commercial development.?
He cited plans for a Lowe’s, a Holiday Inn and a Meijer’s that tried coming to Orion, but ended up vanishing or going elsewhere.
‘For me, this is about the direction we want to have Orion take as being receptive to business concepts in this community,? Gibb said.