Work towards a final site plan for the new T-Mobile telecommunications tower, to be located on the southeast corner of Rochester and Bordman roads, has recently hit a few snags.
During a special July 15 Addison Township planning commission meeting, requested earlier in the month by representatives from T-Mobile, commissioners learned that the company has not provided all information necessary on the site.
Addison Township planner Rand Bowman informed the board that during an inspection of the site he found a commercial operation he was not aware of previously.
“That operation appears to be a non-conforming commercial use of that (agriculturally zoned) site,” Bowman explained to commission members.
Bowman questioned Keith Davidow, representative for T-Mobile, about the operation. Davidow was uncertain of exactly what the company does, but did believe it involved some type of waste disposal. The special use permit application shows Sharon Crisan as the listed property owner. A sign on the property shows Addison Demolition & Disposal Services as the company name.
According to Article 27 of the township’s ordinances: “it shall be unlawful to change the use of land, or use or occupancy of any building, or to extend any use on any lot on which there is a non-conforming use…”
Therefore, the planning commission cannot approve the special use permit, which would extend the use of the land, until the non-conforming question is answered. Also, the building inspector cannot issue any building permits until the special use permit is approved by the commission. “I wish I knew about it from day one,” Bowman told the commission.
The responsibility of showing that the operation is not non-conforming, or that the non-conforming action has ceased, rests on T-Mobile. Article 27 states “it shall be the affirmative duty of all architects, contractors, subcontractors, builders and other persons having charge of the establishment to see that a proper permit has been granted and that such work does not conflict with and is not in violation of the terms of this ordinance.”
“In my opinion, this cannot go forward because of the non-conformity issue,” said planning commissioner Charlene Molnar.
In addition to this problem, Bowman also told commissioners that the site plan application is missing several other pieces of information such as a map of the area’s wetlands and a lease agreement with the property owner. “How can I know the construction won’t affect the wetlands if I don’t know where they are?” asked Bowman.
Commissioners decided to table the issue until further information is provided. The site plan will again be addressed at the Aug. 5 planning commission meeting.