By Teri Stiles
Staff Writer
Brandon Twp – On Oct. 6 Senator Deb Cherry (D-Burton) held coffee hour at the Brandon Township Hall.
One reason for Cherry’s visit was replacing the American Flag which is displayed at the Center after the flag was defaced several weeks ago. More than 30 residents attended the event, at which Cherry listened to local concerns, which were mainly focused on the Land Use and Planning issues and House Bill 4919. The bill is currently being discussed in the Committee on Land Use and Environment.
House Bill 4919 proposes state involvement in rezoning ordinances which call for land development density of eight dwellings per acre, if public water and sewers are available or could be made available. If not available then one dwelling per acre will be the maximum density.
Cluster development would be left to the choice of the developer or land holder.
While Cherry defended portions of the bill, she stated she was not totally familiar with the provisions of the complete document and supported the state rule type idea of master planning community development.
‘Land use issues should be decided on a local basis with cooperative planning at a state level,? said Cherry.
Currently both Brandon and Groveland townships require a minimum of two and one-half acres per dwelling.
In addition Brandon, Groveland, and Springfield townships, as well as the Village of Ortonville, have signed resolutions opposing the bill.
While Sen. Cherry did not say whether she supported or opposed the bill she did state that she, personally, agrees that issues should be decided on a local level. Cherry added, however, that ‘good development plans should be a shared responsibility between state and local governments.?
‘I think a local government has a better idea of what the community requires,? she said.
Township Supervisor Ron Lapp, however said that each township has a Master Plan unique to the individual jurisdictions and that it wouldn’t be smart for Lansing to attempt to legislate local development plans.
‘The residents told us clearly that they are comfortable with our Master Plan,? said Lapp.
‘It’s about ‘we the people? and Lansing doesn’t have a handle on what is appropriate for this township.?
Lapp added that Brandon has its own personality and that Lansing does not have a handle on what is appropriate for the township.
The land use issue will continue this week with Michigan State Representative Ruth Johnson hosting a tour of several surrounding townships so that state legislators who support 4919 could visualize the unique demographic, topographic, and geographic issues to each community.