Sometimes the road to making a point is up and down, rough and bumpy.
Officials with Addison Township know this, so they decided to drive home their support of local control over zoning regulations by participating in the Northern Oakland County Natural Features Bus Tour. The event, held on Oct. 13, took environmentalists, lobbyists, business leaders and legislators on a back road tour of several townships.
“There is an increasing pressure to take away local efforts to try to preserve natural resources,” said Representative Ruth Johnson. “We are running into difficulties where a cookie-cutter approach is overburdening our townships and emptying our cities.”
The tour began in Springfield Township and ended in Addison. Some of the groups represented included the Michigan Home Builders Association, Realtors Association, Oakland County Planning, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy and Nature Conservancy.
‘I certainly feel we have some people here who need some education,” said Johnson. “We have the lobbyist from the Home Builders Association and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Several of the environmental representatives are even learning some new things.”
In Addison Township, the tour began in the northern “horse country” portion of the community. Noble Rd. resident and board trustee Sandy Campbell spoke on how the rural character and 10-acre zoning defines the land in this portion, and that water and sewer are not available. She emphasized that Addison Township only has two paved roads.
“The people who moved out here, well, basically came out here to pursue either agricultural or equestrian farming,” she explained.
A quick jaunt down Delano Rd. showed participants a densely wooded parcel, owned by Henry Gleisner, currently held in land conservancy. From there, the bus traveled to Hosner Rd. where the White Pine and Copperhills Estates developments can be found.
Township Clerk Pauline Bennett emphasized the difference between developing with the natural features in mind and cluster development. She described to participants how a developer can actually get 20 percent more for land that is developed with the natural features in mind.
“Look at the natural woods in their backyards,” she pointed out. “This is accomplished through an agreement between the developer and the land owner.”
“It’s a win-win situation for everybody when this is possible,” agreed Rep. Johnson.
The highlight of the tour was a stop at the Benedictine Monastery on Drahner Rd. for a view from the highest elevation in Oakland County. Father John Martin spoke about the serenity of the area and the design of the monastery to incorporate the natural setting. While viewing the breathtaking horizon, guests were suddenly treated to the scene of a doe entering the clearing from the woods.
Father Martin emphasized that this is not usual. In fact, the religious beliefs of those in the monastery work into caring for the natural resources of the area.
“This is our responsibility to care for,” he said. “This beauty if available because we keep it that way.”
After leaving the monastery, the tour followed Drahner Rd., a designated natural beauty road, to the Michigan Natura Association Lakeville Swamp Nature Sanctuary. Jessica Opfer, director of the Clinton River Watershed Council, spoke about the watershed heads and ecosystems available in that area.
“This is one of the earliest preserves in southeast Michigan,” she explained. “I know there are several endangered species here and some species that are just not found in other areas of southeast Michigan.”
Township Supervisor Bob Koski took over the tour at this point and led participants through a brief overview of working farms in the area before taking everyone on a walk through the Watershed Preserve for a view of the beaver dams. He focused upon the difficulties of bringing in large developments that allow 1-acre or smaller housing.
“It’s difficult to get anything smaller than 2-acres around here,” he stated. “It’s just not practical with the preserves and the lack of infrastructure.”
The tour concluded back in “horse country” where Trustee Campbell passed around a pictorial packet depicting the township and everyone enjoyed ice cream.
“We believe in Addison Township is that people should have a choice – whether is be living area or vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream,” concluded Campbell.