After two years of debate between Independence Township and Oakland County, the Sashabaw Road Corridor Improvement Authority is a reality.
‘It was a lengthy process, obviously, but there were I think some good reasons from the county standpoint why they were being judicious in this whole thing,? said Dick Carlisle, township planner. ‘We’re hopeful that now we can move forward and get the things done that need to be done.?
The plan was revised by Independence Township Board in December, and approved by Oakland County Board of Commissioners June 12.
‘I’m very happy. It’s been a long fight,? said Dave Wagner, Independence Township supervisor. ‘Brooks Patterson (Oakland County executive) was there supporting it and it went well.?
A CIA, similar to a Downtown Development Authority, is meant to bring business to a designated section of a township or city, said county Commissioner Tom Middleton, representing the township.
‘A new piece of legislation was passed that allowed the collection of revenue for corridor improvement. It expanded the old DDA,? Middleton said. ‘This says you can do it for economic development and adds quite a few extra areas in addition to old DDA.?
When the township approved the plan in May, 2006, it included 15 projects to rebuild sewer and power lines, construct bridges at I-75 and Maybee, widen Sashabaw, and other work.
The plan was narrowed to three: widening the bridge over Interstate 75, widening Sashabaw Road north of I-75, and beautification along the Sashabaw corridor.
The original project would have cost about $16 million, about $4 million from the county. It has been scaled down to about $3.8 million, with $1.2 million from the county.
‘With this project skimmed down so far, we only have to basically argue ‘is it worth $1.2 million to get the jobs?? And there is going to be that many new jobs out there,? said Middleton.
The $3.8 million is to be raised through tax increment financing in the Sashabaw corridor, from Clarkston to Maybee roads. It would collect some of the additional tax revenue resulting from improvements, using 2006 as a starting point, said township Treasurer Jim Wenger.
‘As you go forward, anything that increases in taxable value within that district, we’re going to collect 50 percent of that increase,? Wenger said.
Other funds will be collected from partners Oakland Community College and Huron-Clinton Metroparks, noted Wenger.
‘I think it’s good for the township and I do believe it’s not only good for McLaren, but it’s good for the entire project out there,? said Dan Kelly, Independence Township trustee. ‘It will help us create some jobs and some economic growth in the township. That’s good news.?
Middleton said plenty of jobs will cover the county’s investment.
‘Anything we can do to generate jobs and be friendly to business, to build business confidence, this shows that we welcome business and we welcome those new jobs,? he said.
Shelagh VanderVeen, township clerk, said it was a ‘long time coming.?
‘I think it’s going to help show our good faith effort to do what we can in order to make the bridge expansion occur,? she said. ‘Without that, I don’t think the state would look at that. It was a groundbreaking event ?? we’re the first one.?
The state passed a law allowing corridor improvement authorities in December, 2005.
Carlisle said it ‘speaks well of the township? to be the first CIA in Oakland County.
‘It was a piece of legislation that we tracked from the very beginning and took advantage of it,? he said.
‘We knew that we had some existing issues on Sashabaw Road that were going to need to be resolved in the future. We had the opportunity to capitalize on what was happening out there that was in keeping with our master plan by being able to take advantage of the McLaren development and use that as a means to justify the Tax Increment Financing.?