Atlas Twp.-A proposed development that may swell Goodrich Schools has been put on hold after a former township planning commission member and several residents balked at the plan.
“If you are going to allow a developer to take advantage of a community, they should give back to the community by setting aside land for our schools,” said Sue Arnold, former Atlas Township Planning Commission chairperson and Goodrich school district parent.
Arnold along with Atlas Township officials addressed the Dec 4. Grand Blanc Township Planning Commission, where, there is a proposed development of 315 acres near Vassar and Baldwin roads in Grand Blanc Township. If approved, the property located in Goodrich School District will be comprised of 577 units; a combination of 243 single family homes, 119 duplexes and 24 quadplexes. The plan was first presented on Oct. 30, 2002 by developer Glendale Farms partnership from Bloomfield Hills, Mi.
Since then several Goodrich officials and residents have been questioning the development, many objecting to adding 1,000 students to the Goodrich School District. Currently, 2,086 students attend the Goodrich School District, up about 60 students or 3 percent over the 2002-2003 school year. In the fall of 2002 a new Middle School was opened. Oaktree Elementary opened seven years ago.
At issue is the Residential Open Space (ROS) option which asks developers, like Glendale Farms, to set aside property for recreational purposes or natural areas when a property is developed. In return for the set aside property often extra homes may be built on the property more effectively utilizing the space.
The Grand Blanc Township property is currently zoned R-1 which allows one-half acre building lots. Without the ROS only about 360 homes could be constructed. By utilizing the ROS, and setting aside about 150 acres Glendale Farms hopes to increase the number of homes to 577, about 200 additional homes built on the property.
However, Arnold, a former developer offered an alternative plan fitting only 360 homes on the property.
“The residential open space has to benefit the residents of the community,” said Arnold.
“While 150 acres is a lot of land to set aside it’s rather worthless with regard to the community using the property.” The Glendale ROS is comprised of wetlands and rolling wooded property, useless for soccer fields says Arnold.
“If they’re forced to build a conventional subdivision they’d drop it,” said Rick Misek, Atlas Township planning commission vice president who addressed the Grand Blanc Township Planning commission. “They need to build 577 units to make it work, they must make a certain amount of money and the bonus is what they need to make money.”
Following the meeting Grand Blanc Township Planning commission members have requested the developer to provide a sketch of how 492 homes could fit on the property less the open space bonus.
“I think Grand Blanc is underestimating the Goodrich people,” said Arnold. “If this project is approved we may get hostile. Goodrich parents determined to have property transferred into the Grand Blanc Schools.”