On September 17, this reporter was in attendance at the Planning Commission meeting when Cleve King returned requesting rezoning of his 120 acre property along with an additional 60 acres off Susan Drive and Tipsico Lake Rd. King stated he plans to provide a “continuum of care” in the complex not to exceed 225 units. The current configuration he presented includes 76 condos, 180 apartments, 150 units in assisted living and 75 units in a nursing home. Previously, the township did a micro-analysis of the area and recommended leaving the zoning unchanged for the area. Now, King has done his homework changing his overall plan to include lower density, access in and out of the complex via a road through Susan Drive to Tipsico Lake Road, and additional planting of trees providing more buffer for adjacent properties including Dunham Lake Estates. King is filing his request under a provision called “conditional zoning” which means the zoning is approved conditioned upon specific requirements for the development that are worked out and agreed to ahead of time. Some possibilities include: requiring financial guarantees, stipulating specific areas as green space, or requiring phased development. At the meeting, local residents voiced concerns about the impact the development would have on nearby low-lying homes already prone to flooding, the need to protect as much mature woodlands as possible, inclusion of quality open space not just wetlands, need for a provision to keep if from being sold and then turned into a trailer park or apartment complex, and units being placed too close to the lot lines of residents along Dunham Road. A sewer treatment plant is included in the plan which could have both a positive and negative impact on the area (it might encourage more development depending on its eventual size and capacity and what stipulations might end up being made). King noted that there is the potential that nearby Dunham Lake residents couldhook into the sewer, depending, again, on how everything plays out.
For a copy of the preliminary layout plan, click on this link: http://www.highlandtwp.com/uploaded_pics/pdf-20091008153542.pdf
There will be a public hearing on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. In addition, concerned citizens are welcome to mail in their comments or concerns to the Planning Commission, or attend upcoming Planning Commission meetings. For upcoming agendas (or minutes) of meetings, go to the township website at www.highlandtwp.com and click on Government, then click on Planning Commission, etc.
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