Some information about Lombardo development proposal on Buell –

 

The Lombardo housing development proposed between Buell Rd. and Stoney Creek is being proposed as a “Site Condominium” Development. This does not mean that the dwellings are “condos”; they are 140 single family homes. “Site Condominium” is a Michigan legal description which means the lot owners own and are responsible for many things in common like the roads for example.

Developers are property owners with legal rights like you and I. This is absolutely the key fact to remember in any resistance effort. Under state law they can develop their property, just like you can develop yours, according to our existing zoning ordinance. To oppose what they are doing you will only be effective if you can show the Planning Commission or Board of Trustees that a problem exists where the developer does not meet the requirements of our zoning ordinance. This usually means you must study their proposed plans (can be examined at Township Hall, Building Department, at any time) and the applicable zoning ordinance in detail. If you succeed, you likely won’t stop the development, but will modify it to conform to our ordinance, which may be enough for you. (Or not).

In the case of this proposed development,  township consultants Carlisle Wortman (Planning Consultants), PEA (Engineering) and ASTI (Environmental) have presented Lombardo with a long list of over 50 items that do you meet our zoning ordinance. These can be seen in their three detailed reports to the Planning Commission in the meeting packet for Oct 3, 2017 Planning Commission at this link: https://www.ecode360.com/documents/OA3183/public/393537546.pdf

One item is Lombardo’s inadequate test plan.

You will not succeed in accomplishing anything by simply objecting to development. You have to object to specific features that violate our zoning ordinance. There is no legal basis for our Township government to reject a development that conforms to our zoning ordinance or to call for a moratorium on building. The builder will simply sue and win.  Now, having said that, some parts of the ordinance are subjective and open to opinion; these can be your best avenues of resistance to minimize the impact of the development.

See our zoning ordinance in two pdfs on this page of the township website. http://www.oaklandtownship.org/boards_and_commissions/planning_commission/zoning_ordinance_no_16.php#revize_document_center_rz165

See sections 22, 23, 24 for most of the requirements on housing projects.

The only recent large housing project approval that I am aware of was Moceri’s Blossom Ridge / Carillon Creek approved by a 5-2 vote on Feb. 2, 2016 with only Treasurer Jeanne Langlois and Clerk Karen Reilly voting against the project and former Supervisor Gonser and Trustees Bailey, Buxar, Ferriolo and Giannangeli voting for it.

 

Bob Yager

Editor – Oakland Township Sentinel