The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
DEQ to rule on wastewater permit
Local residents oppose request from Biltmore Holdings
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 1, 2007
It may be 30 to 60 days before Saline Township learns what the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality thinks of a developer's request to build a wastewater treatment plant along the Saline River, but residents didn't hesitate to let MDEQ representatives know what they thought of the idea at a public hearing Feb. 22.
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They don't like it.
More than 75 people packed the Saline Township Hall on Braun Road to voice objection to plans by Troy developer Biltmore Holdings to build a private wastewater treatment plant to service a vast residential development called Riverwood that, over a span of eight to 15 years, could triple the township's population.
"The impact of this type of development would be catastrophic to this township," township planning consultant, Donald Pennington, told the DEQ panel.
He said the influx of an estimated 8,000 new residents would overwhelm the rural township.
The Saline Township Board last year voted down Biltmore's rezoning request, The developer filed suit and, in August, township residents approved a millage to raise money to help fight it in court.
But a developer can request a wastewater discharge permit from the DEQ before approaching townships about any needed rezoning. The DEQ does not consider zoning in deciding whether to grant the permits.
In reaching a decision, the DEQ must determine whether significant social or economic benefits would be gained in exchange for the increased pollution generated by the wastewater treatment plant, which is expected to discharge up to 1.4 million gallons a day into the Raisin River Watershed
Of the almost 20 people who spoke during the 1 1/2-hour meeting, many challenged the benefits the development would foster as laid out by Biltmore in its permit application, which was submitted under the name Saline Investors LLC.
"(The development) has absolutely zero economic benefit on the township," said resident Bob Prehn. "Who benefits? The developer benefits."
Opponents of the permit request received added support from representatives of surrounding townships, including Jan Godek, supervisor of Lodi Township, where another developer is seeking a similar wastewater discharge permit from the state.
Township leaders are concerned that if the DEQ grants one wastewater treatment plant permit, others will not be far behind and the impact could be far-reaching.
The DEQ expects to decide on whether to issue the permit in the next 30 to 60 days and will notify residents who attended the public hearing of its decision by mail.
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