The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Rural residents send message to Lansing
Pollution, flooding and downturn in housing market concern of area residents who attended hearing
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
More than 400 area residents, local officials and politicians formed a united front last week when representatives from Lansing asked for public comment on a proposed wastewater treatment facility for a proposed 600-home development in Lodi Township.
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Township staff, elected officials and nervous neighbors were among some 50 concerned speakers who stood before the crowd with flipcharts, research, resolutions and petitions demonstrating why the facility would not be good for the area.
Staff from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality hosted the public hearing at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds as a part of their review of a permit submitted by Fairview Land Development LLC for Frederick Farms Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The 112-acre proposed subdivision would be located west of Wagner Road and south of Ellsworth Road, where treated sanitary wastewater would flow into Rouse Drain.
In their August 2006 petition to the state, Fairview stated significant social or economic benefits would be gained in exchange for the increased pollution of Rouse Drain.
The public begged to differ.
Dolores Kingston, who lives in Lodi Township and has a doctorate in zoology and teaches biology and ecology, said there are a number of important environmental concerns related to pumping 200,000 gallons of wastewater daily into the drain.
The drain, she noted, is simply a dried ditch that runs along the road and backyards.
"Increased water flow will almost certainly lead to more incidences of flooding along the drain and nearby homes will be affected," she said. "Pumping large quantities of water from a relatively small area to support 660 single family homes is certainly going to impact the ground water availability."
Other neighbors passionately spoke with concerns about the loss of wildlife, aquatic organisms and green space.
While the hearing was to determine the viability for a wastewater treatment center, comments also focused on the negative economic impact the high-density subdivision would have on the area.
Lodi Township paid more than $10,000 for a real estate market survey that showed an abundance of available properties and a flooded buyer's market, news that came of no surprise to dozens of residents who spoke up to say no further housing options were necessary.
"These people are anti-growth," Michael Furnari Jr. of Fairview Builders, the petitioner based in Rochester Hills, said when contacted Monday. "This (reaction) happens every time. It's not out of the ordinary."
Joshua Long, an associate planner with Washtenaw County, said 738 housing permits were issued in the county last year and that more development would only decrease existing home values.
Another concern, residents pointed out at the meeting, was the maintenance and sustained ownership of a private treatment plant. Janet Sutherland, who lives a few miles from the proposed site, asked if the developers were willing to put $70 million in escrow to cover the replacement costs of the homes in Brookview Highlands if those homes are destroyed by effluent flooding if the plant malfunctions.
Written resolutions to oppose the issuance of the permit were presented to MDEQ staff by neighborhood associations, adjoining township boards, the Saline Sustainability Circle and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
"I don't even know why we're here," said Jack Foley whose property sits along Rouse Creek. "They dropped the ball in Lansing to let this permit application come so far, and waste the time of these officials and people."
Residents in Saline Township last month attended a parallel hearing held by MDEQ to voice their objection to a wastewater treatment plant to service another new housing development in the area.
The Lodi Township permit application, including verbal and written testimony, will be reviewed by Stephanie Swart in the MDEQ water bureau and notification of her department's decision will be available later this month.
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