Capital Asphalt Hits the Road - Now What?
Great news came today for our community, when an announcement by Township Officials stated that Capital Asphalt has withdrawn their application to build near Old US 23 and Center Rd!
Is this a victory? YES! It is a victory to be celebrated, but it comes with careful consideration for the future.
Of most immediate priority is watching to see what happens with the rezone request submitted by Dr. Steven Newman (Southfield), the owner of the two land parcels. Dr. Newman has requested for his parcels to be rezoned from farming/residential to M2 heavy industrial. These two requests have NOT yet been withdrawn. (We will be sending out an announcement as soon as we hear of new developments on this.)
Second, please know that the applicant CAN reapply. It doesn’t seem likely in this case, but it is certainly something to watch for. We’ve also been informed that another asphalt company is interested in building slightly North of Center at White Lake Rd and Old US 23. Whether or not that comes to fruition, we can’t predict, but it does indicate that we MUST remain vigilant. There are several large parcels of farmland for sale in the area under threat of rezoning and development.
How can we protect our community? What can we do?
Perhaps most importantly, we MUST get involved thoughtfully, strategically, and intentionally in the Master Planning process this year. The Township, by law, must revisit the Master Plan every 10 years, and officials have stated that they will be working on that over the course of this year.
Our work now pivots to focus on engaging the community fully in developing a comprehensive Master Plan that represents our vision for the future. Our residents are primed and eager to be involved. We’ve proven we can make a difference, we can have a voice, and deserve a spot at the table. If you’re someone who wants to support responsible development, keep in touch!
For now, we will continue to use the established FB group/page, our email subscription service, the blog, and this website to keep you informed. We hope to do a little redesign under the nonprofit corporation name, “Residents for Community Preservation”. We will consider efforts like the Asphalt Plant and Master Planning, projects within a larger organization. More information to come about that transition and how you can stay connected. We promise not to leave you in the dark, and to continue our work with an eye toward preserving the future of our beautiful community.
We’ve been profoundly inspired by the support and collective voices of our community. This victory is shared with all of you, for every purchased sign, every FB share, every penny donated, for your time spreading the word. It truly was the result of a grassroots, community collaboration. Thank you for setting the bar high for what community activism can accomplish.
Your Neighbor,
Sara Dollman-Jersey