Letter to the Editor
Dated: April 6, 1999
Published by: Milan News-Leader
Author: Jim and Carol McCrae
Hokenson
To the Editor:
The Milan Township Board has received an application from Ann Arbor Railroad Properties of Howell, Michigan, to rezone an 800 acre parcel of agricultural land bordered by US-23, Cone, Wells and Sherman Roads. They propose to build a Vehicle Redistribution Center on this site. This development would bring changes to our community. This should cause us to weigh the pros and cons.
The PROS as we see them:
 | Prestige - Milan Township will be able to boast that it houses one of the largest vehicle redistribution centers in the U.S. |
| Jobs - Some union jobs will hopefully be available to local citizens. |
| Money - Property owners who have optioned their land for this project will profit from their sale. |
The CONS as we see them:
| Train traffic - The increase in train traffic means increased delays at rail crossings. |
| Truck traffic - The developers estimate 40-50 trucks per hour will make deliveries. This will affect the flow of traffic on our roads, causing increased exhaust fumes, increased costs of road maintenance, road safety issues and increased noise levels. |
| Diesel fuel - The refueling of trucks on-site will bring the smell of diesel fuel to this agricultural area and increase the danger of fuel spills. |
| Farmland and woodlands - If this land is developed for industry it will never again be suitable for farming or as natural habitats for wildlife. |
| Drainage - The proposed four hundred acres of asphalt parking lots will cause drainage concerns such as flooding and water supply concerns for those dependent on natural aquifers for their water. |
| Safety - A project of this scale will likely increase crime in our neighborhoods. |
| Night skies - The facility will operate 24 hours a day and spread its light pollution for miles. |
We feel it is important to be informed about issues affecting our community. The next Milan Township Meeting is Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00 at the Milan Township Hall and is open to everyone. If you have questions or concerns about this project please attend. We as a community should decide our own future.
Sincerely,
Jim and Carol McCrae Hokenson