Feb 20, 2000
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Monroe Evening News Milan Township voters preparing to go to polls Tuesday Q & A Distribution center By Scott Nienas - Evening News staff writer On Tuesday voters in Milan Township will be able to express their feelings about the proposed railroad distribution center at the ballot box. Here are some frequently asked questions about some of the issues surrounding the project and election:
1. When is the election? Tuesday the polls will be open from 7am. to 8p.m. All voting will be it the Milan Township Hall, 16444 Cone Rd., Milan.
2. What is the proposed distribution center referendum on the Milan township ballot? Ann Arbor Railroad Properties (AARP) has proposed plans to build an automotive distribution center on about 1,000 acres of land just east of US23 between Cone and Sherman Rds. If built, the facility will receive automobiles by rail and truck and then ship them to their designated places. A "yes" vote supports the township board’s decision to rezone the property and would support the project. A "no" vote overturns the rezoning and would halt the project.
3. Is there anything else on the ballot? Besides being the presidential primary and the rail center referendum, Milan township voters will vote on millage renewal requests to fund road improvements and fire protection.
4. How is the referendum worded? A proposal to approve an amendment to the official zoning map of Milan Township, rezoning certain parcels of land from AG-1 (prime agricultural) to L-1 (industrial). "Shall Milan Township ordinance number 5A1099 an ordinance to amend section 3.01 of the Milan township zoning ordinance, the official zoning map by rezoning properties from AG-1, prime agricultural, to L-1, IndustriaI, consisting of approximately 949.61 acres within the area bordered on the east side of Wells Rd. on the north side by Sherman Rd. on the west side by US-23 and the Ann Arbor Railroad, and on the south side by Cone Rd., including the property south of Cone Rd. including the property south of Cone Rd. comprised of tax assessor I.D. 58- 11-024-023-00, 58-11-024-007-00, 58-11-024-008-00, 58-11-024-022.00, and 50-11-024-021-00, and excepting those parcels situated at the north-west corner of the intersection of Cone Rd. and Wells Rd. and referred to as tax I.D. numbers 59-11-024-001-o0 and 58-11-002-0024-00, be approved?" 5. How did the township leaders vote on the rezoning Issue? The Milan Township Board, which has final say in the rezoning matter voted 3-2 in favor of rezoning the land from agricultural to industrial. Voting in favor were Supervisor John Bruckner, Treasurer Sharon Jaworski, and Trustee Arthur Rock with Clerk Emily Bowerman and Trustee Phil Bowerman against. The Milan Township Planning Commission previously had recommended in favor of the rezoning while the Monroe County Planning Commission recommended denial. 6. What If voters say yes? The rezoning request is approved and AARP can go ahead with plans to build the center
7. If the voters say no, can the project be completed anyway? The railroad does have options if the rezoning is overturned. If the issue goes to court, interstate commerce laws could be considered as well as limited availability for a specific land use. Most attorneys interviewed by The Evening News, however, refused to speculate on the legal issues of the matter.
8. What legal weight does a referendum carry? The referendum has the authority to overturn a decision made by a local government body in this case, the township board’s decision to rezone the land near US-23 and Cone Rd.
9. Can the township officials simply vote the following week to rezone the property, thus start the process over again? Yes, if rezoning is requested.
10. How big is the project In terms of size and Jobs and who will get the jobs? AARP officials say it will be a $45 million project and will create 250 new jobs with benefits and an average starting salary of $30,000. Company officials have said that local residents will get first crack at the jobs.
11. Who owns the property? The following persons own land where the project is designed to go and were given property options by the AARP: Cayce Kiger, Derrick and Pat Chitwood, Timothy and Pamela Sherwood, Prudential Preview Properties, Gerald and Karen Bordine, Phyllis Thacker, Bernard and Anna Rathke, Harold Thomas Jr, Maisel Associates of Michigan, Mary Gados, Ron Heath, Frank and Joyce Satarino, Avner Bashman, Ricky and Janice Kiger, Irene Tomacek, Robert and Judith Gable, Richard and Ann Boyd, Richard and Juanita Archeja, and Gerald and Mary Ann Jones.
12. How is the land being used now? It is zoned for agricultural.
13. Is there a tax abatement Involved? No.
14. What is the 62-poInt plan being discussed and what legal obligation does the railroad have to live up to the conditions? Prior to approving the rezoning, the Milan Township Board negotiated a 62-point agreement in which the company agreed to things like a one-time $700,000 payment to the township to assist it in getting city water and an annual payment of a $150,000 impact fee. It also includes details like buffers and trees AARP must build around the site. A legal opinion by an Ann Arbor attorney states that improvements done outside of the project’s property such as the impact fee, could be discontinued by the railroad with no penalty.
15. Does this project have anything to do with what Ann Arbor Railroad wants to do in Ida Township? Residents located on Douglas, Id Center and Todd Drs. In IdaTownship say they have asked by AARP representatives to sell a portion of their land in order to build a sidetrack, which commonly is used by railroad companies to switch or park trains off the main track. AARP, however, has yet to present a plan to Id Township officially.
16. How many registered voters are there in Milan Township? About 1,200.
17. Has there been an increase in voters registering to vote leading up to the election? Yes. About 30 to 35 people have registered with the Milan Township clerk in recent months.
18. Does it affect anyone outside of Milan township? Wells Rd. is the east border of the rail center property. It is also the dividing line between Milan and London Townships.
19. Do they have a vote? No. Only officially registered voters in Milan Township can vote on the issue.
20. Has an environmental Impact study been completed? Midwest Environmental Consultants, hired by AARP, performed an environmental impact study on the property and concluded that its impact on the community and its neighbors would be "minimal to insignificant." The study was sent to the Southeast Eastern Michigan Council of Governments, which reportedly concurred with the study. |
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