Jan 3, 2000
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Monroe Evening News Distribution center is concern of all area residents Many Milan city and London Township residents have voiced disapproval of the railroad/truck distribution center, which has been proposed for approximately 1,000 acres between Milan and Dundee at the Cone Rd. exit. These same residents have also voiced dismay that they are not allowed to vote against this proposal at the Feb.22 election. Also, some residents are under the mistaken belief that this is a "done deal." It is not a "done deal." Please become informed. Ask questions and read reports about this issue. It has successfully been placed on a referendum to be voted on by those very residents who are supposedly the most financially benefited. A resounding 540 signatures were collected to place this question on the ballot. Does that mean they feel it is not in the best interest of the surrounding area? Do they actually believe the financial benefits are real? Would they rather have development come into the area that would better serve Milan and themselves? This distribution center will not affect just the neighbors in the immediate area; it will cause traffic delays and tie-ups in every municipality south of Milan and on every county road where the tracks cross. This means Azalia, Dundee and Ida will be affected. The distribution center will create much heavier truck traffic (an estimated 1,200 truck trips per day) on US-23. It will increase the train traffic in Milan proper, if for no other reason than additional cars will be funneled through this center The estimate is approximately 14 trains per day at 60 cars per train. I would like to encourage everyone concerned with this development to voice his/her thoughts through letters to the editor to the Milan, Monroe or Ann Arbor papers. I would like to encourage everyone to make their wishes known to local officials. I would like to encourage everyone to talk with the Milan Township residents who are allowed to vote and voice your concerns. You do have a voice in your future. You do not have to accept every development as inevitable. This is not the first proposal the people of Milan have had to rally against. The MCATS (Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances) were successful in their efforts. The MACC (Milan Area Concerned Citizens) can and will be just as successful. Many area citizens have been fighting this development. Please give them your support. Let them know you agree with them. Speak out? Marcia Bolog Editor’s note: Chuck Hall, development manager for Transdevelopment Corp., the engineering firm overseeing the project, pointed to a document submitted to the Milan Township Planning Commission by AAR Properties LLC, a division of Ann Arbor Railroad. That document cites an estimate that, each day, four to six empty trains would enter the site and four to six loaded trains would leave the site; AAR Properties also says that, "in the event that the daily average number of trains (cars) during any four months of any nine-month period exceeds eight in and/or eight out," the firm would submit new rail and traf-fic impact studies and make any needed roadway and rail improvements. |
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