Letters to the Editor
Sunday, September 24, 2000
Clark-Conrail site better than Milan for GM center
I am writing to respond to the Sept. 15 article about General Motors
continuing its pursuit of the Milan Township transportation site. I am a
resident of London Township in Monroe County.
This proposed GM distribution center is 300 feet from the front door of my
home. I was never able to vote on this project, even though it's in my front
yard. I want people to know that there is more opposition than the people in
Milan Township. Did you know the proposed distribution center is on a
township line road? Did you know there are many people in Monroe and
Washtenaw counties that don't want this brownfield in their neighborhood?
I thought we lived in America; doesn't that mean anything anymore? Are money
and power the only voices left and common citizens mean nothing? The people
of this community have said "no" to GM from the beginning. It's not our
fault they spent all that money and time on this project. They should have
listened from day one. This proposed facility is in direct conflict with
Milan Township's master plan and zoning ordinances. Do laws mean nothing
anymore?
Does the GM spokesman understand what living in the country is? Does he know
what sunsets look like? Does he know what it's like to breath clean air?
Does he care?
The article talked about options. I have an option for GM. Mercer Management
Consulting in the greater Detroit area did an intermodal study for the
Michigan Department of Transportation.
There is a 300-plus-acre site available for just this type of industry. It
is the Cadillac Clark Street and Conrail Junction Yard. This has appropriate
zoning, infrastructure, an $18 million grant from the government and is
looking for someone to develop it. There is land adjacent to it that is
zoned industrial if you need a larger area. Why doesn't GM go there? In this
study, it was stated that this facility is sufficiently large enough to
accommodate all of the Detroit area's intermodal needs, both current and
projected. It has a railroad through it, and there is easy access to I-94
and I-75 highways.
GM, please respect the wishes of this community and look elsewhere for your
facility. Don't ruin the homes and lives of these people.
Teri J. Brewer
Milan