Brandon Twp.- Nearly five months after the Planning Commission turned back a plan by the Silverman Development Group to excavate a township parcel, they are set to consider it again.
A public hearing regarding a request by the Detroit-area development company to excavate and remove approximately 170,000 yards of material from the 48-acre parcel located off M-15 behind and to the north of Solley’s Appliance and Fireplace Center will begin at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 9, at the township offices, 395 Mill St.
‘I’m concerned about the state they’re going to leave it in,? says Kathy Sparks, one of several property owners whose land is adjacent to the planned excavation site. ‘They want to take away the pretty part of that property and leave it as a massive hole… We’ll be forced to live with the land in a scorched state, because they have no immediate plans to develop.?
The planning commission initially sent back the plan to Silverman following a 5-1 vote at the Aug. 16 meeting, saying, ‘this project shall have a significant impact in a number of areas.?
Two major reasons were cited as truck traffic and environmental impact.
The property to be developed borders the backyards of several residents along Hadley and Oakhill roads. In addition, the parcel exits to M-15 within about 50 feet of a 20-acre nature sanctuary, with a conservation easement owned by the Michigan Nature Association, which purchased the rights to the land in 1994. A conservation easement (or conservation restriction) is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values.
Originally, a completion date of about 30 days was suggested, with an estimated 4,250 gravel trucks, each containing about 40 yards of aggregate, exiting the property onto M-15 during the duration of the project.
‘Our primary concerns were how to handle traffic, the encroachment on wetlands, and effect on finished grades and restoration,? said Tim Palulian, township building director. ‘They had an overview, but not enough specifics. They claim now they have specifics and will satisfy our residents? concerns.?
Final plans have been submitted to the Michigan Department of Transportation, although the planning commission has yet to see the final permits. Palulian expects they will be provided at the hearing.
In his most recent discussions with Silverman, Palulian has been told the company will maintain a 25-foot buffer, with no encroachment on wetlands. He notes that to get as much material out as Silverman wants, they will need to double the amount of time needed for completion to 60 days (with perfect weather) and modify the hours the trucks would be hauling.
The planning commission has also requested a graphic from the company showing property owners what the finished grade will look like. A complete restoration plan is also needed.
‘If they meet all the criteria, we cannot say, ‘No, you can’t extract,?? Palulian said. ‘We can regulate the extraction, but not prevent it.?
The property is zoned for single and/or multiple family housing. Bingham Farm-based Silverman Companies and its real estate organizations, develop master-planned communities, multi-family apartments and retail shopping centers throughout the Midwest. Last year, Silverman developed Long Lake Village west of M-15 near Seymour Lake Road, which is planned to eventually include 93 single-family homes on 67 acres. Centex Homes in Southfield has built 10 homes there, five of which have sold.
Steve Robinson, a Silverman representative, could not be reached for comment.