The following is a chronicle of the gas station issue.
The Dexter Township Zoning Board of Appeals, was not happy with the way the January meeting was conducted and remanded the issue back to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commision needs to decide the issue again.
The gas station planned near the intersection of Dexter-Pinckney and North Territorial Roads is currently on hold pending the resolution of a lawsuit against the developers.
The Planning Commission voted 4 to 3 to approve the conditional use permit, thus allowing the developer to build the gas station. However this action will be appealed.
The November request was rejected. In spite of numerous rejections, the developers plan to submit yet another proposal to the Planning Commission. This time they intend to use a plastic layer in lieu of a natural clay layer. The planning commission will meet at 7:30PM Tuesday January 23 to discuss the latest in a long line of proposals.
For more information, see the copy of the J&L Report. This report reviews the feasibility of using a plastic layer in lieu of a natural clay layer.
George Kunkle, a professional geologist, has written a critique of this report. George believes the plastic layer is not adequate protection and the site should not be developed. See George Kunkle's Letter for more information.
The developer of the gas station has asked the Planning Commission to bring his project up to a vote. Since the developer did not find a clay layer at the site, the Commission will probably vote against the gas station. This vote will take place at 7:30PM on Tuesday November 28, 2000. (See November 6, 2000. "No Clay Layer May Halt Station Plan." The Ann Arbor News).
The test borings on the site of the proposed gas station found sand but no clay. Considering the proximity of a wetland and the Huron River, this makes the site a poor choice for a gas station. It is now very unlikely a gas station will be built on this site.
On Tuesday September 26, 2000, the Dexter Township Planning Commission voted to allow the construction of a gas station provided the developer meets certain conditions. This gas station would be located on the corner of North Territorial and Dexter-Pinckney Roads approximately one mile from Peach Mountain Observatory. (Peach Mountain and Dexter Township are located near Ann Arbor, Michigan.) The developer has been denied the necessary permits two different times since September 1998. If it is built, this would be the first business to locate so close to the observatory and is completely unnecessary. This decision was made even though the residents of Dexter Township do not want the gas station built. Dexter Township will place restrictions on the developer and on the gas station he plans to build. The final approval of the site plan depends upon the results from test borings that will determine if there is a satisfactory natural underground containment basin. If the test fails, the site plan will not be approved. If this gas station is built, even with the restrictions, it may generate excessive light pollution. (Some information about this issue appeared in the Ann Arbor News - see September 26, 2000. "Stargazers Worried about Light Pollution." The Ann Arbor News. This was printed before the September 26 vote.)
Our concern here is that once development of one of these projects starts, there may be many other companies wanting to build in the area. Without a development plan, uncontrolled development is very likely and uncontrolled development can lead to many problems, including light pollution.
The Peach Mountain Observatory attracts hundreds of visitors on a good night. Light pollution due to uncontrolled development will result in this valuable community resource becoming essentially useless.
If you have comments about this issue, send email to NoGasStation@aol.com