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PAGE 6 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN May 2, 2019

BELLEVILLE - ROMULUS

Zoning revised to appeal to ‘upscale’ development

Scott Spielman development director for the City larger trees, walking paths and the area, but it would not fit in attorney representing the devel-
Special Writer of Romulus. high-end architectural features. under the proposed changes. The oper, said he was surprised to
“We have the opportunity to Because there is residential city had a study session sched- learn the study session had been
Members of the Romulus City do some very good things here,” nearby and to avoid the stress on uled with the group, but can- cancelled.
Council approved an overlay dis- he said. “We don't want to have infrastructure, warehouse, logis- celled and decided to finalize the “We think there's merit to this
trict recently that will pave the heavy truck traffic dominating tics and other uses that require zoning change, which planners project,” he said. “We think
way for additional upscale devel- it.” heavy trucks are not permitted. had worked on for most of last there's an opportunity to work
opment within the city. The area is currently zoned as “We didn't want to change the year. the issues out, and we're just ask-
The Vining Road Subarea a regional center, which would underlying zoning to regional “At the end of the day, it didn't ing for an opportunity to present
Overlay District, centered near allow virtually every type of use, center. We wanted to get some complement what was around it.”
Wick and Vining roads, would from commercial to industrial, additional uses on that property. it,” said Keyes. The zoning overlay was
allow for some additional uses in residential and retail. The over- What we did not want was ware- Keyes said the city had been approved, with only
the regional center zoning, but lay district would allow for some housing, distribution logistics or working with the developer on Councilwoman Virginia Williams
prohibit the type of heavy ware- additional complementary uses those uses or heavy truck traffic,” that project, and there were plen- voting against it.
house and truck use that some on the 300+ acres of land, includ- said Keyes. “We wanted to attract ty of areas within the city that it “We do not want 18-wheelers
developers had sought to place ing office, research and develop- development that would bring a would fit. Property south of the over there on that property,” said
there. It's a continuation of efforts ment, and some engineering, pro- lot of jobs, but not a lot of trucks.” airport, about 5 miles away from Councilwoman Eva Webb. “This
to drive development to the area vided they were created on cam- Recently, Northpoint the overlay district, is already overlay keeps these acres for
that had long been vacant in the pus-like settings with deep set- Development had proposed a zoned for that type of use. retail, for condos over by the
city, said Tim Keyes, economic backs, additional landscaping, $170 million development within Timothy Stoepker, a land use lake-we want to keep that there.”

Review department to collect overdue City banners will honor veterans
water bills which could create a
cash flow problem. He also Banners that pay tribute to Memorial Day and Veterans Day, to be used the following year for
FROM PAGE 1 expressed concerns about the individuals that have served in respectively. The banners will $50.
failure of the treasurer to review the Armed Forces will be on dis- honor those in active duty as well The goal of the program was
at the time of “settlement.” When banking proposals which could play in downtown Romulus dur- as those honorably discharged to recognize and honor “the
Sumpter Township sends the col- cost the township in potential ing a ceremony from 5 to 6 p.m. from the U.S. Armed Forces. brave individuals who are serv-
lected $1.63 million to the county, interest and lower banking fees. Monday, May 6, at the Romulus The double-sided color ban- ing or have served in the United
the $16,400 or 1-percent interest Bednark denied that the office Historical Park Pavilion, 36095 ners are 18 by 36 inches. Each States Armed Forces,” Druyor
per month will be deducted from was non-compliant, challenging Goddard Road. has a photo of a member of the said.
the tax amount due back to the the lost revenue and costs that The viewing and reception for military along with the name, There is limited space avail-
township. Any delinquent taxes Holtz reported to the trustees at the Inaugural Military Tribute dates of service and branch of able to add banners this year as
due Sumpter Township which the meeting. Banner Program is sponsored by the military. well.
have been collected by Wayne Bednark was elected to fill the the City of Romulus and DDA Director Merrie Druyor Those interested in sponsor-
County are also paid to the town- unexpired term in the treasurer's Downtown Development said the program started in ing a banner for heroes or fami-
ship at settlement. office created when Morgan Authority (DDA). February. Military families had lies unable to do so on their own
“The longer we wait for settle- moved from that office to become Fourteen tribute banners until March 29 to purchase ban- can make a donation to Romulus
ment, the longer we do not have supervisor. Peggy Morgan served were installed May 1 on poles in ners for $150 apiece. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
those funds,” Holtz said. He said as interim treasurer until downtown Romulus and will be At the end of November, the 9568.
he discovered the funds had not Bednark's election last fall. His on display during May and banners will be given to the fami- For more information on the
been distributed to Wayne County unexpired term will end in November, the months of lies to store. They will be eligible program, call (734) 955-4531.
in his regular reconciliation of November of 2020.
the bank accounts. During the meeting last week,
Holtz has resigned the position the former treasurer took the Happy
to become the Lenawee County microphone during the public
finance director. He said that his comment portion of the agenda Arbor Day
decision to leave the township and stated that before she left
was due, in part, to the lack of office, the township auditor gave Sumpter Township was
communication with the treasur- the treasurer's office a clean bill awarded a $500 grant from
er's office which made it impossi- of health, a direct contradiction to the Department of Natural
ble for him to do his job. Bednark's reported remarks that Resources and Supervisor
“It was my job to oversee the he inherited an office in disarray. John W. Morgan, at right,
general expense level and ensure Morgan added that his assis- whose office applied for the
that financial matters are correct- tant, who also worked as the grant, gave Eastern White
Pine Tree seedlings away
ly reported. I was also responsi- deputy treasurer for many years to Sumpter Township resi-
ble for the bank account reconcil- “could straighten this out very dents to celebrate Arbor
iations and watching the cash quickly,” but that Bednark will Day April 24. Administrative
management for the township,” not accept help from those expe- Assistant Karen Wooding-
Holtz said. rienced with township finance. ton helped distribute the
Holtz prepared a report for the “The finance director told me 100 trees which were
board trustees detailing six per- that this is now such a mess of ordered from the Arbor Day
formance or procedure inade- misapplied and commingled Foundation. The township
quacies by Bednark's office which funds that he doubts even the also purchased seven
he said need “immediate atten- auditors will be able to straighten books on the subject of
tion.” The top two were the fail- it out,” Morgan said. trees which are being
donated to the new
ure to immediately send the $1.6 “Did I stutter? There is no late Belleville Area District
million in collected tax funds to fee, this is all fallacious informa- Library branch being built
the county, the school district and tion,” Bednark said. in the township.
other taxing entities. Others “There is no documentation of
include the failure of Bednark's any of this. It is all fabricated.”

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