Attorneys for the City of Detroit
attempted to reclaim the 190 acres dur-
ing three years of legal wrangling. A final
township appeal to the state Supreme
Courtmet with a refusal by the justices to
hear the matter and the lower court rul-
ing to return the land to Detroit upheld.
Attorneys for the city successfully argued
in both circuit and appeals court that
municipally-owned land, by state law, is
exempt fromtax foreclosure.
That decision prompted efforts to
recoup taxes paid by the township on the
portion of the land determined to be the
property of the City of Detroit. Township
attorney Kevin Bennett told the board
members and audience that he was not
involved in the negotiation of the settle-
ment or the drafting of the agreement.
According the language of the stipulat-
ed agreement, the dispute between the
county and township regarding adjust-
ment of the subject taxes was settled “in
avoidance of potential litigation and in
furtherance of returning the property to
productive use…”
The agreement states that if the town-
ship sells, assigns or transfers ownership
of the 133 acres or any part is developed
(or underdeveloped) for fair market
value, the township is entitled to retain
$606,150 from the sale or transfer along
with reasonable attorney fees not to
exceed $135,000.
The settlement agreement also states
that acknowledgement is a compromise
of disputed claims and “nothing con-
tained herein shall be construed as an
admission of liability or wrongdoing on
the part of any party.” The agreement
will also allow the township to retain any
money spent on demolition or infrastruc-
ture improvements at the site.
City of Detroit officials have indicated
that the 190-acre section they own at the
site is also on the market although no
price has been announced.
The two sites are adjacent to another
125 acres of former prison property at
Five Mile and Beck which are now
ownedby the state landbank.
State Rep. Kurt Heise, who will
become the new Plymouth Township
Supervisor following his successful
write-in campaign in August, was instru-
mental in obtaining state grant funds to
demolish buildings at the land bank site
which he often referred to as “an eye-
sore.”
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
P
AGE
3
September 29, 2016
N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
Local family fights eviction by township
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF PLYMOUTH
NOTICE OF THE CLOSE OF REGISTRATION
FOR THE NOVEMBER 8, 2016 STATE GENERAL ELECTION
Notice is hereby given to Plymouth Township residents that
October 11, 2016
is the last day to register to vote in order to be eli-
gible to vote in the November 8, 2016 State General Election. Below is a listing of the offices and proposals that will be on the
election ballot:
Partisan Section
Straight Party Ticket, Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, Representative in Congress - 11th District,
Representative in State Legislature - 20th District, Member of the State Board of Education, Regent of the University of
Michigan, Trustee Michigan State University, Governor of Wayne State University, County: Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Clerk,
Treasurer, Register of Deeds, County Commissioner - 10th District, Township: Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer, Trustee
Nonpartisan Section
Judicial: Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice of the Supreme Court Incumbent Position (Partial Term Ending 01/01/2019). Judge
of the Court of Appeals - 1st District Incumbent Position, Judge of Circuit Court - 3rd Circuit Incumbent Position, Judge of
Circuit Court - 3rd District Non-incumbent Position, Judge of Circuit Court - 3rd Circuit Incumbent Position (Partial Term
Ending 01/01/2019), Judge of Probate Court - Incumbent Position, Judge of District Court - Incumbent Position
Community College: Board of Trustee Member Schoolcraft Community College
Local School District: Board Member Plymouth-Canton Community Schools - 6 Year Term, Board Member Plymouth-Canton
Community Schools - 4 Year Term
District Library: Board Member Plymouth District
Proposal Section
Authority
A Proposal Authorizing the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
(RTA) to Levy an Assessment
The proposal would authorize the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) to levy within Macomb, Oakland,
Washtenaw, and Wayne counties a property tax assessment
• At a rate of 1.2 mils ($1.20 per $1,000 of taxable value),
• For 20 years beginning in 2016 and ending in 2035
• That may not be increased, renewed, or used for other purposes without direct voter approval and
• To be used upon the affirmative vote of an RTA board member from each RTA member jurisdiction for the purpose of
construction and operation of a public transportation system connecting Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne
counties, including rapid transit bus routes across county lines, specialized service for senior citizens and people with
disabilities, commuter rail, airport express service, and other public transportation purposes permitted by law, consistent
with RTA bylaws and subject to the limitations of the Regional Transit Authority Act.
If the new additional assessment is approved and levied, revenue will be distributed to the RTA, it is estimated that $160,907,285
will be collected in the first year.
Should the assessment be approved?
Intermediate School District
Regional Enhancement Millage Proposal
Pursuant to state law, the revenue raised by the proposed enhancement millage will be collected by the Wayne County Regional
Educational Service Agency and distributed to local public school districts within the boundaries of the Wayne County Regional
Educational Service Agency based on pupil membership count.
Shall the limitation on the amount of ad valorem taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the Wayne County Regional
Educational Service Agency, Michigan, be increased by 2.00 mils ($2.00 per thousand dollars of taxable value) for a period of
six (6) years, 2016 to 2021, inclusive, as new additional millage to provide operating funds to enhance other state and local fund-
ing for local school district operating purposes? It is estimated that 2 mils would raise approximately $80,000,000 when first
levied in 2016.
The revenue from the millage will be distributed to the following school districts:
Allen Park Public Schools, Crestwood School District, Dearborn City School District, Dearborn Heights School District #7,
Detroit Public Schools Community District, Ecorse Public School District, Flat Rock Community Schools, School District of the
City of Garden City, Gibraltar School District, Grosse Ile Township Schools, The Grosse Pointe Public School System,
Hamtramck Public Schools, City of Harper Woods Schools, School District of the City of Highland Park, Huron School District,
School District of the City of Lincoln Park, Livonia Public Schools, Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools, Northville Public
Schools, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Redford Union School District, River Rouge School District, Riverview
Community School District, Romulus Community Schools, Southgate Community School District, South Redford School
District, Taylor School District, Trenton Public Schools, Van Buren Public Schools, Wayne-Westland Community School
District, Westwood Community Schools, Woodhaven-Brownstown School District, Wyandotte City School District
Residents of Plymouth Township who are not already registered to vote may register at a Secretary of State Branch Office or
State Designated Agency, or by visiting the Clerk's Office at Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 N. Haggerty Rd., Plymouth, MI,
48170, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mail-in registrations postmarked by October 11,
2016 will also be accepted.
Nancy Conzelman
Plymouth Township Clerk
Publish: September 29, 2016
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF PLYMOUTH
PLANNING COMMISSION
PROPOSED ACTION:
Request Approval of a Special Land Use
DATE OF HEARING:
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
TIME OF HEARING:
7:00 P.M.
PLACE OF HEARING:
Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 N. Haggerty Road
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Plymouth has received an applica-
tion requesting SPECIAL LAND USE APPROVAL for a shopping center with drive-through facilities on Tax ID No. R-78-005-
99-0001-001, pursuant to Zoning Ordinance No. 99. The property is located south of Five Mile Road, west of Beck Road, and
north of Clipper Street. The existing address is 15275 Beck Road. The site is zoned C-2, General Commercial.
Application:
2217-0916
Applicant:
JB Beck LLC
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: For parcel/lot descriptions, see tax records based on Tax ID No. R-78-005-99-0001-001.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN
that persons interested are requested to be present. Pertinent information relative to the appli-
cation may be examined at the Plymouth Township Division of Public Services, Community Development Department, during
regular business hours from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Written comments will be received prior to the meeting and may be mailed
to 9955 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth, MI 48170, or call 734-354-3270, ext. 5. The meeting will be held in the Town Hall
Meeting Room at Plymouth Township Hall, which is located at 9955 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth, MI 48170.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE:
The Charter Township of Plymouth will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such
as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at all Township meetings, to individu-
als with disabilities at the meetings/hearings, upon one week notice to the Charter Township of Plymouth by writing or calling
the Supervisor's Office, 9955 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth, MI 48170. Phone: 734-354-3201. TDD users: 800-849-3777
(Michigan Relay Service).
PUBLISH: September 29, 2016
KENDRA BARBERENA, SECRETARY
PLANNING COMMISSION
PT092916-0086 2.5 x 6.278
Northville Parent Teacher
Association (PTA) Legislative
Action Network representatives
from across the school district
are partnering to host a Board of
Education Candidates Forum
from 7:30-9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4,
in the Hillside Middle School
Forum, 775 North Center St. in
Northville, at the corner of
Center Street and Eight Mile
Road.
Five candidates are vying for
four open four-year terms on the
school board. The candidates
include Laurie Doner, who is
seeking her first term; Scott
Frush, who is seeking his first
term; current incumbent board
Vice
President
Cynthia
Jankowski, who is seeking her
second term; current Trustee
Sarah Prescott, whowas appoint-
ed to the board in September
2015 and is seeking her first full
four-year term and current
incumbent board Treasurer
MatthewWilk, who is running for
his second term.
The forum format will include
opening and closing statements
from each of the candidates, as
well as an opportunity for audi-
ence members to submit ques-
tions for the candidates to the
moderator. For those unable to
attend, a videotape of the forum
will air on the Comcast
Educational Channel at 8 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 10.
“All school district voters are
encouraged to come to Hillside
onOct. 4 to hear directly from the
candidates on their views and
goals regarding Northville Public
Schools,” said JayneWatson, PTA
LAN representative for
Winchester Elementary School.
“PTA LAN reps are hosting this
Candidates Forum so voters can
make informed choices on issues
that impact our children and our
community. Most importantly, we
encourage everyone to go to the
polls and vote on Tuesday, Nov.
8.”
The Oct. 4 Candidates Forum
will follow a Northville Board of
Education Committee of the
Whole Meeting slated to take
place at 6 p.m. in the Hillside
Media Center, across from the
forum. The Candidates Forum
will get underway at 7:30 p.m.
The Board of Education elec-
tion will be part of the nation-
wide ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 8
General Election.
For more information about
the Board of Education
Candidates Forum, contact Jayne
Watson
at
jwatson.MI
@gmail.com
A routine building inspection
has turned into a nightmare for
Plymouth Township business
owner Pat Gallagher.
Gallagher, 51, the owner of
Restoration Station on Ann
Arbor Trail, was charged with a
zoning violation after a township
fire department inspector visited
his building in May and found
him and his family living on the
premises in an attached build-
ing. Fire Inspector Bill Conroy
then reported the violation to the
township ordinance officer, who
issued a “Notice of Correction”
ordering Gallagher and his fami-
ly to vacate the property by June
28.
Court documents show
Gallagher, who is rumored to
have lost his home several years
ago, converted one half of the
building into residential use and
resides there with his wife and
children, ages 9 weeks and 15
months.
Gallagher's land onAnnArbor
Trail is zoned C-1 and comes
under township adopted ordi-
nance No. 99, Neighborhood
Shopping District. The ordi-
nance specifies principle per-
mitted uses, none of which
specifically rule out Gallagher's
business of rebuilding, refinish-
ing and restoringwood furniture.
However, Gallagher applied for
and received a Special LandUse
permit from the Township
Planning Commission in 1999
that allows his type of business
operation. The ordinance does
not allow or restrict residential
occupancy, per se.
Within a month of the Notice
of Correction, township attorney
and prosecutor Kevin Bennett
filed a complaint in the 35th
District Court citing the ordi-
nance violation. A summons was
issued and an arraignment
scheduled for Aug. 26.
Gallagher, represented by
Plymouth attorney Kenneth
Harrison, applied for and
received approval of a
Temporary Restraining Order in
the Wayne County Circuit Court,
prohibiting the township from
evicting him and his family from
their home.
Gallagher was granted a pre-
liminary injunction at a show
cause hearing before Judge
Daphne Means Curtis on Sept.
20. Harrison argued that
Gallagher would suffer irrepara-
ble harmand loss if the township
were permitted to enforce the
current zoning ordinance in
“what is alleged to be a legal
non-conforming use.” His veri-
fied complaint said enforcement
wouldmake the family homeless
and taking the property without
just compensation is in violation
of both state and federal consti-
tutions.
The property located near
Haggerty Road is the former
Tommy's Hardware. Gallagher,
through his attorney, claims the
owner of that business also
resided on the property with his
family.
The violation notice was dis-
cussed at the Sept.13 meeting of
the Township Board of Trustees
when Bennett and Chief
Building Official Mark Lewis
sought direction.
Both said they thought
Gallagher was placing his family
in harm's way and the current
situation was a tragedy in the
making. “I don't know what's
behind that wall…” Lewis said.
Bennett told board members
that C-1 zoning does not allow a
residence for principal or spe-
cial use.
Lewis described Gallagher's
work on constructing the living
quarters as “beautiful,” but said
he feels his business operations
with the solvents and materials
he regularly uses are not safe.
“It's like having a huge garage in
your home…We're concerned
about saving lives,” Lewis said.
Harrison said he thinks it is a
matter of non-conformity. “In
Old-Town there's zoning where
you can have a business and res-
idence together. It's a contested
issue-there's merit to both sides,
and it's going wind down to a fac-
tual matter which has to be
decidedby the court.”
Trustee Chuck Curmi told
boardmembers he felt therewas
a problem with inconsistencies
in the ordinances.
“This is a sticky situation
because you're going to have a
homeless family…I want to fig-
ure out a way to work this out…I
don't want these people to be out
in the street in thewinter.”
Supervisor Shannon Price
affirmed he wanted to work with
the Gallagher family “…and look
at health and safety issues.”
A trial date has been set for
Feb. 27, 2017 in Wayne County
Circuit Court.
Tax
FROM PAGE 1
Don Howard
Staff Writer
All school district voters are
encouraged to come to Hillside on Oct. 4...
”
Board of Education candidates’ forum set
