BINGHAM TWP. — Dana Wilkerson has lived along Wildcat Road, just outside the city of St. Johns, for nearly 20 years.
She likes the tight-knit, rural feel of her neighborhood, where she and the walkers who pass by might spot deer, turkeys or cranes.
But, if Clinton County planning commissioners OK an out-of-state developer’s rezoning request, making way for what Wilkerson and her neighbors fear would be a three-story apartment complex with more than 300 units and about 700 parking spaces at the northeast corner of Scott and Wildcat roads, she’ll move.
“There’s definitely more appropriate places to build up,” Wilkerson, 54, said. “I’m probably not the only one, but I know that if they do change the zoning, I’ll be selling my home, which makes me incredibly sad.
“I had planned on staying here, but I have no desire for, No. 1, the construction phase, and then, No. 2, how it’s going to impact the neighborhood after that. I’m not incredibly happy. I understand the need for housing and I get it. Like I said, I think there’s more appropriate spots in St. Johns,” she said.
Wilkerson and other Wildcat and Scott road residents plan to protest the possible traffic, drainage, infrastructure, and other challenges the rezoning of 47 acres from single-family to multi-family purposes could bring, along with the threat to their landscape, at the Monday, Aug. 10, Bingham Township Board meeting.
Supervisor John Weber already has written a letter in support of rezoning the property that’s close to U.S. 127, a highway that connects to both Lansing and Mt. Pleasant. Weber declined to comment, saying in an email, he was out of the state.
Clinton County has planning and zoning jurisdiction over the township, and the county Planning Commission will consider the rezoning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the county courthouse, 100 E. State St., in St. Johns. A public hearing and vote are planned.
Any vote will be a recommendation for the full Board of Commissioners. The county’s future land use for the 47 acres is mixed use.
St. Johns Mayor Scott Dzurka did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Clinton County Planning Commission Chair Jan Motz or Vice Chair Dawn Levey.
Zach Abraham, a 41-year-old lifelong resident of the St. Johns area, now lives on Wildcat Road.
“A lot of us on this road, too, bought here, because it’s a nice area of town,” he said. “We’re just as close to Kroger as living in town, but we get this country rural feel. It’s a nice dead end road, limited traffic. Everybody knows everybody.
“Is there a need for single family housing? Yeah. There really is,” he added. “I know right now housing isn’t cheap. I think we’re all aware of that. And I think really the residents here on Wildcat – I don’t want to speak for everybody – but we’d all be much more in favor of having low density single-family houses vs. this higher density apartment complex.”
Township supervisor supports rezoning, potential housing
Weber wrote a letter to Lynn Wilson, Clinton County’s interim planning and zoning director, which is included in the materials planning commissioners are reviewing for their Thursday, Aug. 13, meeting.
“When the future zoning map was created for Clinton County, the Wildcat Road and Scott Road area was considered ideal for such development,” Weber said in his letter. “The future need was more housing development and an apartment complex fulfills that need.
“The water and sewer infrastructure is ready on both Scott Road and the east side of the property. Regarding the apartment complex, my understanding is that it will be built in multiple phases over several years. With that also comes, hopefully, more kids to hep fill the loss of students in our schools.
“I have been told we are losing 5 to 8% in enrollment every year for the past few years — a trend that will not keep our schools open and functioning properly,” the letter states.
What’s under consideration on Wildcat Road?
A planning consultant for the city of St. Johns documented a rezoning request by Cash Waggner & Associates of Jasper, Indiana, that included a “concept” of constructing 324 apartment units.
County Controller and Administrator John Fuentes insists the rezoning request to convert the 47-acre parcel zoned for single-family use into a multi-family purpose is just that — a rezoning request from Wesley Swanson, a township resident, and Nathan Waggner of Cash Waggner & Associates.
“What’s under consideration at the planning commission level is actually a rezoning,” Fuentes said. “It’s not approving a project. I understand there’s opposition to a project but there’s not a project under consideration yet. (However), It will allow for future development. Affordable housing is a concern.”
Swanson could not be reached and Waggner did not respond to messages.
Will rezoning lead to housing, more growth?
The rezoning petition emphasizes a housing demand in the Scott and Wilder area.
“Housing demand and development patterns in the area have changed, creating a need for additional multifamily housing options,” Swanson and Waggner said. “The property is suitable for higher-density residential use due to its location and access to surrounding infrastructure and services. Approval would support orderly residential growth and provide additional housing opportunities where infrastructure and surrounding land uses can support multifamily development.”
While Fuentes said there is no apartment complex housing yet to consider, McKenna, the city of St. Johns’ planning consultant in Grand Rapids, analyzed the rezoning request and, in its findings, mentioned a “concept” for 324 units. McKenna’s analysis is included in the packet materials for the Thursday session.
“The County Planning Commission should take into account infrastructure considerations,” Vice President Chris Khorey and Senior Planner Remy Clark said in their June analysis. “This development would also create urgency around upgrades to the intersection of M-21 and Scott Road.”
McKenna’s recommendations were for split zoning, where just the western part of the parcel would be rezoned for multi-family purposes, a conditional rezoning cap of 324 units, and a planned unit development that would establish the eastern side as preserved open space.
“I hope that they reject it,” Wilkerson said. “I hope that they find a different location. I love where I live. I was not hoping to leave.”
Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Residents just outside of St. Johns fight rezoning, feared apartment complex
Reporting by Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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By Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
