The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

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CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARIAN SUTTON
ORLO KIRKUM	SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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Lawsuit against township
results in land rezoning

by JENNIFER PRESTON
Observer Staff Writer

      The Bruce Township Board of Trustees voted Jan. 21 to rezone 4.5 acres on the southwest corner of M-53 and 36 Mile from office (O-1) to commercial (C-1).
       The property belongs to William A. and Mary Ann Schaufler, and the rezoning was a response to the Macomb County Circuit Court decision handed down Jan. 11, 1995 pertaining to a lawsuit filed against the township by the property-owners for the township's refusal to rezone the property. At the time, the property was actually zoned as residential, and the township did rezone it to O-1 in an attempt to appease the owners.
       The long lapse of time between the court decision and the actual rezoning wasn't that atypical, Township Supervisor Gary Schocke said.
       "This wasn't a township initiative, and until someone came in to develop or market the property, there wasn't really a push to formally rezone it. It's my understanding that people have shown interest in the property now."
       The rezoning covers 400 feet along 36 Mile and 495 feet along Van Dyke, which is currently occupied by an approximately 1,040 square foot cement block building, first constructed in 1951. The building was utilized initially as a restaurant, and over the years has also been used for a plumbing and heating business, motorcycle repair, cabinet shop, craft shop and other similar uses.
       "In 23 years, this was the one and only zoning lawsuit the township has faced," Schocke said.
       At the meeting, the board also:
       * Heard a report from Supervisor Schocke about a recent sewer backup in the Greenland Subdivision. Schocke stated that this backup reinforced the need for a preventative maintenance program that would involve the periodic cleaning of the sewer lines. Schocke said he would research the matter further, and possibly get bids from different companies or municipalities, namely Washington Township, who offer the service.
       * Approved the final site condo plan for East Mill Pond Development.
       * Heard the treasurer's quarterly report.
       * Approved the township's Workman's Compensation Premium of $37,447.