Harrison Township Trustees approve new master plan

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Nearly one year after the planning process began, the Harrison Township Board of Trustees approved and adopted the Resilient Harrison 2040 master plan.

Approved at the board’s Nov. 12 meeting, the final version of the plan came to the board after a public hearing led by the Planning Commission on Oct. 17 and input on several matters from Selfridge Air National Guard Base concerning finer points and future planning opportunities.

 

Gas station rezoning
On Nov. 12, a potential rezoning for a gas station was sent back to the Planning Commission for further review.

According to Treasurer Lawerance Tomenello, the owner of the 25450 N. River Road wanted to change the rezoning, originally requested from local commercial to general commercial, to a conditional rezoning.

“I would not recommend taking action, that we take action, because we need to understand what that conditional rezoning is,” Tomenello said.

As for how a conditional rezoning differs from a normal rezoning, township attorney Robert Huth offered a summary for trustees.

“It’s basically a contract with the township where they say, ‘If you give us this rezoning, we promise to do A, B and C,’” Huth said. “They didn’t used to have to make the A, B and C promise. As you look at it, you’ll see there’s more assurances that you’re getting what you pay for, so to speak.”

 

Sidewalk engineering
Trustees also approved paying engineering firm Wade Trim $9,600 for the engineering work on the township’s 2024 sidewalk replacements.

The overall project, estimated to cost around $112,500 and approved at a prior meeting, is to finish outstanding sidewalk repairs from 2023 and replace existing sidewalks and accessibility ramps. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.