Panel to hear sawmill opponents
Blanchard-area property owners to state case before commission over proposed rezoning
Isabella County commissioners will hear from property owners opposed to a proposed rezoning in the Blanchard area to allow the construction of a sawmill.
Irving and Kim Preston, who live near the proposed sawmill at 10297 S. Wymanroad, asked commissioners to hear why they don’t think the property should be rezoned.
Planning commissioners recommended, during their Sept. 10 meeting, authorizing the rezoning fromagriculture 3 to Agriculture 2 on behalf of applicant Eli Hershberger. Ag-3 doesn’t permit sawmills, but Ag-2 does. Hershberger, who live on the property acquired itona landcontract fromthewendel and Jean Lee Revocable Trust on June 12, 2019.
The Prestons spoked in opposition at the meeting, saying that among other things the trucks would damage the roads, create a large volume of sawdust and potentially reduce the value of the property.
During the planning commission meeting, the county’s community development director, Tim Nieporte, provided commissioners with information about how many neighbors were opposed and how many supported, both within half a mile and within amile. For both, it was split exactly 50-50.
The planning commissioner split 5-3 in their vote to recommend the rezoning.
One of the commissioners who voted against was the county commission’s representative to the planning commission, Jimhorton. Horton is the county commission’s vice chairman and is a Republican representing District 4.
Horton said he not only voted against a similar request just one property to the north in 2019, but he brought forth the motion to turn it down. Citing a legal principle that the matter was previously settled, he said he’d have to vote
against it again but when it came before the county commission he’d support the planning commission’s decision.
Horton was joined in voting against it by planning commissioners Bob Campbell and Nathan Rogers. Commissioners Phil Vogel, Jerryneyer, Kellybean, Tim O’neill and Ann Silker voted in favor.
The vote does not bind the county commission, which has the final say in ann rezonings. During Tuesday afternoon’s work session, commissioners discussed a formal request from the Preston’s attorney, Mitchell Piper of Braun and Kendrick, for a hearing before the commission.
Commissioners voted unanimously to hold it on Nov. 17.
During theirwork session, commissioners were told by Administration Margaret Mcavoy that it isn’t a public hearing, in that while it held publicly, that all public comment made about the proposal would need to be made during the general public comment period of the meeting. During the rezoning hearing, only the Prestons and their representation would speak.
It’s not the first recent zoning controversy in the Blanchardarea. Injuly2019, commissioners voted to reject a proposed rezoning inside the village that would allow for the construction of a dollar store.
The proposed sawmill is just a fewmiles to due southeast from the village.