By Bruce Rolfe
The Charleston Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing May 26 at 7 p.m. at the township hall for the Planning Commission to consider a re-zoning request.
Public comment will be welcomed about a proposed development project at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and on L Avenue in Charleston Township that would require rezoning part or all of a parcel.
Interstate Capital would like to construct two 500,000 square foot light industry buildings expandable up to approximately 850,000 square feet, to lease out space to companies.
The 79.94 acres at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue is currently zoned light industrial. Interstate Capital has submitted an application to rezone the eastern 77.69 acres on L Avenue east of the property at the corner of 40th and L Avenue from agriculture to light industrial.
Residents expressed concern about potential noise, pollution, traffic, impact on water, and what the rezoning development would do to property values at the township’s Planning Commission meeting April 21.
Interstate Capital has stated a data center is not included in its plan and plans to create a buffer to minimize any impact for the residents.
Written comments may be submitted to the Charleston Township clerk at the Charleston Township Hall located at 1499 South 38th St., Galesburg, Michigan 49053, during regular business hours on regular business days until and including the day of the meeting, and may be submitted to the Planning Commission at the meeting.
Township Board member Brian Moravek, who serves on the Planning Commission, told the Charleston Township Board at its regular meeting April 28, Interstate Capital indicated if the township does not approve the re-zoning request the company may not be interested in either parcels of property.
Water System Repairs Needed
The Charleston Township Board and a small audience learned repairs in the water system may be needed.
Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said Brian Phillips, who oversees the Charleston Township water system, advised him a six-inch line may have a crack in it. A repair option will be pursued.
Phillips also told Vander Roest the water tower was inspected and there is a recommendation to replace two gaskets and a seal.
Vander Roest told the board a water rate increase may need to be considered in the future.
Planning Commission in Favor of Data Center Moratorium Resolution
Charleston Township Board trustee Brian Moravek, who also sits on the township Planning Commission, informed the Township Board the Planning Commission was in favor of recommending the Township Board consider a resolution that puts a moratorium in place that prevents a data center from being constructed in the township. The moratorium could last six months up to two years and Moravek prepared a moratorium draft resolution that will be presented at the next Planning Commission meeting to review. If the Planning Commission approves the resolution, the item will be brought back to the township board to consider. A public hearing would then be needed.
Moravek adds the Planning Commission reviewed concerns about semi tractor trailers that are being used for storage, parked in residential areas. None of the township’s ordinances address the concern and the Planning Commission felt the Township Board should consider revising the ordinance to address the concern. A public hearing would be needed if the township revised the ordinance to address the semi tractor trailer concern.
In other items covered at the April 28 meeting:
• The bulk trash drop off date is May 23 at the township hall.
• The township has not received communication whether a scrap tire grant the township submitted, has been approved. The scrap tire drop off event will be in the fall, however a date has not been established.
• Township board member Josh Balkema told the board Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Chief Kevin Roomsberg had an opportunity to purchase a Cascade air compressor
system for $1,500. Roomsberg had the compressor system evaluated by a service technician, who determined the air compressor system had a life expectancy of 5 to 10 years. Balkema said to purchase the air compressor system, have the air compressor system maintained and properly installed at the Galesburg-Charleston Township joint fire station, the total price would be $6,925. The Joint Fire Board purchased the used air compressor system after learning a new system would cost approximately $40,000. Currently the local fire department pays the Comstock Fire Department to refill air tanks.
Roomsberg said the fire department was able to get all six weather warning sirens in the township functioning. There is five weather warning sirens in the township and one in the City of Galesburg.
• Vander Roest informed the board the final agreement with Lumen Technologies for McCullum Avenue sewer damages totaling $32,000 has been approved by the Township attorney.
• After approving a motion at the township board’s regular meeting March 24 not to support a resolution for a sewer rate increase by the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority, the Charleston Township Board first approved a motion to rescind the previous motion and then approved a motion to accept the resolution for the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority sewer rate increase for Charleston Township residents using the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority system.
Vander Roest said the township attorney recommended the board rescind the motion and approve the new sewer rates.
• Clerk Alese LePert informed the board she plans to attend the Michigan Association of Municipal of Clerks Conference in June at a cost of $400 and an additional class at the conference at a cost of $350.
• The Township Board unanimously approved a budget amendment to address a pension shortfall.
The Charleston Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing May 26 at 7 p.m. at the township hall for the Planning Commission to consider a re-zoning request.
Public comment will be welcomed about a proposed development project at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and on L Avenue in Charleston Township that would require rezoning part or all of a parcel.
Interstate Capital would like to construct two 500,000 square foot light industry buildings expandable up to approximately 850,000 square feet, to lease out space to companies.
The 79.94 acres at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue is currently zoned light industrial. Interstate Capital has submitted an application to rezone the eastern 77.69 acres on L Avenue east of the property at the corner of 40th and L Avenue from agriculture to light industrial.
Residents expressed concern about potential noise, pollution, traffic, impact on water, and what the rezoning development would do to property values at the township’s Planning Commission meeting April 21.
Interstate Capital has stated a data center is not included in its plan and plans to create a buffer to minimize any impact for the residents.
Written comments may be submitted to the Charleston Township clerk at the Charleston Township Hall located at 1499 South 38th St., Galesburg, Michigan 49053, during regular business hours on regular business days until and including the day of the meeting, and may be submitted to the Planning Commission at the meeting.
Township Board member Brian Moravek, who serves on the Planning Commission, told the Charleston Township Board at its regular meeting April 28, Interstate Capital indicated if the township does not approve the re-zoning request the company may not be interested in either parcels of property.
Water System Repairs Needed
The Charleston Township Board and a small audience learned repairs in the water system may be needed.
Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said Brian Phillips, who oversees the Charleston Township water system, advised him a six-inch line may have a crack in it. A repair option will be pursued.
Phillips also told Vander Roest the water tower was inspected and there is a recommendation to replace two gaskets and a seal.
Vander Roest told the board a water rate increase may need to be considered in the future.
Planning Commission in Favor of Data Center Moratorium Resolution
Charleston Township Board trustee Brian Moravek, who also sits on the township Planning Commission, informed the Township Board the Planning Commission was in favor of recommending the Township Board consider a resolution that puts a moratorium in place that prevents a data center from being constructed in the township. The moratorium could last six months up to two years and Moravek prepared a moratorium draft resolution that will be presented at the next Planning Commission meeting to review. If the Planning Commission approves the resolution, the item will be brought back to the township board to consider. A public hearing would then be needed.
Moravek adds the Planning Commission reviewed concerns about semi tractor trailers that are being used for storage, parked in residential areas. None of the township’s ordinances address the concern and the Planning Commission felt the Township Board should consider revising the ordinance to address the concern. A public hearing would be needed if the township revised the ordinance to address the semi tractor trailer concern.
In other items covered at the April 28 meeting:
• The bulk trash drop off date is May 23 at the township hall.
• The township has not received communication whether a scrap tire grant the township submitted, has been approved. The scrap tire drop off event will be in the fall, however a date has not been established.
• Township board member Josh Balkema told the board Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Chief Kevin Roomsberg had an opportunity to purchase a Cascade air compressor
system for $1,500. Roomsberg had the compressor system evaluated by a service technician, who determined the air compressor system had a life expectancy of 5 to 10 years. Balkema said to purchase the air compressor system, have the air compressor system maintained and properly installed at the Galesburg-Charleston Township joint fire station, the total price would be $6,925. The Joint Fire Board purchased the used air compressor system after learning a new system would cost approximately $40,000. Currently the local fire department pays the Comstock Fire Department to refill air tanks.
Roomsberg said the fire department was able to get all six weather warning sirens in the township functioning. There is five weather warning sirens in the township and one in the City of Galesburg.
• Vander Roest informed the board the final agreement with Lumen Technologies for McCullum Avenue sewer damages totaling $32,000 has been approved by the Township attorney.
• After approving a motion at the township board’s regular meeting March 24 not to support a resolution for a sewer rate increase by the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority, the Charleston Township Board first approved a motion to rescind the previous motion and then approved a motion to accept the resolution for the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority sewer rate increase for Charleston Township residents using the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority system.
Vander Roest said the township attorney recommended the board rescind the motion and approve the new sewer rates.
• Clerk Alese LePert informed the board she plans to attend the Michigan Association of Municipal of Clerks Conference in June at a cost of $400 and an additional class at the conference at a cost of $350.
• The Township Board unanimously approved a budget amendment to address a pension shortfall.
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