By Bruce Rolfe
After learning the Charleston Township Planning Commission recommended the township board deny a petition request by Interstate Capital to rezone part, or all of a parcel of land for a proposed development project in Charleston Township at a public hearing May 26, Interstate Capital has withdrawn its petition request and filed a conditional rezoning request for the parcel of land that would need to be rezoned to move ahead with the project.
Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest informed the Charleston Township Board and a large audience about Interstate Capital’s conditional rezoning request at the township board’s regular meeting June 23.
Vander Roest said Interstate Capital filed the conditional rezoning application and paid the fee to file the application earlier June 23.
A public hearing on the conditional rezoning request by Interstate Capital has been scheduled for July 21 at 7 p.m.
Planning Commission attorney Robert Thall has been given the conditional rezoning application and will provide advice.
Interstate Capital is proposing a development project at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and on L Avenue in Charleston Township.
The plan calls for developing 79.94 acres at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and consideration of re-zoning the entire 77.69 acres on L Avenue, east of the property at the corner of 40th and L Avenue, which would be part of the development.
Interstate Capital would like to purchase the two parcels but is requesting the zoning be changed on one of the parcels before the purchase is finalized.
The property at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue is currently zoned light industrial. The applicant would like the township to consider re-zoning the adjacent eastern 77.69 acres from agriculture to light industrial.
Interstate Capital Director of Engineering Jason Raleigh said Interstate Capital has a master plan to deliver two, 500,000 square foot buildings with the ability to expand up to approximately 850,000 square feet to meet users operational needs.
Darius Udrys, Director of Communications for Interstate Capital, said the two clean, modern buildings that would be leased out to companies, will be an approximately $80 million investment.
Thall advised the Planning Commission at the May 26 meeting the developer commits to certain development features with a conditional rezone. If the property is rezoned then the developer is bound to the conditions recorded on the property.
In a June 19, 2026 letter and conditional rezoning request from Michael Vogt of Dickinson Wright PLLC, the law firm that represents Interstate Capital, the company lists six conditions with its requested rezoning.
• Limitation of Uses. Rather than opening the Property up to all uses permitted in the I-1 District, Applicant desires to provide the Township with more certainty and protection than a traditional rezoning request.
Interstate Capital commits that the following uses listed in Section 17.2 will be excluded from locating at the Property:
- Any use or accessory uses associated with the keeping of animals;
- Builder supply sales and lumber yard;
- Contractor’s equipment yard;
- Institutional or public use;
- Machine shop;
- Machinery and heavy equipment sales/service;
- Public Utility Service Facilities
Additionally, Applicant proposes to exclude all special exception uses as identified in Section 17.3.
• Vegetative Screening. Applicant proposes a minimum 260-foot vegetative buffer along the east side of the Property. This will be used only for landscaping, storm water management, and a 6-foot berm with year-round screening with evergreen trees. Applicant also proposes to maintain and not disturb the existing tree line along the eastern property line. This would prevent any buildings, parking lots, etc. from being placed in this location.
• Increased Setbacks. Applicant proposes a minimum 450-foot setback from the nearest building to the eastern property line. This is nine (9) times the required 50-foot setback, and provides significant protection to the residential area to the east.
• Lighting. Applicant commits that no lighting/footcandles will be within 100 feet of the eastern property line.
• No data center. Applicant commits that there shall not be a data center on the Property.
• Truck traffic. Applicant commits that heavy truck traffic will access the property only from 40th Street.
Udrys said the company would like to develop the two structures primarily on the parcel already zoned light industrial near the corner of L and 40th Street. However because there are existing gas and electrical lines cutting through the property, the company says the second parcel, rezoned to light industrial, is needed to make the structures economically viable.
Raleigh said Interstate Capital faces a $1.3 million expense to have Consumers Energy relocate the electric lines.
He said the conditional rezone stays with the property if Interstate Capital ever sold the property.
The May 26 public hearing drew a room full of township residents, including most who were against the proposed development.
All public comments, with the exception of one at the May 26 public hearing, were against the proposed development.
Public comments against the proposed development focused on the view for local residents, excessive traffic, noise, bright lights at night, a potential reduction in property value and a desire to maintain a natural quiet atmosphere.
Many residents in the Lakeview Meadows subdivision that abuts the east side of the proposed development were against the plan.
The Planning Commission was presented a supporting document from the Board of the Lakeview Meadows Association opposing the rezoning request and a resident petition containing the names of 58 local residents opposing the development.
Planning Commission member Brian Moravek noted at the May 26 public hearing the Planning Commission reviewed the location as part of the township’s master plan and chose to leave the parcel agricultural. He said because Lakeview Meadows, which is east of the proposed development site is the only subdivision in all of Charleston Township, and the parcel Interstate Capital wants to re-zone is zoned agriculture, the rezoning request is not consistent with the township’s master plan. He felt it didn’t fit into the local area and surrounding communities.
Interstate Capital feels some objections made at the May 26 Planning Commission meeting pertain mainly to general guidelines for the Township whereas the Master Plan speaks specifically to the area the company would like to develop and is earmarked for industrial growth.
In the June 19, 2026 letter and conditional rezoning request from Michael Vogt of Dickinson Wright PLLC, the company feels the proposed rezoning is in harmony with the Township Master Plan, the proposed rezoning will allow the property and neighboring parcel to be utilized for its highest and best use and the proposed rezoning will not negatively impact surrounding properties.
The company’s letter adds the township’s Master Plan specifically calls for industrial development in this area, the project and offered conditions in the conditional request will ensure no negative impacts on the surrounding properties, and the requested rezoning reflects the realities of the surrounding properties and the industrial character of the area.
Udrys said the development Interstate Capital is proposing could create 200-400 jobs.
The company maintains the development will also bring tax revenue to support essential services and infrastructure.
After learning the Charleston Township Planning Commission recommended the township board deny a petition request by Interstate Capital to rezone part, or all of a parcel of land for a proposed development project in Charleston Township at a public hearing May 26, Interstate Capital has withdrawn its petition request and filed a conditional rezoning request for the parcel of land that would need to be rezoned to move ahead with the project.
Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest informed the Charleston Township Board and a large audience about Interstate Capital’s conditional rezoning request at the township board’s regular meeting June 23.
Vander Roest said Interstate Capital filed the conditional rezoning application and paid the fee to file the application earlier June 23.
A public hearing on the conditional rezoning request by Interstate Capital has been scheduled for July 21 at 7 p.m.
Planning Commission attorney Robert Thall has been given the conditional rezoning application and will provide advice.
Interstate Capital is proposing a development project at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and on L Avenue in Charleston Township.
The plan calls for developing 79.94 acres at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue and consideration of re-zoning the entire 77.69 acres on L Avenue, east of the property at the corner of 40th and L Avenue, which would be part of the development.
Interstate Capital would like to purchase the two parcels but is requesting the zoning be changed on one of the parcels before the purchase is finalized.
The property at the corner of 40th Street and L Avenue is currently zoned light industrial. The applicant would like the township to consider re-zoning the adjacent eastern 77.69 acres from agriculture to light industrial.
Interstate Capital Director of Engineering Jason Raleigh said Interstate Capital has a master plan to deliver two, 500,000 square foot buildings with the ability to expand up to approximately 850,000 square feet to meet users operational needs.
Darius Udrys, Director of Communications for Interstate Capital, said the two clean, modern buildings that would be leased out to companies, will be an approximately $80 million investment.
Thall advised the Planning Commission at the May 26 meeting the developer commits to certain development features with a conditional rezone. If the property is rezoned then the developer is bound to the conditions recorded on the property.
In a June 19, 2026 letter and conditional rezoning request from Michael Vogt of Dickinson Wright PLLC, the law firm that represents Interstate Capital, the company lists six conditions with its requested rezoning.
• Limitation of Uses. Rather than opening the Property up to all uses permitted in the I-1 District, Applicant desires to provide the Township with more certainty and protection than a traditional rezoning request.
Interstate Capital commits that the following uses listed in Section 17.2 will be excluded from locating at the Property:
- Any use or accessory uses associated with the keeping of animals;
- Builder supply sales and lumber yard;
- Contractor’s equipment yard;
- Institutional or public use;
- Machine shop;
- Machinery and heavy equipment sales/service;
- Public Utility Service Facilities
Additionally, Applicant proposes to exclude all special exception uses as identified in Section 17.3.
• Vegetative Screening. Applicant proposes a minimum 260-foot vegetative buffer along the east side of the Property. This will be used only for landscaping, storm water management, and a 6-foot berm with year-round screening with evergreen trees. Applicant also proposes to maintain and not disturb the existing tree line along the eastern property line. This would prevent any buildings, parking lots, etc. from being placed in this location.
• Increased Setbacks. Applicant proposes a minimum 450-foot setback from the nearest building to the eastern property line. This is nine (9) times the required 50-foot setback, and provides significant protection to the residential area to the east.
• Lighting. Applicant commits that no lighting/footcandles will be within 100 feet of the eastern property line.
• No data center. Applicant commits that there shall not be a data center on the Property.
• Truck traffic. Applicant commits that heavy truck traffic will access the property only from 40th Street.
Udrys said the company would like to develop the two structures primarily on the parcel already zoned light industrial near the corner of L and 40th Street. However because there are existing gas and electrical lines cutting through the property, the company says the second parcel, rezoned to light industrial, is needed to make the structures economically viable.
Raleigh said Interstate Capital faces a $1.3 million expense to have Consumers Energy relocate the electric lines.
He said the conditional rezone stays with the property if Interstate Capital ever sold the property.
The May 26 public hearing drew a room full of township residents, including most who were against the proposed development.
All public comments, with the exception of one at the May 26 public hearing, were against the proposed development.
Public comments against the proposed development focused on the view for local residents, excessive traffic, noise, bright lights at night, a potential reduction in property value and a desire to maintain a natural quiet atmosphere.
Many residents in the Lakeview Meadows subdivision that abuts the east side of the proposed development were against the plan.
The Planning Commission was presented a supporting document from the Board of the Lakeview Meadows Association opposing the rezoning request and a resident petition containing the names of 58 local residents opposing the development.
Planning Commission member Brian Moravek noted at the May 26 public hearing the Planning Commission reviewed the location as part of the township’s master plan and chose to leave the parcel agricultural. He said because Lakeview Meadows, which is east of the proposed development site is the only subdivision in all of Charleston Township, and the parcel Interstate Capital wants to re-zone is zoned agriculture, the rezoning request is not consistent with the township’s master plan. He felt it didn’t fit into the local area and surrounding communities.
Interstate Capital feels some objections made at the May 26 Planning Commission meeting pertain mainly to general guidelines for the Township whereas the Master Plan speaks specifically to the area the company would like to develop and is earmarked for industrial growth.
In the June 19, 2026 letter and conditional rezoning request from Michael Vogt of Dickinson Wright PLLC, the company feels the proposed rezoning is in harmony with the Township Master Plan, the proposed rezoning will allow the property and neighboring parcel to be utilized for its highest and best use and the proposed rezoning will not negatively impact surrounding properties.
The company’s letter adds the township’s Master Plan specifically calls for industrial development in this area, the project and offered conditions in the conditional request will ensure no negative impacts on the surrounding properties, and the requested rezoning reflects the realities of the surrounding properties and the industrial character of the area.
Udrys said the development Interstate Capital is proposing could create 200-400 jobs.
The company maintains the development will also bring tax revenue to support essential services and infrastructure.
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