The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Neighbors make noise over church site
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
The Rev. Brendan Walsh is thrilled to talk about the future of St. Joseph Parish, which is under construction at 7155 N. Territorial Road in Webster Township.
Advertisement
Walsh said that the new 37,000-square-foot would be able to accommodate 750 people with room to expand to hold 1,100 people.
The move is intended to accommodate the church's growing worshippers, which Walsh said is about 4,596 parishioners.
The church purchased the 45 acres at Mast and North Territorial roads, which was Mosher's Tree Farm, in April 2002 for about $1.4 million. Groundbreaking took place last August.
"The long-range goal is to dedicate by December 2007," Walsh said.
But not everybody shares Walsh's enthusiasm.
When Robert Vargo moved to Webster Township three years ago, he was looking for a country-like living.
He was escaping the noise and congested traffic that was routine in Canton Township.
Webster's rural charm was appealing until he realized that his scenic backyard at Dunlavy Farms subdivision was the future home for the church, which is currently located in Dexter Village.
"When I was looking to buy my home, my Realtor didn't tell me about a church going up in my backyard," he said. "I was told that nothing was going to be built in my backyard. I wish I could have known."
Vargo and many of his neighbors have accepted that a church will be constructed, but he said that they are working to ensure the church will comply with their site plan.
In the original site plan, the church was supposed to have a berm to act as a buffer between the subdivision and the church. The berm isn't a township ordinance requirement.
The berm, a raised barrier separating two areas, was to have several trees to shield neighbors from the church lights.
According to the township, some 400 trees were cut down. Since the trees have been removed, the berm possibility may be up in the air since some of those trees were to be planted on top of the berm to provide a buffer between the church and Dunlavy Farms.
"Some of the trees weren't worth saving because of their dead branches," said Township Supervisor John Kingsley.
But Vargo, who is the president of the Dunlavy Farms Homeowners' Association, along with other members of the association has complained that the church's lamp posts are higher than the berm.
"The intent of the berm is to provide a screen and the berm should be higher in order to provide a screen," Vargo said.
Walsh doesn't understand the problem.
"We are doing the appropriate things with landscaping," he said. "We're following laws and regulations of Webster Township. The project is long from being completed."
The timeframe isn't a worry for Vargo, who said he is aware that the project is far from completion and the construction noise has been cramping his style.
"I don't have peace and quiet," he said. "I'm in my bedroom and can see the trucks outside my window and the listening to the heavy machinery isn't a picnic either. To make matters worse I heard that they're going to add a school and cemetery to its structure."
Walsh said that there won't be a school anytime soon.
"There is a catholic school in Pinckney seven miles away," he said. "It wouldn't make any sense for us to have one here. There is no reason for that."
Walsh said that the parish has plans for a second phase of the project that would add offices along with religious education and faith formation for children and adults.
But he said that he can't put a timeframe on Phase 2 and that it could take place anywhere from 12 to 15 years.
"As far as the cemetery goes, land has been designated for a future cemetery," Walsh said. "But that's down the line and the current cemetery on Baker Road has enough space."
The substantial development would require plenty of parking.
Kingsley said that the church may add up to 800 parking spaces.
"It would by far be the biggest parking space in Webster Township," he said.
Kingsley said that the issue boils down to communication.
"There is no controversy here," he said. "It's a matter of engineers and the home owners coming together and agreeing on what needs to be done."
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
TOP JOBS
