The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Officials disagree on 250-acre compromise
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 29, 2007
Dexter Village and Scio Township officials have been trying to compromise on the fate of the Sloan Farm and Kingsley property since October.
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And with information that a potential 250 acres may be thrown into the mix, the municipalities may find that compromise.
With two different takes on the reported purchase, negotiations may face delays.
Village President Jim Seta said at Monday's Village Council meeting that Scio Township may consider purchasing roughly 250 acres of the Davenport property located on the northeast corner of Marshall and Parker roads.
The property is situated in the southwest corner of the Sloan Farm and Kingsley property, which is located between Baker and Dexter-Ann Arbor roads.
"The idea behind this is to use some of the developer's proceeds and some other funds to purchase development rights to the property so that we can maintain open space," said Township Supervisor Charlie Nielsen.
If the Township Board approves the purchase, the proposed 575 units would be in compliance with Scio's Master Plan, Nielsen said. The master plan currently calls for at least one-home-per-acre, which would require at least 215 units to be developed.
Township Clerk Kathleen Knol, who is on the Land Preservation Commission, said that that information is false. She said that the township has received $310,000 from the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program for roughly 62 acres of the Davenport property.
"The Land Preservation Commission is actively seeking other funding sources to acquire a conservation easement for the 62 acres," she said.
Knol said the commission wasn't looking to purchase the 250 acres.
"It is premature to discuss any possible land transfer options," she said.
"Such statements in a public forum are irresponsible. We're still in a very preliminary stage of discussion with the land owner. Nothing is set in stone."
Uncertainty regarding the development once dubbed Harvest Valley persists since its 2004 introduction by Jim Haeussler, of the Saline-based Peters Building Co., who has development rights on the acreage.
Haeussler made an annexation request in July 2005 to Dexter officials so that sewer and water could be provided for the site. Village officials voted Aug. 28 to move forward with annexation.
But annexation was put on hold in order for the village and township officials decided to meet to hash out an Act 425 agreement, which would allow the two municipalities to share tax revenue from new or expanding development in the defined areas of jurisdiction.
The agreement also would dictate who would supply water and sewer, and pay for police and fire protection for the development
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