The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Development could change Dexter forever
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
With much public objection since its introduction in 2004, what makes a 575-unit residential development proposed on 320 acres so different from previous developments the community has seen?
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The Sloan Farm and Kingsley property, once called Harvest Valley, is not the first residential development for the Dexter area. Dexter Village has seen many housing developments in the last 10 years, including Westridge, Huron Farms, Orchard River Hills and Dexter Crossing.
The proposed development, located in Scio Township, which stretches from Parker Road across to Baker Road and south of Dexter Crossing, has been the subject of much speculation since its introduction by developer Jim Haeussler of the Saline-based Peters Building Co.
Many area residents have been vocal in their concern for the project and its potential impact on the area. They have been fearful about losing the area's rural identity, as well as future tax increases and traffic congestion.
Village Trustee Jim Carson said that growth is inevitable and is beneficial to a municipality for additional revenue.
"It boils down to people being afraid of growth to where even the positives become negatives," he said. "Some people think that if they make it negative then it won't happen."
Previous developments had their share of naysayers, as well, but the Sloan Farm and Kingsley property seems to have faced the harshest criticism from the public. The proposed number of units is double what most developers have built - Westridge at 223 units; Huron Farms, 268; Dexter Crossings, 260; and Orchard River Hills, 61.
"There was some resistance about the past developments, but not as much as this development (Sloan Farm and Kingsley property) has gotten," said former Village President Phil Arbour.
"I don't remember any resistance regarding Huron Farms because people looked at it as a natural evolution for the village," he said. "Plus the context of that development is different from this current one. It was already part of the village."
Location isn't the only flaw in the plan, said Village Trustee Donna Fisher, who explained that the development is just too dense for the area.
"I don't feel that it's the right time for this project," she said. "We have too many things on the table right now like the Main Street Bridge to really focus on the development."
Fisher added that she hasn't heard any positive feedback from residents regarding the project.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot by jumping the gun regarding this development," she said. "It was too much too soon and the community just didn't know how to handle a huge development in their backyards."
There are positive as well as negative impacts to residential developments.
"The positive is that it has allowed kids that grew up in the area to stay in the area with more decent, affordable housing under $200,000 some 10 years ago," said former Village President Paul Bishop.
"The negative impact was building the new schools, which increased village taxes. The impact on taxes is pretty dramatic with new students coming in."
Haeussler introduced Harvest Valley in 2004 as a mixed-use development that would include residential, commercial and some industrial facilities.
Haeussler had said in previous interviews that the initial proposal was just a concept and it wasn't set in stone.
The proposal came under so much public scrutiny that Haeussler returned to the drawing board and came back with a fresh idea that included fewer homes and about 50 percent more open space on Dec. 19.
But the new approach didn't seem to work with all residents.
Dennis Betz, who lives in Dexter Village, said at a Scio Township Board meeting March 28 the Village Council wasn't doing what's best for residents by pursuing the Sloan Farm and Kingsley property development.
"They (council) don't listen to opinions," he said. "They don't take what we have to say regarding the development into consideration."
Betz also frowns on the idea of the municipalities' attempt to work out an Act 425 agreement that would dictate who would supply water and sewer, and pay for police and fire protection for the development.
The municipalities' meeting to hash out an Act 425 agreement stemmed from previous disagreements between the municipalities about the developments' density.
Some 600 to 800 units were initially proposed prompting Scio Township officials to frown at the development because it didn't mesh with their Master Plan that calls for one-home-per-acre.
"Sometimes it's just not a good idea to compromise," Betz said of the proposed pact. "Sometimes it's a better idea to just say 'no' to compromise."
Betz said that the development won't cost residents, but would eventually increase taxes.
Village resident Kandie Waggoner said she doesn't understand the urgency to develop some 600 homes during such a weak economy.
"The housing market is bad and I look around and think when will these properties be sold," she said. "Who's looking at homes right now in this bad economy?"
Carson said that the development won't happen overnight.
"It may take another few years for the development to start," he said. "We're looking at another fifteen years for anything to be developed."
Former Village President John Coy said traditionally whenever the area has received a proposal for a large development, the council has seen opposition.
"I feel that this is the reaction of all the growth in the last 10 years," said Coy. "I really believe that the project provides unbelievable benefits to the community."
The proposed addition of recreational open space such as soccer fields and walking trails make the development appealing to Coy.
Currently, Dexter Village has roughly 3,500 residents, making the municipality one of the 10 largest villages in the state, according to the 2006 Southeast Michigan Council of Governments' population estimate.
Dexter Village's decision to research cityhood had some residents feeling that the move was motivated by the proposed annexation of the Sloan Farm and Kingsley property.
Haeussler had initially requested the property be annexed into the village in 2005.Annexation would be ideal because it would allow access to Dexter's water and sewer systems that the township can't provide.
The Village Council had passed a resolution to pursue annexation of the 320 acres in September, but the plan was put on hold in order to negotiate an Act 425 agreement with Scio Township officials.
Carson nixes the notion that cityhood is fueled by the need to annex the Sloan Farm and Kingsley property.
"They are separate issues and not related to each other," he said. "We (council) are trying to manage growth in such a way that there is public benefit.
"We're trying to take 320 acres and preserve open space and natural features. Jim (Seta) and I have been attending meetings with Scio to work out an agreement and so far they've been going well."
Village President Jim Seta could not be reached for comment for this article.
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