The rezoning application has been denied and our rural landscape is safe for now. It has been a long and draining struggle but your persistence forced them to listen. Keep a close eye on the township meetings because we need to make sure this stays buried.
July 26, 2019
Final supporters
Promote Taxpayer Relief of Water and Sewer and
Protect the Rural Character of Sylvan Township
The Sylvan Township Planning Commission is considering an application for rezoning which will, if passed, exacerbate taxpayer burden of the water system and fundamentally change the rural character of our Township.
Sylvan Township's water and sewer system is currently costing taxpayers 4.4 mills for bonds. Taxpayers are also subsidizing about $200,000/year in operational costs for the water system. Most of us are not happy paying hundreds and thousands of dollars more on our winter tax bills every year to subsidize this poorly managed system.
When it was implemented in 2002 the plan intended to keep higher density development in that utility district, specifically along the Chelsea City Boundary, to promote a customer base to allow it to run without taxpayer subsidy. This also concentrated housing density in the urban area next to Chelsea and protected the rural character across the rest of the township.
Sylvan Township is known for its rural character, with glacial hills and lakes, farmland, state parks, open spaces and a bountiful supply of wildlife. This has been cherished and preserved by residents and township government for more than a century.
Our Planning Commission is currently considering the out-of-state application of James Phinney, who is requesting 120 acres on the outskirts of the township near Cavanaugh and Crooked Lake be rezoned from Agricultural Use to Low Density Use, to allow 1 acre lots for a clustered development. The proposed development cannot tap into our sewer and water system due to its location so it would not add customers to our utility system. It would add a high density of wells and septic systems next to Cavanaugh Lake and the surrounding community.
Due to numerous problems in the past the township currently does not allow private roads. It is considering an ordinance and Phinney is urging the township to change its policy to support his development.
Allowing rezoning from Agricultural Use to Low Density Use and private roads outside of our sewer and water district and the urban areas near the City of Chelsea will directly compete with it, leaving an underdeveloped utility system that taxpayers will continue to get stuck paying for.
The Phinney development potential would negatively impact the surrounding local community in numerous ways, such as serious traffic safety issues, water quality and access issues, light and noise pollution, reduction in surrounding property values, and wildlife. It would also set a precedent for the entire township to allow for an increased housing density in other rural areas and undermine our long history of carefully preserved rural character. We do not want our beautiful rural landscapes littered with these higher density developments.
Please stand with us to protect our Township by saying NO to rezoning either of the Phinney parcels or allowing a private road.
I oppose rezoning either of the Florence Phinney Trust parcels on Mushbach Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-016, and Cavanaugh Lake Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-009 from Agricultural Use to Low Density Residential Use to allow 1 acre lots.
I oppose a private road ordinance that allows for private roads outside of our sewer and water districts and exacerbates taxpayer burden.
(NOTE: There have been some questions because this platform automatically asks if you would like to donate to it when you sign. You absolutely don't have to! Just click the back button to return to the petition and your signature should be recorded. The only think that gets recorded is your name and address to legitimize your signature.)
Updates
May 19, 2019
Reaching this level of support has been a long and exhausting process but seeing so many neighbors agree that our rural character is worth the fight keeps me going. It is clear that we are tired of subsidizing poor management and we are not going to back down until our township is protected.
Reached 100 supporters
May 19, 2019
71 Comments
I oppose rezoning either of the Florence Phinney Trust parcels on Mushbach Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-016, and Cavanaugh Lake Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-009 from Agricultural Use to Low Density Residential Use to allow 1 acre lots.
My husband and I recently moved to Crooked Lake because we are in love with the rural character and peacefulness of the area. We strongly oppose the reasoning of the Florence Phinney Trust parcels under consideration.
I oppose this zoning change. It is not good for the people, nor the wildlife in the area. All it will do, is make the developer a bunch of money! Bad for the new sewer system too. It was never designed to handle this.
Let's get the water/sewer zoned areas developed and filled before rezoning areas outside of that area for higher density or private road development. Has Phinney Trust looked into selling to Land Conservancies such as Washtenaw County Parks, Nature Conservancy, or State Waterloo Rec Area?
This township should really clean up all conflicts of interest on the Planning Commission. The private roads and new large scale developments should be restricted to the water and sewer district. Incentivizing developers to build outside your own utility district and expecting the tax payers to keep subsidizing it is ridiculous.
Allowing low density is a huge mistake Road issues alone makes a development in these locations ridiculous
I vote no
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The rezoning application has been denied and our rural landscape is safe for now. It has been a long and draining struggle but your persistence forced them to listen. Keep a close eye on the township meetings because we need to make sure this stays buried.
July 26, 2019
Final supporters
Promote Taxpayer Relief of Water and Sewer and
Protect the Rural Character of Sylvan Township
The Sylvan Township Planning Commission is considering an application for rezoning which will, if passed, exacerbate taxpayer burden of the water system and fundamentally change the rural character of our Township.
Sylvan Township's water and sewer system is currently costing taxpayers 4.4 mills for bonds. Taxpayers are also subsidizing about $200,000/year in operational costs for the water system. Most of us are not happy paying hundreds and thousands of dollars more on our winter tax bills every year to subsidize this poorly managed system.
When it was implemented in 2002 the plan intended to keep higher density development in that utility district, specifically along the Chelsea City Boundary, to promote a customer base to allow it to run without taxpayer subsidy. This also concentrated housing density in the urban area next to Chelsea and protected the rural character across the rest of the township.
Sylvan Township is known for its rural character, with glacial hills and lakes, farmland, state parks, open spaces and a bountiful supply of wildlife. This has been cherished and preserved by residents and township government for more than a century.
Our Planning Commission is currently considering the out-of-state application of James Phinney, who is requesting 120 acres on the outskirts of the township near Cavanaugh and Crooked Lake be rezoned from Agricultural Use to Low Density Use, to allow 1 acre lots for a clustered development. The proposed development cannot tap into our sewer and water system due to its location so it would not add customers to our utility system. It would add a high density of wells and septic systems next to Cavanaugh Lake and the surrounding community.
Due to numerous problems in the past the township currently does not allow private roads. It is considering an ordinance and Phinney is urging the township to change its policy to support his development.
Allowing rezoning from Agricultural Use to Low Density Use and private roads outside of our sewer and water district and the urban areas near the City of Chelsea will directly compete with it, leaving an underdeveloped utility system that taxpayers will continue to get stuck paying for.
The Phinney development potential would negatively impact the surrounding local community in numerous ways, such as serious traffic safety issues, water quality and access issues, light and noise pollution, reduction in surrounding property values, and wildlife. It would also set a precedent for the entire township to allow for an increased housing density in other rural areas and undermine our long history of carefully preserved rural character. We do not want our beautiful rural landscapes littered with these higher density developments.
Please stand with us to protect our Township by saying NO to rezoning either of the Phinney parcels or allowing a private road.
I oppose rezoning either of the Florence Phinney Trust parcels on Mushbach Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-016, and Cavanaugh Lake Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-009 from Agricultural Use to Low Density Residential Use to allow 1 acre lots.
I oppose a private road ordinance that allows for private roads outside of our sewer and water districts and exacerbates taxpayer burden.
(NOTE: There have been some questions because this platform automatically asks if you would like to donate to it when you sign. You absolutely don't have to! Just click the back button to return to the petition and your signature should be recorded. The only think that gets recorded is your name and address to legitimize your signature.)
Updates
May 19, 2019
Reaching this level of support has been a long and exhausting process but seeing so many neighbors agree that our rural character is worth the fight keeps me going. It is clear that we are tired of subsidizing poor management and we are not going to back down until our township is protected.
Reached 100 supporters
May 19, 2019
71 Comments
The quiet nature of this area is why we moved here 22 years ago. It is already getting so loud and roads too busy to safely enjoy even a simple dog walk. I have been looking to move for years due to the increase in population around us, but I can't find anything I can afford. I would much rather pay higher taxes than to live in an URBAN environment.
I oppose rezoning either of the Florence Phinney Trust parcels on Mushbach Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-016, and Cavanaugh Lake Road. Tax ID# F-06-08-300-009 from Agricultural Use to Low Density Residential Use to allow 1 acre lots.
My husband and I recently moved to Crooked Lake because we are in love with the rural character and peacefulness of the area. We strongly oppose the reasoning of the Florence Phinney Trust parcels under consideration.
I oppose this zoning change. It is not good for the people, nor the wildlife in the area. All it will do, is make the developer a bunch of money! Bad for the new sewer system too. It was never designed to handle this.
Let's get the water/sewer zoned areas developed and filled before rezoning areas outside of that area for higher density or private road development. Has Phinney Trust looked into selling to Land Conservancies such as Washtenaw County Parks, Nature Conservancy, or State Waterloo Rec Area?
This township should really clean up all conflicts of interest on the Planning Commission. The private roads and new large scale developments should be restricted to the water and sewer district. Incentivizing developers to build outside your own utility district and expecting the tax payers to keep subsidizing it is ridiculous.
Allowing low density is a huge mistake Road issues alone makes a development in these locations ridiculous
I vote no
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The quiet nature of this area is why we moved here 22 years ago. It is already getting so loud and roads too busy to safely enjoy even a simple dog walk. I have been looking to move for years due to the increase in population around us, but I can't find anything I can afford. I would much rather pay higher taxes than to live in an URBAN environment.