Whitman Re-Zoning Request

[archiebunkertoo]

Looks like Jon Whitman has learned his lesson and has put together a pretty reasonable proposal for the re-zoning of his property at Sterns Road and Lewis Avenue.  From what was in the Monroe Evening News on August 22nd it appears that his proposal will provide some nice buffering and good transitional zoning from the residential area to the west of his property.  The Bedford Watch group should be pleased.  It will be difficult for the Bedford Township Planning Commission  to turn down his proposal after they recently approved the re-zoning of the property owned by Bedford Township on the ex-Fire Creek land on Lewis Avenue.

[Focus08]

Exactly....can't say yes to one and not the other, and he is asking for rezoning and that's it, the watch group want to know what he is going to put there, does he have to say?? They need to pick thier poison, he could put something alot worse than a big box store, would they rather section 8 housing, a mobile home court, ...lots of other ways for him to go, they don't need a buffer. He could play some hardball, sell and get the heck out of dodge, who are they to ask for a compromise?? They can ask but he doesn't have to compromise with anyone, especially after the run around he has had.

[Keith_G]

This is a tough spot.

I don't want a WalMart here. At least not there.

But. Doesn't Jon Whitman have the right to do with his land what he wants?

I can't imagine that Kroger and the plaza there have been terrible neighbors to the folks in Colonial Gardens?

[Focus08]

Keith I soooo agree, I don't want a Wal-Mart, worked for them yrs. ago, swear it's a cult the way they act. BUT.....I do believe strongly something worse can go in, the neighbors there wanted it there way or no way. I also agree Jon should be able to build and profit from his land the same way everyone else in this town have, people all but danced in the middle of the streets about subdivisions, a killing was made with them before the market fell through. And the comment about the Kroger plaza, bet everyone of them who did not want it shops there. Same with a Walmart here, if it ever is built I dare you to go in on any given day and not see several people you know either working or shopping there, build it and they will come. And last....you cannot tell me that if someone on Indian Rd. owned that land and someone put a check under their nose with enough zeros that they would go ask their neighbors "if it was alright". Give me a break.

[Lamont Cranston]

I don't want a WalMart here. At least not there.

But. Doesn't Jon Whitman have the right to do with his land what he wants?

1.I agree

2. Jon has a right to use his land as it fits into the present zoning or request that it be re-zoned to fit the master plan.

I do believe that it does fit into the master plan. It is the reason that Lewis was re-done 30 some years ago. Lewis was envisioned as the commercial corridor of Bedford. This was the argument of not putting a big box store at Smith and Secor.

A property owner does not have the right to do anything he wants with his property.
Zoning is essential to a community for safety and quality of life, and has been upheld in courts way before the politically active judicial trend started.

[Joyceb]

 This is our letter to BedfordWatch.com
We're a little confused here... Why is it that, the only thing that we see on your  Bedfordwatch, is Jon Whitman and what he is trying to do ??
Everything that is shown on here is about the "Whitman lawsuit" and the Walmart issue, and now, he's doing what everyone said he should have done in the beginning, he's asking the township for the rezoning, and once, again you are trying to make it look like he's doing some thing wrong.  The man is doing exactly what you all said he should have done, before the Walmart issue, so you're going to turn every one against it before you even know all the details??  Well,we think you are wrong, he is trying to do what is right and he's taking the proper steps and you're not even giving him a chance.
We think you should change the name of your web site, it should read "JonWhitmanWatch.com, because the whole site is about what Jon Whitman is doing, not what Bedford is doing !!  Maybe you don't realize all the good that the Whitman Family has done and still does for "OUR" Bedford communtiy.
 Micheal & Joyce Bernia

[Focus08]

Joyce...I had not thought about the Bedford Watch site but I agree with you 100%!!!

[Joyceb]

If you stop and think about it, he's doing everything that they asked.. He's layed it out, for all to see.. What is he hiding?
It's all in black and white !!

[archiebunkertoo]

Great observation of the Bedford Watch group!  I agree with you 100% Joyce.  Here is an interesting quote from their web site:

“The goal of befordwatch.com is to protect the residents of our community. Our members are residents of Bedford Township in Temperance, Michigan that care about the great community in which they live, work and raise their families.”

Protect the residents of our community from what? 

Yes, can the Bedford Watch group tell us just what other issue they have gotten involved with in Bedford Township?  Maybe I missed it, but where were they when the Green Hills residents were having problems with the township over their roads.  Where were they when the re-zoning came up on the ex-Fire Creek property?  How about the turmoil between Steinman and Schockman? 

Why weren’t they there to protect the residents of our community?  It only seems that they are there to protect the residents of our community when it directly affects their own personal interests.

[BedfordGPa]

And have we forgotten the land he donated for the Whitman Center for MCCC...seems no one argued that "zoning change".

[BedfordRes]

Yes he donated land for MCCC but don't you think he was able to take a tax deduction for the value of the land?

[KentStater]

Yes he donated land for MCCC but don't you think he was able to take a tax deduction for the value of the land?

Whats your point?

Are you saying that charitable contributions should not be tax deductible?
Are you saying taking advantage of the tax laws makes it less charitable?
Are you saying Americans are only charitable because they profit from it? (They Don't)
Are you saying we should just pay taxes and let an all powerful government take care of charity?

What is your point?

 

[BedfordGPa]

I'm saying..no one complained when they wanted to donate land to build a building that has bright lights into the evening...which is one of the complaints that I have heard of something being built there.  Personally...and I am entitled to my humble opinion ..is that Whitman hasn't gotten a fair deal from the township..sorry..he paid commericial property taxes for years and when he wants to sell it as commercial...opps..not commercial...At least..that is my understanding...

[Lamont Cranston]

BedfordGPa,

I believe Kent quoted and was reffering to the post by BedfordRes.

I think he was defending your position.

As would I.

[archiebunkertoo]

Wow last night’s Bedford Township Planning meeting was interesting.  It lasted for 4 hours!  It was quite entertaining to watch at home but wish we could have seen some of the diagrams that they were discussing.  In the end the board approved most of the requests for re-zoning on the property which really upset the people from Bedford Watch group. I could not believe some of the comments that were made by their leaders at the end of the meeting.  The whole meeting seemed to run so poorly, so disorganized at times.