Kochville rezoning won’t create 'ghetto'

September 19, 2005 —

On Monday at a truly heated meeting, the Kochville Township Planning Commission unanimously recommended the approval of the rezoning of land at the southwest corner of Davis and Pierce roads from single-family residential to mixed-use. While the proposal of rezoning still must go through a Saginaw County planning board and get approval from the Kochville Township Board, the Planning Commission's approval was still a huge decision amidst strong resident dissent. But the Board did the right thing, both for its community, and SVSU.

The initial plans for how this mixed-use district would be used look great. A small business center will be the centerpiece of the plan, which is Phase III of the development of the Pierce and Davis roads area. Phase I was the initial construction of the Cardinal Townhomes, while Phase II is the new Townhomes building being constructed. Phase III will also include more Townhomes construction. But it is a combination of both that has residents in a hissy fit over the proposal, for various reasons. Fortunately, the Commission was able to see that the complaints were mostly untrue and erroneous.

First and foremost is the unfortunate stereotyping of SVSU students, and students in general. Some residents do not want "unsupervised" students living in "student ghettos" susceptible to crime near their living area. There are three flaws in this argument. One, SVSU students, living on campus or not, are for the most part unsupervised. We are adults; as such, when we are not in class, we are essentially free to do as we please. The Cardinal Townhomes has security guards, managers, and Residence Assistants just as on-campus housing does. Two, the Townhomes are the farthest thing from a "ghetto." In 2005, a "ghetto" is oftentimes used to refer to a poor neighborhood that minorities live in. The Townhomes, as it was established by Planning Commission member George Eastland, do not bare "any resemblance to a student ghetto." Eastland visited the Townhomes himself, and saw how nice they actually were. Third, residents used the sexual assault case that occurred in the Townhomes in August and was reported by the Vanguard as a justification for them labeling the Townhomes unsafe. Not only is there no proof the assailant was even a student, the incident could have happened just as easily on campus as off. Besides that, the assailant was most likely searching for a young college student to assault, not a resident much past the college age.

The Commission was also able to look past other complaints and suggestions. A petition was presented with 101 resident signatures opposing the proposal. However, some residents that had signed the petition rescinded their position after learning more facts about the proposal, and some mentioned that they were presented with incorrect information about the proposed area. There will be no gas stations, drive-thru restaurants, or even strip clubs, which one resident mentioned as a rumor floating around the Township. The business center will be limited to small businesses such as small restaurants like a sandwich or coffee place or a pizzeria, and shops such as a hair or nail salon.

Additionally, in a classic "not in my backyard" argument, residents suggested moving this proposed area - including the housing - to the Bay and Tittabawassee roads area. The risks of having students walking across a state highway to get to class is obvious, but apparently that is not of concern to residents.

Finally, residents tried to suggest that traffic would be even more congested with this mixed-use district. Not only is traffic not congested in most of Kochville Tonwship - a survey was presented at the meeting proving that most cars turn either left or right onto Pierce instead of continuing on Davis - the plaza would be designed with numerous sidewalks, on both sides of Pierce Road. Students from the Townhomes, on-campus housing and even commuters would be much more willing to walk to this area instead of drive. With gas prices so high, it only makes sense for us to walk when we can. Again, it would not make sense for us to walk two or three miles down M-84 just to get a pizza; in fact, we would be much more likely to drive in that situation.

We certainly feel some sympathy for those residents who have lived in Kochville Township their entire lives and are afraid of urban sprawl. But it is in both the Township's and University's best interest for this proposal to eventually pass. Inconsistent and disrespectful arguments are certainly not going to change that.