GREILICKVILLE -- Numerous Elmwood Township residents spoke out against Wolverine Power Cooperative's proposed electrical substation along M-72 despite site plan changes designed to minimize noise and the visual impact of the facility.
Wolverine officials detailed revised site plans to lower the proposed substation at M-72 and Bugai Road 1 foot, construct berms with the fill and plant native trees and shrubs to disguise the massive, high-voltage substation at an informal public hearing Monday.
Township zoning administrator and planning coordinator Christopher Grobbel worked with Wolverine on the revised plan. "I think we have advanced as much as possible ... mitigating impact to neighbors," he said
But the vast majority of area residents who took the podium during a public comment session expressed concerns over the facility's location and urged the township to apply a recently amended zoning ordinance to the project, which originally was approved under the previous rules.
"It is like putting lipstick on a pig," said Josephine Bargiel, who owns property adjacent to the proposed site and unsuccessfully sued Wolverine. "I don't want to see this project go ahead; it's too large."
Wolverine President Eric Baker said he asked to meet with the township to better understand public concerns with the project and to stress that the substation is "really important to the region."
Aside from the aesthetic improvements to the site, Baker said the new plan would eliminate flood lights at night and also move the substation 20 feet south.
"I would ask the board not to assert the amended zoning ordinance applies ... and to accept this voluntary site plan as proposed," he said.
Despite the changes, many residents believe the public wasn't given enough input on the proposed substation, something that would be required if the township imposes the new zoning ordinance on the project.
"The plan I saw today was an effort by Wolverine to do some things ... they should have worked with us in the first place," said Nancy Doughty.
Township attorney Jim Young also discussed possible legal ramifications if the board decides to require Wolverine to go through the new zoning ordinance.
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