Following more than three hours of conversation Thursday, the Park Township Planning Commission still had questions to ask about a rezoning application for a possible propane distributor on Highway M-60 Thursday. Commission members heard comments from the township zoning official, three attorneys, the property’s applicants, and 14 members of the public. Commissioners reviewed, adjusted, and approved a comprehensive list of statements called a “Finding of Facts.” With more of the review process still ahead of them, the commissioners voted to put the meeting into recess until 7 p.m. on December 3.

A special meeting of the Park Township Planning Commission scheduled for this evening will now take place entirely online. On the township’s website, an announcement states that due to a pandemic-related health order issued last Sunday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the meeting will take place using the Zoom online meeting platform. The announcement includes information on how to participate.

At a regular meeting of the Park Township board Wednesday, citizens and board members discussed an in-process application to have a property rezoned for commercial use in an area that is currently mostly residential. The applicant is the Nottawa Gas Company, which would like to purchase a new property along M-60 near North Fisher Lake Road and relocate there. A group of residents opposes approval of the rezoning application.

One by one, representatives of the St. Joseph County Road Commission (SJCRC) have been meeting with townships around the county to discuss next year’s road work priorities. Each year, SJCRC accomplishes a variety of paving, pavement sealing, reconstruction, and bridge work projects around the county. Some of those projects are funded entirely by SJCRC’s own funds, some are partially covered by outside grants, and some are shared in equal parts by the SJCRC and the townships. At a Wednesday meeting of the Park Township board, Township Supervisor Ed English provided an overview of potential projects for 2021.

Neighbors are organizing in opposition to a proposed propane business on Highway M-60 near Fisher Lake. Nottawa Gas, which is currently located between Nottawa and Colon, is considering purchase of a 14-acre parcel of land on the west side of the highway between North Fisher Lake Road and Wilson Boulevard. Neighbors fear the development will negatively impact their property values and quality of life.

On October 8, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Fisher Lake Association (FLA) wrote a letter to the Park Township Board regarding a proposed commercial development on Highway M-60 a short distance northeast of North Fisher Lake Road. A piece of property on the southeast side of the highway is under consideration for development by Nottawa Gas. Watershed Voice has been researching the story and will provide fuller coverage later this week.