Robert White, 56187 Dequindre Rd., Rochester Hills, MI 48307. Mr. |
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White thanked the Commission for the opportunity to speak. He stated |
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that earlier this year, he and his wife became owners of 56187 Dequindre |
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Rd., one of the two parcels to the west that were adjacent to the subject |
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properties now under consideration for Rezoning to a higher density. His |
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neighbor’s house at 56495 Dequindre also shared the dedicated |
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easement - a long driveway - that traveled through the subject property |
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and which gave them access to Dequindre Rd. He noted that he was one |
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of the people who had submitted written comments to the |
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Commissioners. He said that he wished to speak about process; the |
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process they undertook before they purchased their home; the process |
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the City undertook in Rezoning the subject properties four years ago; and |
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the process which the potential developer was seemingly trying to |
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sidestep. They felt that they were very lucky to find their home. It was a |
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great home on a large lot, surrounded by similarly sized properties and |
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nestled among large, mature trees. Before they moved forward with their |
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purchase, they took a deliberate process of due diligence. That included |
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multiple conversations with the energy department and environmental |
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experts about the gas lines in the easement to the south of the property. |
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It included long discussions with the previous owners about maintaining |
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the natural pond and features on the property. It included a detailed land |
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records check to determine the nature of the easement, and it included |
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much examination of the Rochester Hills Planning Commission and City |
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Council records regarding the two vacant properties to the east (the |
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subject properties). He said that he personally visited the City’s Planning |
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Department in May of 2011 to determine the status of the Little Winkler |
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Estates development. He was told the City had not heard anything from |
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the applicant in a long time. The Staff confirmed that the Preliminary |
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Approval granted in November of 2006 had expired, since the developer |
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had never returned to seek Final Approval. He was also informed that the |
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properties had since been Rezoned from R-1 to RE, which meant that, |
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according to Staff, even if the developer wanted to, he could not come |
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back with the same plan. They comfortably moved ahead with their |
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purchase, given the knowledge that an agent of the City had told them |
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that there was no danger of the Little Winkler Estates plan being revived. |
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