SG-W:/ tOWNSHIP MEETINGS

I agree that developers have the upper hand in this state, by passing the site/condo act about 4 years ago Gov. Engler help to accelerate development in this state. It seems odd that there has been no movement to protect our second largest industry (agriculture) by encouraging land use policy that look for ways to protect farming. We are now at a crisis, and it is difficult to slow this train down. I blame this oversight on our Gov. By not addressing land use issues early on in his term he has enabled sprawl to survive and grow with little control.

Getting involved on a local level isn't that difficult, I have no problem finding out when meetings take place, they are generally posted in the Dexter Leader. Also the C.A.P.T. occurs the last Monday of the month, and although the location changes, you can find out where and even get on the mailing list if you call Erin at the Wastenaw County Planning commission. I find these meetings very interesting because they look at how regions are being planned to develop. So if you want to encourage open space in Sylvan ( one of the 4 townships rep. @ these CAPT meetings- along with Dexter Twp.,Lima Twp. and Lyndon Twp.). Coming to these meetings give you another opportunity to voice your views. Sadly enough VERY few people attend these.

To the gentleman running for Sylvan Township supervisor, I recently attended the Sierra Club of Livingston County forum on land use in Brighton, there were many people there (approx..60) and they had a planning commissioner from Hamburg Township who spoke about her successes on open space development. I will pass on her name. She wants to see land use change and I'm sure she would be happy to share her idea's and experience with you. Her name is Leslie Meyers and she again is with the Hamburg township zoning board.

Tina has also brought up many valid points with respect to farming. I am amazed that we have researched the average age of a farmer to be around 55 years. Yet knowing this it seems very little has been done to figure out how to replenish this industry with new workers or even how to implement land policy that is needed to continue staying competitive in agriculture. Michigan is 2 behind California in the diversity of crops we can grow in our state because of our various soils and temperatures due to our proximity to lakes. Yet many people don't know this. I wonder if they realize what is at stake if we just write off farming in our state. Has any developer envisioned what sprawl will to do to alter the face of Michigan. We have the most golf courses now of all 50 states, and with our casinos I'm wondering if our Gov. and those in power in Lansing are trying to re make Michigan into the Las Vegas of the Midwest.