Flint Township View

Township board takes no action on land purchase offer





FLINT TWP. — Despite increasing his purchase offer price to $216,200 from $173,200, local developer Pat Battaglia of Holly, failed to seal a deal with the township board to buy 86.65 acres of vacant land on South Dyewood, which the township acquired for free through tax reversion in 2011.

Battaglia first presented a $173,000 purchase offer at the July 10 township board meeting, which at that time received tentative approval, but the board put off finalizing the agreement until attorneys for both sides cleared up some vague terms in the contract.

But at its July 24 meeting, after hearing an outpouring of protests from several residents, the township board again pushed back its decision, this time to allow time to study implications of the proposed housing development on the existing community.

But the third time was not charmed for Battaglia’s offer. At the Monday meeting of the township board this week, no one responded when township Supervisor Karyn Miller called for a motion to move forward on the offer. It died for lack of support.

“Without a motion, we cannot move forward,” Miller said, before moving on to other business.

Trustee Frank Kasle asked if the township attorney had approved the contract language. Miller said the township attorney had reviewed it but it was up to the board to approve it. She said the township attorney had discussed the contract with Battaglia’s attorney.

Several residents, including some who spoke during public comment, left the meeting, apparently satisfied, after the board declined to act on the proposed purchase offer.

Battaglia proposed to use the land to build about 150 single-family homes with an estimated value of $162,000 t0 $200,000. His plans included sidewalks and setting aside about ten acres to be developed as a park.

Some township board members previously spoke in favor of new housing development in the township and the boon it would bring to the tax base.

Residents raised concerns about construction traffic, drainage and disturbing the peace of the undeveloped property which is accessible using streets in the Dyewood neighborhood or the nearby Royalcrest subdivision off Calkins Road.

Battaglia pledged to work with the community to address any concerns. He described himself as seasoned developer with successful projects in Fenton Township and Grand Blanc Township. He said his family has been in the construction and development business for 70 years and has a good reputation of working with quality builders and of seeing projects through.

Miller has said that the property was assessed in 2014 with an estimated value of $174,000 to $216,625.


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