KIMBALL TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
KIMBALL TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL OFFICE
2160 WADHAMS RD. KIMBALL, MI 48074
PUBLIC HEARING and REGUALR MEETING
MAY 26, 2026
6:30 P.M.
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Open Meeting: Meeting opened at 6:30 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call of Members: Present: Orr, Barrett, Lokers, Miller, Tuttle
Absent: Henry, Howard
Also Present: Neil Erickson, Deputy Clerk Erdman
Deputy Clerk Erdman and Neil Erickson explained what happened with the mailed notices as well as the Newspaper publishing of hearing notice. They only published 5 parcels of property and there were 6 parcels.
Chairman Orr stated that the board would like to hear everyone who wishes to speak as the board was also just finding out about the cancellation of the hearing. The clerk will record as Public Comment.
- Approval of Agenda: Regular Meeting
Motion to postpone the hearing due to both the Developer’s lawyer and the township’s lawyer’s recommendations. The notifications that were mailed out and published in the newspaper were missing a parcel of property. A special meeting has been requested by the property owner. Planning Board agreed to hear from the public under public comment.
Motion to approve the agenda with modification was made by Barrett. Supported by Tuttle. All were in favor, motion carried.
- Approval of the Minutes: April 28, 2026 (Regular Meeting and Public Hearing)
Motion to approve the minutes with clerical corrections was made by Barrett.
Support from Tuttle.
All were in favor, motion carries.
Public Comment
Toni Jakubiak – 1275 Allen Rd. 6 separate parcels of land being talked about. Assuming the parcels have a plan. In the application there was a whole lot of information, but no plans.
Response, Chairman Orr – They purchased the land, they are the ones who have the answers, but we don’t.
Thomas Fitzpatrick – 1661 Range Rd, Senior VP of Storage of America.
Having been in this situation, Michigan state law states you will have to re-notify the public. Asking if the application will be online? Wanted a copy. Neil Erickson will give a copy. Mr. Fitzpatrick has asked if there can be 11×17 be made available.
Roselyn Judd – 1430 Allen Rd. Asked if the map of the current zoning and their plan could go up on the screen. Was asking if the gridlines were for individual buildings. Will the buffer off of Allen Rd be left as is? Erickson stated they presented the buffer and will be a green belt.
Will there be a wall? Erickson stated he doesn’t know.
PC member, Barrett explained that the current zoning is a mixture of ag, commercial and medium density residential.
Kevin Hernendez – 1310 Allen Rd. I have an easement between my neighbor and I. It is owned by the county, is there going to be a driveway using that easement? Who owns it? How much buffer zone between the warehouse and my property.
Erickson-Property owner owns easement. The easement may only be used by Fire and only for emergencies.
330 feet of a buffer zone. All woods.
Kim Stfford-Duckworth – 5076 Burma Rd. This is a separate issue. I have had complaints about the fence behind me.
Jacquire Hilgendorf – 5163 Dove Rd. Have we considered truck traffic if this is going to be a warehouse?
Board member Lokers mentioned they would have to put money into Range Road.
Mike Urban – 1069 Pine River Rd. Isn’t Allen Rd a class B road? Where will the truck traffic be going in and out of the property?
Thomas Fitzpatrick – 1661 Range Rd. Storage of America. They have reached out to us and so has the county. They have reached out to make our access point between us and Baymont Inn into a Class A industrial road. But there is nothing in writing. We are willing to work with them. They have a long way to go still. The owners have only reached out to us once, but we have nothing in writing.
Joe Tironi – 1442 Allen Rd. I’ve invested 10 years in my property. I have been hoping to build a home on this property someday. I raise bees and have a 3600sq ft garden. I have a tree nursery as well. Everyone but me has a 330 foot buffer. Now I will have to stare at the back of my property at a parking lot. I would like to see a buffer on the east and south side of my property. Concerned about the drainage ditch off Allen rd.
Alan Warzinski – 1407 Allen Rd. I’ve lived in the area for 69 years. The ditch is a county or Twp ditch. Spent many years cutting out that ditch. It will be underwater if no one does anything to it. Are there going to be more access points for workers? Will there be more traffic down the side roads. Allen road was repaired to the north, going from Dove/Ashley on Allen rd is falling apart. Will the twp improve that road?
Cynthia Styers – 1362 Allen Rd. What I have read is that directly behind my home there will be a 45 foot + 2 story building. I don’t think we should have to look at something like that.
Chairman Orr asked, “Where have you read that?” Member Barrett, “have you read that in the application or in the Ordinance?”
Cynthia Styers – I believe it was on a webpage when I googled the property. It was on a Blue Water Commerce page. All the other buildings were supposed to be 36 feet tall. The other one reminded me of an Ikea and is supposed to be taller than that. We are concerned about lighting, noise and railroad spurs. We have been in our home for 26 years and have gotten used to the gun club and rail noise but concerned with this project. I’ve also read that this was going to be a 24-hour thing, not just a 9-5. Concerned about the noise with windows open. I’m not okay with this. The park sounds good on paper, but no one will drive into an industrial complex to go to a park.
Dan Mangi 1182 Allen Rd. I Have been here for 29 years. Since we have been here this parcel has gone through its flavor. In this application has there been any offer for tax abatement? Is this going to generate revenue for the township? Will they be paying taxes on this? Or would this property be better suited for homes?
Erickson– No IFT and haven’t even asked for it, last one was Pepsi. As far as homes, we have subdivisions that have wanted to go in, but they are too expensive. Subdivision costs are too high.
Robert Duckworth– 5076 Burma Rd. Who is going to be the overseer of this construction? Who will be the inspector?
Board member Barrett commented that the board couldn’t keep going back and forth. He had some concerns with the application.
- New Business
- Blue Water Commerce Park LLC
Comments heard from Mr. Barrett
Mr. Barrett referenced the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act 125.3405 Use and development of land as condition to rezoning.
So, we as a board do not have the ability to go back and forth. I am basing the following comments on the packet page numbering by staff.
Page #7 Why are they asking for so many years before we could address or bring this back?
Page #8 There was no fill in for question 6 in the application. Commencement and Completion.
Page #11 In the letter “in harmony with the Master Plan’s future Land use map” I question that statement as the map only shows the development focus area which they reference later on.
This application does not indicate if they are combining the parcels in question or why wouldn’t they?
It doesn’t draft in the future how or if they will split in the future. They reference this as an industrial park. Do they or will they participate in the state Michigan sites program. Why didn’t this request use or incorporate business technology, campus or park standards?
Page #14 In the second bullet. I don’t believe it to be accurate as the current zoning is Ag, Commercial, or medium density residential. There is no industrial zoning currently as they are requesting.
Page #15 Also referenced on page 15 letter B. Their statement is an incorrect statement. There is not any industrial use or zoning in question.
Page #16 letter C. They are referring to a construction contractor on the parcel we can assume they are referring across the street. That is Port Huron twp not Kimball twp. Would like to see this clarified.
Page #17 In regards in enhancing the buffer, the residential is on Ashley on the North border and Allen on the West border. Didn’t see anything for Ashley. Clarify.
Personal comment on public amenities….just an opinion comment. Would there be a different perspective if the public amenities were on the other end with additional buffer. But I do know it has to do with the ponds.
Someone in the audience asked a question, will they put a buffer around the gun range.
Board member Barrett – They omitted the entire paragraph on the Master Plan page 810 regarding the planned unit development aspect. They only referenced part of it.
Mr. Tuttle questioned that the word intends (about the data center). The word intend isn’t the same as the word not.
Development District Definition Hearing
Motion to postpone the Development District Definition hearing made by Barrett. Supported by Tuttle.
All were in favor, motion carried.
- Audience Participation
Gary Lokers 650 5650 Willow Canyon Drive. Marysville had this happen on the corner of 18th and range and they fought back.
- Reports
- Bill Orr, Zoning Board of Appeals
ZBA is looking into Chicken Ordinance to set parameters for Residential Chicken owners. As it stands currently not allowed any on Residential property.
Approved a Variance for a Garage.
- Gary Lokers, Kimball Township Board of Trustees
Concerned with driveways being too close to the roads. He has put together an ordinance and asked Rob to take it to the Road Commission. Concerned about backing out of driveways on busy roads.
Barrett motioned to have a special meeting of the Planning Commission to hold a hearing for the Application of the conditional Re-Zoning to be held on June 11, 2026, at 6:30 pm. Supported by Tuttle.
Roll Call Vote:
Yes: Barrett, Tuttle, Orr, Lokers, Miller
No: None
Absent: Henry, Howard
Motion Carried
- Adjournment
Barrett made a motion to Adjourn meeting at 7:38 p.m. Support from Miller. Motion carried
Respectfully submitted by: Deputy Clerk, Erdman 2026