The Dexter Leader
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Local officials decide not to settle dispute
Township Board stands firm against developer Grand Sakwa
By Gary Anglebrandt, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 10, 2005
The Webster Township Board decided Monday to end settlement negotiations with developer Grand Sakwa Webster L.L.C.
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The township instead will continue to fight a lawsuit the developer filed a year ago over $26,000 in administrative fees the township says the developer owes.
The board's decision followed a meeting Feb. 17 in which Township Supervisor Dean Fisher gave residents information regarding settlement talks with Grand Sakwa Webster, which is an affiliate of Northville-based Grand Sakwa Properties L.L.C.
Township officials had not spoken to Grand Sakwa representatives since prior to that meeting, said Fred Lucas, the township's attorney.
The board's decision came after a closed session with its attorney. After the session, the board and Lucas came out, faced the audience and announced the decision.
"We're proceeding forward with the litigation," Lucas said.
The court will insist on more settlement talks throughout the process because courts always try to get parties to settle, Lucas said.
Members of Webster Neighbors for Responsible Growth, the resident-based organization formed to fight the development, voiced their support of the board's decision.
"We applaud the decision," said Ross Martin, a member of the group.
The developer wants to build 600 homes on the 281 acres known as the Nixon farm at Zeeb and Daly roads.
The lawsuit is over fees and could be followed by more lawsuits regarding the developer's zoning application, whether the township wins or loses, Lucas and Fisher have said during recent weeks.
Lucas reminded the audience several times that litigation offers no certainties. Anything can happen in court, including anything from the developer dropping the whole matter to the judge choosing to decide the developer's zoning application, in addition to the current matter of the fees.
It's a risky gambit, as the city of Novi's experience shows. In 2002, it had to give a developer 90 acres of parkland after losing a seven-year $72 million lawsuit, according to The Oakland Press.
The decision represents a township choosing to fight for its own plan for development, said Dexter Village Trustee Jim Carson.
Local governments know master plans are important in litigation, but the threat of years in court can be intimidating.
"Someday you've got to make a stand against somebody," Carson said.
Dexter officials will be watching closely what happens in Webster Township because Dexter faces its own potential litigation with MAV Development over curb cuts on Dexter-Ann Arbor Road.
"You hate to spend thousands of dollars and then a judge says, 'Give 'em the curb cuts,'" Carson said.
Staff Writer Gary Anglebrandt can be reached at 475-13371 or garya@heritage.com.
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