Development Continues to Stir Questions and Concerns

by Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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Development Continues to Stir Questions and Concerns

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Nov 17, 2007 at 8:23 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 17, 2008 at 10:03 PM EST

(WSBT) Emotions continue to run high about a $500 million development in Benton Harbor.

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The city commission hosted a town hall meeting Saturday to discuss a proposal to remove part of a street to make room for a golf course for the Harbor Shores project.

People voiced their frustrations with a project they say they don't know enough about.

"I can never get a document that states what it is that you really want to with my public land that I pay taxes on," Charles Henry said during that meeting.

"We still don't have a clearance on what's going on," said Etta Harper.

Harbor Shores wants to remove about a quarter mile of Eighth Street. While developers say it's necessary in order to move forward with the golf course, residents worry about the road becoming private.

"I surely would want a street to have access, a public street, not just a closed gated community," said Henry.

"According to the map that we have seen, they can do anything once they receive this property, they can do anything," said Harper. "They can put of a private gate up there. It becomes private and that's what we're afraid of."

People also fear privatizing the road would block access to places like M-Tech and Jean Klock Park.

But people connected to the development say that's not true.

"There will be access points to all venues that currently exist. They just would be a little bit different," said Wendy Dantschesser from Conerstone Alliance.

The city commission is postponing the vote on the proposal. They say hearing what the community has to say is important before making a decision.

"If people don't have an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions, they simply can become cantankerous," said Benton Harbor Mayor Wilce Cooke.

It’s not a way Cooke wants people to feel when deciding on the future of Benton Harbor.

He says the city commission will not vote on the proposal until he feels residents have had enough opportunities to share their concerns. He says that would most likely be in a few weeks.

Harbor Shores expects to open the golf course Memorial Day 2009.

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