After much deliberation at last month’s meeting, the Oakland Township Board of Trustees decided to table the proposed Blossom Ridge senior living community so it had more time to wade through the information before making a decision.

Tonight the board will once again have the opportunity to approve or deny the first reading of an ordinance that would amend Ordinance 16, which would allow the land to be rezoned from Medium Density Residential (MDR) to Multifamily Residential Density with Planned Residential Rezoning Overlay (RM-PRRO). In order to build Blossom Ridge, the applicant, Moceri Development, needs the amendment approved by the board.

Residents have voiced concerns for months about the senior living community, which is planned for the 41.84-acre lot at the northwest corner of Dutton and Adams roads.

At April's meeting, after Moceri Development decided to cut the number of units down to 238 from 282, two residents who had been fighting the project agreed that the project was now more in line with their vision of keeping with Oakland Township's character. Ron Hein and Bob Sirna, township residents leading Blossom Ridge opposition group Residents for Responsible Growth in Oakland Township (RRG-OT), were the two who had a change in attitude after Moceri Development reduced the number of units. Resident Marty McQuade, also a member of the group, still opposes the project and assured attendees of April's meeting that Hein and Sirna were not representing the group as a whole, instead voicing their personal opinions.

If the first reading is approved and Steve Joppich, the Township's attorney, and Moceri come to an agreement, then it will return before the board for a second reading. If the first reading is denied, it essentially kills the project.

Other items on the agenda:

• Amendments to the Older Persons' Commission interlocal agreement will be discussed.
• The board will consider approving the hiring of three paid on-call firefighters.
• The board will consider awarding a bid in the amount of $18,475 to GA Frisch, Inc. for a silo roof at Cranberry Lake Farm.

The Oakland Township Board of Trustees meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Township Hall.

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