Consumers Energy Site visit

On Thursday, 8 February, 2024, Dr. Li, Chenyang and I visited the site with township supervisor, Kern Slucter.

I've made a map of the site and embedded the photos I took in the map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=12z9_g9LaPdDhLdt669FZ4x-ZNqkm3Fs&usp=sharing

There are several issues of note:

  • The site drains to the east to a private drain (you can see this on the map and the photos).  The drain is private and was constructed decades ago when the site was agricultural. It is not under the jurisdiction of the Eaton County Drain Commission and since the subdivision does not have a homeowner's association it is unmaintained. The water flows from the site into the drain and discharges into the Grand River.
  • The plan is to upgrade Billwood Highway to a Class A road. This means adding at least 2" of asphalt. This apparently has been worked out with the County.
  • There is a sanitary sewer that is on the site.  It is in the ground but not hooked up. We can build on it according to the Windsor Township supervisor. 
  • The area to the southwest along N. Canal Road that is a wetland was likely drained from before 1938 to at least 1967.  The area is now designated as Part 303 wetland. Basically, EGLE will decree that it is a Part 303 wetland. Any stormwater runoff from adjacent development has in effect restored the land to a wetland as it was before it was used for the site was farmed.  As such, if we want to incorporate the Part 303 wetland into the site, we need to practice "wetland enhancement", that is, we need to treat the stormwater before it drains into the Part 303 wetland.  Doing so will help ensure that there is a diversity of flora and fauna in the Part 303 wetland.  We cannot use the Part 303 wetland for treatment.  We should not refer to our system as a constructed wetland.  We are just helping Mother Nature restore the land as it once was before human development. 
  • I confirmed that the height restriction in Windsor Township is 40' (updated in 2017 from 35').
Small wet area (not a Part 303 wetland) onsite.


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