Informational meeting set June 20 to discuss new hotel at Dewitt

An informational meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, June 20, at Van Buren Township Hall to discuss plans for a proposed hotel on the South I-94 Service Drive at Dewitt.
Ron Akers, VBT director of planning and economic development, said at the meeting the applicant will give an overview of the potential project and the township will be available to answer questions regarding the Zoning Ordinance and the review processes.
Akers said an individual is exploring the possibility of constructing a hotel at that location. The property is zoned C-1 & C-2 which does allow for hotels and motels as a permitted use.
Akers said they are using the township’s Public Participation Plan to schedule an informational meeting before they submit a formal application to obtain some feedback from the homeowners who live adjacent to where the hotel would develop.
Akers said there is currently a Facebook post on the Belleville Community page where people have discussed some of their concerns.
“We are conducting the informational meeting this early in the process for a few reasons,” Akers said. “These are so there can be better communication between the potential developer and the community residents and, if the developer decides to move forward, they can incorporate some of the residents’ preferences into the design process.”