Sally Hodges steps down as consultant for VBT Planning Commission

Sally Hodges, who has been planning consultant for Van Buren Township for 22 years, attended her last VBT Planning Commission meeting on July 13, and was presented with a special card, gift, flowers, and cupcakes by the board.
“I’ve had a rich time of service,” said Hodges who is retiring from fulltime work at McKenna Associates, but doing a few assignments for it as she tapers off to retirement. She has been a planner for 32 years, she said.
Patrick Sloan of McKenna will take over her position with the township.
She said she first spent four years as township planner and then there was an election and she was replaced. She came back in 1998 and has been with VBT ever since.
“The community benefitted from your care and expertise,” said Carol Thompson, chairwoman of the planning commission.
Commissioner Bryon Kelley said sitting next to Hodges at the commission table, when he was new, “was like having my own crib sheet. We’re going to miss you.”
“I don’t like saying goodbye,” said township Treasurer Sharry Budd, who sits on the commission. She wiped away tears.
“Sally, you’re a very good planner,” said Ron Akers, VBT director of planning and economic development. “You actually care about what goes on in this community.”
“It’s a team effort,” Hodges said. She recalled that Walmart wasn’t building brick buildings and VBT wanted brick. Walmart was turned back several times and, “We got a brick building. You wouldn’t fold.”
She said it was one of the first projects that set the tone for Belleville Road.
“You gave us the courage,” said Commissioner Joan Franzoi.
Hodges said she enjoyed her job because she got to work with the best people in the community and she tried to get both sides working together.
“I think there won’t be anything we handle from now on that you haven’t touched,” said Thompson.
In other business at the July 13 meeting, the commission approved site plan amendments for Costco’s Belleville Road facility, which has created 212 new positions plus 15-25 for Swift Transportation, a dedicated fleet. Commissioners also heard Aker’s report on the Detroit Region Aerotropolis Asset Familiarization Tour, that stopped at Grace Lake (the former Visteon Village).