Editorial: VBT approves ‘Option Zero’ for Iron Belle Trail

There were five options proposed for the route of the state Iron Belle Trail hiking/biking link through Van Buren Township, but on Tuesday the VBT Board of Trustees approved a sixth option: Option Zero.
About 25 people were present for a public hearing on the proposed trail route and several were against the board’s favorite: Option One. That link went from Lower Huron Metropark, north on Haggerty to the old Edison Lake Road and over the Huron River on an old bridge, then along East Huron River Drive to Belleville.
After discussion on the many concerns with this route, the board approved Option Zero, a new partial route that fit its budget. The board approved going out for a $300,000 DNR grant which would be matched by $100,000 from the township, for a trail segment from Edgemont Street in the city of Belleville to Riggs Park at Martinsville Road in VBT.
This route will get the Iron Belle Trail link started in VBT with many options for the future when more government and private grants will be sought.
About 10 people spoke, including Steve Ortner, who said a friend showed him last week’s Independent. He poked his finger at the front page and said that was his place and he had a deed for the roadway they planned to use as part of Option 1. A committee will be formed to recommend a future route to the board.