At a special meeting today, the Peninsula Township Board approved a special use permit (SUP) for Peninsula Community Library’s new building project.
The SUP allows the library to move forward with the construction of their new building, to be located on the corner of Center Road and Island View Road on the Old Mission Peninsula.
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Township Supervisor Rob Manigold opened the meeting by explaining that at last week’s Township Board meeting, the Board tabled approval of the SUP until they could work with the library, Township staff and attorney, engineering firm and architects to clarify and modify some of the language in the SUP.
“We wanted to do it right the first time,” said Manigold. “What we have now in front of us, we all feel very confident that this is a very good project.”
At today’s meeting, the Board reviewed each page of the Findings of Fact and unanimously approved both the Findings of Fact and Special Use Permit #128, which includes the meeting packet and exhibits, along with any conditions. The approval also includes a pathway from the new library to Old Mission Peninsula School.
Library Director Vicki Shurly thanked Manigold and the Board for working with them on the process, as well as all the library supporters who attended the meeting on a snowy day. “I appreciate you all coming out on a day like this,” she said. “It shows dedication.”
Nancy Davy, President of Friends of Peninsula Community Library, announced that the library’s capital campaign fundraising has now reached $1.9 million of their $2.5 million goal. “We are one step closer to the funding that we need,” she said.
During the public comment time, Kevin O’Grady, owner of “The 81 on East Bay” project, said he feels that there is a “substantial difference” between how their project was handled in contrast to the library and Vineyard Ridge projects, considering that both projects have agricultural land similar to The 81.
O’Grady said that the Township’s requirements and conditions for The 81, including an environmental assessment, has cost him millions of dollars. “We’ve been treated very unfairly by Peninsula Township,” said O’Grady. He added that he does support the new library and has purchased several “Bricks” in support of the project.
Read more about the new library here.
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It’s obvious that the developer still fails to understand that the 81 is a much more environmentally sensitive piece of land. Although I feel the approval decision is a mistake, the Twp. Board is to be commended for listening to citizens ‘ comments unlike the previous board. The 81’s negative impact is yet to be felt and both the Library and the Vineyatd are not as risky