A group opposed to a housing development at the site of a great blue heron nest colony has filed another lawsuit against the township board that approved the plan last month.

Flo Sandok: Rochester Township Board has approved a preliminary plan for a luxury housing development destroying a unique and much-loved heron rookery. Greed and self-service have triumphed.

The Rochester Township Board delayed deciding whether to accept a preliminary plat proposal for a development at the site of a great blue heron nest colony.

The Rochester Township’s planning and zoning commission recommended denial of the developer’s “pre plat”. Despite this denial, the final approval of the plan is up to the Rochester Township Board, which will decide on Thursday, July 14.

Rochester Township is changing. The township board needs to change too. Residents want thoughtful development that preserves natural areas. The township board needs to listen to their voices and act before it is too late.

Land targeted for development that contained a great blue heron nest colony has been sold, despite pending lawsuits.

The developer has pulled the “preliminary plat” agenda item from tonight’s Township Planning & Zoning Committee meeting.

There was unprecedented interest in this year’s Rochester Township Board election. Two candidates explicitly expressed interest in preserving our local natural areas including our special great blue heron rookery. One of these, candidate Nathan Clarke, won the election with 85% of the vote.

Post Bulletin article on the three Rochester Township Board candidates