James Gray, co-owner of Farrand Hall in Colon, is now a write-in candidate for township trustee. Gray faces incumbent Carol Bielski and fellow challenger Scott Wyant.
Gray’s candidacy was announced after Monday’s meeting of Colon Township’s planning commission. A 3-2 vote denied Farrand Hall’s request for what Gray said is the time needed to put in a new parking lot.
“(It was) something we agreed to do even though our original parking plan was approved by them,” Gray wrote Monday on Facebook. “And (it) IS costing us $90K as a result.”
Planning Commission Chairman Virginia Trattles was among the no votes, along with Bielski and Dennis Christofario. The board also includes Jim Bidwell and Dave Kuhn, who directed Watershed Voice to township lawyer Lance Thornton. As of 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 16, the Thornton Law Office in Sturgis has a message saying he would be gone on October 9 and not returning calls until the following day.
On Thursday, Gray uploaded two video clips from Monday’s meeting to his Facebook page. Gray said one shows Thornton publicly admitting the commission made mistakes, and that Gray and partner Jacob Hagan were there because of it.
Gray has said the planning commission approved Farrand Hall’s plans more than two years ago and is not taking responsibility for its mistake.
Sandi Jackson, supervisor of the Colon Township board, published a 17-item fact sheet on Facebook after a video Gray posted Tuesday.
“Colon Township has cooperated with James and Jacobs (sic) while also balancing their interests with the interests of neighboring property owners and following the Township’s zoning regulations,” Jackson wrote. “It is just common sense that if you are going to operate a business you will need adequate and appropriate on-site parking for that business.”
The fact sheet was approved “because of the half-truths and false information James Gray stated,” Jackson wrote. She also cited “unwarranted personal attacks on the Planning Commission he made.”
Gray’s initial post Monday called for Bielski, Christofario, and Trattles immediately resigning “for their bullying and harassment of Farrand Hall.” On Wednesday, Watershed Voice asked Gray about whether homophobia is a factor in what’s going on.
“You know what, I would never, ever want to say that,” Gray said. “Because, we have been – we have had massive amounts of support here. And we still do. This issue – this issue, I really don’t know. And quite frankly, I don’t want to say that. I really don’t, you know, because other people have asked me that. And, you know, my response to that is, I don’t know. I don’t know. The three people who voted no also a month earlier voted yes to all of the amendments that they made us ask for (to receive) our permit. It’s just that there’s something nefarious here.”
Saying the issue is “such a silly, simple thing to fix,” Gray also reiterated that Farrand Hall needs time to do so.
“I mean, $90,000 doesn’t just come out of somebody’s wallet. And you don’t just build a parking lot overnight,” Gray said.
Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
