St. Joseph Twp. planners vote against proposed development for Nye’s Apple Barn property

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (WNDU) - St. Joseph Township planners voted against a proposal for a planned unit development (PUD) that could bring more people to the property of Nye’s Apple Barn in Berrien County on Tuesday.

The proposal will now move on to the St. Joseph Township Board of Trustees despite the planning commission’s vote against the PUD. It just moves on without a recommendation for approval from the planners.

Nearly 90 residents voiced their feelings about the PUD at Tuesday night’s public hearing. It would bring an apartment complex, restaurants, a gas station, and a convenience store to a 12-acre parcel along Niles Road, just off I-94.

Nye’s is looking to sell the property and had previously said their land would not be commercialized.

“So, it’s still for sale?” One resident asked. “Is it still for sale? Why can’t you just put in residential houses, we know you gotta sell it, why can’t you just put in residential homes?”

Those in opposition say noise, lights, privacy concerns, and traffic are reasons not to develop the site.

Owner John Nye proposed solutions for traffic worries.

“What we’re proposing is to re-route Dozer Drive and take it, the traffic away from that real busy intersection and move it further down,” said Nye.

The Board of Trustees are expected to vote on the proposal in early March.

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