Editing Marshall, Michigan (section)

=== Marshall Industrial Development - Ford ===
In 1968, a large tract of land in Marshall Township, approximately 800 acres, was rezoned to D-2 Park Industrial.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rigid Restrictions Set Up for Rezoned District |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/marshall-evening-chronicle-apr-30-1968-p-1/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=Marshall Evening Chronicle |date=1968-04-30}}</ref> The rezoning was sought by Flint industrial real estate developer Robert Gerholz. Gerholtz, a former president of the [[United States Chamber of Commerce]], chose the property because of 4 advantages: 1) proximity to the [[I-94]] & [[I-69]] interchange, 2) access to the railroad, 3) access to hard surface road open to industrial truck travel year-round, and 4) proximity to the [[Kalamazoo River]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Industrial Real Estate Developer Seeks Rezoning Of 800 Acres Of Land |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/marshall-evening-chronicle-jan-02-1968-p-1/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=Marshall Evening Chronicle |date=1968-01-02}}</ref> Over 140 people turned out for rezoning hearing. It was pointed out at the hearing that the 800 acres fully developed with industry could furnish a 100-million-dollar tax base which was about 3 times the tax base was at that time. Among the people at the hearing were representatives from Marshall City Schools, city and county officials, county road commission, Marshall businesses, and manufacturing plants including [[Consumers Power Company]].<ref>{{cite news |title=No Decision Reached On Rezoning Request |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/marshall-evening-chronicle-jan-05-1968-p-1/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=Marshall Evening Chronicle |date=1968-01-05}}</ref>

In the years after the rezoning there was regular interest in developing the parcel for a large industrial development. In January 1997 the Gerholtz property was recognized by the Marshall Chamber of Commerce as having "statewide and national attention as one of the best locations in Michigan for large scale industrial development."<ref>{{cite news |title=Marshall Chamber Update |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/marshall-chronicle-jan-28-1997-p-1/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |date=1997-01-28}}</ref> [[Volkswagen AG]] expressed interest in developing a manufacturing plant on the Gerholtz property in 2008. Accordingly, the Marshall City attorney obtained several options for property surrounding the larger parcel as would be needed for the preliminary site plannings as the Gerholtz property alone was not large enough. A lack of short-term site readiness for construction caused Volkswagen to shift attention to other potential development.

In late 2021 the [[State of Michigan]] pushed for the creation of a 100-million-dollar fund for industrial development on large tracts of land after [[Tennessee]] and [[Kentucky]] landed $11.4 billion in investments from the [[Ford Motor Company]] and a battery manufacturer. The site was the subject of planning, and it was anticipated that these funds would be used to develop an industrial master plan and traffic impact studies.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Chad Livengood |title=Shovel-ready state? Push on for site-prep money after Ford plants head south |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/economic-development/shovel-ready-michigan-seeks-site-prep-money-after-ford-plants-head-south |website=Crain's Detroit Business |access-date=2024-01-27 |date=2021-10-03}}</ref>

In September 2022, the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) and the [[Michigan Economic Development Corporation]] began promoting the "Marshall Megasite" to industrial manufacturers but did not disclose their plan to the general public. Notices were not sent to Marshall Township residents immediately adjacent to on in close proximity to the project.  At the time the proposed development area encompassed up to 1,600 acres of rural land (owned by separate landowners and just under 800 acres of which had previously been zoned D-2 Park Industrial) located in Marshall Township just outside Marshall's city limits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-08 |title='Marshall Megasite' garners interest from manufacturing companies |url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/calhoun-county/marshall-megasite-garners-interest-from-manufacturing-companies/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=WOODTV.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The move was controversial as the land was not yet zoned for heavy industry with the majority, over 1000 acres was zoned agricultural.

Marshall Township Residents were informed that a large industrial project was to take place in their community via the announcement of PA 425 Land Transfers to take place in January 2023.  There was vocal public opposition to the land transfers, which would take 1,900 acres off of the Marshall Township Tax rolls and put them on the City of Marshall Tax rolls of which a percentage would go back to Marshall Township per the Master PA 425. The transfer enabled the megasite to have access to city utilities such as water and electricity.  The Marshall Township Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 for the PA 425 land transfers. The Marshall City Council voted for the transfer as well, although there was significant public opposition to the project.<ref>{{Citation |title=Megasite - Township Residents speak against Ford's BlueOval Battery Park at Public Hearing pt1 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gshsm7d8NuM |access-date=2023-11-27 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='We've built our life here': Marshall-area residents voice concerns about megasite development |url=https://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/news/2023/02/19/marshall-megasite-development-ford-motor-co-objections-protest-neighbors/69918155007/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Battle Creek Enquirer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Residents push back on proposed 'Marshall Megasite' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOGto852OiQ |access-date=2023-11-27 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Marshall Township Residents Speak Against the Marshall Megasite |url=http://www.michiganmegasite.com/2/post/2023/01/marshall-township-residents-speak-against-the-marshall-megasite.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Stop the Marshall Michigan Megasite! |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Riverside Farm - Marshall Township.jpg|thumb|Located on the Marshall Megasite]]In February 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Ford Motor Company announced the Marshall Megasite would become the site of Ford BlueOval Battery Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whitmer celebrates new Ford battery plant in Michigan backed by state support valued over $1B |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/13/whitmer-celebrates-ford-battery-plant-in-michigan/69898177007/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> The zoning changes on the property to allow for heavy industry were not made until May 1, 2023 by the Marshall City Council.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-01 |title=Marshall City Council rezones land for Ford's electric vehicle battery plant |url=https://wwmt.com/news/local/marshall-blueoval-battery-park-decision-recommendation-rezoning-opportunity-battle-creek-ford-motor-company-calhoun-county-west-michigan
|access-date=2023-11-27 |website=WWMT |language=en}}</ref>  Residents filed a petition for referendum on the zoning and their petition was rejected by the Marshall City Clerk and the Marshall City Council Members.   A lawsuit was filed against the City by the ballot committee named "Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite" <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Opponents sue to stop Marshall Megasite |url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/calhoun-county/opponents-sue-to-stop-marshall-megasite/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=WOODTV.com |language=en-US}}</ref>  The lawsuit was dismissed by the Circuit Court in early January 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title='Remaining on track': Judge dismisses Ford Marshall plant lawsuit |url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/calhoun-county/remaining-on-track-judge-dismisses-ford-marshall-plant-lawsuit/ |website=WOODTV.com |access-date=2024-01-27 |language=en-US |date=2024-01-10}}</ref>  The Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite have filed an appeal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Committee For Marshall-Not The Megasite V City Of Marshall (Order) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/michigan/court-of-appeals-order/2024/369603-1.html |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref> This committee was countersued by a committee with ties to Governor Whitmer's campaign committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.freep.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.freep.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fmichigan%2F2023%2F09%2F14%2Fwhitmer-team-michigan-democrats-tied-to-marshall-money-in-ford-fight%2F70785601007%2F |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.freep.com}}</ref>