COMMERCE TWP CONVEYANCE S.B. 754: FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 754 (as reported without amendment) Sponsor: Senator Dave Honigman
Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs
The bill would amend Public Act 248 of 1984, which authorizes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to convey 48.84 acres of land located in Commerce Township, Oakland County, to the township for $1, to require the DNR to release to the township the restriction and possibility of reverter created under the Act. The Attorney General would be required to approve the instruments necessary to implement the bill.
The Act requires that the conveyance provide that the land must be used exclusively for public township park purposes and that upon termination of this use or upon use for any other purpose, title to the land must revert on the State.
Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
The property referred to in the bill represents a 48.8-acre tract conveyed from the Department of Natural Resources to Commerce Township in Oakland County in 1984. The proposed legislation would remove a reverter clause that requires the township to maintain the property as a township park. The reverter clause was included to preserve the wishes of the Dodge Brothers who donated to the property to the State with the understanding that the property would be maintained by the State as a park for the use of the general public.
Currently, the property includes a soccer field, picnic shelter, hiking trail, and covered walking bridge. Preliminary plans include the possible addition of a museum and cultural center. The township would like to lease 15 acres of the tract for construction of a Y.M.C.A., and therefore is requesting release from the reverter clause.
The value of the property is estimated by the township to be $400,000-$500,000 without the reverter. To the degree that the property is currently owned and operated by the township, removal of the reverter would have no impact on the State.
The Department of Natural Resources has indicated that it does not support this legislation. Date Completed: 11-16-95 Fiscal Analyst: R. Abent
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.