Activists, residents and students rallied on the outskirts of Colony Farm Orchard Friday afternoon -- there to protest the planned development of 44 acres of the orchard by Western Michigan University as an expansion of its Business Technology and Research Park.
The protestors were from the movement "Save Old Colony Farm Orchard," a mix of activists formed from groups including the Kalmazoo Peace Center, the WMU Biology Club and Students for a Sustainable Earth.
Robert Piellusch isn't part of one of those groups. He's just a resident of the community. But he fought against the initial development of Western Michigan University's BTR Park decades ago, and he's still worried about the area eventually becoming a brownfield.
"Now, we're coming out here again 25 years later to tell them the exact same thing," he said. "In another 25 years, I don't know if I'll still be alive, but I wish Western would get the message."
Western Michigan University President John Dunn addressed those concerns when he spoke to WMUK's West Southwest program earlier this week. Dunn said the plans are still in early stages, but the university will make sure the approach is sustainable.
"Our track record on these kinds of things is very, very good," Dunn said. "I would just say, point to the Business Technology and Research Park to look at that. When you look at those pictures, and we have pictures of what it was before and what it is today. I think even the harshest of critics would have to say 'Wow. Those guys did a pretty darn good job.' I have no reason to believe we'll do anything less than that as we move forward."
The university spoke with Kalamazoo County commissioners earlier this week about raising $3.5 million to begin preparing the Colony Farm land for expanding the university's Business, Technology and Research Park. The effort to develop Colony Farm Orchard has been in the works for several years beginning in 2010, when then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill allowing the area to be developed.
