MARSHALL, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – So far, plans are moving forward for Ford Motor Company to build a new Electric Vehicle battery plant on a parcel of land southwest of the I-94/I-69 interchange in Marshall Township, but not everyone in the area is onboard with the plan.
The Marshall City Council is set to hold a special meeting tonight, June 15 to discuss a petition calling for a city-wide vote on a rezoning request tied to the new electric vehicle battery plant.
According to the Battle Creek Inquirer, a group of Marshall area residents turned in a petition with more than 800 signatures, hoping to prompt a vote to reconsider zoning approval for the 3.5 billion dollar venture. Ford Motor Company officials say the venture will create 2,500 jobs for the area when production of lithium iron phosphate batteries begins at the future plant in 2026.
The Marshall City Council unanimously approved a request to rezone 741 acres of the Marshall Megasite to Industrial and Manufacturing Zoning on May 1, just hours after hearing from those that were for, or against the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan set to be placed on 950 acres of the roughly 2,000-acre Megasite.
A number of Marshall area residents calling themselves “The Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite” gathered roughly 810 signatures, surpassing the required number 580, equating to 10% of registered voters in the city.
The meeting to discuss the petition is set to take place inside the Marshall Regional Law Enforcement Center at 714 US Highway 27 North at 7 p.m. tonight.