GREEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Gotion Inc. is suing Green Charter Township over leaders’ objections to the construction of an electric vehicle battery plant near Big Rapids and has asked a judge to make the township abide by its current contract with the company while that lawsuit moves forward.
In the suit filed Friday, Gotion claimed a breach of contract for “unlawful actions of the new members of the Township (board)…” count documents say.
The suit says that in October 2023, in accordance with its contract, the township board adopted a resolution approving plans Gotion laid out to connect the plant site to the municipal water system. In November, a week after new members were elected, the board rescinded the resolution.
“The only thing that changed between October and November was the composition of the Township’s Board, most of whose members are now ardently opposed to Gotion’s project,” the lawsuit said. “The Board gave no justifiable reason for its sudden refusal to honor its contractual obligations.”
Gotion argued the board “failed to cite any authority to rescind the Water Extension Resolution.”
The company is asking the court to order the township board to follow through with its contract, which includes allowing Gotion to connect the city’s water system to the project, court documents show.
The documents say that in 2022, Gotion started working with the township to build the new battery component manufacturing site and industrial park on 270 acres of land. Since then, it has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into the project.
In late 2020, court documents say, there were efforts to recall five township board members who supported the project. There was an election recall in November 2023 and the five new board members have “publicly expressed anti-Gotion sentiment.” In December, the board voted to rescind its support for the project.
Court documents say that the township board has since said it plans to appoint a planning commission to create township zoning, rezone Gotion’s property and reject all building permits.
Earlier this year, Gotion Inc. submitted a site plan application for the plant to be reviewed by the Mecosta County Planning Commission. Shortly after, the commission received a letter from attorneys representing the township, saying that they have adopted an ordinance to establish their own planning commission beginning April 27. The letter says they will quickly work to implement an interim zoning ordinance and later adopt a master plan to guide the township’s future.
Green Charter Township leaders say their interim zoning ordinance would take effect before the county planning commission could complete a full review of Gotion’s plans.
