Comstock Township’s Parks Board is weighing whether to accept about 100 acres of land tied to a proposed battery storage project.
The discussion came up at the board’s August 10 meeting, where members reviewed a July 23 Planning Commission informational session on the proposed Swan and Cygnet battery storage project at the former Hickory Ridge Golf Course. Developer Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has proposed making roughly 105 acres of the property available to the township for recreational use, separate from the battery installation itself.
Board members who attended the July session relayed the basics to the rest of the board, including the acreage offer and the developer’s openness to helping fund future park development, though without a committed dollar figure. From there, discussion turned to whether the land makes sense as a park. One member noted the size, roughly three times the footprint of Robert Morris Park, would bring staffing and maintenance costs the department doesn’t currently budget for. Another raised the idea of relocating the Winky Softball Complex’s diamonds to the site, though members said they weren’t sure the site’s required setback distances from the battery facility would leave enough room.
Members were also clear that the decision isn’t theirs to make alone: any land agreement would first need approval from the Township Board. Board members asked to weigh the advantages and disadvantages before that conversation moves forward, citing open questions about how close it’s safe to be to the battery equipment, the potential loss of tax revenue if township-owned land isn’t otherwise taxed as it might be under different ownership, and interest some residents have expressed in preserving at least a smaller version of the golf course.
What’s next: The Planning Commission holds its public hearing on the Swan and Cygnet project Thursday, August 13 at 6:00 pm, giving residents a formal opportunity to weigh in before any decision is made.
