BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A small and secretive religious sect is making a major impact in Bloomfield Township, where some neighbors aren't happy about a proposed new development.
It's the subject of Monday's township planning board meeting.
The group is known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, also known as the Exclusive Brethren or simply Brethren.
The group opened a school three years ago, and now it's looking to build a much larger church and auditorium behind the school. The proposal isn't a hit with neighbors.
Renderings from the proposed new building, a so-called meeting house, keep with city ordinances to the point in which the group won't need variances or special permission.
"It would appear, based on what I've seen so far, that the construction they're talking about fits in with our ordinances allowed," Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said.
Several neighbors contacted Local 4, saying they are deeply concerned about, and opposed to, the project. In particular, they're worried about how a 700-space parking lot might greatly increase area traffic.
Residents said church members use the neighboring side streets to get around the heavy traffic on Square Lake Road.
There are beautiful and sensitive wetlands in the back that they believe would be in jeopardy, but none would appear on camera to talk about their concerns.
When the Plymouth Brethren School let out Monday afternoon, the uniformed children played football and jumped around the school building as residents would see outside any school.
But the Plymouth Brethren openly express a doctrine of separation. They said they make a commitment to eat and drink only with those whom with they would celebrate the Lord's Supper.
They said they don't hold themselves superior to others, but that distance is further fueling the notion of a secretive process that brought the plan to the board.
Savoie told Local 4 that those worries aren't under consideration.
"Their religious practices aren't germane to the question here," Savoie said.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Monday, and a large turnout is expected.