The Northville Downs in Plymouth Township project came one step closer to reality last week, but only after a long procession of residents – and one trustee – spoke out against the plan. The project, proposed on part of a 128-acre parcel near the southwest corner of Five Mile and Ridge roads, would replace the existing Northville Downs horse racing facility in Northville and include a half-mile racetrack, grandstand, racing building, horse barn and more . On Feb. 28, the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees voted 6-1 to approve the planned unit development option (PUD) for the property, which is part of the Michigan International Technology Center (MITC) corridor. Trustee Chuck Curmi voted against the project, citing a long history of the property and objections to the current plan, which he said does not meet the vision for MITC. According to its website, MITC projects are envisioned to include global technology, mobility, life science and engineering innovators. Instead, Curmi said, two recently approved warehouses and the Northville Downs project will create low paying jobs and high traffic in the northwest corner of the township where the MITC corridor is located. More: Developer plans 1 million square feet of new warehouses in Plymouth Township More: Second multi-warehouse project planned for Five Mile in Plymouth Township “These proposed projects produce low economic value-added outcomes,” he said, noting gambling, at the racetrack, “could be considered a negative value-added operation, as gambling transfers wealth from the poor to the rich. ” Curmi said he was also concerned any revenue the facility brings to the township would be offset by other factors, such as increased traffic and crime. “For decades Plymouth has enjoyed lower crime and traffic levels verses surrounding communities,” Curmi said. “I urge a no vote. Let’s be patient and wait for a more suitable investment in Plymouth Township that improves our long-term quality of life and continues to make Plymouth a great place to live and work. ” Plymouth Township Police Chief James Knittel spoke at the Feb. 15 planning commission meeting and said conversations with Northville Police made him confident the venue would not bring criminal activity to Plymouth Township. Like at the Feb. 15 planning commission meeting, a long procession of residents also spoke in opposition to the project, including those with concerns about animal ethics, traffic and road conditions, impacts to the family-oriented atmosphere of Plymouth Township, and the perception that the project appears to be fast-tracked through the township's approval process. A full recording of the meeting is available on the township website . The project will now go back to the planning commission for consideration of the site plan, then will return to the board of trustees for final approval. Northville Downs owners said they would like to open in Plymouth Township by spring 2024. The next planning commission meeting is scheduled for March 15. An agenda for that meeting is not yet available. Get the latest headlines for metro Detroit every morning in your mailbox by signing up for our daily briefings newsletter . Contact reporter Laura Colvin at lcolvin@hometownlife. com or 248-221-8143. .