Board approves rezonings, OKs memorial bench

Bench will honor former parks member, planning commissioner.

A bench in Sanctuary Woods Park, 4750 66th St., in Laketown Township, with a plaque dedicated to the Den Uyl family. The township board purchased a similar bench for Dick Becker, former planning commissioner and member of the parks commission when he passed away earlier this year.

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, approved two rezoning requests and funds for a memorial park bench.

The rezoned land is:

  • About 20 acres on 61st Street and 146th Avenue from Agriculture (AG) to Low-Density Residential (R-2).
  • About 18 acres on 64th Street from Rural Estate District (R-1) to Low-Density Residential (R-2).

The changes in both areas are compliant with the township’s Master Plan.

The planning commission on Sept. 4 recommended the rezonings to the board.

Bench

The board approved spending about $3,000 for a bench to honor Dick Becker, 81, who passed away in July.

Becker served for 3 ½ years on the township planning commission, resigning in May. He began serving on the parks commission in 2019 and was still on the commission when he passed away.

“He added something special to the meetings,” township Manager Al Meshkin said, noting Becker’s sense of humor.

“He did not suffer fools,” said Supervisor Linda Howell.

The bench will be placed in Sanctuary Woods, 4750 66th St., Becker’s favorite park. Several vacant concrete slabs are available for the bench.

Meshkin will meet with Becker’s family to discuss the details of the plaque for the bench.

Purchasing a bench for a township official who died while in office has occurred before. In 2020, the parks commission purchased a bench in honor of Ellen Fitch who passed away in December of that year while serving on the parks commission.