Leelanau Township Planning Commission Special Meeting 7 PM Thursday, October 21

Click here for the Zoom links to this special planning commission meeting.

Has your voice been heard?  Leelanau Township’s planning commission is reviewing proposed changes to the commercial resort district in the zoning ordinance.  The township decided to change the ordinance after Timber Shores submitted its application.  In other words they’re trying to change the rules in the middle of the game. 

The changes will make it tougher to get approval for Timber Shores.  Some of the changes they’ve discussed would make it impossible.

A small group of immediate neighbors complains at every planning commission meeting.  Some commissioners are paying more attention to them than to anyone else in the township. 

Are you going to be drowned out?

If you support Timber Shores, if you think the Northport – Omena area could use an economic boost – it’s time to make your voice heard.

Speak up.

Public comment is scheduled at the beginning of the meeting.  Anyone who wants to make their feelings known has three minutes to say their piece.  You can also send your comments by email.  They will get included in the public record.  Send them to ltzone@leelanautwp.org and indicate that you want your email included in the meeting record and distributed to all planning commissioners.

Every Meeting Counts: Going forward we’d appreciate you continuing to attend meetings and speak on behalf of Timber Shores. If that’s not possible then we urge you to email or snail mail the planning commission about your support.  In last Thursday’s meeting commissioner Tom Weber assured the audience that commissioners read everything that’s sent.  Let them know that the opponents of Timber Shores are a small, albeit vocal minority made up of NIMBYs and local curmudgeons.

Let’s Not Forget: This whole review process was started with a sneaky act by the township board in a Wednesday morning special meeting. At that meeting a 180-day moratorium was implemented with claims that it would protect the public health, safety and welfare but without citing any specific harm. Let’s not forget that the two board members who live across the street from Timber Shores and who should have recused themselves voted to approve

If you can, join us for future meetings, which are scheduled on October 28, November 11, and November 18.

If we want continued economic growth for this area then we have to speak up and not let a few part-time residents dictate what businesses can and cannot be a part of our community!

Ruth Walker