The Next Challenge for Leelanau Township - Planning Commission Appointments
Terms for three Leelanau Township planning commissioners expire at the end of June. Commissioners are appointed by the township supervisor and must be approved by the township board.
As Leelanau Township confronts this issue in the middle of a moratorium on RV park and campground applications such as Timber Shores, which was adopted by the township board with no input from the planning commission, it’s a good time to take a look at how commission members are appointed.
The question township citizens must consider is whether the township supervisor will appoint his neighbors who support the moratorium and will extend it to stall the project further, or will he comply with state law and appoint citizens who represent important segments such as business owners.
Kurt H. Schindler, a long-time planner with Michigan State University Extension (MSUE), wrote about the issue and provided great insight on how townships should comply with the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (MPEA) which sets out certain requirements for planning commission membership.
A major part of the MPEA, Schindler noted, is that membership“ shall be representative of the important segments of the community.”
Unfortunately the Leelanau Township ordinance does not comply with this requirement in the state statute.
The MSUE article urges that the local ordinance should state the specific important segments for the community. Best practice should identify these segments and link them to a specific seat on the planning commission. Often when this is done well the planning commission can be a very dynamic body with each member having a stronger sense of purpose. That excitement and purpose can make it easier to find people willing to serve on the local commission.
Schindler noted that examples of segments of the community could include the following:
agriculture
natural resources
recreation
education
public health
government
transportation
industry
commerce
A common addition often seen is representation of property owners’ rights.
The current Leelanau Township Planning Commission members mostly represent only two segments. Two commissioners represent agriculture. At least four commissioners represent retirees.
A commission that’s more representative of the entire community would include a local business owner from the retail sector, an owner of a hospitality business such as a restaurant, an owner of commercial property, an owner of a trades business and an owner of a service business, among others.
These vital sectors of the Leelanau Township community are not represented at all.
Two steps are needed to make the township compliant with state law. First the township should amend its planning commission ordinance to specify community segments that must be represented. Second, the township should identify and appoint representatives of those specific segments. This process should be transparent and engage the entire community.
When he makes his appointments the supervisor should not focus on political expediency by choosing accomplices whose real role is to do his bidding. Instead he should bring the township into compliance with state law and begin to correct the deficiencies by making appointments that represent essential sectors of the community.
Walter Johnson
Project Manager
Timber Shores RV Campground