The Grosse Ile Township Board of Trustees voted to approve the township’s 2025 master plan on Aug. 11 after a public comment period and a series of emails urging the board to send the draft back to the Planning Commission for revisions. The board held a roll‑call vote and adopted the plan as presented by the Planning Commission.
The vote follows weeks of written input and a petition cited during the meeting that urged the board to reject the Planning Commission’s draft and return it for restoration of provisions participants said had been removed without adequate public notice. Dozens of written comments were read into the record at the meeting urging the board to “vote no and send the plan back for modest sensible changes,” and at least one public commenter said more than 300 residents had signed a petition opposing the current draft.
Board members and planning staff said the master plan is a guiding document rather than a binding code change, and they described clear paths to amend or correct the plan after adoption. Ross (community development director) told the board that proofreading corrections and historical text edits could be made without a full amendment process, and he described two formal amendment tracks: a “minor amendment” with a roughly 42‑day public review period and a “major amendment” with a longer, roughly 65‑day review schedule. He and trustees also said the township and Planning Commission will undertake annual reviews to consider needed updates.
Several trustees and staff emphasized that the master plan sets policy goals and priorities; zoning or ordinance changes to implement priorities would require follow‑on public hearings and specific legislative actions. Trustees said items that some residents considered omitted—examples cited included language affecting Macomb Street and senior‑housing considerations—could be pursued in subsequent amendment or zoning processes, including rezoning or changes to zoning standards if the board and Planning Commission direct them to do so.
Public commenter Kyle DeBose, who had helped organize a petition opposing portions of the draft, said he appreciated the board’s willingness to review the plan going forward and urged the board to prioritize the Macomb Street policy discussion and follow‑through. Several email writers read at the meeting requested that the board explicitly direct the Planning Commission to restore portions of the prior draft or at least accept minor amendments if the board voted to adopt the plan.
The board approved the master plan by roll call. Trustees said they intend to meet annually with the Planning Commission to review the plan and to respond to any requests for targeted amendments raised by residents or by commissioners.
Looking ahead, trustees and planning staff said residents should expect further public hearings if and when the board or Planning Commission pursues ordinance or zoning changes informed by the plan, and the board encouraged residents to continue submitting formal proposals or requests for amendments through the Planning Commission process.