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Committee reviews encroachment enforcement steps for open space, plans inspections and remediation letters
Summary
The committee discussed a draft encroachment enforcement procedure, recent letters sent to property owners, and plans for on-site inspections and remediation steps including tree replanting and possible legal follow-up if homeowners do not comply.
The Grosse Ile Greenways Open Space Committee reviewed draft encroachment enforcement procedures and discussed next steps after township staff sent letters to homeowners whose properties encroach on open-space land.
Committee members and township staff described a range of encroachments under review, including private driveways placed on open-space easements, asphalt or gravel laid atop conserved land and mature trees cut down. Paul Gloor, president of the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, provided written input regarding one site where asphalt should be removed, topsoil restored and native seed planted.
The committee discussed a proposed workflow: (1) staff or ordinance officers inspect the property and document the condition; (2) the committee will advise on the desired remediation (for example, removal of hard surface, replacement of topsoil, replanting with native species and placement of boulders to deter future encroachment); (3) staff will send a formal remediation letter with a deadline; and (4) follow-up inspections will confirm compliance. Committee members said remediation may include ongoing maintenance such as watering newly planted saplings until established.
Township staff said letters have been sent for several properties already and that most homeowners contacted so far have been cooperative. The committee emphasized care when volunteers or committee members visit private-property lines; the preferred process is for staff to lead communications and inspections to avoid confrontations and to ensure legal steps are followed. Committee members said the township’s lawyer is involved in drafting procedures and that unresolved violations could result in civil or criminal penalties, although staff said remediation is often less costly for homeowners than litigation.
Next steps: committee members will coordinate field inspections with staff; draft encroachment procedures will be revised with committee input and returned for approval; staff will track remediation and close the loop with complainters and the committee.
