Eaton County planning panel approves Union Church land division despite neighbor safety concerns

The Eaton County Planning Commission on a motion approved a change of conditions to an existing conditional use permit that lets Union Church of 5 Corners divide and sell portions of property at 4012 Marshall Road in Walton Township.

The approval was supported by a roll-call vote in which Commissioners Scott Hanson, Lisa Lewitski, Ray Whitaker, Ed Kemp, Tim Catron, Frank Holmes and Ryan Ross voted yes. The commission recorded no opposing votes on the motion to support CU‑9‑04‑12.

The application requests approval to divide the church property into proposed lots 4 and 5 and use sale proceeds for building maintenance. The property was described in staff materials as approximately 7.7 acres in a low‑density residential zone; staff calculated the institution qualifies as a "large religious institution," which under the zoning ordinance typically requires retaining 5 acres with the church. The church’s stated hours are Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesdays, 6–8 p.m.; one employee is on site during those hours. Staff also reported existing parking for 34 vehicles and estimated routine vehicular trips of about 20 on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Nearby resident Jeneva Wilson, who identified herself as living at 4148 Marshall Road, said she is not opposed to the church but asked the commission to consider safety, citing repeated crashes along the blind curve on Marshall Road. "I have seen people die in front of my house," Wilson said, adding she fears additional driveways entering Marshall Road. In a written response filed with staff earlier, the neighbor asked whether new driveways would connect to Marshall Road or to 5 Point Highway.

Staff told the commission that access and driveway permitting fall under the Eaton County Road Commission and the Land Division Act; the planning commission cannot require a driveway permit as a condition of the land division. A county staff member said the road commission enforces sight‑distance requirements and reviews driveway permits on a site‑by‑site basis.

An applicant representative said proceeds from the sale would help maintain the church building, noting the congregation is small and the building is more than 50 years old. The representative said an easement to 5 Point Highway could be possible but cautioned it could create maintenance obligations for future buyers and might affect compliance with the 5‑acre requirement.

The staff report noted prior conditional use permits (CU70311 and CU90412), that the site has an existing well and septic, dumpster waste service, two paved driveways without curb and gutter, and that no county drains, wetlands, or flood zones were identified on the parcel. Staff also said notification was sent to 15 surrounding property owners and one written response was received.

The commission advised the applicant that moving forward with any driveway or building permit would require separate reviews by the Eaton County Road Commission and other agencies, and that the planning commission's approval addresses only the zoning conditional use change. The applicant was told staff would follow up about next steps.

The decision allows the church to proceed with the land division as requested in CU‑9‑04‑12; any future site work that requires driveway permits or building permits will be subject to the road commission, health department and other permitting processes.