Riverview council reviews draft ordinance for on-site battery storage, members press for fire-safety rules

City staff presented a draft ordinance to amend Riverview's zoning code to add provisions for on-site battery energy storage systems (BESS) as accessory uses, and asked the council to send the draft to the planning commission for review and a public hearing. "The request for the council right now is to send this to the planning commission for review," staff said, referencing a draft based on University of Michigan materials and recent municipal examples. The planning commission was offered Nov. 6 as a possible hearing date.

Staff emphasized the draft focuses on smaller on-site systems that serve a single residence or business and does not address large off-site, utility-scale battery arrays (which trigger state review). Councilmembers raised safety concerns after a safety speaker and landfill staff recounted lithium-ion fire behavior and disposal challenges. One councilmember urged preventive language and a requirement that owners keep systems neat and free of refuse; another suggested inspection intervals.

Jeff, the landfill director, described an incident involving a 3,000-plus-pound EV battery that smoldered and required cooling and removal; he said specialized disposal and transport quotes ranged "minimum upwards of 13 to $14,000" per battery and described packaging requirements and long-distance recycling routes. Staff said the ordinance could include administrative site-plan review and possible recurring inspection language, but specifics will be developed by the planning commission and staff.

Council did not adopt the ordinance at the study session; it referred the draft to the planning commission for further review and a public hearing.