Charlevoix County planners recommend approval of Hayes Township zoning map after resident raises data and notice concerns

The Charlevoix County Planning Commission voted Feb. 5 to recommend approval of a proposed Hayes Township zoning map intended to correct 55 parcel errors and reflect rezonings approved since 2009.

Planning Director Kiersten Stark told the commission she had worked with township staff and the county Equalization Department during the map update and had consulted county civil counsel, who confirmed a township can legally adopt a new zoning map. "The proposed new zoning map reflects all of the corrections as well as all of the rezonings that have been approved since the zoning map was last adopted in 2009," Stark said during her staff presentation.

During public comment, resident LuAnne Kozma urged commissioners to review a letter she had sent to the Hayes Township Planning Commission, arguing that the proposed Hayes Township Master Plan uses incorrect demographic figures and omits goals from prior plans related to natural resources and parks and recreation. Kozma also said the public notice for the map did not include a parcel list and asserted that map changes should be processed as zoning amendments with an accompanying parcel inventory.

Hayes Township Planning Commission Chairman Roy Griffitts told the commission the proposed zoning map and a list of parcels proposed for correction were available at the Township Hall and that township staff had worked with the county to confirm parcel accuracy. "The Township has followed the legal process completely," Griffitts said.

After the staff presentation and public remarks, Matt Cunningham moved to recommend approval of the proposed new Hayes Township zoning map; Dave Wheeler seconded. The motion carried by voice vote with all members present voting in favor.

Why it matters: zoning maps determine allowable land uses parcel by parcel and provide the basis for local zoning enforcement and permitting. Kozma asked the county to encourage Hayes Township to review the master plan text to ensure goals related to natural resources and parks were not unintentionally omitted from the new draft.

Next steps: The county recommendation will be transmitted to Hayes Township as part of the statutory review process; the township will proceed with its local adoption steps for the map and any related ordinance language.