Planning Commission pauses action on county Farmland & Open Space preservation ordinance

The Charlevoix County Planning Commission reviewed a revised Farmland & Open Space Preservation Ordinance on Feb. 6, 2025, and voted to postpone further action until its next meeting.

Planning Director Kiersten Stark told commissioners the ordinance had been revised after an earlier Board of Commissioners discussion to remove a countywide millage as a potential funding source. Stark said she had presented the revised draft to the County Board’s Internal Government Committee, which raised concerns and did not move the ordinance to the full Board for further consideration.

Commissioner Bob Jess asked why the revised ordinance was taken to the Internal Government Committee rather than back to the full Board, prompting discussion about the process followed. Marshal Baker moved that staff return to the County Commissioners to seek approval to pursue township outreach; the motion failed on a voice vote with all opposed. The Commission later adopted a separate motion, made by Chair Nancy Ferguson, to table further discussion until the next meeting.

Commission members discussed next steps and how best to proceed following the Committee’s concerns but provided no direction to staff at the meeting. The ordinance remains under consideration; the Commission’s formal action was to pause further discussion pending additional follow-up at a future meeting.

The Planning Commission is advisory to the Board of Commissioners; any action to adopt a county ordinance or to pursue implementation steps would require County Board consideration.