Planning commission reviews Melrose Township stop‑work and solar zoning amendments, forwards comments

Charlevoix County Planning Commission members and staff reviewed two proposed Melrose Township zoning text amendments on June 5 and voted to forward the Planning Department’s staff report and commission comments to the township.

Stop‑work orders: Commissioners reviewed proposed amendments to Article XIII, Section 13.5 (Enforcement) that would add a subsection allowing the Township to issue legally enforceable stop‑work orders. Planning Director Kiersten Stark said township legal counsel advised that stop‑work authority must be included in the zoning ordinance for orders to be enforceable. Stark asked how a 24‑hour advance notice to property owners should be delivered; Commissioner Pam Grassmick argued for both a phone call and written notice, noting that "when the Zoning Administrator posts a stop‑work order at a job site, the work stops right away. However, the property owner may not be aware of it. So, also having a procedure of notifying the owner is important." Commissioners agreed notice procedures should be specified; the commission moved to send the staff report and comments to Melrose Township.

Solar energy systems: The commission also reviewed proposed Section 4.32 to regulate personal and commercial solar energy systems. Stark recommended moving definitions to Article III, keeping provisions for personal ground‑mounted systems in General Provisions as a use by right, and relocating solar energy farms to Article X (Special Use Permits) and adding them to the Forest Conservation District as a special use. Commissioners debated technical and policy elements including wildlife‑friendly fencing, a 55 dBA maximum noise threshold for equipment and batteries, whether animals could graze under panels, limits on cutting canopy trees for solar installations, consistent measurement points for setbacks, and where to set a size cutoff between personal and commercial systems. Members noted that model language used by other northern Michigan communities informed the proposal and that enforceability improves with clearly defined use standards.

On separate motions the commission approved sending their comments and thanks to Melrose Township for both the stop‑work ordinance revisions and the proposed solar provisions (motions carried by voice vote). Staff will forward the Planning Department’s written report and the commission’s comments for the township’s consideration.

Next steps: Melrose Township will consider the suggested drafting and placement changes and the commission’s comments when preparing final zoning text for adoption.