Commission asks Charlevoix Township to revise draft renewable energy zoning rules before adoption

Charlevoix County Planning Department staff told the county Planning Commission on Oct. 2 that Charlevoix Township's proposed zoning text amendments for solar energy systems, battery storage and expanded wind provisions contain organizational and drafting problems that should be corrected before adoption.

Planning Director Kiersten Stark said the draft places definitions in the special-use article rather than the ordinance's definitions section, fails to add solar energy farms and on-site wind systems as special uses in the affected district regulations in Article 5, and lacks an explicit repeal-and-replace statement for older wind provisions. Stark recommended moving provisions for personal solar installations to the general provisions (Article 3) if they are to be uses by right, and adding special-use entries in Article 5 for solar farms and storage facilities where appropriate.

Commissioners raised technical concerns, including whether on-site systems should be allowed in Agricultural and R-1 districts, a clearer distinction between personal and utility-scale systems, and noise standards (Chairperson Nancy Ferguson suggested 55 decibels rather than the 60 dB in the draft and cautioned that adjacent structures should not be used as the measurement reference). The commission voted to forward the Planning Department staff report and its comments to Charlevoix Township, noting the proposed amendments need additional work before adoption. Marshal Bakker moved the motion; Pam Grassmick seconded; voice vote: all in favor.