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Townships urge Clinton County to keep countywide Planning & Zoning services
Summary
Township officials told the Clinton County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 5 that local governments lack the staff, funding and insurance to assume zoning duties if county services are cut, and asked the board to preserve centralized Planning & Zoning while the county studies options.
The Clinton County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 5 heard a string of township supervisors warn that dissolving county Planning & Zoning would shift unaffordable costs and liabilities to townships across the county. Chairperson Bruce DeLong opened the meeting and introduced MSU Extension facilitators who framed the session as a listening session on the future of county planning services.
Several township representatives told the board their jurisdictions could not absorb zoning responsibilities on their own. Amanda McClanahan of DeWitt Township said DeWitt “carries a $2 million liability policy at a cost of $200,000/year,” and argued that continuity across neighboring jurisdictions matters for development management. Victor Township’s Maggie Sayles said the county Planning & Zoning budget represents less than 1% of the county budget and that turnover in the Planning Director role has contributed to local concern.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and flagged related issues including staffing and funding. Commissioner Zach Rudat said the county should “recognize the writing on the wall” as suburban growth pressures increase demand for consistent zoning. Facilitators summarized recurring themes—affordability, liability coverage, staffing turnover and the need for a sustainable funding model—and the board sent the matter to the Ways & Means Committee for further review on Feb. 19. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
