Townships press for access limits while commission recommends Vineyard Estates preliminary plat

A preliminary plat application from Chad Peeples for Vineyard Estates (18 lots) drew sustained discussion about driveway access and township authority. Staff briefed the commission that Long Lake and Oak Lawn Townships requested a written agreement on access points before final plat approval; Oak Lawn maintains Butternut Road and expressed concerns about allowing many new driveways onto a high‑speed segment.

Township supervisors said they are not opposed to development per se but want to avoid a scenario with multiple individual driveways; one supervisor said the plan could be reduced to as few as eight access points with shared driveways and internal service roads. The highway department confirmed access is achievable but noted the township’s driveway ordinance governs final access permitting.

Commissioners disagreed about whether to incorporate the township’s access approval into the county’s preliminary‑plat recommendation. Some commissioners argued access details are normally finalized at the final‑plat stage and that the county should not give the township effective veto authority over the county board. The commission ultimately recommended approval of the preliminary plat with two conditions (septic/site information and monumentation) and deleted a proposed third condition that would have withheld final plat submittal pending township approval. The matter moves to the county board for final action; townships and applicant agreed to continue working on access plans.