Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners set special meeting window after finding county zoning 'not compatible' with Honeywell solar plan
Summary
County staff told commissioners that Gratiot County zoning is more restrictive than the state renewable-energy statute and therefore the board must decide whether to declare a compatible renewable energy ordinance; commissioners discussed a special meeting to meet an August statutory deadline and preserve public comment.
County staff briefed the board on a July 22 presentation from Honeywell Creek LLC about a proposed roughly 1,000‑acre solar project in Seville and Sumner townships and said the county's zoning is more restrictive than the state's renewable-energy requirements.
The staff member leading the briefing said, "No. We are not compatible," explaining that a finding of incompatibility would likely shift siting criteria toward the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and trigger procedural steps under the Administrative Procedures Act of 1969 that allow the county to participate in a state hearing. The presenter said the statute provides for a developer payment to affected local units and described the formula in the statute as discussed at the July 22 meeting.
Commissioners discussed whether to handle the compatibility determination at the regular August 18 meeting or in a narrowly focused special meeting so the public has a dedicated forum. One commissioner said the item is "huge" and preferred a special meeting to allow more time for deliberation and public comment; others favored an evening start (about 5:00 p.m.) to accommodate working residents. The administrator told the board the chair must send the county's compatibility determination to the developer by the statutory deadline (cited as August 20 or 21), prompting the scheduling discussion.
The board did not make the final compatibility determination in this session but asked staff to arrange either a special meeting or an agenda slot at the August 18 meeting to ensure transparency and public input. If the board declares the county "not compatible," staff noted the county could still participate in an MPSC proceeding as an interested party and that the applicant had offered to work with the county and the townships locally.
