Board Member Information

Duties:

The basic function of the planning commission is to make and adopt a plan for the township's land use development.  The plan should include maps, plats, charts, and descriptive and explanatory material.  In addition to private land use, it should consider the general location of major streets, water and sewer systems and other public utilities and structures, rehabilitation of blighted areas, location of public buildings, flood prevention, public recreation and other similar matters pertinent to governmental service.  The planning commission is required to review any plats or subdivisions and make a recommendation prior to township board action.  Fees may be established by ordinance and may be on a per-lot basis.  

Responsibilities:

The commission must hold at least one public hearing before it adopts any portion of the plan.  Hearing notices must be published at least two weeks apart, with the first at least 30 days before the hearing and the second not less than seven days before the hearing.  Any approved plans should be filed with the township board and the county planning commission or regional planning commission.

The commission must submit a detailed budget to the township board of approval or disapproval.  The township board has charge of the amount of money spent by the planning commission.  Authorized expenditures are paid by the township treasurer on vouchers signed by the chairperson and secretary of the planning commission on orders drawn by the township clerk.

Upon recommendation of the planning commission, the township board may employ a planning director or other planning personnel.  The planning commission should adopt its own rules to transact business and keep a public record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations.  It should also make an annual report to the township board concerning its operations and the status of planning activities, including any pertinent recommendations.  

Duties:

The board must elect a chairperson and secretary from among its members and any other officers or committees as necessary.  Officer elections must be at least every two years.  Members may be compensated for their services as determined by the township board.  This compensation is customarily on a per meeting basis.  Medicare and Social Security taxes must be withheld from each paycheck and a W-2 Form issued at the end of the year.  The main function of the zoning board is to provide reasonable restrictions on land use that conform to a comprehensive township development plan and provide for the best interest of the health, safety, and general welfare of the township citizens and property owners.  Its power may be transferred by township board resolution to a township planning commission.  

Responsibilities:

The zoning board may hire a township planner and other technical assistance it may require, with the township board's consent and within the township board and within the township board's budget appropriations.

Zoning board actions are recommendations that are submitted to the county coordinating committee or planning commission for further recommendations and to the township board for final adoption.  The county board of commissions may waive the submission to its coordinating committee or planning commission by separate resolution.

The zoning board's recommendation is delivered to the county coordinating or planning commission where this requirement has not been waived by the county board of commissioners.  The county coordinating or planning commission then has 30 days to review the zoning board's recommendations are delivered to the township board for final decision.  If the township board wishes to make any changes in the zoning board recommendation, it must refer the matter back to the board for further report.  The township board then has the final authority to adopt or reject the recommendation, with or without amendments, as it sees fit.  The Township Rural Zoning Act also requires the zoning board (planning commission) to transmit a summary of the comments received at the public hearing to the township board along with its recommendations.  A copy of the public hearing minutes would satisfy this requirement, if comments are included.  

The site plan review can be delegated by the zoning ordinance to the township board, zoning board, zoning board of appeals, planning commission or zoning administrator.  With respect to site plan review, however, the act does require approval of the site plan if it complies with the standards set forth in the ordinance and other applicable ordinance and statues.  

The state Legislature has removed or restricted zoning jurisdiction from townships in certain land use matters.  For example, a township cannot prevent state-licensed residential facilities or family day care homes for six or less persons from any residential classification (MCLs 125.286a and 125.286g).  It further cannot restrict the location of an armory or state prison (MCL 32.780).  The state supervisor of wells is given exclusive jurisdiction over gas and oil wells but not processing plants or accessory activities (MCL 125.271).  Under MCL 125.271a, music and art lessons cannot be prohibited in a person's home, but noise, traffic, hours of operation and other conditions may be regulated for such use.