Public Announcements
Following the receipt of the Ad Hoc Committee Report, Planning Commission Chair Jack Penegor and the Township Attorney worked on the next "draft" of the proposed amendment of the Escanaba Township Zoning Ordinance to facilitate Utility Scale Solar Photovotaic ("USSPV”) development in the Township.
The proposed amendment is based on their review and consideration of the following elements; (1) language in the originally proposed Ordinance Amendment; (2) the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee, as set forth in their comprehensive "Ad Hoc Committee Report of Recommendations" dated March 2, 2020; and (3) review of 5 other Michigan Municipal Ordinances which regulate industrial scale solar photovoltaic projects.
At the teleconference Planning Commission meeting to be held May 4, 2020, the Ordinance amendment itself will not be considered for approval, approval with conditions, or rejection by the Planning Commission. The only item up for consideration will be whether the Planning Commission finds this draft of the Proposed Ordinance Amendments to be sufficient for purposes of informing the public and giving required legal notices regarding the scheduling of a final public hearing. If so, the Planning Commission Chair will request that he be given authority to proceed with such public notices.
The Planning Commission Chair also intends to request that the Planning Commission, should it approve the form of a draft Proposed amendment, schedule a final public hearing regarding the proposed amendments regarding USSPVs in the Township, on such advance notice as the Planning Commission finds to be appropriate.
A draft proposed amendment to the Escanaba Township zoning ordinance to allow utility scale solar photovoltaic facilities in the Township has been prepared by the Planning Commission Chair and Township Attorney. It will be submitted to the Planning Commission at its May 4, 2020 teleconference meeting and the Chairman plans to request that the draft proposed amendment be utilized to give public notice of a final hearing on proposed adoption of a USSPV zoning ordinance amendment, at a future date and time to be established by the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in the proposed USSPV zoning ordinance amendment should review the notice of telephonic meetings announcements and the introduction and draft proposed amendment set forth in the "Public Announcements" and the "Planning Commission" sections of this website and participate in the May 4, 2019 teleconference meeting. Dial-in instructions are addressed below.
Township representatives have received many calls requesting hard copies of the Ad Hoc Committee Report and Recommendations. All non-Township officials who have received or want to receive a copy will have to pay for copying costs. The cost will be 10 cents per page, and there are 288 pages, but the report will be printed on both sides of the page so the total cost will be $14.40. The Township offices are only open part-time. if you want such a copy, order it by emailing or calling the Township Attorney’s office at 786-4422 between 8 am and 4 pm. Tell the receptionist your name, and state when you want to pick it up. If you do not order more than two hours in advance, you will have to wait for your copies because the Township Attorney is not printing copies in advance.