Plain-language summaries of Leelanau Planning Commission meeting minutes in Leelanau County, Michigan. Every summary links back to the official source document.
North Ranger Rd LLC submitted a rezoning application for 17.29 acres at 10050 N Ranger Road from Residential Conservation to R-2 Medium Density Residential, no decision recorded. Action item: Planning Commission to review application against Section 10.7 criteria, including Master Plan consistency and spot zoning analysis. No public comments noted.
This document contains only Zoom access instructions for the April 23, 2026 Leelanau Planning Commission meeting—no discussion, decisions, or action items were recorded. Meetings occur at Township Hall with remote attendance via Zoom (ID 881 982 5018, Passcode 49670) due to limited capacity; both in-person and remote attendees may participate in Public Comment.
Public hearing on Kilcherman OSRD project postponed to April 9; Township Attorney to rule on cross-district density and off-site septic easement issues. Neighbors (Allens) oppose drainfield easements, threatening litigation; Applicant's attorney disputes claims. Zoning Administrator preparing formal review; new Ranger Road rezoning application under staff completeness review.
Application submitted (not yet decided) for North Gill's Pier Preserve: five-lot open space residential development with 11.34 acres preserved. Applicant (Pete Miller/Kilcherman Investments) must finalize Certificate of Survey, easements, Land Division Application, and secure pending EGLE wetland permit for private drive crossings as approval condition. Applicant requests multiple Article 11.4/13.3.C waivers; no public comment recorded.
No Commission vote occurred. Key dispute: Allens (attorney Campbell) object to Kilcherman Investments' drainfield/sewer plans near shared easements, citing a 2018 Covenant and water risks, demanding advance notice before work. Kilcherman's attorney Miller disputes this, citing health department approval, and asks the Commission to adopt proposed easement language as an approval condition. One resident supports the project.
This is a notice for a March 12, 2026 Public Hearing, not completed meeting minutes, so no decisions were made. Planning Commission will review Kilcherman Investments, LLC's Special Land Use Permit for a 5-parcel Open Space Residential Development. Public comment accepted in-person, via Zoom, phone, or written. Jessica Wilson handles ADA accommodation requests.
No formal votes occurred; report was informational only. Three January 2026 Land Use Permits issued, including LUP 26-003 with zoning/setback questions needing resolution. One land division application remains under review, and 21 short-term rental renewals processed. Ongoing work continues on the Master Plan and a preliminary site plan review.
Kilcherman Investments seeks approval to divide 22.65 acres into five lots with a private drive and 11.34 acres protected open space. Pete Miller owns follow-up: submitting land division application, recording survey/easements/covenants. EGLE wetland permit approval requested as a condition. Multiple ordinance waivers requested (setbacks, signage, lighting); no public contention noted.
The Planning Commission set its tentative 2026 meeting schedule (second/fourth Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., Township Hall), pending formal adoption by resolution. Action items: finalize adoption resolution; residents must request accessibility accommodations seven days in advance; schedule changes will be posted online. No public comments or contentious issues were noted.
Commission approved agenda/minutes and reviewed Master Plan page-by-page, pausing at page 7 for next meeting. No public comments. Patmore to find boundary map; typo corrections go directly to him; ZBA hearing to be scheduled; Peninsula Township winery lawsuit monitored. Board reported on Cherry Home Subdivision road funding and Woolsey Airport repairs, questioning township tax use.
Board approved LTCF grants for Woolsey Airport Terminal, Deputy Treasurer contract with NLTUA, Meg Jean's Planning Commission appointment, EMS Glide Scope purchase (~$11,200), and pursuing an EGLE grant for Christmas Cove Park via GEI consultants. Action items: Employee Handbook review and GoGov communication research moved to November; Supervisor to proceed with EGLE grant application.
The Commission continued reviewing the Master Plan's Zoning Plan section, deciding to relocate Accessory Dwelling Units and Short-Term Rentals into the housing section and reformat the document for readability. No public comments were received. Action items: Patmore distributed a revised Implementation Section; next meeting continues review from Future Land Use, October 9, 2025.
Staff presented October 2025 zoning report with no ZBA activity. Key action items: process 3 pending LUP applications and 1 land division review (staff/Assessor); continue 2026 short-term rental renewals (7 submitted); advance Master Plan work with Planning Commission and Fee Schedule research. No public comments or contentious items noted.
Leelanau Township Planning Commission advanced the Master Plan and scheduled a possible August 14, 2025 special meeting. ZA Patmore will incorporate corrections and post a searchable draft; Schatz and Weatherbee continue drafting an airport ordinance; Township Board reviews hangar leases. No public comments made; commissioners questioned Woolsey Airport's park status, unresolved.
Leelanau Township Planning Commission advanced its draft Master Plan Update, balancing economic growth, housing, agriculture, and shoreline resiliency. Key actions include studying Missing Middle/ADU housing options, monitoring short-term rental impacts, regulating large-scale renewable energy facilities, reviewing environmental standards, and considering airport zoning. Over 400 surveys informed the plan; additional public sessions are planned before finalization.
Commission reviewed the Master Plan draft addressing housing shortages, infrastructure, and parks; more public sessions planned before finalizing. Action items: Planning Commission drafts zoning amendments (lot sizes, ADUs); Board considers land-bank agreement, TOST ordinance, and Wellhead Protection enrollment; staff pursues CZMP grants; continued coordination with Northport. No public contention noted.
Commission approved scheduling an August 14, 2025 special meeting to review the Master Plan draft (pending searchable document) and approved May 22 minutes as amended. Patmore and Weatherbee will research an airport activities ordinance for Woolsey Airport. No public comments were received. Commissioner Hart, not seeking reappointment, was thanked for her service.
The Commission continued editing the Master Plan (no formal votes), tabling April 24 minutes for more detail. Action items: Gans to revise Township Hall/Library section and contact Elizabeth Schwind on Schools; Emergency Services needs updated data; citations require verification. Public comment: Malleck asked about a $130,000 sewer capacity study, confirmed by Patmore.
Commission approved agenda and prior minutes, then focused on revising Master Plan sections (library, school, parks, airport, conservancy). No public comments. Action items: Gans to edit sections, contact Schwind, and request Township-owned property list; Patmore to continue draft edits. June 8 meeting cancelled; next meeting June 22, 2025.
Commission approved agenda/March minutes, continued Master Plan revisions (Coastlands, Dark Sky, Coastal Resiliency), and discussed housing/CIP issues. Patmore to create online searchable Master Plan; next meeting (May 8) covers Adaptation Strategies. Public comment: Malleck raised concerns on posting comments online, guest house tax impacts, "McMansions," and a $14.5M concept house—no formal Commission responses recorded.
Planning Commission reviewed Master Plan Update draft; no formal votes taken. Key actions: draft zoning amendments for ADUs/lot sizes, pursue Land Bank agreement, assess Wellhead Protection/TOST ordinance adoption, seek CZMP funding, explore joint planning with Northport, and form a trail advisory group—all assigned to Planning Commission/Board of Trustees. Public survey favored open space preservation, ADUs, and dune protection; no contentious public comments recorded.
This joint meeting between Leelanau Township and Northport gathered public input on housing needs via discussion, presentations from Housing North and non-profit developers, and a hands-on activity. No formal decisions or votes were recorded. Action item: individuals needing disability accommodations must notify the Township Clerk seven days in advance.
Draft Master Plan reviewed by Leelanau Planning Commission, covering housing, coastal resiliency, and land use; unresolved edits remain before adoption. Recommended actions include ADU/zoning revisions, TOST septic ordinance adoption, shoreline armoring prohibition, and Land Bank partnership. Input drawn from 2021 survey/open house, not live comment; notable concern: Northport Schools' 54% low-income student homelessness rate.
Commission voted 4-2 to deny the Special Land Use Permit for a 200'-3" communications tower, finding it failed five of six standards (character, wetlands, farmland, stormwater). Schatz and Kalchik consistently dissented; Mitchell recused. Public comments were split between residents opposing character change and those supporting tower need; Applicant's planner argued minimal impact.
The Commission prioritized completing the Master Plan Update in 2025 and recommended approval of the Farm Stay Camping zoning amendment (Hallstedt) to the Township Board. The Communications Tower Special Use Permit (11015 N. Kitchen Rd.) drew significant public input for and against; a Public Hearing was set for January 13, 2025, with a decision pending.
Six land use permits issued in January 2025, including a Bed and Breakfast and Tasting Room permit at 4940 N. Houdek Rd. Staff continues assisting with a cell tower Special Use Permit review, Master Plan research, and Short Term Rental permits. Public raised "several" and "many" questions on land divisions and zoning/setbacks; no named commenters.
Commission reviewed the cell tower SLU written decision (11015 N. Kitchen Road), FY2025-26 budget, and draft 2024 Annual Report, amid pressure to expedite the Master Plan. Steve Patmore owns tower decision and farm stay zoning language. Public comments showed division: residents opposing the tower versus fiber-optic supporters like Harper, plus housing and joint-meeting requests.
Commission reviewed Leelanau County's Special Use Permit for a 200'-3" tower replacing an existing 58' tower. Decisions pending: tower finish, screening requirements, and conditions on structural standards, signage, barbed wire, and old tower removal. Emergency services must assess Kitchen Road access. Public comment focused on coverage gaps; Verizon expressed interest without commitment; applicant withdrew barbed wire fencing.
Public comments submitted ahead of the January 23, 2025 hearing overwhelmingly support approving a cell tower, mainly at Kitchen Road, citing safety, 911 access, and poor service. No votes or decisions occurred. Dan and Nancy Ray asked their letter be entered into meeting minutes. No opposing comments were recorded.