Summary
This document is a correspondence submitted to the Leelanau Township Board on March 11, 2025, authored by resident Doug Whitley, offering a critical analysis of the three-year process that ended in the Leelanau Township Planning Commission's January 30, 2025 denial (vote 4-2) of Leelanau County's Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) application for a communications tower at 11015 N. Kitchen Road. Whitley argues the process was flawed by poor communication, limited administrative capacity, and an overly strict application of zoning standards, and he calls for zoning ordinance revisions and a possible "Plan B" tower effort.
Public Comments
Whitley's letter reports that public hearings drew standing-room-only crowds, with 80 written comments favoring the tower and 27 opposing it (some individuals submitted multiple comments). The neighbors' paid planning consultant submitted detailed written criticisms at the June 13, 2024 hearing. Undersheriff James Kiessel, Chair of the County's 9-1-1 Advisory Board, told the Planning Commission that approximately 80% of 9-1-1 calls originate from cell phones, underscoring emergency-service concerns. Five adjacent property owners were described as the most vocal opponents, objecting to the tower's placement near their properties. Commissioner Schatz observed early in the process that a preliminary "scoping process" might have avoided much of the controversy by informing neighbors in advance.
Infrastructure Projects
The central infrastructure matter is the proposed communications tower intended to improve cell coverage and 9-1-1 reliability across Leelanau Township. The County's propagation study of seven hillside sites identified 11015 N. Kitchen Road, where a 60-ft. tower already stood, as superior; replacing it would avoid a net increase in towers. Neighborhood opposition arose after the site was selected, and the original 165-page SLUP application was withdrawn following a contentious June 13, 2024 hearing; a revised 262-page application followed in October 2024. After extended review (extended past the statutory 90-day deadline by County agreement), the Planning Commission denied the SLUP 4-2 on January 30, 2025, with the decision affirmed via meeting minutes and Findings of Fact at the February 27, 2025 meeting. Whitley notes the County's GIS office estimated about 400 parcels lacking reliable wireless service would have benefited. No vote by the Township Board itself is recorded in this document regarding the tower's future.
Other Business
Whitley recommends updating Article 12 (SLUP standards, last amended 2008) and Article 18 (Communications Tower application, rewritten 2012) of the Township zoning ordinance, citing examples he considers overly strict interpretations (tree removal limits, driveway standards, and tower surface/color rules).
Financial Summary
The Township's 2025-26 fiscal year budget (effective April 1, 2025) increases funding for the Zoning Administrator's office, adding a half-time Zoning Administrator, a part-time assistant, and a new computer. No specific dollar amounts are given.
Action Items
Whitley urges the Township Board to consider pursuing a "Plan B" tower effort, including securing a site, obtaining zoning approval, and committing funding before returning to the County Board. He recommends adopting a scoping process to notify landowners of potential tower siting and lease revenue opportunities. He notes four of five Township Board members were newly elected in November 2024 and have not yet discussed or acted on resurrecting the tower project.