The Lowell Charter Township Board met for an hour on Monday night to discuss four pieces of business. All board members were present although Trustee Mark Anderson was initially excused since he was expected to be late.
Before moving into new business, board members reviewed and approved the following:
- Minutes from the Feb. meeting
- Treasurer’s report
- Accounts payable
- Feb. zoning and enforcement report
Supervisor Jerry Hale also shared that he had written a letter in support of Surf Internet. The company is apparently trying to get a federal grant to expand its service to nearly 1,200 properties in the township. The company wouldn’t be expanding to any areas currently served by Point Broadband, according to Hale.
Renewable Energy Ordinance Amendment Approved
The Lowell Township Planning Commission has been working for months on an update to the township’s existing renewable energy ordinance.
A state law went into effect last year which allows the Michigan Public Service Commission to permit large-scale solar, wind and battery storage facilities on property anywhere in the state and in any zoning district. However, the wait to get a permit from the state is long so many municipalities have been drafting what are known as “workable” ordinances. These may have more restrictions than the state law allows for, but developers may be willing to accept those in exchange for expediting the permitting process.
“We have an ordinance that might or might not work for the developers,” said Planning Commission Chair Dave Simmonds when presenting the proposed ordinance. “If it’s not (workable), they will go through the state.”
By creating a workable ordinance, Simmonds said the hope is to allow the township more control over where renewable energy facilities are placed and how they are screened.
The ordinance spells out the following restrictions for solar and battery storage facilities that produce 50 MW or more of power and wind energy systems that produce at least 100 MW.
Solar
- Allowed only in the Ag-1 and Ag-2 district
- Must receive a special land use permit from the planning commission
- Must be on at least 20 acres
- Must be setback at least 50 feet from non-participating properties’ lot lines and the public road right-of-way
- Must be setback at least 300 feet from occupied buildings and homes on non-participating properties
- Cannot exceed 25 feet in height
- Cannot produce sound in excess of 55 decibels at the outer wall of the nearest dwelling
- Must have a decommissioning and removal plan
Wind
- Allowed only in the Ag-1 and Ag-2 district
- Must receive a special land use permit from the planning commission
- Must be setback at least 2.1 times the maximum blade height from occupied buildings and homes on non-participating properties
- Must be setback at least 1.1 times the maximum blade height from occupied buildings and homes on participating properties, the centerline of the public road right-of-way and the centerline of easements containing overhead wires
- Cannot produce sound in excess of 55 decibels at the outer wall of the nearest dwelling
- Cannot produce a “shadow flicker” for more than 30 hours per year on occupied buildings and residences
- Must have a decommissioning and removal plan
Battery storage
- Allowed in the Ag-1, Ag-2, Light Industrial (I-1) and I-PUD districts
- Must receive a special land use permit from the planning commission
- Must be setback at least 50 feet from non-participating properties’ lot lines and the public road right-of-way
- Must be setback at least 300 feet from occupied buildings and homes on non-participating properties
- Cannot exceed 20 feet in height
- Cannot produce sound in excess of 55 decibels when measured at an adjacent non-participating property’s lot line
- Must be entirely enclosed in fencing
- Must have a decommissioning and removal plan
The ordinance amendment also added data centers as an allowed use in the I-PUD district. Simmonds said it had been brought to the commission’s attention that the township currently did not allow this use, and it made sense within an industrial planned unit development.
The Township Board approved the amended renewable energy ordinance unanimously.
Millage Request for Gypsy Moth Spraying
The other item to garner the most discussion during Monday’s meeting was a suggestion that voters be asked to approve a millage in November to pay for treatment to combat gypsy moths, otherwise known as spongy moths.
The township had a study completed last year to determine the extent of the moth infestation, and it was recommended that 2,500 acres be sprayed. While the township committed to spraying for the moths this year, it is typically a three-year process to remove an infestation.
With the annual cost estimated at $200,000 or more, board members said the township can’t afford the price alone. Hale thought it would be good to let voters decide.
“Personally, I have a problem asking people for more money,” Treasurer Ronda Benedict said. She noted that she regularly hears from residents who are worried that seniors are being taxed out of their homes.
“We heard all these concerns before and to this day, I don’t know how it passed, but it passed easily,” said Trustee Carlton Blough about the township’s last gypsy moth millage. However, he added that the issue of insect infestation seemed to be a statewide problem at that time so there may have been more public awareness to help encourage yes votes.
There was some additional conversation among board members, with most agreeing that any millage request would need to be less than 1 mill – preferably ½ or ¾ mill.
Hale said he would do some further research on the costs involved in placing the issue on the ballot and report back next month.
Other Board Action
In other votes, the board passed the following unanimously:
- Authorization to submit an application for a special liquor license for the 2025 Bridgefest
- Approval of budget amendments for fiscal year 2024-25
The meeting adjourned at 7:59pm. The next regular meeting of the Lowell Charter Township Board will be Monday, April 21, at 7pm in the Lowell Township Hall.
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