Tim Johnson is looking for something to do the first Monday of the month.
Johnson of Cedar stepped down from the Centerville Township Plannning Commission in November.
“For the first time in a while I’m ‘boardless’,” said Johnson, who was one of three local planning commissioners who vacated their seats in recent months.
“In the ‘80s, I was active on the Oryana board and NMEAC ( Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council). But in ‘95 I decided that the township planning commission was something I could contribute toward, closer to home.”
Thehistoryof planningstatewide goes back to the 1940s. However, it wasn’t until the late 1960s, early ‘70s that zoning caught fire locally. A focal point for township planners is the township Master Plan, which is used to set the course for future development.
Zoning ordinances further arrange laws, rules, or regulations into a systematic code based on the Master Plan.
It is a widely thankless job with planners often the only people in attendance.
But in recent years, the county has been “discovered,” pushing lay planners to work overtime studying topics the first planning commissioners likely never thought of.
In Centerville, this includes a septage waste disposal ordinance; commercial windmill regulations; communications towers and more recently, agtourism and winery ordinances.
“Wineries began popping up in the township, so we thought maybe we should adopt some regulations,” Johnson said.
More recent development pressure — a proposal to redevelop and expand the existing Leelanau Pines Campground and plans for a 75-tent glamping sitesoffAmoreRoad— has had Centerville planners working overtime.
The Leelanau Pines issue has resulted in litigation against the township which is pending.
And, despite stepping down, Johnson continues to “work” for the township, responding to interrogatories from plaintiff counsel as part of the lawsuit.
He is now looking for other non-political opportunities to serve the community.
Elsewhere in the county Chuck Schaeffer was recognized for 16 years planning commission service in Kasson Township. He stepped down at the end of the year as did Dan Korson, 10-year member of the Leland Township Planning Commission.
