MONTAGUE — White River Township supervisor Ron Bailey reported during Tuesday's regular board meeting that an appeal filed by dozens of townships, including White River and Montague, regarding Public Act 233 has been scheduled to be heard Thursday, April 15 at 10 a.m. in Detroit.
The appeal was filed in 2024 with nearly 80 townships signing it. Bailey said the appeal was filed in response to the Michigan Public Services Commission redefining the terms of a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO) and imposing additional requirements without legislative action in October 2024.
The appeal is timely for White River Township. Lakeside Solar has sought the MPSC's help, which the state allows under PA233, in gaining siting approval for a proposed utility-scale solar energy facility in the township after the planning commission conditioned its own approval upon several concessions from the company, including its relocating it to the township's renewable energy overlay, which consists largely of Chemours land.
The board discussed the $75 charge for an inspection of prospective short-term rental properties in the township before determining no action needed to be taken. The inspection, which zoning administrator Bill Schmiege described as "a simple checklist," is the final step of the necessary process to be approved to operate an STR in the township. Schmiege said inspections are not scheduled until it's determined there's no other issue to be addressed under township ordinance.
The board determined no action was necessary after agreeing that the inspection fee would be included in the $150 application fee it charges property owners seeking to operate STRs, and would not be an additional fee.
Planning commission chair Lauren Wackernagel reported that the commission is continuing to work on an ordinance that would govern data centers in the township. A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31. After the data center ordinance issue is addressed, Wackernagel added, the commission will begin work on an ordinance governing event venues. Both were included in a moratorium the township enacted in October.
Claire Schlaff spoke during the meeting on behalf of the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee. The organization is seeking a new State High Water Infrastructure grant from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) after being unable to apply for one in January. This new opportunity, she said, would be superior because it requires only a 20% match from the recipient as opposed to the 50% match of the previous one. She requested the board once again submit a letter of approval. Due to the application being due April 10, the board would not have time to approve a new one by the deadline, though it could submit the same letter it provided for the prior grant application.
Schlaff added that Chemours will be submitting its implementation plan for cleaning up its land in June, and CEIC will need public support to make its voice heard in the process.
"Finally after 63 years, the Chemours property is getting cleaned up," Schlaff said, referring to the original early-1960s discovery of environmental issues in the area.
