Election 2024: Candidate Q & A – Armen Shanafelt

Election season is upon us! I’ve sent out a list of questions to all the candidates running for office in Peninsula Township, and I’ll be publishing them here on the Gazette in the order they’re received. Candidates include:

Supervisor: Kelly J. Clark (R), Maura Sanders (R)
Clerk: Rebecca W. Chown (D)
Treasurer: Katie M. Clark (R)
Trustee (4 positions available): Sheila Johnson (unaffiliated), Kate Jerman (R), Mark Luea (R), J.P. Milliken (R), David K. Sanger (R), Fred Swaffer Jr. (R), Julie Alexander (D), Warner Queeny (D), Armen B. Shanafelt (D), Isaiah S. Wunsch (D)

View all candidate responses here, and read on for thoughts from Armen Shanafelt, who is running for the position of Township Trustee.

About You

What is your name, party affiliation, and what Peninsula Township office are you running for?

Armen B. Shanafelt (D), Trustee.

Why are you running for this position, and what qualifications do you bring to the role?

I am a proponent of rational government; at our local level, this is a government that provides the necessary and desired services to our residents in an effective and efficient manner. Our community is complex; despite this, or more so because of this, I am committed to reforming our current structure to be as simple as possible, but no more simple than necessary to achieve effectiveness, to achieve the goal of rational government.

I bring my experience of over a decade of board work in public and private companies, and academic institutions, to the operations of our Township board and committees on which I serve. I submitted my application for the appointment as trustee not because I agreed with the board on all things, but rather because each and every member of the board was aligned around one thing: doing what is in the best interests of our community as a whole.

It is for these reasons that I am running for trustee this election cycle. We are in the process of evaluating our organizational structure and processes, the initial draft of which should be available in August. I look forward to using this objective information to refine our local government functions, as well as identifying any resource gaps (and mechanisms to address the gaps). Implementation of these strategies over the next several years will bring increased clarity and efficiency to meeting the needs and expectations of our residents. 

Have you served on any Peninsula Township committees or boards, and if so, which ones?

I currently serve on the Peninsula Township board as a Trustee, and serve as a member of the Planning Commission. Prior to my service on the board, I was a member of the Parks Committee, and engaged in several citizens’ committees including the Citizen’s Ag Committee and the Non-Motorized Trail study group.

How long have you lived on the Old Mission Peninsula?

We have lived in Peninsula Township since June, 2019.

What is your vision for Peninsula Township in 10, 20, 50 years? Do you support maintaining the rural character of the Old Mission Peninsula?

I firmly support maintaining the rural character of OMP.

I see the current process of refinement and modernization of our zoning ordinances, and effective enforcement thereof, as key to maintaining the rural essence of OMP, while allowing appropriate development within this context.

I recognize that our peninsula will change over time; I anticipate that in 10-, 20-, and 50-years’ time we will lose some of the farmland that exists today. However, continued application of the PDR program, and implementation of well-established practices of good zoning and enforcement, will limit the extent of absolute development that could occur even over the next 50 years.

I see significant infrastructure improvements if we as a community commit to this. In specific,

• Partnering with the County Road Commission to fund improvement to all our roads is a very real outcome. I believe that some of this can begin as early as 2025; if we are successful, we may have the roads we expect within a 10-year horizon.
• I view that identifying a mechanism for, and driving completion of, underground power delivery throughout the peninsula will have true and meaningful impact to the health, welfare, and safety for all of our residents. I see this as a longer term project, but one we can begin over the next several years with completion within the timeframe of this question.

My vision is short, medium and long term, with fundamental changes in our local government structure and zoning that can support the longer-term goals and objectives of our community … to achieve that idyllic rural character, that yet provides modern infrastructure and amenities to our complex community.

Do you support large scale developments such as “Peninsula Shores,” formerly known as “The 81 on East Bay”?

Only in the context of our zoning ordinances, and using guidance provided by our Master Plan as appropriate.

How will you ensure community transparency in Township finances, meetings and decisions?

All of our meetings are open to the public; all of our officials are available to meet with our residents; all of our decisions, information to drive those decisions, and transcripts of discussions that have occurred, are available on the Peninsula Township website. Additional information is provided in the Newsletter.

An exception to this are those matters that are confidential, such as some information associated with lawsuits. However, any decision that we as a board make is made during an official meeting, and as such is directly open to the public. To help our residents gain as much information as possible, our legal counsel regularly provides an update during our board meetings on all our legal proceedings.

How do we provide more transparency?

• Regarding zoning changes, our planner routinely convenes a citizen group on a specific topic to drive these discussions, to develop zoning language that reflects the views of our residents. This is presented to the Planning Commission at public meetings, with public hearings, to discuss and recommend changes to the board for approval. Any changes to zoning ordinances require this public process (noting that all of the meetings and their timing are posted on the Township website).
• Regarding budget, discussion of the proposed budget occurs at the board level during public meetings. The proposed budget is published, and is open to public comment, prior to this board discussion. Thus, there is significant opportunity for public comment. We are working to implement a quarterly ‘look’ at the progress against the budget that will provide an ongoing view of how we as a township are doing with respect to the approved budget.
• Regarding elections, there is an election committee run by our Clerk that posts agendas and meetings, which are open to the public. This committee includes resident volunteers.
• Regarding Planning Commission study groups, these meetings are posted on the Peninsula Township website, and are open to the public. Updates on progress at these meetings are provided to the Planning Commission during their regular public meetings.

How do you plan to make a difference on the Old Mission Peninsula? What are your top priorities?

My two top priorities are:

1. Refining the organizational structure of our local government to make it as efficient as possible, and identifying funding mechanisms to make it as effective as possible.
2. Planning and zoning, as I feel this is the best and most effective way to allow our complex community to thrive while maintaining its fundamental character.

To my first point, functional and rational government: Local government exists to protect the health, welfare, and safety of our constituents. Integral to this is creating an efficient and effective local government structure. I, together with the board, will utilize the information from the organizational analysis currently in progress to increase the efficiency of our operations, identify resource gaps and generate solutions to bridge these gaps. If elected, I will continue to drive for efficient, effective, and rational government, promoting clear and functional zoning.

To my second point, modernizing our zoning ordinances: The fundamental purpose of zoning is the protection of individual rights within the concept of community. This is particularly critical for a complex community such as Peninsula Township, extending from rural agriculture to residential neighborhoods to small commercial zones. We are actively working to modernize our zoning ordinances to create a balanced framework in which all members of our community can thrive.

Citizen Engagement

How can Peninsula Township encourage citizens to become more involved in Township issues, attend meetings, etc.?

We, as a board, continually encourage our citizens to attend board and committee meetings, meet with our elected officials and township employees, and engage in various study groups to have a direct say on policy and direction of the township. The study groups in particular provide the opportunity to be involved in developing policy that meets the needs of the whole of our community and is profoundly rewarding; the diversity of voices in this process creates the strongest and best outcomes.

On a personal basis, when I have the opportunity to engage OMP residents, I discuss our processes and objectives, and provide updates on pertinent issues as I can. I recommend attending board meetings, as this is the most effective way to hear and understand firsthand what we are doing. I also suggest they consider becoming involved in any study groups that make sense to their particular concerns and interests.

Peninsula Township relies on volunteers to help with public services, such as well-maintained parks and serving on Township committees and boards. How can the Township increase this pool of volunteers?

We have a great set of residents that are engaged in our public processes. Some participate as part of committees, study groups, etc., and some are involved directly in helping us manage and develop our parks. However, it is a real challenge to increase the number of individuals who are interested in such engagement.

For example, when I served on the Parks Committee, we tried through various forms of outreach, which included personal contacts, publication on the Township website, and social media to increase volunteer participation in Parks projects. This worked to some extent, but mainly through those contacts who had already expressed a willingness to volunteer. Continuing to expand those contacts by leveraging our existing volunteer pool is one way to increase participation.

However, as is typical with an increasing population and increasing complexity, it is unclear whether Peninsula Township can remain dependent solely on volunteers to meet the demands of the broader community. As controversial as it is, at some point we will need to identify and support additional funding sources to meet both the basic needs of our residents, as well as any ‘non-essential’ services, such as our parks.

Do you support holding periodic town hall meetings where citizens can have back-and-forth discussions with Township officials?

Our residents have open and free access to Township officials, and all of us have made ourselves available to have conversations with residents.

I would be open to consider a town hall format, if this can be done in the context of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, and in a manner that allows all residents to have fair exposure in such discussions. It may be more effective to have a public ‘round table’, where questions can be provided by residents to a moderator, who conducts and manages a discussion between appropriate Township officials.

Do you support an open-door policy at the Township where walk-in visits are allowed?

Of course. And I will note that this already exists, pending availability of individuals. However, the duties of the Township officials occupy their time significantly during the workday, and they may not be always available for spontaneous meetings.

The limited security at the Township offices follows best practices with respect to protection of our public officials from rogue actors, and follows recommendations provided by our Sheriff’s department.

Township Administration

The Township has experienced a high level of turnover in the Planning department during the past decade. How can the Township improve staff retention?

Stability of employment and work environment are central to employee retention. As it pertains to our Township, being able to provide long term security in terms of a balanced budget (that is, a given job will exist as there is sufficient funding both now and in the future), and strong support by the Township for employees and the work they do, are key elements to achieve this. ‘The Township’ in this sense is both our elected officials and employees, and our residents.

Regarding the planner position, several residents have commented that Jenn Cram is the best planner we have ever had. My personal observations are that she is excellent at her job, striving to do what is best for the Township while doing so within the restraints of the existing zoning ordinance structure.

The complexities of doing this are exacerbated by our current zoning ordinances, which largely are an amended collection of rules based on the original 1972 zoning ordinances (with some notable exceptions due to Jenn’s current efforts to harmonize key components of the existing documents). The ambiguities in our zoning ordinances can create conflicts in interpretation, for which Jenn strives to implement in an unbiased and objective manner. To lay the groundwork for a stronger Township, Jenn is leading the effort to rewrite this amalgam of ordinances and amendments, with the aim of clarification and modernization of their language and purpose.

Which parts of the Township budget do you believe could be cut or eliminated?

The only portions of the budget that can be eliminated are those that do not directly support the statutory responsibilities of our township government (which include tax collection, elections, and treasury functions). Discretionary budget items would include anything to do with our parks (i.e., maintenance and improvements), support for police services, our fire department, planning and zoning administration, etc.

Sadly, cutting Parks funding would be the least impactful to running our community, yet one of the most negatively impactful decisions to making our community what it is. However, if we had to do this to remain solvent, I would support such action.

I do not support reducing police coverage, or reducing our Fire millage, or removing other activities that support the health, welfare, and safety of our residents – including continuing implementation of the PDR program, or reducing our efforts in planning and zoning administration.

Our township currently does not operate with meaningful ‘fluff’ in its budget, and in fact is operating many functions, including planning and zoning administration, on a minimal basis. This is a direct consequence of the increasingly complex nature of our community, which drives multiple and varied demands, that in turn increases the magnitude of work that our local government must take on. It is this current situation that led to engaging Maner Costerisan to do an analysis of our organizational structure, and determine potential best strategies for funding an effective government for Peninsula Township.

Will you adhere to due process, or will you make decisions based on circumstances and relationships?

I am a firm believer in due process and following the law. I am vehemently opposed to special interests driving government decisions, including the special interests of any individual, if it is not in compliance with our zoning ordinances and other best practices.

Do you support or oppose moving to a charter township and why?

I desire for us to have rational government. If that requires moving to a charter township structure, then I am supportive. However, I do believe such a change should be through a vote of our community, as the community at large needs to decide the scope of services it desires, and in the absence of sufficient operational funding, which services it is willing to lose.

The current project with Maner Costerisan to determine what is needed by Peninsula Township to provide various services, both statutorily required (e.g., elections) and those desired (e.g., parks), will help us determine what level of funding and changes we need to provide them. This will determine whether a specific millage will meet the needs, or something as small as the Headlee Rollback, or something more significant such as moving to a charter township,

Regarding hours at the Township office, do you support moving back to a five-day work week of seven-hour days, 9 to 5 or 8 to 4, with an hour off for lunch?

The current office hours provide flexibility for our residents to access our township officials outside of standard working hours. Access is key; as such, I would be opposed to changing our office hours in a way that would reduce access for our residents.

Would you support lowering application permit fees, dropping the cash requirement for escrow funds, and allowing a bond in lieu of cash at applicant’s choosing?

There are services that should be funded by taxpayers, i.e., those that benefit the community at large such as parks, and those services that should be funded by the individual, e.g., application fees and support for said applications that benefit that individual or group.

The escrow that is currently required in the context of permitting serves the purpose of ensuring that the applicant funds the costs incurred by the township associated with their application, without burdening our taxpayers. Given the relatively small magnitude of the escrow in the context of a given project, the costs and complexity of implementing a bond system would seem to outweigh its usefulness.

Master Plan, Ordinance and Enforcement

How will you address residents/applicants who refuse to follow the ordinance? How will enforcement take place?

There is a process in place to address this situation (rather than repeat it, please see Isaiah Wunsch’s response to this question here.

We do need broader and more effective enforcement of our zoning ordinances. There are several mechanisms to do so, but all require funding beyond our current budget. Once we have received the Maner Costerisan report, and determined organizational and funding strategies going forward, I hope, together with the board, to implement such enforcement strategies.

One criticism is that the ordinances as they stand are confusing; to address this, we are in the process of rewriting and modernizing our ordinances and language to bring clarity and consistency to them. This does, however, take time and money, but I am committed to have it completed before the next term of the Township Board is finished.

In areas where the Township’s operational budget is already strained, how can the Township address more resident complaints, allegations of non-compliance, and public nuisance issues?

This question is classic ‘Rock and a Hard Place’. The Maner Costerisan report should provide some proposals that will help us increase efficiency, and thus more effectively apply our resources to both statutorily required and desired services. This may yield some flexibility in how we can spend the funds we currently have available.

I would be in favor of strengthening our planning and zoning administration, and enforcement, as a significant priority given such flexibility in funding.

Have you read the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, and do you understand the procedures for adopting a Master Plan and amending a zoning ordinance?

Yes.

Will you follow the zoning ordinance as written, or will you make exceptions where convenient?

As public officials, it is incumbent upon us to follow the law and apply it universally in our community. Our zoning ordinances define what can and can’t be done, and thus, unless there is due process (i.e., working with the Planning Commission, and if appropriate, the Zoning Board of Appeals), there should be no exceptions.

What elements of the Master Plan do you feel are lacking most?

The Master Plan is a good document, recently approved by the board following good MZEA process. Its main deficiency is its reliance on a public survey that was conducted ~5 years ago, although it is clear that sentiments captured in that survey remain pertinent today with the majority of our residents.

To address this, we as a board have discussed performing a new survey early in 2025 that can be used to evaluate the current Master Plan and determine if the Master Plan should be revised.

Wineries and Winery Lawsuit

Had you been on the Township Board during the WOMP v Peninsula Township settlement discussions, how much Township money would you have given up to the wineries?

As a resident, I do not believe any money should be ‘given up to the wineries’. The wineries agreed to the restrictions in their SUPs, and in fact were instrumental in writing the rules and regulations that they are seeking to overturn with their litigation.

The settlement discussions that occurred are confidential, as demanded by the court. As such, any discussion that occurred is not available for public consumption. Any speculation as to what those discussions entailed by those that are not bound by the confidentiality are just that: sheer speculation. Any statement made by an individual involved in the lawsuit that purports to state what occurred during those discussions is in direct violation of the mandate placed on us by the court.

If Township insurance does not cover all the damages claimed by the wineries in the winery lawsuit, how do you feel about OMP residents having to personally pay for those damages?

IF there is a monetary judgement against the township, and there are insufficient funds at the township level or through insurance to cover said judgement, THEN per law the monetary judgement will become the responsibility of our residents – including each of us on the board as we, too, are Township residents.

I personally don’t like this at all. However, if ultimately the courts deem it appropriate that there are monetary damages, then we as residents will have no choice.

Regarding the Wineries:

• Should they be allowed to have unlimited weddings? No. This is not consistent with our zoning ordinances.
• Should they be allowed to operate full-service restaurants? No. This is not consistent with our zoning ordinances.
• Should they be allowed to be open until 2 a.m.? No. This is not consistent with our zoning ordinances.
• Should they be required to support OMP farmers via collaborations and/or using locally-grown produce? Maybe. I think this would be good practice for the wineries to support other farmers on OMP, but requiring such actions may be considered overreach by our local government.

Overall, what are your thoughts on the winery lawsuit?

Although I was not on the Township Board at the time, I’m disappointed that this disagreement was not settled amicably without the wineries filing a lawsuit to address their grievances. At this point, we will have to see the final outcome of the trial process to determine what course of action we take as a Township.

OMP Farmers

Do you support ordinances that help OMP farmers thrive, such as food processing kitchens, workshops, cooking classes, farm tours, larger roadside stands and more?

Amendment 201 addresses some of this for any agricultural entity on the OMP. I am fully supportive of such activities as long as they conform to the language of the ordinance.

How will you assist young farmers looking to start their business or sustain existing farms for young farmers?

Our current planner has been very clear about using creative concepts in application of our zoning ordinances. I am fully supportive of such actions, as long as they conform to the intent of the ordinances.

Do you believe in the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program? Do you believe that a PDR conservation easement should place limitations on the future commercial use of a property?

I fully support PDR, and note that over 60 percent of our residents also agree. This has been for over 30 years a significantly innovative way for farmers to monetize their land without having to sell it.

Regarding conservation easements, it is their very nature that they create limitations in perpetuity to the land to which they apply. As this is the law, I fully support such limitations.

Do you support an OMP farmer’s market and/or a local artists/artisan market?

Yes, as far is it fits within our zoning ordinance structure and meets the needs of the farmers/artisans to which it is targeted.

Taxes

In your view, what will Township governance look like if the AxMiTax ballot initiative passes?

The AxMiTax initiative failed to gain enough signatures to go on the ballot. Although the question posed is moot, had an initiative passed at the state level, it would have had a chaotic effect on local and regional government by eliminating its current funding. Thus, none of the services that our local and regional governments provide would exist. There would be no fire department, no police support, no road infrastructure support, no organized elections, no parks, no zoning implementation or enforcement, no library, no educational system, no cemetery management, no BATA.

Failure to fund our local government would result in a breakdown of our community structure: for example, without zoning enforcement, there are no land use protections for residents, and I would predict unbridled development of the peninsula, including widespread commercial activities and land development.

Do you support a Parks Millage to maintain and improve Township parks?

A Parks Millage is but one way to support the Township parks. If this turns out to be the best way, then I support that concept.

What are your thoughts on the Headlee Rollback?

If the Headlee Rollback is the best way to manage our local government in an efficient and effective manner, then I am supportive of the Headlee Rollback.

Other Township Issues

Should there be a public vetting of candidates as to whether they are each in compliance with the Township?

Why not? I would ask that if there are ideas regarding how to do this in a fair and accurate manner, that they be brought forward.

Do you think Bluff Road should be fixed and re-opened? How would you go about making that happen?

Members of the Township Board, and residents of the affected area, are working with the County Road Commission to identify viable solutions and funding sources to implement potential solutions. As of this time, there are several potential solutions, of varying costs, that could be implemented. Additional work is required to identify the most appropriate avenue to pursue.

What is your opinion of short-term rentals on the OMP? Should they be allowed? Do you operate a short-term rental on the OMP?

Our ordinances allow rentals that are 30 days or more in length. This is consistent with the vision outlined in the Master Plan, and consistent with the general feedback we receive from residents regarding their opposition to STRs and the damage they would bring to our community.

I am opposed to STRs.

I do not own or operate an STR.

What is your opinion on additional residential buildout on the OMP?

As long as this happens consistent with our zoning ordinances and Master Plan, I support and encourage such activity. That said, opportunities to preserve land either through PDR or other conservation strategies should be aggressively pursued if appropriate for the land in question.

How would you address the desire for more commercial activity by some residents and the lack of commercially-zoned property?

Additional commercial zones (which would require re-zoning) do not appear to be explicitly consistent with the Master Plan, which is a reflection of the desires of a large fraction of our residents. That said, I would consider creating additional commercial zones if we can identify a structure that is consistent with our Master Plan and provides a benefit to the community at large. The community survey being discussed for 2025 should provide direct insight into this question, which can then guide any potential changes.

Do you support a non-motorized pathway similar to the TART Trail throughout the Old Mission Peninsula? How would you make that happen when a trail cannot cross farmland due to farming rules and regulations?

I completely support this concept – and it is squarely in line with the stated desires of our community based on the 2019 survey. The study group working on this is addressing the particular farmland issue, as well as others associated with creating such a trail; TART and other organizations are engaged with the group, and thus learnings and best practices can be effectively rolled into any proposal that arises.

Should Peninsula Township seek collaboration with our regional partners such as the Michigan Department of Transportation, Grand Traverse County Road Commission, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)?

Yes. Partnership with these and other government organizations is key to building and maintaining a vibrant community for our residents.

Do you support the proposal of a new fire station to replace Fire Station #1 in Mapleton?

Fire Station #1 is sorely in need of an update/upgrade. If we are to continue to meet the needs of our growing community, we need to act on this and other modernization strategies for our Fire Department as we go forward.

Would you support a new community center?

If this is the will of our residents, yes. We would need to define what the purpose of a community center would be, and how that would benefit our community.

Final Thoughts

Any other comments you’d like to add?

It has been my privilege to serve Peninsula Township as a trustee for the past several years, and I look forward to the opportunity for additional service. Prior to serving as trustee, government service was never a personal goal of mine; I only became involved due to a chance interaction with a neighbor when I first moved to OMP. For this I will be forever grateful, as I have since had the chance to directly help build and maintain our beautiful community.

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