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(Editor’s Note: Peninsula Township Supervisor Maura Sanders reports in with updates about short-term rental violation fines, a meeting with the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s office, how information flows through the Township offices to residents and more. Big thanks to Maura for these weekly updates that keep us tuned into what’s happening at the Township offices. Read on for this week’s note. -jb)
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March 6, 2025
Garden seeds are ordered and we wait…
The Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Selection Committee met this week. They have posted the application for the next round. Please check the Township website for more information.
(Per the website: Landowners can apply for the option to sell a conservation easement on their land to the township. Land in the program is permanently preserved for agricultural uses and cannot be developed for residential use, except as agreed to and as specifically limited by the easement. The PDR program is voluntary and payment amounts are based on appraised value of the specific develop rights. -jb)
The Planning Commission also met this week. They held a public hearing for Proposed Amendments to the Agricultural Preservation Area Map under Section 5 of the Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance. They voted to accept the amendments and present them to the Town Board for review and a vote.
The Planning Commission also presented and approved a resolution to update the Short-Term Rental Policy and Fine Structure. This resolution will be presented to the Town Board for review and voted on at the Town Board special meeting on March 26. (The violation fines are: First Offense, $500; Second Offense, $750; Third Offense, $1500; Subsequent Offenses, $5000. View the resolution here. -jb)
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Mike Shea, Captain Brandon Brinks and Lt. Roy Raska were in the office this week. A lot of knowledge was shared, including the history of the Community Police Officer (CPO) program across the state, the cooperation between all levels of law enforcement in our Grand Traverse Region, and what resources are available to us in Peninsula Township.
We did discuss additional road/traffic patrol and how that scheduling would unfold. As traffic and tourism increase in the Township, we will have enforcement to help keep our health, safety and welfare the top priority.
Updates from Down the Hall:
Zoning: We have received three applications for the Zoning Administrator. Please check out the zoning administrator post on both the Michigan Association of Planning (MAP) site and the Michigan Townships Association site. We have received one applicant for the Ordinance Enforcement Officer, and we continue to accept resumes for this position.
For more about these positions and to apply, visit the Peninsula Township website and scroll down to the Employment Opportunity section.
Looking Ahead to Next Week:
The Town Board will meet on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Township Hall. We have a very robust agenda, which you can view here. Highlights include public hearings for Police, Fire and General Fund FY 25/26 Budgets, a discussion on the Maner Costerisan Report, and an initial presentation by Epic MRA on the upcoming Community Survey.
On the Horizon:
***Shoreline Regulation Education Session*** This session has been scheduled for April 24, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 7 p.m. The Township will host members from the Army Corps of Engineers, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center.
Quick note about information flow from the Township. This weekly update in the Gazette touches on the high level activities and sometimes some positive local interest news. I encourage everyone who is interested in a particular topic that I present in this update to use the Peninsula Township website to get more details.
Also, our YouTube Channel keeps the meeting recordings for 30 days, and the written minutes are always available in the Documents section of the website.
I have been asked why I am not engaging on social media to respond on behalf of the Township on certain decisions. The answer is simple; it does not benefit the community as a whole. “I” do not speak for a Town Board decision. The Board speaks for itself as a whole, and the records of these discussions and decisions are available to any member of the public who would like more information.
If there are specifics that you are looking for and I can provide those details to you, I will — just ask. I keep full-time office hours and would love to talk to as many folks as possible.
Have a great weekend, Everyone, and stay safe!
Maura Sanders
Peninsula Township Supervisor
Phone: (231) 223-7323
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Mondays 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesdays – Thursdays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Friday – Sunday and Holidays. If TCAPS is closed due to weather, Peninsula Township offices are closed at least until 10 a.m. Please check the website homepage for any updates.
Also Read…
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