March 15 Special PC Meeting Summary

At the Planning Commission (PC) special meeting Tuesday, March 15, the PC unanimously found:

The proposed pit’s operator, Stoneco of Michigan, failed to provide adequate evidence of need for the sand and gravel it intends to mine at the Pleasant Lake Road site.

The PC recommends to the Township Board that the Board should find that there is no need to extract the sand and gravel from this property. According to the township’s ordinance, it is now the responsibility of the Township Board to make the official determination.

The PC’s approach to the process has been methodical, detailed, and adhered to the requirements of the township’s ordinance.

More coverage of the meeting can also be found at MLive.

What does this mean?

If the Township Board follows the PC’s recommendation, and finds that Stoneco has not provided evidence of need, we cannot be sure of what would happen next. Two possibilities (there are likely others):

• • Stoneco might challenge the township’s decision
  • Stoneco might decide to continue the process and apply for the Special Use Permit. It would seem to be an exceptionally difficult path to prove the proposed mine would result in no very serious consequences.

We do not yet know the schedule for the Township Board’s decision.