Did you know?

Did you know? 

From the desk of Clerk Christina “Tina” Smith

When it comes to Township things, like “rezonings” and “ordinance adoption”, you might not know what’s involved from beginning to end. You see a public notice in the paper, see it on our Facebook page, or maybe receive it in the mail and you might think “What is this?”. Totally understandable, because unless you work in this area, it’s probably not something you talk about every day.  

Monroe Charter Township believes in transparency.  I’d like to take this time to explain 2 processes that you might have questions about, “rezonings” and “ordinance adoption”. Both take approximately 4 months and require Township Board’s approval to become law.  Here is a breakdown of what each process involves: 

All properties in the Township are in what is called a “zoned district”. Zoning for every property in the Township is shown on our colored Zoning Map with each “zoned district” a different color. (Zoning Map enclosed). Each “Zoned District” has a list of Uses in the Zoning Ordinance book that are Permitted Uses and Uses that are Permitted with Special Approval. Uses that aren’t listed on either Permitted list in that “zoned district” would require a “rezoning” approval to put the desired use on a property. 

Rezoning requests can be made by someone called a “petitioner”. “Rezoning” is usually requested when what the petitioner wants to do on the property, is not allowed as any Permitted Use in the Zoned District the property is located in. This is usually the property owner, or it could be someone who wants to use the property and has the property owner’s permission to request the rezoning so they might be able to put in their proposed use. To apply for a “rezoning”, the “petitioner” submits an application, required surveys of what they would like to rezone with the legal description, and associated fees. The request is then put on the Planning Commission’s agenda for what is called a “public hearing”.  A public notice is published in the newspaper, on our Facebook page, and sent to all property owners and occupants within 300 feet of the property to let you know about the request.

At the Planning Commission’s public hearing, the Township’s Planner Consultant goes over their review letter and makes a recommendation to the Planning Commission. At the public hearing, the public is invited to make comments on the request or submit a letter to be read during the hearing. The Planning Commission votes to make a recommendation to the Township Board. The motion is always made in the positive. Then, after Planning Commission members vote, if most of the Planning Commissioners vote “yes”, then it is a recommendation for approval. If the majority votes “no”, then it is a recommendation for denial. 

The request then goes to the Township Board twice, once for something called the “first reading”. This is when the request is introduced to the Township Board and we vote whether to allow the request to move forward to the next meeting, to what is called the “second reading”. If most of the Township Board members vote “yes” at the first reading, then the request comes back to us at the next meeting for the “second reading”. A public notice is published in the newspaper after the “first reading” to let the public know that this has happened. At the “second reading”, this vote is what decides if we approve it or not. If most of the Township Board members vote “yes” at the second reading, it is approved. Public notice is then published in the newspaper to notify you that the requested rezoning has been approved, and it goes into effect 8 days after being in the newspaper after we have approved it. 

Ordinances are local laws. Ordinance adoptions can be new Ordinances for a subject we haven’t regulated yet, or something called an “ordinance amendment” where we have an Ordinance but need to further regulate it so we can better protect the health, safety and welfare of you, our residents. Sometimes an “Ordinance amendment” is needed because as time goes on, we learn more about a subject and how its businesses work, so we adapt and update our Ordinances. 

For Zoning Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance Amendments, it begins with a public hearing at the Planning Commission. A public notice is published in the newspaper and on our Facebook page to let you know about the proposed zoning ordinance or zoning ordinance amendment. Like rezonings, the Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the Township Board.  At the public hearing, the public is invited to make comments on the request or submit a letter to be read during the hearing. The Planning Commission votes to make a recommendation to the Township Board. The motion is always made in the positive. Then, after Planning Commission members vote, if the majority votes “yes”, then it is a recommendation for approval. If the majority votes “no”, then it is a recommendation for denial. The zoning ordinance or zoning ordinance amendment draft then goes to the Township Board for our consideration. 

Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and General Ordinance drafts go to the Township Board twice, once for something called the “first reading”. This is when the Ordinance draft is introduced to the Township Board, we discuss if we want any changes to the Ordinance draft at this time, and we vote whether to allow the Ordinance draft to move forward to the next meeting, to what is called the “second reading”. If most Township Board members vote “yes” at the first reading, then the request comes back to us for the “second reading”. A public notice is published in the newspaper after the “first reading” to let the public know that this has happened. If we decide the Ordinance draft needs changes at the meeting for the “second reading”, we can discuss and make changes before we vote. At the “second reading”, this vote is what decides if we approve it or not. If most Township Board members vote “yes” at the second reading, it is adopted. Public notice is then published in the newspaper to notify you that the Ordinance has been adopted. If it is a Zoning Ordinance or Zoning Ordinance Amendment, it goes into effect 8 days after being in the newspaper after we have adopted it. If it is a General Ordinance, it goes into effect immediately after being in the newspaper after we have adopted it. 

For Ordinance drafts, it is rare that we make changes to it during the meetings because a lot of research and time goes into creating them, and we try our best to make the draft as great as possible before being considered for approval. Although, it may look like it’s a quick decision, we educate ourselves behind the scenes. 

We believe that you should be educated in proposed ordinances as well as potential rezonings without having to wait for the Planning Commission hearing or Township Board meeting. I encourage you to contact our Community Development Director & Zoning Officer Kim Fortner as soon as you see what is proposed and have questions that need answered. She will be happy to help you by phone (734) 241-5502, by email kfortner@monroechartertownship.org, or sit with you in person, by appointment to go over what is proposed, give you the draft to read while in the Township Hall (copies of drafts cannot be given because it is a draft and subject to change), explain the process in greater detail, and answer any questions you may have. This will help you at the Planning Commission hearing and Township Board meetings to know exactly what is happening as it is happening, without having to wait until a hearing or meeting to find out. Have a great day!  : )