Wednesday September 4, 2026, 7:00PM
Location: 53640 Parkville Rd. Three Rivers, MI 49093

Minutes

1. Call to Order

Mike Kinne called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Mr. Kinne asked all present to stand and Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

3. Roll Call

Roll call was taken and members present were:

  • Cindy Newell
  • Bill Brislen
  • Mike Kinne
  • Rosalyn Miller

4. Motion to approve the agenda and meeting rules

A motion was made by Cindy Newell with support from Rosalyn Miller to approve the agenda and meeting rules. The motion carried.

5. Motion to approve previous meeting minutes of July 27, 2026

A motion was made by Rosalyn Mililer with support from Bill Brislen to approve the previous meeting minutes of July 27, 2026. The motion carried.

6. Motion to open Public Hearing for the following

  1. Semco Energy Plan Review

A motion was made by Mike Kinne with support from Bill Brislen to open the Public Hearing regarding the Semco Energy Plan at 7:02 p.m.

7. Review by the Zoning Administrator and/or Legal Counsel

Matt Jorgensen noted he was contacted July 1st by Mr. Peters from DVA contractor for Semco Energy for a fence permit. Upon review of the request, he noted that they were requesting an 8 ft fence which the ordinance does not permit. Upon review by the Township attorney, it was recommended to have a site plan review for Special Use Permit hearing which would be part of the site plan for a tall fence for safety which the ordinance requires. A Public Hearing was scheduled and noticed in the Three Rivers Newspaper on August 14th and mailed to 19 properties within 300 ft of the mailing area and to 8 public utilities.

Mr. Jorgensen reviewed Ordinances 202.44 Essential Services, 306.3 Uses Permitted by Special Land Use Permit and 502.2 General Standards as they related to the request. He noted that this will require a Special Use Permit and the permanent easement will be treated as a land division. The Assessor will assign a parcel number to the property once the permit is approved. He also pointed out that there will not be any buildings involved on the property and it is zoned Rural Residential but is part of a field. A Utility Gas Regulator Station is considered hazardous therefore it must be fenced and that is why the attorney felt the higher fencing should be approved due to safety issues.

Mr. Jorgensen also noted under ordinance 404 Non-Residential Uses zoning requires vegetative screening but this is not on the site plan.

Mr. Kinne noted that this shares a property line on the East and South side and should plant shrubbery on these lines. In view of the 8 ft fencing the planting does not have to be very big.

Mr. Jorgensen noted that on page 27 of the actual survey shows where it will get notched out in the corner.

8. Comments from the Applicant or Representative

Mr. Josiah Grandy, Semco Representative did not have anything to add.

9. Public Comments (all comments directed to the Chairperson)

None

10. Motion to close the public hearing.

A motion was made by Bill Brislen with support from Rosalyn Miller to close the public hearing at 7:21 p.m. The motion carried.

11. Deliberation by the Planning Commission

The following comments were made:

Cindy Newell – did not feel there was any detriment to putting trees on the East side and South Side of the fencing.

Mr. Grandy noted that SEMCO always puts green slats in the fencing designs. He pointed out the reason this project is being done is to eliminate underground pipes and down the road put the regulation stations above ground.

12. Finding of Facts reviewed by the Planning Commission

  1. YES The Zoning Administrator is basing his review, interpretations and decisions on the Park Township Zoning Ordinance.
  2. YES The property where the variance is being requested is parcel 75-013-018-010-04. located in Park Township.
  3. YES This parcel is located in the RR – Rural Residential District Zoning Classification, which sets the standards for development of property.
  4. YES, The property in question has road frontage on Johnson Rd which is a paved roadway within Park Township.
  5. YES That portion on the north side has 30 feet of frontage constituting a front line.
  6. YES That portion on the south side would have 30 feet of width constituting the rear line.
  7. YES Parcel 75-013-018-010-04 easement has 30 feet of parcel depth on the west side of the parcel, constituting the right-side lot line.
  8. YES Parcel 75-013-018-010-04 easement has 30 feet of parcel depth on the east side of the parcel, constituting the left side lot line.
  9. YES Parcel 75-013-018-010-04 easement contains approximately 900 square feet
  10. YES The following is the legal description for this parcel 75-013-018-010-04: EASEMENT DESCRIPTION: A 30’X30′ PERMANENT EASEMENT FOR THE INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINE(S) AND RELATED EQUIPMENT UNDER, OVER AND ACROSS A PART OF THE SOUTHWEST ¼ OF SECTION 18, TOWN 5 SOUTH, RANGE 11 WEST, PARK TOWNSHIP, ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN, DESCRIBED AS: COMMENCING AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 24, PINE RIDGE, SECTION 18, TOWN 5 SOUTH, RANGE 11 WEST; THENCE S.89’30’09 W.N.028’42″E. 704.89°N(RECORDED AS 5.89’55’40 ‘W.) 415.85 FEET; THENCE N.0’28’42E. 704.89 FEET; THENCE N.0’04’20 W. 377.55 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE CONTINUING N.0’04’20 W 30.00 FEET PKZA2608007 43 TO THE SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF JOHNSON ROAD (66’ WIDE); THENCE N.89’55’40 W. ALONG SAID SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE 30.00 FEET; THENCE S.004’20E. 30.00 FEET; THENCE S.89’55’40E. PARALLEL WITH SAID SOUTH RIGHT-OF.-WAY LINE 30.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. AREA = 900 SQUARE FEET.
  11. YES Section 306.3 of the Park Township Zoning Ordinance sets the Special Land Use for the RR – Rural Residential Zoning District.
  12. YES Section 202.44 of the Park Township Zoning Ordinance defines the meaning of Essential Services
  13. YES The lot/parcel is NOT located in a Platted Subdivision
  14. YES Section 501 of the Park Township Zoning Ordinance sets the General Powers and Procedures for the Planning Commission in issuing Special Land Use Permits
  15. The Park Township Planning Commission DOES NOT see where such request creates any substantial detriment to the public good.
  16. The Park Township Planning Commission DOES NOT find that their decisions will impair any adequate supply of light and air to adjacent properties
  17. The Park Township Planning Commission DOES NOT find that such decisions will unreasonably increase the congestion of public or private streets
  18. The Park Township Planning Commission DOES NOT find that such decisions will increase the danger of fire, or endanger the public health, safety, comfort, morals, or welfare of the inhabitants of Park Township

A motion was made by Rosalyn Miller with support from Cindy Newell to approve the Finding of Facts. Roll Call was taken:

  • Cindy Newell – yes
  • Bill Brislen – yes
  • Mike Kinne – yes
  • Rosalyn Miller – yes

The motion carried.

13. Motion by the Planning Commission for approval, approve with conditions, or deny the Site Plan.

A motion was made by Mike Kinne with support from Bill Brislen to approve the Site Plan and Special Land Use request with condition of planting trees on the East and South side of fenced area. Roll Call vote was taken:

  • Cindy Newell – yes
  • Bill Brislen – yes
  • Mike Kinne – yes
  • Rosalyn Miller – yes

The motion carried.

14. Old business

None

15. New Business

Site plan for Mega Fishers Lake Craft Station

Mr. Jorgensen was contacted in June by the applicant regarding regulations for a sign for the gas station that changed ownership. He pointed out that this use of the property as a gas station is legal-nonconforming and zoned RR. He was not able to find sign ordinances for RR as all are for other designations. He reported that all of the signs requested are less than 32 sq ft for wall signs that are required for AG and far less than 50 sq ft that I think the ordinance meant to specify. (Mr. Jorgensen felt the specifications for AG for wall vs free standing signs area flip-flopped but regardless the signs are less than 32 sq ft.) The various provisions for the different zones were presented as relates to what is being requested. It was pointed out that although it is hard to determine which provisions would apply however all signs are within required square footage of other designations. All signs, save one, were previously there and there is only one new sign being installed and it is unlit and will face the road.

Cindy Newell questioned if this is an upgrade and it was felt that these changes improve the view of the property. She also questioned how many other similar legal non-conforming properties are in the area and it was noted there is only one other.

Mr. Jorgensen reported that he had sent out notices to all property owners within 300 ft of the area regarding the Site Plan Review meeting and received return calls all of which were positive feedbacks regarding the new signage.

A motion was made by Bill Brislen with support from Cindy Newell to approve the Site Plan review regarding new signage. The motion carried.

16. Adjournment

A motion was made by Cindy Newell with support from Bill Brislen to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. The motion carried.

Arlene Brislen
Recording Secretary

Downloadable PDF is provided for convenience.
Download September 4, 2026 Park Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes