Regular Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER- Call to order at 6 pm by Chairman Wieber.
In attendance: Wieber, Flynn, Bollenberg, Wildie, Orr (arrived 6:03pm)
ZA Robert Hall, Planner/Code enforcement officer Pitcher and McKenna representatives Senior Planner Hillary Taylor and Assistant Planner Ethan Senti.
Public Present: 12 in attendance including Heather Hollick, Molly and Ray Franks, Brooke Haase, Brooke Kaminski, Anne Noah, Christine Stapleton, Paula Figura, Lisa Pyne and Robin Talsma.
A MOTION by Wieber, SUPPORT by Wildie to accept the agenda as presented; Motion Carried, all ayes.
A MOTION by Wildie, SUPPORT by Flynn, to accept the minutes from the December 11,2025 meeting; motion carried, all ayes.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
A MOTION by Bollenberg, SUPPORT by Wildie to appoint Matt Wieber as chair; motion carried, all ayes.
A MOTION by Flynn, SUPPORT by Wildie to appoint Robert Bollenberg as vice chair; motion carried all ayes.
A MOTION by Bollenberg, SUPPORT by Wildie to appoint Julie Orr as Secretary; motion carried, all ayes.
PUBLIC INPUT– none
NEW BUSINESS
Hillary Taylor presented the scope of work timeline and led the members through the proposed establishment of, and additions to the zoning districts to bring the Zoning Ordinance into alignment with the 2023 Master Plan and Future Land Use Plan. Proposed new zoning districts include:
a. Mixed Use,
b. Environmental Protection overlay
c. Steep Slopes Overlay
d. Corridor Overlay district
The outline is available with minutes. McKenna is looking for approval and direction on these proposals. The survey questions have been completed and will be ready for mailing approximately January 26, 2026. The survey is a result of working with the stakeholder group to create the appropriate land use questions to get resident feedback. Hillary and Ethan will be touring both Townships tomorrow to visit all the zoning districts.
Wieber comments the language created should reflect addressing preserving rural character, providing sustainable (affordable) housing, while strategically addressing industry such as solar farming and Data centers. The individual parts of the ordinance should fit together cohesively in line with the master plan. Wieber asks for consideration addressing Platte Township needs.
A MOTION by Wieber, SUPPORT by Wildie to proceed with the language of Enviornmental Provisions, MOTION carried, Wieber-aye
Orr-nay, Bollenberg-aye, Wildie-aye, Flynn-aye (4-1). Bollenberg suggests the stakeholders review Mixed Use and Corridor Overlay; Wieber comments the Commission needs to review of the proposed new district language as this language was received two days ago. mee Orr requests members review all four proposals before the February meeting; A MOTION by Wieber, SUPPORT by Flynn to table the Mixed use and Corridor overlay districts until the March meeting; Wieber-aye, Orr-nay, Wildie-aye, motion carried (4-1). Wieber states 22% of the rewrite budget has been spent.
COMMISSIONER ROUNDTABLE
Wieber comments a lot of money being spent and time needs to be spent by all reviewing the Master Plan in preparation for next month’s meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Orr states the Benzonia Township website is live and a WBJPC has a dedicated spot on the website. Mary Pitcher will be trained in uploading WBJPC information. Orr states the Benzonia Township is starting creating a budget for F/Y 2026/2027 and suggested input from WBJPC reqarding salaries. Michalak comments Platte and Benzonia will meet jointly to approve the WBJPC budget. Orr states WBJPC can have an email address created and listed. Address is benzoniatownship.gov
PUBLIC INPUT
Robert Hall mentions training is available by MTA for Zoning. Encourages members attend these sessions. Comments that the MZEA have rules to implement Zoning and currently the Benzonia Township language and the WBJPC language addressing the hiring/pay rates differ.
Lisa Pyne- disappointed by the lack of participation and discussion of tonight’s agenda by some of the members.
Christine Stapleton– frustrated by McKenna and the Survey being created, feels the survey is too general, states the planning commission needs to know the concerns of the stakeholder committee.
Alison Michalak states her concerns that zoning language is lacking and inadequate when addressing short term rentals, Tiny Houses, Accessory Dwelling Units. States basic guidelines are needed to ensure the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the community.
Anne Noah – comments the opinion of Attorney Figura is that the Townships’ hire the Administrator. Comments that the WBJPC should submit a yearend report to the Township Boards along with an annual budget request to fund the WBJPC. Noted that the ZA pay rate is still not defined. Noah suggested creating focus groups to help discern the changes since the latest master plan implementation.
Brooke Haase– disappointed that limited action was taken tonight. Comments that residential developments need to focus the local resident housing needs and to avoid the build-out that happened in Empire.
Wieber– comments the Master Plan was created by the Community-the current patchwork plan is not working and a comprehensive rewrite is the reason of hiring McKenna. The expectation is that the Planner present ordinance language that represents the needs of the community
according to the Master Plan.
Heather Hollick states at the Stakeholder meeting on January 12, 2026, a lot of feedback was given to McKenna and should see their compilation in February.
Next meeting is Thursday, February 12, 2026, 6pm.
Stakeholder meeting is January 26, 2026
A MOTION by Wieber, SUPPORT by Flynn to adjourn at 7:30 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Alison Michalak, recording secretary