Traverse City Record-Eagle

Breaking News

Elmwood Township

February 2, 2008

Wolverine substation may spur zoning changes

Rules may require review of 'essential service structures'

BY MELISSA DOMSIC

GREILICKVILLE -- Uproar over a proposed electrical substation in Elmwood Township has prompted officials to consider zoning rule changes.

Residents have blasted plans for Wolverine Power Cooperative's $4 million high-voltage substation near the corner of Bugai Road and M-72.

The substation would span 4.5 acres and include 80-foot tall towers. Township officials deemed it an "essential service" that's exempt from current zoning rules.

The township is working on a new zoning ordinance that includes provisions for site plan review of "essential service structures, equipment, or accessories."

But a proposed amendment to the existing zoning ordinance would immediately patch that perceived hole and require certain essential service facilities to be reviewed by the planning commission.

"It's in response to those situations where a large public facility could occur," township Planner

Bill Swanson said. "The community, through the planning commission, needs to be involved in

the siting of these facilities."

A public hearing will be held on the proposed changes at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the township hall.

The substation would fall under the type of facility that needs commission review, but Swanson was unsure if the amendment could affect Wolverine's plans.

"We've been working on this new zoning ordinance for some time and we don't know when it's going to take effect, so they wanted to respond to this concern that the public has and amend the current zoning ordinance," Swanson said.

Residents also will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals at 7 p.m. Wednesday in an attempt to reverse the township's decision that the substation is an essential service.

Text Only
  • Plans call for wheelchair-friendly beach

    Beach-goers who use wheelchairs don't have many options to enjoy the area's expansive shoreline. But plans are in the works to develop a wheelchair-friendly beach with special features to accommodate people with a range of disabilities at the Greilickville Harbor Park in Leelanau County's Elmwood Township.

    Continued ...
    Updated Apr 7, 2009 10:20 pm
  • Substation gets go-ahead in Elmwood

    Josephine Bargiel and her neighboring property owners fought hard to keep an electrical transmission substation from coming to Elmwood Township. But after a long and difficult year, it appears they lost their battle.

    Continued ...
    Updated Mar 6, 2009 10:12 am
  • Elmwood substation closer to reality

    Wolverine Power Cooperative is a couple steps closer to building its highly contentious electrical transmission substation in Elmwood Township.

    Continued ...
    Updated Feb 25, 2009 10:01 am
  • Court overturns verdict in defamation case

    An appeals court overturned a jury verdict that found three Elmwood Township residents defamed former township Supervisor Derith Smith.

    Continued ...
    Updated Feb 5, 2009 9:52 am
  • Township seeks input on Greilickville park
    MIKE RICHEY

    A revamped park with improved beach access, a promenade, new picnic pavilions and parking is in the works for Elmwood Township's shoreline.

    Continued ...
    Updated Jan 25, 2009 9:40 am 1 Photo
  • Friday, December 12, 2008
  • State to address Wolverine substation

    Some Elmwood Township residents and others continue to oppose Wolverine Power Cooperative's plans for an electrical transmission substation, but the project's fate is up to state officials.

    Continued ...
    Updated Dec 13, 2008 9:36 am
  • Tuesday, August 26, 2008
  • Company test drills for gas in Elmwood Twp.
    images_sizedimage_240095039

    A local oil and gas exploration company is test drilling for natural gas in Elmwood Township. Traverse City-based Presidium Energy began drilling one well this week, and it has permits for about a dozen other area sites.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 27, 2008 9:50 am 1 Photo
  • Tuesday, July 22, 2008
  • Residents still fired up over substation

    Residents remain charged up over a utility company's efforts to build an electrical substation in Elmwood Township. Wolverine Power Cooperative is seeking permission from the state to bypass township ordinances and build the facility near the corner of Bugai Road and M-72.

    Continued ...
    Updated Jul 23, 2008 10:07 am
  • Thursday, June 26, 2008
  • Wolverine Power trying to bypass statutes

    Wolverine Power Cooperative is seeking permission from the state to bypass Elmwood Township ordinances and build a contentious electrical substation.

    Continued ...
    Updated Jun 27, 2008 10:01 am
  • Tuesday, June 24, 2008
  • Action! Film studio planned in Elmwood
    Studio and Sound Stage

    Move over Hollywood, here comes Elmwood. A Los Angeles-area producer and a local developer have big plans for a film studio just outside Traverse City in Elmwood Township.

    Continued ...
    Updated Jun 25, 2008 9:40 am 1 Photo
  • Wednesday, June 4, 2008
  • Leelanau site among dirtiest in nation
    Grand Traverse Overall Supply Co

    Leelanau County Treasurer Vicki Kilway doesn't expect any bidders when two acres near West Bay on Cedar Creek goes to auction for unpaid taxes. A bidder would need just $31,000 to cover back taxes for this prime location, but the former industrial laundry and dry cleaning operation is among the worst polluted sites in the nation.

    Continued ...
    Jun 4, 2008 12:00 am 1 Photo
  • Friday, May 30, 2008
  • Yacht club members plan to rebuild
    images_sizedimage_150095655

    The Grand Traverse Yacht Club is staying afloat with sailing events and plans to rebuild its ruined clubhouse. Members are seeking a land-use permit to reconstruct their headquarters on M-22 in Elmwood Township after a fire destroyed it last month.

    Continued ...
    May 30, 2008 12:00 am 1 Photo
  • Sunday, May 18, 2008
  • New site plan proposed for substation
    Wolverine Power Cooperative's planned electrical substation

    Wolverine Power Cooperative is proposing a revised site plan for its Elmwood Township electrical substation, a project strongly opposed by residents concerned about noise and visual impact on the scenic area.

    Continued ...
    May 18, 2008 12:00 am 1 Photo
  • Saturday, May 17, 2008
  • 17 competing for 4 offices in Elmwood Twp.

    Elmwood Township voters will have their choice of candidates for each township office in the Aug. 5 primary.

    Continued ...
    May 17, 2008 12:00 am
  • Sunday, May 4, 2008
  • Newcomer fills vacated board seat

    A new guy in town took the reins from a longtime Elmwood Township official on the board of trustees.

    Continued ...
    May 4, 2008 12:00 am
  • Friday, April 11, 2008
  • Officials question substation zoning status

    Questions persist over a contested electrical substation in Elmwood Township that already has faced multiple appeals. Township officials are researching whether the facility is exempt from zoning or falls under recently amended regulations that require public and township input on essential services.

    Continued ...
    Apr 11, 2008 12:00 am
  • Sunday, March 30, 2008
  • Electrical substation ruling appealed

    A dispute over a proposed electrical substation in Elmwood Township is moving to court.

    Continued ...
    Mar 30, 2008 12:00 am
  • Thursday, March 20, 2008
  • Substation outcry yields amendment

    A proposed electrical substation is on its way to Elmwood Township, against the wishes of many residents. Now, a shift in township rules requires public input before an essential service facility can gain approval.

    Continued ...
    Mar 20, 2008 12:00 am
  • Wednesday, March 19, 2008
  • New employee starts work in Elmwood Twp.

    Chris Grobbel starts work next week as Elmwood Township's zoning administrator/planning coordinator.

    Continued ...
    Mar 19, 2008 12:00 pm
  • EPA to start Norris project
    EPA superfund site

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency won't wait another 90 days for Norris Elementary School to close before it begins excavating 11,000 tons of contaminated soil from an adjoining Superfund site.

    Continued ...
    Mar 19, 2008 12:00 am 1 Photo
  • Sunday, February 10, 2008
  • Wolverine substation passes another hurdle

    A proposed electrical substation passed another green light from Elmwood Township officials. The Zoning Board of Appeals last week reiterated the township's decision that Wolverine Power Cooperative's massive $4 million high-voltage substation is an essential service exempt from zoning.

    Continued ...
    Feb 10, 2008 11:00 pm
  • Saturday, February 2, 2008
  • Monday, January 21, 2008
  • News In Brief: 01/21/2008

    Five hurt in two-car crash; No one hurt during house fire

    Continued ...
    Jan 21, 2008 11:00 pm
  • Friday, January 11, 2008
  • Elmwood ordinance may be nearing its end

    A decades-old zoning ordinance that prompted years of disputes could be on its way out as Elmwood Township officials near final approval of new rules.

    Continued ...
    Jan 11, 2008 11:00 pm
  • Sunday, December 30, 2007
  • Man allegedly robs Elmwood Township store
    Cherry Bend Grocery

    It seemed like a good deed, giving a ride to a stranded motorist on a cold, snowy evening. What Shaun Dean didn't know was that the man she offered to help Friday evening allegedly had just robbed nearby Cherry Bend Grocery store at knife point.

    Continued ...
    Dec 30, 2007 11:00 pm 1 Photo