CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 10, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Present: Bob Wetherbee, Sheila Salmon, Bill Miller, Susan Gates (Chair), Monica Richer, Rod Reid, and ZA Bebee.
Absent: Brian Schantz
Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES APPROVAL
Minutes approval of July 13, 2026 motion made by Salmon, second by Reid. All in favor. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
None.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Christine Simonetta, 9274 E Broomfield, is concerned about the protection of residential wind and solar. She is familiar with the benefits that they can provide.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Public hearing on Wind and Solar ordinances opened and closed with no comments.
ZA is contacting the township lawyer for input on information regarding how some other townships are writing their ordinances.. ZA will also meet with PC member, Salmon, on this information.
Open public hearing on moratoriums. Bob Nagy, River Road, Mt P, feels the governor will veto any moratoriums. Public hearing closed.
Motion by Reid, second by, Salmon to recommend to the township board to approve the Moratorium ordinance.
Roll call vote. All in favor.
Wetherbee gave an update on the township board meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Chair Gates is looking for comments on the draft of the master plan so we can move forward. Updated draft will be on the agenda to review and vote to move forward to the Township Board.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Reid, second by Wetherbee. All in favor. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:01 pm.
Next regularly scheduled meeting: September 14, 2026, 7:00pm
Respectfully, electronically submitted,
Monica Richer
Recording Secretary
CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
July 13, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Present: Bob Wetherbee, Sheila Salmon, Bill Miller, Susan Gates (Chair), Monica Richer, Rod Reid, Brian Schantz and ZA Bebee.
Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES APPROVAL
Minutes approval of June 08, 2026 motion made by Reid, second by Schantz. All in favor. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
None.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Bob Nagy has concerns about how special use permits are being used.
Lacy Love Cates, 5441 S Shepherd Rd, Shepherd,MI expressed her concern on the impact of solar on usable farm land. Also, how we need to come together as a community.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
ZA handed out copies of amended wind and solar zoning ordinances, both of which are ready for the Township Board. Compatible renewable energy zoning ordinance text amendments along with an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance regarding moratoriums will be reviewed in the next meeting.
Chair Gates reviewed and asked for input on chapter 5 Implementation Plan. There was lengthy discussion. Chair Gates will finish and email to all. Reid discussed concerns from attending the Township board meeting regarding treating people with public comments with respect.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Miller, second by Salmon. All in favor. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Next regularly scheduled meeting: August 10, 2026, 7:00pm
Respectfully, electronically submitted,
Monica Richer
Recording Secretary
CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
June 08, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Present: Bob Wetherbee, Sheila Salmon, Bill Miller, Susan Gates (Chair), Monica Richer, Rod Reid, and Brian Schantz.
Absent:
Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES APPROVAL
Minutes approval of May 11, 2026 motion made by Salmon, second by Schantz. All in favor. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
None.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Lacy Love Cates, 5441 S Shepherd Rd, Mt Pleasant Shepherd, expressed her concern on the impact of solar on usable farm land. She is not in favor of it and asks the PC to be mindful of this, as once this valuable land is used for solar, it cannot be reused for farming.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
ZA has been requested by the Township Board to get the verbiage from the attorney for a moratorium regarding the wind, solar and mining ordinances. ZA also stressed CREO will be coming out and the importance for us to merge large and small scale ordinances.
Salmon suggested we watch the YouTube video from the 4-14-26 Michigan Court of Appeals (MPSDC) ruling.
ZA handed out SELF-STORAGE BUILDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS and asked if we could review and finalize at our July meeting.
Lengthy discussion on the master plan. Chair Gates cited changes and considerations to be made. Chair Gates asked if we could also review ahead for the July 13 meeting.
Wetherbee gave an update on the Township Board meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Richer, second by Miller. All in favor. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Next regularly scheduled meeting: July 13, 2026, 7:00pm
Respectfully, electronically submitted,
Monica Richer
Recording Secretary
CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
May 11, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Present: Bob Wetherbee, Sheila Salmon, Bill Miller, Susan Gates (Chair), Monica Richer, Rod Reid, and Brian Schantz.
Absent: ZABebee.
Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES APPROVAL
Minutes Approval of April 11, 2026 motion made by Schantz, second by Salmon. All in favor. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
None.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
No comments.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Master Plan Comments
Public Hearing for Chippewa Township Master Plan comments:
Chair Gates explained the purpose of a Master Plan and read aloud the 24 online comments from the Chippewa Township website survey. Several residents spoke about these various concerns: blight, mosquito control, keeping it mostly a rural community, a turn lane on Broomfield, and road repairs. Many concerns similar to the online survey from those in attendance.
Seventeen residents were in attendance. Chair Gates informed the residents all these concerns will be taken into consideration and she will compile this information.
NEW BUSINESS
Bob Wetherbee gave a report on the Township Board meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Chair Gates, second by Richer. All in favor. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned
at 7:55pm.
Next regularly scheduled meeting: June 08, 2026, 7:00pm
Respectfully, electronically submitted,
Monica Richer
Recording Secretary
CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
April 13, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Present: Bob Wetherbee, Sheila Salmon, Susan Gates (Chair), Monica Richer, Brian Schantz.
Absent: Bill Miller, Rod Reid and ZABebee.
Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES APPROVAL
Minutes Approval of March 09, 2026: Motion made by Schantz, second by Salmon. All in favor. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
None.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Bob Nagey, E River Rd, Mt Pleasant, spoke about development in the township.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Chair Gates commented the survey for the master plan will run another month on the website. Chair Gates also reached out to the assessor for a breakdown of current land usage in the township.
NEW BUSINESS
Discussion regarding the wind and solar ordinances. Public hearing for wind and solar ordinances postponed.
Bob Wetherbee gave an update from the Township Board meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Schantz, second by Salmon. All in favor. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned
at 7:39pm.
Next regularly scheduled meeting: May 11, 2026, 7:00pm
Respectfully, electronically submitted,
Monica Richer
Recording Secretary
CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
MARCH 09, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Present: Bob Wetherbee, Shelia Salmon, Bill Miller, (Chair) Susan Gates, Monica Richer, Rod Reid, & ZA Bebee.
Absent: Brian Schantz.
Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES APPROVAL
Minutes Approval of February 09, 2026: Motion made by Reid, second by Wetherbee. All in favor. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
ZA shared with PC comments of the raid on illegal growers in the township.
ZA also shared township has had 7 building permits since January.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Public Hearing scheduled for April 13 PC meeting for wind and solar ordinances and asking for comments on the Master Plan.
NEW BUSINESS
ZA distributed Compatible Renewable Energy Zoning Ordinance Text, CREO, for discussion and review. ZA will look into different CREOs for comparison and compatibility. Sheila will look up information on battery storage facilities and Kathy will send out MTA sample CREO ordinances.
Chair Gates and ZA will work on the mining ordinance. Bob gave an update of the TB decision to pave Deerfield.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Miller, second by Gates. All in favor. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:01pm.
Next regularly scheduled meeting: April 13, 2026, 7:00pm
Respectfully, electronically submitted,
Monica Richer
Recording Secretary
