To: Texas Township Board 

The Sanctuary

A word search in the township zoning ordinance book for "Preliminary Approval" reveals four instances, all indicating the necessity of involving the Planning Commission from the beginning of a site plan review. In addition, Chapter Six (36-6.1.1**see picture) provides a table reference for the approval process for a site plan review and which body is responsible for approving each step. The Planning Commission is the primary approving body for nearly all the required initial site plan review steps. 

Additionally, chapter four (36-4.52 SEC 7) reads,

"Following a public hearing, the Planning Commission shall recommend to the Township Board either approval, denial, or approval with conditions of the planned unit development plan.

My Comments

Clearly, the process for this particular site plan did not adhere to the requirements and procedures established by the approving bodies, as it failed to start the process with the Planning Commission as mandated by the ordinance. I request that any consideration of deviating from the existing ordinance procedures, which require the Planning Commission's involvement in all site plan reviews, be halted permanently. 

Recent residents are coming to Township Board meetings, not knowing of this plat. Many found out about it through a shared M-Live post on a social media platform. Had we followed the standards of abiding by the Planning Commission ordinance requirements, a public hearing would have been part of this process. This allows residents a voice to offer support, objections, or suggestions. 

Residents I've listened to have legitimate concerns regarding poor communication, which is evolving into a complete lack of transparency. It is irresponsible and disrespectful not to give residents a voice in matters that directly affect them, such as potential sewer line expansion or potential runoff issues from a lake still recovering from a seven-year flood. 

Unbelievable is a statement that reads, 

"We do not believe that the omission of Planning Commission review was detrimental to the process, given the many layers of review involved." 

This statement suggests that the "experts" know better than those who will be directly impacted by the decisions made by a select few regarding the surrounding expansion to their nearby homes. Who grants any of you that kind of power? 

I close by reminding everyone that the purpose of a Planning Commission is to thoroughly review all potential by applying the scope of the entire township ordinance requirements. It is to allow residents a voice and eliminate the perception that something is going on behind closed doors we're not privileged to participate in. 

What a site plan review should not consist before your eyes today. I demand that we learn from it, ask for an immediate review of this situation, and require immediate adherence to the ordinance by which all site plan approvals pass through planning first.