ESCANABA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Escanaba Township Planning Commission says township leaders should deny a zoning request made by former Delta County commissioner Bob Barron.
Barron submitted a request to rezone six parcels of land owned by Barron Farms. The proposed change would change the zoning of all parcels to Resource Production (RP), rather than Industrial, Rural Residential, and other designations.
“We have individuals that have parcels that have four different designations,” said Daniel Mead, the attorney representing Barron Farms. “… Imagine being the owners of that, trying to come up with a cohesive ability to run their farm, essentially. It becomes difficult.”
Mead cited several reasons why the property owners believe the rezoning would be beneficial. including an opportunity for the Township to collect taxes from potential solar energy production.
Mead referenced the Township’s Master Plan, which states, “A solar energy company has approached a number of land owners in the Township. The company is interested in developing a 1,200 to 1,300 acre solar farm within the Township.”
A resident who lives near Barron Farms expressed concerns about the impact solar panels would have on surrounding property values.
“I think transparency certainly requires you and us to know exactly what this is going to be,” Steve Parks told the Planning Commission. “… We have concerns about what this will be because history has shown that there hasn’t been a lot of consideration for the neighbors.”
Mead briefly addressed such concerns, saying, “[Solar farms] are harvesting, if you will, a natural resource. That doesn’t necessarily interfere with anyone else’s property. There’s been significant studies that we’ve attached to our filings in order to accommodate and to make the Board feel more comfortable with this… Farms are decreasing. We need to find areas that we can utilize the natural resources in order to accommodate the ever-changing landscape of energy.”
The Planning Commission determined Barron’s request was “not consistent” with the Township’s Future Land Use Map.
“I think the property in question… is Future Land Use Map, indicated for Industrial,” said attorney Laura Genovich, who was asked to speak via Zoom by the Planning Commission. She later added, “From my perspective, even if the Planning Commission recommended and the Board approved a rezoning to RP, that would not, in itself, allow solar development on the property. There would be additional requests that would need to be made to expand that solar overlay.”
The Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend a denial of Barron’s rezoning request by the Township Board.
