The Grosse Ile Township Planning Commission opened and closed a public hearing and voted to recommend a set of zoning text amendments intended to increase performance guarantees and tighten enforcement timelines for building and zoning permits.

Commissioners said current performance guarantees are low (an example cited: $1,000 for a new home) and that some permits can remain open for years without recourse. The proposed changes affect Article 19 (general provisions), Article 20 (permits, performance guarantees, enforcement) and Article 24 (administrative organization) of the township zoning ordinance; the ordinance-amendment procedure cited is Article 25 (zoning ordinance amendments).

The amendments are framed as administrative updates to give staff stronger tools to require completion and to allow 1 one-year extension before more stringent enforcement. The planning commission held a public hearing (no public speakers), closed the hearing and voted to recommend the amendments to the township board.

The commission’s recommendation is advisory; the township board will make the final decision. Commissioners said they expect the changes to make builders more accountable and to reduce long-standing partially completed building sites on the island.

The recommended package will be forwarded to the township board under the ordinance amendment process.