Private road ordinance amendments postponed
The township is considering changes to its Private Road Ordinance to provide more flexibility for property owners and developers. The proposed amendments address design standards, maintenance agreements for land divisions, and requirements for upgrading roads when new lots are added. A final decision on the proposal was postponed until at least June 8, 2026.
Current status Still pending
What this is Private road ordinance amendments postponed
Timeline
- Agenda posted from agenda · published Feb 9, 2026
- Proposal introduced and public notice approved from agenda · published Feb 9, 2026
- Agenda posted from agenda · published Mar 5, 2026
- Proposal introduced again from agenda · published Mar 5, 2026
- Agenda posted from agenda · published Apr 9, 2026
- Board review delayed from agenda · published Apr 9, 2026
Key facts
- Township staff proposed the amendments to add "flexibility and efficiency" to the private road ordinance that was updated in 2022.
- The Township Board gave the amendments a first reading at its March 9, 2026 meeting and scheduled a second reading for May 11, 2026.
- At its April 13, 2026 meeting, the board considered a request to postpone the second reading from May 11 to June 8, 2026.
- The postponement was requested because a key staff member was unavailable for the May meeting and wanted more time to compile historical information for the board.
Discretion or exceptions
- The Community Development Director would have the discretion to waive or approve alternative designs for existing private roads if they determine good cause is shown and certain conditions are met, such as when site constraints make strict compliance impractical.
Who could be affected
- Property owners on private roads
- Residents looking to split their property or add lots on a private road
- Developers creating new lots accessed by private roads
What could change
- The Community Development Director would be able to approve waivers or modifications to design standards for existing private roads if site features like steep slopes or existing infrastructure make it impractical to comply.
- A property owner seeking to divide their land would no longer need every other property owner on their private road to sign a maintenance agreement. This would reduce the power of an individual neighbor to veto a land division.
- The ordinance section requiring the entire length of a private road to be upgraded to current standards whenever a lot is split or a new parcel is added would be removed.
What to watch
The Township Board was scheduled to hold a second reading and potentially vote on the ordinance amendments at its June 8, 2026 meeting. The outcome of that meeting is not yet available in public records.
- The proposal would delete the entire section requiring private roads to be upgraded when new lots are added. What rules, if any, would govern road upgrades in these situations if this section is removed?
- What specific standards would guide the Community Development Director's discretion when granting "minor administrative departures" from design criteria for existing private roads?
- If not all property owners are required to sign a maintenance agreement for a land division, who would be required to sign, and how would maintenance responsibilities be enforced for those who do not?
Questions to check
- The staff memo indicates the amendment to Sec. 28-262 'Removes the requirement for a single owner to upgrade the entire private road.' However, the proposed ordinance text shows the entire section being deleted. The practical effect of removing the entire section, rather than just amending it, is not fully explained.
Main source pages
These packet pages are the main source material for this item.
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Ordinance amendments with tracked changes clearly support this item
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Memo and ordinance amendments clearly supporting this agenda item
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Senior Planner memo clearly supports this agenda item
Supporting records
These related records help explain the item, including the agenda listing, staff explanation, and draft text.
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Postpone the second reading and consideration of amendments to the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026 meeting
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Sec. 28-251. Purpose. The township has determined that as tracts of land, lots, and parcels are divided, sold, altered, transferred, or developed, private roads and access easements are being created and used to provide access to newly-divided or created lots, parcels, or properties, such accesses are not always subject to regulation under the Michigan Land Division Act, being Public Act No. 288 of 1967 (MCL 560.101…
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RE: Private Road Ordinance Second Reading Postponement to June This request is for the Township Board to postpone the second reading of an Ordinance to Amend the current regulations of the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026, meeting. I will be unavailable (out of the state) for the May 11th Township Board meeting and as an integral contributor to the proposed amendments, I want to attend to assist with the…
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MEMO TO: Mr. Cameron Van Wyngarden, Township Superintendent FROM: Peter Elam, Senior Planner DATE: April 8, 2026 RE: Private Road Ordinance Second Reading Postponement to June This request is for the Township Board to postpone the second reading of an Ordinance to Amend the current regulations of the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8 th , 2026, meeting. I will be unavailable (out of the state) for the May 11th To…
Meeting history
Agenda and minutes records showing when this item appeared and what procedural step it reached over time.
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The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances. Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances.
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The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances. Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances.
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The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances. Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances.
Read excerpt
The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances. Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances.
Read excerpt
The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances. Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances.
Read excerpt
The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances. Provide first reading and authorize publication for proposed amendments to Chapter 28, Article V., Private Roads, in the Code of Ordinances.
Read excerpt
The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Postpone the second reading and consideration of amendments to the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026 meeting Postpone the second reading and consideration of amendments to the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026 meeting
Read excerpt
The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Postpone the second reading and consideration of amendments to the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026 meeting Postpone the second reading and consideration of amendments to the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026 meeting
Read excerpt
The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Postpone the second reading and consideration of amendments to the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026 meeting Postpone the second reading and consideration of amendments to the Private Road Ordinance to the June 8th, 2026 meeting
Accuracy note
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