TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF RUTLAND, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ALL OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE the Rutland Charter Township Board will hold a special meeting on January 19, 2022 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Rutland Charter Township Hall located at 2461 Heath Road, within the Charter Township of Rutland, Barry County, Michigan. The purpose of this special meeting is to provide an opportunity for public comment on two pending proposed ordinances associated with allowing certain types of marihuana businesses in Rutland Charter Township, as follows:
- Proposed amendments of the Township Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 220 of the Rutland Charter Township Code) which may have been recommended by the Township Planning Commission for Township Board approval pursuant to a public hearing held at the January 5, 2022 Planning Commission meeting. These proposed amendments of the Zoning Ordinance, if approved by the Township Board, would designate certain types of marihuana business land uses as allowable “special land uses” in designated zoning districts of the Township. Any specific marihuana business proposed pursuant to these provisions of the Zoning Ordinance would be reviewed by the Planning Commission pursuant to the applicable approval standards and requirements specified in the Zoning Ordinance after a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on a marihuana business special land use application, as required by the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.
- A new Marihuana Business Licensing Ordinance is proposed and pending before the Township Board. This proposed ordinance, if adopted by the Township Board, would provide the framework for the Township to license the types of adult use (including medical marihuana) marihuana business establishments allowable in the Township by prescribing the terms and conditions upon which a municipal license for such businesses may be issued, and providing for application fees and annual license fees to defray the application, administrative, and enforcement costs associated with the licensing and operation of such businesses in the Township. This proposed licensing ordinance includes provisions addressing definitions of terms used in the ordinance, the types of marihuana businesses allowed to apply for municipal license approval, municipal license application requirements and 2 procedures, the standards for Township Board approval or denial of a municipal license application contingent upon issuance of an operating license by the State of Michigan, issuance of a municipal license by the Clerk, operating standards for approved and licensed marihuana businesses, annual license renewal, revocation of a municipal license, notices to an applicant/licensee and to the Township, violations, enforcement and sanctions for violations, and when the ordinance would initially take effect and thereafter be subject to repeal upon the occurrence of certain events. If this proposed licensing ordinance is adopted, it would repeal existing Ordinance No. 2019-167 completely prohibiting any marihuana establishments within the boundaries of Rutland Charter Township, to the extent of any conflicts between that ordinance and the licensing ordinance.
Both of the above-referenced proposed ordinances may be examined by contacting the Rutland Charter Township Clerk at the Township Hall during regular business hours on regular business days maintained by the Township offices from and after the publication of this Notice and until and including the day of the hearing/meeting, and further may be examined at the hearing/meeting. The proposed ordinances are also available on the Township website: www.rutlandtownship.org.
The Township Board reserves the right to change any provision of the proposed ordinances at or following this special meeting, and may accept either or both of these proposed ordinances for “first reading” with or without changes at this meeting or a subsequent meeting, and for potential adoption consideration at a subsequent meeting as allowed by law.
Rutland Charter Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services at this meeting to individuals with disabilities, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being considered, upon reasonable notice to the Township. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk as designated below.
Robin Hawthorne,
Clerk
Rutland Charter Township
2461 Heath Road
Hastings, Michigan 49058
(269) 948-2194
