Committee approves new planning and zoning fee schedule; townships to be charged up to $15,000

Eaton County Ways and Means on May 16 approved a revised planning and zoning fee schedule and a plan to ask the 11 townships the county serves to begin paying toward planning and zoning costs, with township billing to start Oct. 1 and the fee schedule to take effect June 1.

County staff said the current fees did not cover the department’s costs for processing applications, notifying neighbors and paying planning commission members. Chris (staff member) told commissioners the maximum amount an individual township would be asked to pay would be $15,000 once the budget and contracts are finalized.

The new schedule increases several permit and application fees. Staff and Brandy (staff member) told the committee that a conditional use permit process, for example, had been costing the county money because of postage and notification requirements, and that raising fees would make the program “pay for itself.” Brandy described the district change/rezone application as a “very significant application” requiring at least two public notices and additional review by the planning commission, public works and the board of commissioners.

Commissioners pressed staff for comparisons with neighboring counties and for details about specific increases, including private road and rezoning fees. Brandy said private road applications require engineering review, multiple agency notifications and inspections during and after construction, and that higher fees were intended to cover those staff costs. Commissioners amended the motion on the floor to set June 1 as the fee schedule start date for county processing; staff said township billing would be part of the 2025–26 budget process and begin Oct. 1 under contracts with townships.

The motion to adopt the fee schedule and related timing passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Committee members said the change will go to the full county board for final action.

The committee also asked staff to return with final figures for township contracts and with any material changes resulting from negotiation with the townships.