A communications company has installed a tower on private property in Watson Township, but must go before the Planning Commission next month to get formal approval.

Michwave Technologies put up the tower, intended for rural high-speed Internet use, at the property on 1965 116th Ave. near M-222.

“From what I’ve been told, it is a privately owned tower that Michwave installed for the owners.,” said Kirk Scharphorn of Professional Code Inspections of Dorr, which provides planning services for Watson Township. “At this point, the tower is in violation because no permits were ever obtained nor was any zoning approval granted.”

Scharphorn said Watson has an ordinance that states all communications towers that exceed 50 feet in height must obtain a special use permit from the Planning Commission. The owners must appeal for the special use permit and be on the Sept. 28 Planning Commission meeting agenda.

“At that time, a public hearing will be held regarding the tower and they will face township officials,” Scharphorn explained.

Michelle Harris, chairwoman of the Watson Township Planning Commission, said there will be no public hearing for the Planning Commission in September. “There is no public hearing. The proper channels to get the ball rolling for us to even have a public meeting hasn’t happened yet. So, there’s no public meeting scheduled for September, nor will there be. If it comes to a public meeting that will be at a later date,” she said.

Scharphorn said he’s not sure how far this tower will reach, but it may connect with another similar tower in a surrounding township that reaches Byron Center.

Scharphorn added, “Once I get the application and information required for the Planning Commission I will know more. The tower was three-fourths constructed when I was made aware of it. We did a site inspection and informed the owners of what needed to happen to make it legal.

“If the special use permit is not applied for in the near future, we will pursue a legal avenue to have the tower removed and fines issued.”

PHOTO: Michelle Harris