ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.
Zoning is the function of government that doesn’t seem to get much respect. That means too many people, agencies and institutions lack respect for the law.
This conclusion can be made easily just by paying attention to three developments in northeast Allegan County over the past month:
• One is a gravel mining operation being allowed to continue without a permit in Watson Township.
• Another is a court ruling that a township cannot recover costs of enforcing its zoning ordinance.
• A third is a new local business failing to comply with conditions spelled out by the City of Wayland, an issue that likely will be discussed at length Aug. 20.
There are some who maintain that zoning is a communist plot to take away our freedoms to do with our property as we wish. I’m not kidding.
A township in Ionia County provided a good example not long ago by deliberately not having zoning, and as a result, a massage parlor did business for quite a spell before being shut down amid allegations of providing “happy endings” for customers. Without zoning, the township could not restrict or forbid such a business.
Many rural townships have experienced epic battles over blight and junk car ordinances, with opposing residents insisting they will not tolerate land control and regulations of what they can or can’t do with their own property. Without a zoning ordinance, anyone could move in next door and establish a kennel or allow their junk cars to leak contaminants into the neighborhood soil and attract vermin.
Zoning, like taxes, is one of those unpleasant aspects of government that attempt to ensure a civilized society, whether we want it or not.
Though Watson environmental activist Karen Fifelski told the Township Board she didn’t want to be a (starts with a B and rhymes with rich), she just didn’t think it was fair that a business could continue without obtaining or maintaining the proper permits. She was absolutely correct.
Now we learn the business will apply for the necessary permission before the Planning Commission in September. So we’re supposed to look the other way for awhile on an issue that arguably is against the law.
Perhaps a good reason for reluctance to enforce the zoning regulations could be viewed with Martin Township, which has been trying for a long time to get an independent businessman to comply with the rules. But now that they have won that concession, they’re stuck with the bill and the threat of a lawsuit from their target, who has accused officials of being liars and scoundrels.
The City Council will consider revoking the site plan for the Lumberyard Events Center because the owners have not complied with the rules. They’ve come a long way in working out parking arrangements, but now the city might be regarded as the bad guys, being anti-business and anti-progress for insistence on playing by the rules.
I certainly hope something can be worked out because the old Smith Lumber & Coal site is historic and it would be a shame to see it sit idle. But don’t blame the cops on the beat for doing their jobs.
