Helena Township Planning Commission Meeting
September 3, 2026
8751 Helena Road, Alden, Michigan
Meeting Time: 7:00 PM
Meeting Minutes
Call to Order
Chair D. Hunstad called the meeting to order at approximately 7:03 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance
All present participated.
Roll Call
Present: D. Hunstad, F. Vandenberg, J. Gurr, R. Wanstreet, R. Byron, D. Whipple.
Absent: J. Schilling.
Also present: Zoning Administrator J. Petersen; Township Supervisor C.C. Peeples; Township Clerk O. Leffew; members of the public.
Approval of Agenda
The Commission reviewed the agenda as presented. Motion to approve the September 3, 2026 agenda as presented. Motion by J. Gurr. All in favor. Motion carried.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest were declared.
Approval of Minutes from August 6, 2026
A correction was requested to accurately reflect R. Wanstreet’s vote on the August minutes item concerning cancellation of regular July meetings. Motion to approve the August 6, 2026 minutes with the correction to R. Wanstreet’s vote. Motion by J. Gurr, supported by R. Wanstreet. All in favor. Motion carried.
Communications
The Commission discussed an email communication received concerning the mooring ordinance (Chapter 5, Section 5.02) and the removal of parcel-specific references to legally nonconforming properties. It was explained that individual nonconforming parcels are not ordinarily listed in the zoning ordinance and that the affected resident had requested clarification.
J. Petersen reported receiving a communication concerning the version of the mooring (Chapter 5) zoning ordinance posted online. The matter will be reviewed and the appropriate record corrected if necessary.
Correspondence from the Antrim County Drain Commissioner was acknowledged.
Public Comment
B. Wiedemeyer raised concerns about a neighboring short-term rental, including late-night noise, renter conduct, lack of response from the property manager, and limited police enforcement. He asked the Township to address short-term rentals through zoning or another enforceable local process.
J. Klein reported similar short-term-rental concerns near her Crystal Springs Road property and stated that earlier complaints had not received a response. Clerk Leffew asked that the correspondence be forwarded to her for recording and distribution.
A resident requested restoration of a second public-comment period at the end of Planning Commission meetings. Discussion clarified that the request was for both an opening and a closing public-comment period.
A resident asked about the status and security of the Township’s online complaint/community-feedback process, noted differences between an ordinance available online and the version reportedly adopted, and asked that approved minutes replace or be clearly distinguished from drafts.
Zoning Administrator Report – Data Centers: New Information
J. Petersen reported that recent training discouraged combining data-center regulations with renewable-energy provisions because state limitations on local renewable-energy regulation could create confusion. The new MTA sample data-center zoning ordinance and assessment tool were included in the packet. No data-center application is currently pending in Helena Township.
Zoning Administrator Report – Planning Commission Training
J. Petersen reported a possible general Planning Commission training opportunity in Banks Township in early October. Several members expressed tentative interest, subject to the final date and schedule. Petersen will continue coordinating with Banks Township.
Zoning Administrator Report – Multi-Commission Data-Center Collaboration
The Commission discussed possible collaboration with nearby planning commissions, township officials, county representatives, and residents. Members supported continued exploration and noted that Helena Township’s prior work could be useful to surrounding communities.
Zoning Administrator Report – Zoning-Amendment Procedure
Clerk Leffew summarized the developing written procedure for initiating, drafting, reviewing, noticing, conducting a public hearing on, and forwarding zoning amendments. Discussion clarified that the Planning Commission does not independently direct Township counsel; any legal review must be authorized through the Township Board or appropriate Township official. The procedure will continue to be refined.
Zoning Administrator Report – Municipal Civil Infraction and Nuisance Ordinances
The Municipal Civil Infraction Ordinance was approved by the Township Board, published, and is scheduled to take effect September 26, 2026. J. Petersen reported that a second nuisance-ordinance draft had been submitted to the Board after attorney review. Discussion noted that the civil-infraction process may provide an enforcement mechanism for existing zoning requirements.
Zoning Administrator Report – Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Procedure
J. Petersen discussed the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Procedure created and drafted by Clerk Leffew. Copies are available in zoning. The procedure is outlined, defined, and ready to implement for the next submission to the county.
Old Business – Definitions
F. Vandenberg reported that she and R. Byron continue reviewing ordinance definitions and related inconsistencies. They expect to circulate an updated draft before the next meeting. The project arose from the Commission’s review of typographical errors, obsolete references, and provisions that do not read consistently together.
Old Business – Data Centers: Next Steps
The Commission reviewed the new MTA sample ordinance and discussed separating data-center regulations from the renewable-energy and battery-storage amendment previously approved for forwarding. Members discussed sound and vibration limits, dark-sky lighting, water use and the prohibition of evaporative cooling, independent energy supply, underground utility lines, decommissioning security, applicant-paid professional review, special-land-use and site-plan standards, and the need to adapt the model because Helena Township has no industrial zoning district or municipal water/sewer system. Possible overlay zoning and consistency with the Master Plan were also raised. A data-center moratorium was discussed; members noted that the Township Board could consider that issue separately.
Motion by F. Vandenberg to stop forward progress on the previously proposed amendment placing data-center provisions with renewable energy and to revisit data-center regulation using the newly available information. Motion seconded by J. Gurr. All in favor. Motion carried.
Next steps: Members will review the MTA model and submit comments to J. Petersen and the Planning Commission Chair for inclusion in a future packet. The Commission will consider Helena-specific revisions, including zoning-district structure, overlay-zone possibility, Master Plan consistency, and cross-references to the Township’s special-land-use and site-plan-review chapters.
Old Business – Zoning Ordinance Discrepancies
The Commission confirmed that typographical errors, outdated wording, and inconsistent cross-references remain an ongoing cleanup project. A resident encouraged concentrating available time on data-center work if a moratorium is adopted.
Old Business – Minutes Production and Approval
J. Petersen and Clerk Leffew reported that the revised minutes-review process is being implemented and refined. The Commission discussed returning approved minutes to the Clerk so final minutes can be clearly distinguished from drafts. Clerk Leffew also explained that meeting packets and online records are being converted to accessible text formats rather than image-only scans to support accessibility.
New Business – Planning Commission Bylaws
Members reviewed the Milton Township bylaws handout as a reference while considering updates to Helena Township’s bylaws. No bylaw amendment was adopted at this meeting.
New Business – Meeting Sign-In Sheet
A sign-in sheet was circulated for members and attendees. The Commission indicated that sign-in and roll-call sheets will be used going forward.
New Business – Second Public-Comment Period
Following the earlier public request, the Commission considered restoring a second public-comment period near the end of its regular agendas. Motion to reinstate a second public-comment period on the Planning Commission’s standard meeting agendas. The maker and seconder were not clearly identifiable in the recording. All in favor. Motion carried.
New Business – Township Website Demonstration
Clerk Leffew demonstrated current online work, including an online zoning-permit application, printable application options, zoning and ordinance information, accessibility improvements, and facility-rental information. The Commission discussed a future zoning map or address-based zoning lookup, a method for submitting site plans, prioritizing ordinances for online publication, possible inclusion of the privately operated Village Community Center in rental information, and clearly distinguishing public assets from privately owned facilities. Leffew explained that collaborative document tools and tracked-editing access will be introduced after security controls are completed.
Second Public Comment
A resident supported consideration of a data-center moratorium to protect the Township while ordinance work proceeds and noted that the work could be completed before the full proposed moratorium period expired.
Residents thanked the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, Clerk, and Supervisor for recent process, transparency, and community improvements, and supported restoration of the second public-comment period with continued enforcement of the three-minute limit. A resident also asked the Commission to consider including zoning maps with zoning applications.
Next Meeting
The next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
Adjournment
The meeting recording ended at approximately 8:28 PM before a formal adjournment was captured. The adjournment time should be confirmed by the Planning Commission before approval of these minutes.
Prepared By
Prepared by Oryana Leffew from the September 3, 2026 meeting agenda, recorded transcript, audio, and meeting recordings for Planning Commission review. Draft reviewed by ZA & PCC.