Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — The Jackson County Planning Commission (JCPC) held a meeting on Thursday evening (November 13), during which the planned rezoning of land in Leoni Township from residential and open space to heavy industrial was unanimously disapproved.
The JCPC came to a similar conclusion back in September when the proposal was first introduced. The process was restarted after the township failed to properly notify the residents of a nearby trailer park of the potential rezoning.
Commissioner Corey Kennedy told WKHM that the rezoning would go against Leoni Township’s current Master Plan and would also be an example of problematic spot zoning.
Commissioner Kennedy made it clear that the county is not taking an anti-business stance with the decision, saying that there are other spaces that could be utilized for heavy industry.
Leoni Township Trustee Russ Jennings, who also sits on the Planning Commission, said during the meeting that he hopes residents continue to stay informed on what goes on with their local government.
Trustee Jennings mentioned that there was initially little pushback before the rezoning process had to start over, and very likely would have passed if it had not.
He believes that public pressure has had an impact on how the Leoni Township Board will vote on the matter, with a final decision on the issue expected to take place on December 9.
Commissioner Kennedy echoed that sentiment to WKHM, saying that decisions made at the local level can have the biggest impacts on peoples’ lives.
Several citizens spoke at the meeting’s public comment to voice their opposition to the potential rezoning.
