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Updated: May 23, 2026 @ 11:26 am
Due to the amount of attendees at the Monday, May 18, 2026, Wexford Joint Planning Commission meeting, the session had to be moved outside due to occupancy limits being reached at the Wexford County Road Commission. The meeting however was canceled due to a lack of quorum but an informal information-sharing session was held instead.
More than 50 residents attended a scheduled Wexford Joint Planning Commission meeting to voice concerns and learn more about a proposed solar farm project spanning Wexford and Grand Traverse counties, despite the meeting being canceled because of a lack of quorum.
Staff Writer/Reporter
Due to the amount of attendees at the Monday, May 18, 2026, Wexford Joint Planning Commission meeting, the session had to be moved outside due to occupancy limits being reached at the Wexford County Road Commission. The meeting however was canceled due to a lack of quorum but an informal information-sharing session was held instead.
More than 50 residents attended a scheduled Wexford Joint Planning Commission meeting to voice concerns and learn more about a proposed solar farm project spanning Wexford and Grand Traverse counties, despite the meeting being canceled because of a lack of quorum.
• More than 50 residents attended a scheduled Wexford Joint Planning Commission meeting to voice concerns and learn more about a proposed solar farm project spanning Wexford and Grand Traverse counties, despite the meeting being canceled because of a lack of quorum.
• Officials said discussion of a zoning amendment tied to the project has been delayed until June, while questions remain about local authority over large-scale renewable energy projects under state law.
• More than 50 residents attended a scheduled Wexford Joint Planning Commission meeting to voice concerns and learn more about a proposed solar farm project spanning Wexford and Grand Traverse counties, despite the meeting being canceled because of a lack of quorum. • Officials said discussion of a zoning amendment tied to the project has been delayed until June, while questions remain about local authority over large-scale renewable energy projects under state law.
CADILLAC — The Wexford Joint Planning Commission did not hold an official meeting Monday because of a lack of quorum, but after more than 50 residents arrived to discuss a proposed solar farm project in Wexford Township, commission officials opened the floor for an informal information session.
“Because so many members of the public showed up, we thought the right thing to do was to share the information with them,” said Robert Hall, WJPC planning and zoning administrator. “We didn’t have quorum to have an official meeting, but there is no problem in having an informal information-sharing session where the planning commission has no deliberations or decision-making at all.”
Residents attended the May 18 meeting to discuss a proposed solar farm planned for property spanning Wexford Township in Wexford County and Grant Township in Grand Traverse County. Many attendees believed the commission was prepared to approve the project, but Hall said the process is still in its early stages.
Instead, the commission had been scheduled to begin discussing a zoning ordinance amendment that would allow solar farms in the district where the project is proposed. Because no official meeting was held, that discussion has been postponed until the commission’s June meeting.
The Wexford Township portion of the property is currently zoned Ag/Forest Production, which does not permit solar farms. Hall said the proposed amendment would apply only to the land located within Wexford Township.
The agenda item was intended to begin reviewing a petition to amend the zoning ordinance. Hall said a final decision on the amendment is likely at least 90 to 120 days away from the initial discussion.
Hall said residents raised concerns about the scale of the project, the impact on active farmland, environmental issues, aesthetics and wildlife habitat. Others opposed the project because it would be located near their homes.
“Even though it was not a meeting, the planning commission was pleased there was such a turnout by the public,” Hall said. “Hopefully, they will show up next month to do the same thing.”
WJPC Assistant Zoning Administrator Ben Townsend said an estimated 60 to 70 people attended the gathering, with most coming from Wexford Township and others from Grant Township.
If the zoning amendment is introduced in June, Hall said a public hearing could potentially be scheduled as early as July. Because the Wexford Joint Planning Commission is a joint body, approval would require majority support from the full commission, including backing from the host township.
“We make a recommendation to the participating townships to amend the ordinance,” Hall said. “The joint planning commission is referred to as an administrative body. The township board has the ability to adopt ordinances and they rely on the recommendations from the planning commission. But they don’t have to go by that recommendation either.”
If the amendment is eventually approved, developers would still need to formally begin the application process for the solar project. Hall said the delay caused by the canceled May meeting has pushed the timeline back at least another month.
Commission officials also discussed concerns about whether local governments could ultimately lose authority over the project because of Public Acts 233 and 234 of 2023, which shifted some siting authority for large renewable energy projects to the Michigan Public Service Commission.
According to the Michigan Townships Association, the laws apply to solar projects with a nameplate capacity of at least 50 megawatts, wind projects of at least 100 megawatts and energy storage facilities of at least 50 megawatts. Officials believe the proposed project could meet those thresholds.
However, local oversight can remain in place if municipalities adopt a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance, or CREO, that complies with statewide standards regarding setbacks, decibel limits and height restrictions.
Hall previously believed the commission already had a compliant ordinance in place, but legal counsel recently determined it does not currently qualify as a CREO.
“I’m not sure if we will move for a CREO,” Hall said. “The first step is for the planning commission to look at the zoning ordinance and whether to amend it or to not amend it.”
During the informal session, Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton, told attendees the Michigan House recently approved legislation aimed at repealing portions of Public Act 233. House Bills 4027 and 4028 passed the House on largely partisan votes and would restore local siting authority over large-scale renewable energy projects. The bills now move to the Senate.
Hoitenga said she attended the scheduled meeting because she felt it was her responsibility to be there after the state took away the local voice via Public Act 233.
She also said while she respects everyone’s personal property rights and that they should be able to do what they see fit, it shouldn’t come at the expense of degrading neighboring properties. She also said most of the time, these projects are on precious agricultural land. She also noted that many times, these aren’t solar companies but rather corporations that are coming in and changing the local landscape.
As for the likelihood of the Senate passing the legislation, Hoitenga said the bills are out there and starting to gain traction, so it could pass. Whether or not Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would sign it is another story but she said with the elections coming that could be what is needed to make that change.
The Wexford Joint Planning Commission is scheduled to meet next at 6:30 p.m. June 22. Hall said the meeting will be moved from the Wexford County Road Commission because attendance exceeded building occupancy limits Monday, forcing attendees outside.
A new location had not been determined as of Wednesday, but Hall said details will be posted on the commission’s website, www.wexfordjpc.org. He also said the commission plans to add a section dedicated to the proposed solar farm project where residents can access updates.
rcharmoli@cadillacnews.com
Staff Writer/Reporter
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