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Orion Township splits authority three ways: the Planning Commission decides site plans, special land uses, and PUDs; the Zoning Board of Appeals decides variances, appeals, and interpretations; the Township Board decides rezonings and hears appeals of special land use denials (Section 29.01; Section 29.02.E; Section 29.03.E).
- Site plan review: required for essentially all development except detached single-family houses and their accessory buildings (Section 30.01.B). The Planning Commission makes the final site plan decision; materials go in at least four weeks before a meeting (Section 30.01.C).
- Special land uses: Planning Commission decision after a public hearing, with published notice and mailed notice to owners and occupants within 300 feet at least 15 days ahead (Section 30.02.B). A denial may be appealed to the Township Board, and special land use decisions are not subject to ZBA review (Section 29.01.B; Section 30.06.A).
- Variances: the ZBA grants non-use (dimensional) variances under the practical difficulty standard of Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, on findings of exceptional circumstances, necessity for a substantial property right, and no material detriment (Section 30.07.C). A concurring majority vote of the ZBA is required (Section 29.03.F).
- Appeals of Enforcement Officer or Planning Commission decisions go to the ZBA within 30 days (Section 30.06.A). Hearing notice runs 15 days; the ZBA decides within 60 days of the hearing, and its decisions may be appealed to circuit court (Section 30.06.C, D).
- A ZBA order, including a granted variance, is valid for 1 year. The Planning & Zoning Director may grant one 1 year extension, and the ZBA may grant up to two more (Section 29.03.H, amended 06.19.23).
- The ZBA may rehear a decided matter only on new evidence within 30 days of the original decision (Section 29.03.G).
For meeting dates and application deadlines, check the township's posted meeting schedule.