West Benzie Joint Planning Commission
Upcoming Regular Meeting ( agenda):
When: May 2, 2024 at 6:00pm
Where: Benzonia Township Hall, 1020 Michigan Avenue (US-31) Benzonia, MI 49616
Regular meeting schedule
When: The first Thursday of every other month at 6:00pm
2024 Dates: March 7, May 2, July 11 (due to July 4th holiday), September 5, November 7
Where: Benzonia Township hall, 1020 Michigan Avenue (US-31) Benzonia, MI 49616
Meeting minutes
Commission Members & Staff
- Matt Wieber - Chair
- Robb Bollenberg - Vice Chair
- Bruce Wildie - Secretary
- Tim Flynn - Member
- David Gardner - Member
- Alison Mihalek - Recording Secretary
- Jason Barnard - Zoning Administrator
- Mary Pitcher - Zoning Administrator
Ordinances and plans
Forms and permit applications
- Benzonia Township Zoning Permit Application
- Platte Township Zoning Permit Application
- Benzonia/Platte Township Zoning Permit Application Site Plan
History of the West Benzie Joint Planning Commission
** From the Benzonia Township Website **
Benzonia Township was one of the first townships in Benzie County to adopt a Zoning Ordinance in the mid-1970’s and since then had three different ordinances until joining the County Planning and Zoning system in 1994. However, that relationship ended with the major budget cuts at the county in 2010 resulting in creation of the West Benzie Joint Planning Commission (WBJPC) by the Benzonia and Platte Township Boards in 2010. Since then, the two township boards adopted the WBJPC Zoning Ordinance covering both townships. The WBJPC was also formed as a five-person board with adoption of a Planning Commission Ordinance having all the powers and duties of a Planning Commission in the State of Michigan. Both townships have created and adopted a 2023 Master Plan, replacing the previously referenced Benzie County Comprehensive Plan, as the basis for zoning and planning within the WBJPC jurisdictional area.
The main contact for zoning and planning services and the WBJPC is housed within the Zoning/Planning Department of the Benzonia Township Offices – contact the Zoning Administrator shown on the Board page.