We moved to Alpena Township late in 2022 after being out of Michigan for nearly 44 years. We purchased a “fixer-upper” zoned an obscure “mixed use.” Several businesses down the road have 6-foot- and 8-foot-tall fences in front of the property. We thought a 6-foot cyclone fence would ensure our large guardian dog could not jump the fence. However, we were told we could not do that unless we went before the “zoning board” and paid a $600 fee JUST TO ASK IF WE COULD BUILD A FENCE LIKE OTHERS ALREADY HAVE!

Next issue, chickens. For sustainability reasons, the majority of municipalities in the country now allow people to have a small flock of backyard chickens, usually under 10 and NO roosters. But not in our SEMI-RURAL, mixed use property … unless we pay “the board” $600 just to ask if we can.

Notice the pattern? If you want something outside of their restrictive ordinances, you must PAY a board of elected officials $600 to do the job WE hired AND PAY them to do already! While some fee is necessary to reduce frivolous petitions, wouldn’t a sliding scale be more sensible? Say $50 for fences and chickens, $1,000 for a warehouse or the like, and so on. Additionally, the new fee needs to be “income adjustable,” in case the petitioner truly cannot afford it. This is done in MANY areas.

This fee is ridiculous and insulting. It is paying politicians twice to do the job we hired them for. Something needs to be done and I will look into that. But then I will have to pay them $600 just to ask this question …

ROBERT EARL,

Alpena