Welcome to Peninsula Township

​The Old Mission Peninsula is perhaps Michigan's most unique and scenic township. Unlike the typical six-mile by six-mile-square township, the Old Mission Peninsula is finger-like in shape, projecting approximately 16 miles into Grand Traverse Bay. The township varies from one to three miles in width and encompasses approximately 42 miles of Great Lakes shoreline.  The 2020 U.S. Census lists a population of 6,068.

​Public Hearings

Joint Peninsula Township Board and Planning Commission - Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Will hold a public hearing concerning the adoption of amendments to the Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance related to Farm Processing Facilities, Winery-Chateaus and a Temporary Moratorium in the A-1 Agricultural District. 
The Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 1972. There have been 200 approved amendments to date. Proposed amendments include:
  • Removing the Winery-Chateau use under Sections 6.7.3(22), 8.7.2(11) and 8.7.3(10); 
  • Updating the Farm Processing Facility as a use by right under Section 6.7.2(19);
  • Adding new uses for Retail Farm Processing Facilities that are approvable with a Special Use Permit under Sections 6.7.3(22), 8.7.2(11) and 8.7.3;
  • Modifying Section 3.2 – Definitions as they pertain to Farm Processing Facilities and Winery Chateaus;
  • Modifying Section 7.6.3(9) – Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements by removing Winery-Chateaus and adding requirements for Farm Processing Facilities;
  • Updating the Table of Contents as appropriate for all proposed amendments, and
  • Adoption of a Temporary Moratorium to pause the consideration, approval, location, erection, construction, installation, or commencement of any new or expanded farm processing facility or any new or expanded use permitted by Special Use Permit within the A-1 Agricultural District.  
View the Draft Farm Processing Facility Amendments (Amendment 201) and 
Draft Zoning Moratorium Amendment (Amendment 202) (website opens in new tab).
All interested persons are invited to attend this meeting. If you are unable to attend, written comments may be submitted to the Peninsula Township Planning Department, 13235 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686 not later than 12:00 p.m. on October 4, 2022.
Zoning Board of Appeals Special Meeting - Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The following applicant will be heard:
Request No. 906 - Applicant, Owner and Property Address: John P. Milliken Trust (95%), 7035 Peninsula Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686, Parcel Code # 28-11-325-078-00:
  1. Requesting a variance from Section 7.5.6 Moving or Replacing Non-Conforming Structure.  Requesting to convert an existing ten (10) foot by sixteen (16) foot 160 square foot attached boat storage area into residential living space. 
Written comment may be submitted to Peninsula Township Zoning Department at 13235 Center Rd., Traverse City, MI 49686 no later than 12:00 p.m. on October 11, 2022.
​Zoning Board of Appeals -  Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The following applicants will be heard:
Request No. 903 - Applicant & Owner: John C. Ansted Sr. Trust, 10215 Peninsula Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686, Property Address: Kroupa Rd., Traverse City, MI 49686, Parcel Code # 28-11-108-001-02:
  1. Requesting a variance from the required sixty (60) foot setback from the ordinary high water line to a fifty (50) foot setback in order to construct a single family residence w/ an attached garage.
  2. Requesting a variance from the required twenty-five (25) foot setback from a wetlands to 6 feet in order to construct a single family residence with an attached garage.
  3. Requesting a variance from the required thirty (30) foot rear setback to fifteen (15) foot rear setback in order to construct a single family residence with an attached garage.
  4. Requesting a variance from the required twenty-five (25) foot setback from a wetlands to zero (0) feet in order to construct a driveway through a wetlands area.
Request No. 907 - Applicant, Owner and Property Address: Alan and Holly Ann Houtman, 12341 Bluff Rd., Traverse City, MI 49686, Parcel Code # 28-11-445-017-00 :
  1. Requesting a variance from the required thirty (30) foot front yard setback to twenty-nine (29) foot front yard setback in order to construct an eight (8) foot by eighteen (18) foot or 144 square foot two story addition to a non-conforming structure.
  2. Requesting a variance from the required thirty (30) foot front yard setback to a nineteen (19) foot front yard setback in order to construct an eight (8) foot by ten (10) foot wood deck to a non-conforming structure.
  3. Requesting a variance from the required thirty (30) foot front yard setback to a nineteen (19) foot front yard setback in order to construct a ten (10) foot by twenty-four (24) foot steel roof covering over a portion of the existing wood deck and eight (8) feet of the new proposed wood deck.
Written comment may be submitted to Peninsula Township Zoning Department at 13235 Center Rd., Traverse City, MI 49686 no later than 12:00 p.m. on October 16, 2022.

East Shore Road Closure

*Crews will be working on a culvert replacement.
*Work is expected to begin on Friday, September 30th, 2022, at 7:00 AM and be completed by the end of day.
*The culvert is located near 6645 East Shore Drive, traffic to the north will need to use McKinley and traffic -to the south will need to use Eastern Avenue.
*Please follow posted detour signs

Consumers Energy Tree Trimming/Removal

A planner from Consumers Energy's Forestry team will be marking trees in their right-of-way that need trimming with a blue dot and trees that need to be removed with a blue X. If the tree is outside of their right-of-way it may be marked for removal with a blue A.
If a tree is marked, a Consumers Energy planner will attempt to contact the property owner in person. If the property owner is unavailable, a door hanger will be left with the planner's contact information if the property owner would like to discuss the planned work before it proceeds. Property owners will receive a postcard and an additional letter that further outlines this work.

Peninsula Township Fire Department Fire Prevention Week Open House

  • Station and Equipment Tours
  • Photo Prop
  • Sparky the Fire Dog
  • Fire Safety Merchandise
  • Meet and Greet with Crew Members
  • Free Food and Beverages
  • Free Locally Made Ice Cream by Buchan's
  • Vehicle Extraction Demo
This event will be held at Peninsula Fire Station 1, 14247 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686 on Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

​Gov. Whitmer Announces an Estimated 148,000 Michiganders May Qualify to Have Student Loans Forgiven Under Federal Program 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Background  
     Until October 31, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education is offering public servants working in government and eligible non-profits a second chance to qualify for student loan forgiveness. An estimated 154,000 public service workers in Michigan could be eligible for student loan debt relief under the PSLF waiver. According to the Office of Federal Student Aid’s June report, over 6,000 Michiganders have taken advantage of the PSLF waiver and have had $358 million in loans forgiven.  
     The recent changes to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program allow previously ineligible borrowers – those with a non-Direct loan, who are not enrolled in an income driven repayment plan, who have missed a repayment, or made a partial repayment in the past – to receive credit toward loan forgiveness for the years they worked in government or a qualifying non-profit.   
To apply for the PSLF waiver, borrowers should:  

Township Meetings Streaming on YouTube

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​Most township meetings held at the township hall are streamed live on the township's YouTube channel (website opens in a new tab) and are available for viewing for 30 days after they are held.
Pay property taxes (website opens in new tab)

Quick Connect

Grand Traverse County Household Hazardous Waste

(Sign up will be available online one month before each event.)  Go to the Grand Traverse County Recycle Smart website (website opens in new tab) to make an appointment.​​ Schedule:​​​​​
  • 2023 dates to be announced.

​The Grand Traverse County Resource Recovery Department (RecycleSmart) will be conducting Scrap Tire Collection Events in 2022. 

Appointments are required and can be made by calling the Resource Recovery Department, 231-995-6075 to schedule your appointment.​​
  • 2023 dates to be announced.

​Donation of Development Rights​

The Township's DDR program may be a great option for you! 
Contact the Planner at 231.223.7314 if you are interested in more information.