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 2010 U.S. Census lists a population of 5,433.

Peninsula Township Offices Are Open

Township staff will be at the office during our normal business hours and are seeing residents by appointment. If you do not need to see a staff member, feel free to use the after-hours drop box out in front of the office to drop off anything you want to get to a staff member or use the Township Directory ((directory opens in new tab) and then email the staff member you think will best be able to help you. Note: please contact the treasurer’s office for all property tax-related inquiries and the clerk’s office for election and cemetery inquiries.

​Public Hearings

Zoning Board of Appeals - Tuesday, January 19, 2021 has been cancelled.
Planning Commission - Monday, January 25, 2021 at 7:00 PM
  • Planned Unit Development/Special Use Permit #137:  The proposed Bella Vue development creates five proposed residential building lots with access from a private road.  The total site is about 4.25 acres. The proposed private road would connect to Center Road and terminate in a cul-de-sac. Plans also include drainage, storm water retention and wastewater management infrastructure. A public hearing on this same development was held in July 2020, when it consisted of six proposed residential building lots.   PROPERTY LOCATION: No address assigned. About ¼ mile north of the intersection of Center Road and Bluff Road on the east side of Center Road and west side of Bluff Road.  PARCEL #'s 28-11-009-029-10 and 28-11-009-035-55.

Winery Lawsuit Status from the Peninsula Township Attorney Gregory M. Meihn

January 19, 2021:
     As you are aware, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan reviewed the Wineries’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction and denied the same based upon a lack of showing of irreparable harm and lack of showing likelihood of success on the merits at this stage of the litigation, among other arguments.  This result was a win for the Township and the residents of Peninsula Township.
     Peninsula Township attempted to file  a sur-reply asserting an additional argument that the Motion for Preliminary Injunction should be denied because the wineries at issue entered into contractual agreements with the Township agreeing to abide by such contractual terms and conditions that they are now seeking to have voided by the Court.  These contractual agreements were made in exchange for allowing the wineries to conduct its operations on agricultural lands.  The Court denied the filing of the sur-reply by the Township at the same time it issued its Order Denying the Motion for Preliminary Injunction.   In other words, the sur-reply was moot at this time.
     While the Township is always willing to engage in settlement discussions, the Wineries, through their counsel, have refused.  Accordingly, the Township is prepared to move this matter forward and expects to file a motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint once discovery is completed.
January 13, 2021:
     The purpose of this statement is to provide you a status of the Winery lawsuit.  As you know, the 13 Plaintiffs filed a civil action in the Western District Court.  Along with the civil action, the Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Injunctive relief to prohibit the Township from enforcing its zoning regulations as it relates to the wineries.  On behalf of the Township, and while the insurance carriers are working to determine coverage, we filed 11 different Motions to Dismiss the lawsuit based upon what is called a 12(b)(6) motion-the civil action fails to meet the pleading requirements.  In addition, we filed  a response to the Motion for Injunctive relief.
     Recently, and in an attempt to avoid having their complaints dismissed, Plaintiffs filed amended complaints seeking to remedy the defects.  We are reviewing the complaints now to determine if the defects have been repaired.  Plaintiffs have also filed a Reply to our Response regarding the Motion for Injunctive Relief arguing in part that the lawsuit is not a zoning issue, but rather a constitutional issue.  We disagree that it is not a zoning issue.  Further, we believe that this is a contractual agreement between the Township and the wineries, whereby they were granted the rights to build and operate in an agricultural district in exchange for their agreement to not only abide by the terms of the findings of facts and creation documents, but the zoning ordinance.
    In these COVID-19 times, we are unsure when the hearing on the Motion for Injunction will be heard, but expect it will be sometime in late January, early February.


​Consider Giving Locally This Year to Peninsula Township's Restricted Capital Campaign Fund and Make a Difference Here at Home  (website opens in a new tab)
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Ordinance Draft (website opens in a new tab)

​Draft Ordinance - Background, The Current Status, The Purpose of a Public Hearing and The Process Going Forward (opens in a new tab)

Consumers Energy Tree Trimming and Cutting

Consumers Energy will be doing tree work in parts of Peninsula Township.   A forester will be out in the area in December to work out their plans.  They will also be sending out post cards to all impacted customers and a door hanger will be left on the door of customers where they plan to trim or remove any trees.   Trees marked with a blue dot are designated for trimming and Trees with a blue X would be removal.  Please contact Mitch Cleland at 231.215.0146 or 231.929.6282 with any questions.

Grand Traverse County Road Commission

Contact the Grand Traverse County Road Commission with any questions at 231-922-4848.​​
  • Peninsula Drive - Wednesday, January 20th starting at 8:30 a.m. - north bound lane closure, traffic will be directed by flaggers from 6405 Peninsula Drive, between M-37 and Grand Cru.  This is anticipated to last throughout the day.  Minor traffic delays are expected.  All work is weather permitting.  Crews will be installing new gas service for DTE. 
  • Bluff Road is closed north of Blue Water Road until further notice. ​
  • ​Be aware we have received a lot of rain and snow that has caused some roadway issues.  There are orange traffic cones in multiple areas around the Peninsula.  Please use caution in these areas as the road commission works to mitigate the issues.

COVID-19 Updates

All Peninsula Township parks and natural areas remain open. If you visit them, please keep the required social distance from other people, and don't forget to pick up after your pet. Also, the hand sanitizer and toilet paper keep disappearing, so bring your own. Finally, ​all play structures are closed until further notice, as we are unable to disinfect them.
COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Information - By now you've received a great deal of information about COVID-19, and with the situation changing very rapidly at times, we recommend that you consider the following four sources for your primary sources of information:
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  1. Grand Traverse County Health Department updates ​
  2. Grand Traverse County Health Department vaccine information
  3. Munson Healthcare updates 
  4. State of Michigan updates
  5. ​Michigan Safe Start Map
  6. National updates​​
  7. View a visualized map​ that renders live coronavirus cases data by county, from Munetrix​
Each of these sites will point you to the MOST UP-TO-DATE and ACCURATE INFORMATION on the situation. As soon as something new is learned about the virus or the situation, it is added to the online guidance information referenced on these three sites.

Property Tax Payment

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Quick Connect

Grand Traverse County Household Hazarded Waste & Scrap Tire Collection:
(Sign up will be available online one month before each event.)  Go to the Grand Traverse County Recycle Smart website (website opens in a new tab) to make an appointment.​​
Thursday, April 15, 1pm - 7pm
Thursday, May 13, 1pm - 7pm   
Thursday, June 17, 1pm - 7pm 
Thursday, August 12, 1pm - 7pm 
Saturday, Sept., 18, 9am - 2pm
Thursday, October 14, 1pm - 7pm
The Grand Traverse County Resource Recovery Department (RecycleSmart) will be conducting Scrap Tire Collection Events in 2020.  There is a limit to how many tires we can accept per event so you must call the RecycleSmart Hotline, 231-941-5555, to schedule your appointment.  The event is for Grand Traverse County Residents only.  No businesses allowed.  
  • 2021 dates to be announced
Donation of Development Rights
The Township's DDR program may be a great option for you! 
Contact Randy Mielnik, Planner, at 231-223-7314 if you are interested in more information.