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 resident 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 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

Planning Commission - Monday, November 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

• Continuation of the Public Hearing to Update the Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance to Be Held November 16, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.
  On November 16, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., the Peninsula Township Planning Commission will hold a continuation of the public hearing concerning the update of the Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance. This update includes ordinance reorganization, new definitions, updated definitions, new graphics, procedural clarifications, explanations of development standards, past amendments, additional development standards, an updated zoning map, references to related provisions and other laws, and the like. 
  Background:  with a zoning ordinance adopted in 1972 and supported only by piecemeal amendments made during the last 50 years, the township has found it increasingly difficult to respond to current development pressures. Recognizing this, the planning commission formed a committee to work on updating ordinance language with the help of a planning consultant. Subsequently, the ordinance was reviewed by others, including township staff, legal counsel, and engineering. In January 2020, the planning commission reviewed a draft document and considered it ready for an initial public review. That draft was posted on the township website in late January. Thereafter, comments were received and incorporated into the current document. In September, the planning commission decided to hold the formal public hearing that occurred on October 19, 2020. This public hearing was posted on the township’s website, and a formal legal ad ran in the Record Eagle. 
  The Current Status: the public hearing will continue at the planning commission’s next regular meeting on November 16, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. At this meeting, the floor will again be open for public comments. To be optimally useful, please make comments as specific as possible, with section references in both verbal and written form. Comments can also be provided before the hearing via letter or email (planner@peninsulatownship.com).   
  The Purpose of a Public Hearing: public hearings are held to obtain input and feedback before action is taken. Per bylaws, the planning commission rarely takes action on any matter sooner than the next monthly meeting. When the public hearing process concludes, the commission members reflect on the input they have received before taking action. Planning commission members traditionally place a high value on public input and want to hear residents’ thoughts on how Peninsula Township can develop effective regulations and development standards that maintain and protect Peninsula Township now and in the future. Because zoning ordinances can’t be retroactive, it is important to anticipate issues.
  The Process Going Forward: steps to share the progress toward an effective and modern zoning ordinance began in January 2020, and the planning commission will continue to take the time necessary to fully hear from residents before recommending a draft of the proposed zoning ordinance update to the township board. Once before the township board, the process will include another formal public hearing and final deliberation before the township board takes action.    
  Please see the link below for the current draft of the updated zoning ordinance and new zoning map. Also included is a link to the material included in the 10/19/20 Planning Commission Meeting Packet. 

Ordinance Draft

The proposed draft of the Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance, draft zoning map and additional zoning ordinance revisions are available for review. While these .pdf documents are not ADA compliant, anyone may have special arrangements made to review these document in another format, by contacting Randy Mielnik at:  planner@peninsulatownship.com.    

Absentee Ballots

• If you are returning your absentee ballot by mail, it takes a single first-class stamp. 
• If you would rather not mail your absentee ballot, please drop it in the drop box outside the township offices. Our drop box is safe and secure, and we check it a minimum of three times per day. Every ballot dropped by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day will be counted.
• Want to vote absentee and have your ballot mailed to you? Visit the Michigan Secretary of State website to download an Absentee Voter Ballot Application (external PDF opens in new tab). 

Grand Traverse County Road Commission

• ​​Bluff Road is closed north of Blue Water Road until further notice. Contact the Grand Traverse County Road Commission with any questions at 231-922-4848.​
• ​As everyone is aware, we have received a lot of rain in the past days and it 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 updates ​
2. Munson Healthcare updates 
3. State of Michigan updates
4. ​Michigan Safe Start Map
5. National updates​
6. 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.

Halloween Message from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

State of Michigan COVID 19 Website Michigan.gov/Coronavirus  (website open in new tab) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Halloween Guidance: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html (website open in new tab) Partnership for a Safe Halloween: Halloween2020.org (website open in new tab)

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Property Tax Payment

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Quick Connect

• ​Meeting Schedules
• Tax Information​
• Election Information
• ​Contact Peninsula Township
• Area Map

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 
Thursday Sept. 16 - 1pm - 7pm
Saturday October 16 - 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.