Yard Signs Available!

Weather permitting, a representative from MTRFRD will be at the Lake Mecosta Public Boat Launch on Tuesday, May 21st from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. to distribute yard signs. Suggested donation of $10 to cover the cost of the signs.

If you place a yard sign by your road, please make sure to do the following:

Sign cannot be placed in the road right of way, so no closer than 33 ft from the center of the road
Please mark your sign with the date placed in your yard. We suggest using a dry erase marker so that it can be changed later.
Signs may only be displayed in the yard for 2 weeks at a time. Please pull them after two weeks, leave off the yard for a day, then put them out again for another 2 weeks with a new date written on them.

The township has the right to confiscate any sign not legally placed.

Urgent Messages

Planning Commission Meeting May 29

Board of Trustees Mtg. June 11

RV Park Updates

Next steps:

(1) The Planning Commission (PC) will hold a Special Meeting on Wed. May 29th at 5:30 PM at Mecosta Elementary School. The PC will make their final decision on their recommendation to the Board of Trustees about whether the board should approve or deny the conditional rezoning request by Freshwater/Bollman. We had nearly 300 people at the May 15th public hearing. We need AT LEAST that many to show up on May 29th. PLEASE ATTEND!!

(2) Following the PC's decision, the Board of Trustees will consider the developer's conditional rezoning request on Tues. June 11th at 5:30 PM at Mecosta Elementary School. They may make a decision at that meeting, so please plan to attend and participate during the public comment time if you can.

5/15/24 Public Hearing summary: Approximately 300 people attended the 5/15/24 Public Hearing of the Planning Commission. Based on the dozens of people who spoke and the crowd reactions, there was 100% opposition to the proposed RV Park. MTRFRD board members and volunteers spoke, as did our attorney (Rhoades McKee). Our attorney presented a traffic study commissioned by MTRFRD from Fleis &Vandenbrink, which shows an estimated 42% increase in traffic on 105th if the RV Park is approved.

Representatives from the Tri-Lakes Association, The Lake Improvement Board, The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, and the Canadian Lakes Board all spoke and expressed STRONG opposition. Many other community members spoke in STRONG opposition.

Freshwater/Bollman and their attorney made a presentation claiming how much $$ the RV Park will add to the community. Turns out that by their own admission, only $81,000 of property tax revenue would be generated by the development. One citizen later pointed out that 10-15 newly built homes would meet or exceed that amount of revenue, plus those new homes would be owned by RESIDENTS in the community, not part-time renters of RV pads who have no stake in our community. To review documents submitted by Freshwater/Bollman to the Township, click the documents below. MTRFRD obtained these from the township through a FOIA request.

Please continue to send emails to planningcommission@mortontownship.org. Now is NOT the time to hold back about this project!

Cover Letter

Conditional Rezoning Agreement

Conditional Rezoning Stds. for Approval

Community Impact Analysis

Traffic Study link

Previous Updates and Related Developer Documents

MTRFRD's legal counsel, Rhoades McKee, prepared correspondence to the Morton Township Planning Commission regarding the proposed RV park development. This letter documents various points of opposition, given the Township's existing Zoning Ordinance and Master Plan.

Developer withdrew previous application and instead submitted a conditional rezoning application. We believe that the Planning Commission will review this new application at their next regular meeting on April 3rd. See button above for more information.

Planning Commission discussed the RV Park application and site plan submitted by the developer's consulting firm. Large turnout from the community!

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request submitted to Morton Township to obtain copies of the developer's rezoning request, planning documents, and preliminary site plan. Documents received by MTRFRD attorney.

Developer's consultant submitted the planning documents and site plan to the Township for the RV Park they are proposing at the corner of St. Ives Drive and 105th – across from the Lake Mecosta public access.

General update to Morton Township residents about status of RV Park proposal.

Developer requested and was granted a special meeting of the Morton Township Planning Commission to discuss proposal for RV Park.

Attorney Correspondence

Conditional Rezoning Application

Document