Sign the No Gravel Pit in the Irish Hills Petition

Writing our township planning chairperson and officials is one of the best ways we can share our position as a community on the proposed special use permit requested by the gravel mining company. Please include both the Township Board and the Planning Commission on any written correspondence.  

Depending on how you submit your letter (by US mail, in person or via email) here are some helpful tips: 

• When submitting via US Mail, request delivery confirmation and keep this information for your records. 
• When submitting in person, print 2 copies.  Upon delivery to the township request the clerk to stamp both copies to show date/time and location. Keep 1 for your records, leave the other with the township. Scan a copy of the one you kept and email it to us at protectirishhills@gmail.com
• When submitting via email, please include our group on CC: protectirishhills@gmail.com

These tips are helpful to form a paper trail in the event it is needed in the future. 

The Cambridge Township Planning Commission has a mission to serve Township citizens with courtesy, integrity, and efficiency, and to provide quality land-use and development evaluations and recommendations designed to maintain and improve the manner in which our citizens live, work, and play.  

The commission consists of nine Township resident members appointed by the Supervisor with Township Board approval.  By State law, one member of the Township Board shall be a Planning Commission member and all members must be qualified Township electors.

The Cambridge Planning Commission has three main functions:

1. To make and adopt a plan for the Township’s land use and development.  The Cambridge Township Master Land Use Plan presents a vision for the Township’s future growth and development and brings together several planning efforts that the Planning Commission has undertaken to guide its future decision making.
2. To review and evaluate site plans of potential development in the township.  After completing its review of a site plan the Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the Township Board for final approval or rejection. 
3. To conduct public hearings and advise the Township Board regarding amendments to the Township Zoning Ordinance.  The ordinance establishes land development regulations, districts, and zones and regulates such elements as land use, building height, lot area, setbacks, parking, signs, and density.  It also establishes permitted activities (land uses) that can be conducted on a property .

As a general law township, Cambridge Township is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of five officers: Supervisor, Treasurer, Clerk, and two Trustees. All positions are elected every four years. The Board of Trustees has several commissions and committees that advise it on a range of issues. Some township boards carry out distinct duties set forth in statute such as the Board of Review and Zoning Board of Appeals.  All meetings are held in public, and all interested residents are welcome to join these meetings and contact their elected officials.