The Master Plan is one of the primary tools used by the Village of Millington. It is a broad-based policy document for the physical, economic, and social development of the Village as it relates to land use. It has a long-range perspective that provides a coordinated approach to making important decisions. Per the Planning Enabling Act, communities are required to review and update their master plans every 5 years. In 2021, the Village will approve the updated Master Plan, Parks and Recreation Plan and the VMDDA Plan will be updated in 2023. Prospective developers should review the Village’s current Master plan to see how their proposed project aligns with the goals of the plan.

Industrial park lots are $5000 each. They will require water & sewer hookup, please see the current fee schedule for current rates.

Why join the Industrial Park?

• The Village works with the Tuscola County EDC to assist with GAP Funding.
• There are tax abatements for Industrial Development.
• Class A Roadway
• Three Phase Electric
• Pro-growth Village Council
• Excellent Water
• Excellent Fire Protection
• Competitive Lot Prices
• Modern Sewer System
• Excellent Police Protection

Come Grow with us!

Protective Covenants – Industrial Park

• Types of building materials: The buildings in a certified industrial park shall be attractive and of the appropriate materials for the type of industry for which it is intended. To improve the park, the buildings should be finished in materials such as brick, block or wood on sides that face an exterior or interior road. Wood frame buildings would not be permitted due to the possibility of fire, which would threaten the other tenants of the park. The owner/developer will retain the right to review all site and building plans prior to the start of construction so that the types of building materials planned to be used can be evaluated and to ensure that all other covenants will be adhered to.
• Landscaping: All lots shall be seeded or sodded, and shrubs and trees planted to maintain a park like atmosphere. The extent to which this is controlled is up to the owner/developer.
• Screened outdoor storage: Whenever possible, all activities of a business should be carried on within the confines of the building. In those instances when outside storage is a necessity, all items stored outdoors should be behind an obscuring wall or fence which completely screens the items from the view of other tenants and those visiting the park.
• Location of loading docks: Truck or rail docks shall always be located at the side or rear of the building. When loading/unloading occurs at the side of a building, an obscuring wall shall be constructed or trees and shrubs plants, to prevent visibility from the street.
• Setback specifications: Front setbacks must be at least 30 feet from the road and side and rear. Setbacks must be at least 10 feet from the neighboring property line. A visitor parking area may be placed in the front setback if desired. No other activities may take place in the front setback area.
• Signs controlled: Signs advertising the person, firm, company or corporation operating the use conducted on the lot of the products produced there shall be permitted, either of a freestanding nature or attached to the building except that the signs cannot exceed the height of the building and shall conform to all front, side and rear yard requirements. Outdoor advertising, billboards or flashing lights are not permitted.

The above must be agreed to by any purchases of Industrial Park property in addition to the zoning ordinance requirements previously noted. Adopted 12/09/91

Purchaser agrees to the above: (Purchaser to sign next to appropriate answer)

Yes_______________________________ No______________________________________

Copy of signed covenants will be filed with the Village Clerk.

The village’s main thoroughfare is State Street (or M15), which is maintained by the Village of Millington’s Department of Public Works for all routine maintenance and MDOT for repaving. Streetscape plans, proper landscaping requirements, and access control policies are all strategies which can enhance the experience of travelers along M-15, and possibly draw more tourists and new development.

The village’s Zoning Ordinance regulates land uses and development throughout the community. The zoning ordinance is available in the link below. For questions related to zoning, contact the Village Zoning Administrator. Planning and zoning applications (Site Plan Review Applications, Special Land Use Requests, Zoning Board of Appeals Applications, Rezoning Requests, etc...) are some of the documents needed. These are located in the Important Planning Document dropdown tab.

Sign Ordinance
The village allows for a variety of different signage types throughout the village. All signs require a permit prior to installation. Sign regulations can be found in Chapter 36, Section 500 of the Code of Ordinances.

The development process does not need to be overly complicated or difficult, and the Village of Millington staff is available to walk you through the process. The following sections answer typical questions and outline the development review process, including estimated timelines, required applications and submittal materials, as well as a summary of the process following Planning Commission approval.

Pre-Application Meeting
Applicant submits a Site Plan Pre-Application.
Schedule Pre-Application Meeting with planning staff (optional). 989-871-2702

Anyone wishing to develop a commercial property is encouraged to meet with the village’s planning site plan review committee prior to submitting an official application. Prospective applicants are encouraged to bring their design professionals and any conceptual drawing or plans to the pre-application meeting, as this may allow for more effective review and comments. During this meeting, staff will provide the prospective applicant with background information on the site, an overall opinion of the proposed idea, and an outline of the approval process and timeline. Contact the Village Clerk at 989-871-2702 to schedule a pre-application meeting.

Contact information:
Zoning Administrator: Jeff Bassett 989-737-9802 Email Here
Planning Commission Chairperson: Gary Shreve  810-691-8481 Email Here

Site Plan Review

Development projects in the Village of Millington are required to go thru a site plan review and approval process unless otherwise specified. This ensures that the proposed development, land use, or activity meets the standards of the zoning ordinance and any applicable state or federal statutes. Site plans are reviewed by the Site Plan Review Committee.

IS A SITE PLAN REVIEW REQUIRED?
All projects require site plan review except:

• Single Family and Duplex Residences on individual parcels and their accessory structures.
• Non-residential accessory structures under five hundred (500) square feet.
• Expansions of under five hundred (500) square feet to existing structures.

Zoning Ordinance Article 10 Section 1001 (page 10-1)

Pre-Application Meeting – if requested
Meet with staff to:

• Learn about Site Plan Review
• Ask questions about your project, process and the Site Plan Review Checklist
• Verify if other Village Council or Committees are required to be contacted. Boards and Committees
• Finalize the Site Plan Review submittal
• Determine if three weeks is sufficient from time of completed submittal to schedule a Site Plan Review Committee Meeting (larger projects may require additional time)
• Required documentation for this meeting is the Pre-Application Questionnaire Pre-Application Questionaire

Site Plans & documentation are NOT required at this meeting, but you are welcome to bring them if you have them. To schedule a review meeting, please contact the Planning Commission Chairperson or the Zoning Administrator to schedule a review meeting.

Prepare Your Plans
Fill out the Site Plan Application. Use the Site Plan Review Checklist to guide the development of plans and documentation. Incomplete submittals will NOT be scheduled for review. Please check with the Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission Chairperson if you are unclear on what is required for your project.
Digital submission of the application, plans, & the checklist are required in PDF format. In addition, please also submit 1 set of reduced plans (11” x 17”)

Fees are due at the time of submittal.
If the submittal is complete, a Site Plan Review Committee meeting will be scheduled (a sample timeline can be found here).

Site Plan Review Committee Meeting
Site Plans are reviewed by a committee comprised of multiple Village Departments, including Planning Commission, Economic Development and Public Services. For most projects, the time between submittal of a complete application to a Site Plan Review Committee Meeting is three (3) weeks. Larger projects may require additional time; this can be determined during the Pre-Application meeting. Any comments from the Committee’s review will be provided to you in advance of the Site Plan Review Committee meeting. Plan revisions based upon these comments are not required before the meeting, but are intended to ensure a productive discussion and meeting.

Site Plan Review Committee meetings take place at the Village Municipal Office 8569 State Street, Millington, MI 48746. You will be notified when the meeting has been scheduled.

Required Documentation: Application, Fee, Checklist, this shows the Required Plans & Documentation

Payments can be made with check, cash or credit/debit card. Credit/debit cards have a 3% convenience fee attached.
Timeline Calendar Sample
Site Plan Flowchart

Revised Site Plan – if applicable

After the Site Plan Review Committee meeting, a summary will be sent to guide plan revision.

Schedule of submission of revised plans, based on Committee comments.

• Submitted within one (1) month of date of summary being sent, they will be reviewed within five (5) business days.
• Submitted later than one (1) month of date of summary being sent, review of the revised plans will take ten (10) business days.

Final Site Plan

Approval of the Site Plan will be noted by a letter of approval and signed plans. NO permits for construction or site preparation will be awarded prior to Site Plan approval.

Provide Feedback
After your Site Plan Review has been completed, please let us know how your experience was. We are always looking for ways to improve our processes and make things easier and your feedback is invaluable. Please take our brief survey here. Click here for a survey to takes approximately two minutes to complete.

Site Plans were submitted, now what?
All plans must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator or Village Clerk 21 days prior to the date of the Planning Commission meeting in order to be placed on the agenda. Consult Chapter 36, Section X for a complete list of requirements for a site plan review and when it is required. Some projects may quality for administrative review. Written reviews are provided to Village within 5 days from distribution and a copy of all comments and reviews are sent to applicant & Planning Commission Board Members.

Planning Commission Review and Action
The Planning Commission may approve, approve with conditions, or deny a site plan. They may also require modifications to the proposed site plan or additional information prior to moving on to the next phase of the development process. Once the Planning Commission has approved the site plans, they will be issued an approved permit, applicants may move on to the Engineering Review or Tuscola County Building for Building Permits once any Planning Commission contingencies of approval have been met.

Applicants will know prior to being placed on the Planning Commission agenda if their project will require full Engineering Review. Generally, the engineer reviews and approves the grading, clearing, stormwater management, and underground utilities. If Engineering review is not required, applicants may move directly on to Building Plan Review and Permitting. Building Plan Review is required for nearly all projects and includes electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems. The building permits are obtained thru Tuscola County Building Codes. A checklist for the building permits for Tuscola County can be found in the link below or call them at 989-672-3750.

Special Land Use and Other Types of Land Use Approval

While the site plan review process is the most common type of land use approval required in the Village of Millington, some projects may require additional approvals. All of the approvals listed in the following section require public hearings and notification to property owners within 300’ of the subject property. As such, applications for the land use approvals discussed below must be submitted at least 21 days prior to the Planning Commission meeting which is on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m.

Special Land Use
There are some permitted land uses that require an additional layer of review and approval because of their particular and unique characteristics, they require special consideration in relation to the welfare of adjacent properties and to the community as a whole before the project may proceed (i.e. gas stations, drive-thru’s, day care facilities, etc..); these are called special land uses. Requirements for Special Use Permits are outlined in Chapter 36, Article XI of the Village of Millington Code of Ordinances. Special Use Permits require the approval of the Planning Commission. If the permit is denied it will go to the Zoning Board of Appeals (Village Council). Special Land Use Application can be found here. A flowchart of the Special Land Use permitting process can be found here.

Rezoning

The requirements and process for standard and conditional rezoning are identified in Chapter 36, Article XII of the Village of Millington Code of Ordinances. Property owners may initiate a rezoning process by submitting an application to the Zoning Administrator or Village Clerk. This will go to the Planning Commission for approval and then to the Village Council for approval. A Rezoning permit application and A flowchart of the Rezoning permitting process links are located below.

Variance Review Process
The Village of Millington allows for variances for building setback requirements, height and bulk requirements, parking requirements, landscaping requirements, and sign regulations. Variances are a request to deviate from current zoning requirements and are the result of a zoning permit being denied. They are not a change to zoning law, but a waiver for subject property only to deviate from the zoning ordinance. Completed applications are submitted to the Clerk’s office with applicable fees. Variance applications are sent to the Zoning Administrator and to the Zoning Board of Appeals and either denied or approved by the ZBA. More information on variances may be found in Chapter 36 Section 1308 in the Village of Millington Code of Ordinances. A Variance permit application can be found here. A flowchart of the Variance permitting process can be found here.

If you have a lot within the Village limits and are looking to build a new home, this is the section for you. What you need to know...

If you are looking to build a new home in the village limits, you will first need to obtain a zoning permit (click here), which shall include a site plan with line setbacks and all dimensions.

For questions related to zoning, contact the Village Zoning Administrator, Jeff Bassett, his contact information is above.

After approval of the zoning permit, you will need a Building Plan Review that is required for nearly all projects and includes electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems. The building permits are obtained thru Tuscola County Building Codes. A checklist for the building permits for Tuscola County can be below or call them at 989-672-3750.

For fence permits, adding a storage shed, putting in a driveway or a pool, select the appropriate permit and fill out the application to the Village Office with the appropriate fee or call the Zoning Administrator at 989-737-9802 for any questions you may have. All forms are location above in the Important planning documents.

Are you interested in a lot in the Village Industrial Park? There are park covenants that must be followed. Lots are $5,000, the sizes vary, but most are approximately 1.5 – 2 acres. The Tuscola County EDC handles all sales of our industrial park. Please contact Tuscola County EDC 989-673-2849 . Industrial park map and covenants are found toward the end of this document.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need a Site Plan Review?
A site plan review is required under the following circumstances:

• As part of an application for a special use permit.
• Any change in use which requires construction of five (5) or more additional parking spaces.
• As part of an application for approval of a condominium development.
• Any other construction or moving of structures except:
• Single family and duplex residences on individual parcels and their accessory structures.
• Non-residential accessory structures under five hundred (500) square feet
• Expansions of under five hundred (500) square feet to existing structures.

Please contact the Zoning Administrator at for project specific requirements and approvals.

How long will the Site Plan Review process take?

Typically, the entire planning approval process takes 21 – 30 days from the time it has been applied for. The timeline for the approval process of the site plan applications depends on how quickly the project architect or engineer can resolve any required revisions identified in the initial review. Generally, the village strives to ensure projects are ready for a favorable recommendation prior to appearing before the Planning Commission. Applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting with village review committee and consultants to identify any issues or areas of concern prior to finalizing their site plan review application.

Who will review my Site Plans?

All projects are reviewed by multiple departments at the onset to assist you in determining the project’s feasibility and to reduce costly surprises in the (re)development process. Some projects may also require review by the village attorney, fire or police chief, MDOT or DEQ.

Can I request a Special Meeting if my schedule does not allow me to meet on day of PC meeting?

Yes, you may schedule a Special Meeting of the Planning Commission, however, there is an additional fee as set by resolution of the Village Council. Please see the Schedule of Fees under "Important Planning Documents"

Tuscola County EDC Website Click here - Phone : (989) 673-2849

Executive Director Steve Erickson Click here to email

Communications Director James McLoskey Click here to email

Office Manager Glen Roth Click here to email

MEDC Website click here

Industrial park lots are $5000 each. They will require water & sewer hookup, please see the current fee schedule for current rates.

Why join the Industrial Park?

• The Village works with the Tuscola County EDC to assist with GAP Funding.
• There are tax abatements for Industrial Development.
• Class A Roadway
• Three Phase Electric
• Pro-growth Village Council
• Excellent Water
• Excellent Fire Protection
• Competitive Lot Prices
• Modern Sewer System
• Excellent Police Protection

Come Grow with us!

Protective Covenants – Industrial Park

• Types of building materials: The buildings in a certified industrial park shall be attractive and of the appropriate materials for the type of industry for which it is intended. To improve the park, the buildings should be finished in materials such as brick, block or wood on sides that face an exterior or interior road. Wood frame buildings would not be permitted due to the possibility of fire, which would threaten the other tenants of the park. The owner/developer will retain the right to review all site and building plans prior to the start of construction so that the types of building materials planned to be used can be evaluated and to ensure that all other covenants will be adhered to.
• Landscaping: All lots shall be seeded or sodded, and shrubs and trees planted to maintain a park like atmosphere. The extent to which this is controlled is up to the owner/developer.
• Screened outdoor storage: Whenever possible, all activities of a business should be carried on within the confines of the building. In those instances when outside storage is a necessity, all items stored outdoors should be behind an obscuring wall or fence which completely screens the items from the view of other tenants and those visiting the park.
• Location of loading docks: Truck or rail docks shall always be located at the side or rear of the building. When loading/unloading occurs at the side of a building, an obscuring wall shall be constructed or trees and shrubs plants, to prevent visibility from the street.
• Setback specifications: Front setbacks must be at least 30 feet from the road and side and rear. Setbacks must be at least 10 feet from the neighboring property line. A visitor parking area may be placed in the front setback if desired. No other activities may take place in the front setback area.
• Signs controlled: Signs advertising the person, firm, company or corporation operating the use conducted on the lot of the products produced there shall be permitted, either of a freestanding nature or attached to the building except that the signs cannot exceed the height of the building and shall conform to all front, side and rear yard requirements. Outdoor advertising, billboards or flashing lights are not permitted.

The above must be agreed to by any purchases of Industrial Park property in addition to the zoning ordinance requirements previously noted. Adopted 12/09/91

Purchaser agrees to the above: (Purchaser to sign next to appropriate answer)

Yes_______________________________ No______________________________________

Copy of signed covenants will be filed with the Village Clerk.