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The Township has an individual that serves on the Planning Commission and on the Zoning Board of Appeals. When a project comes before both, can the individual vote on both boards on the same issue or should they recuse themselves for one or the other? Is it a conflict of interest?

The Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101 et seq.) clearly instructs that when a member of the Township’s Planning Commission also sits on the Township’s Zoning Board of Appeals that person “shall not participate in a public hearing on or vote on the same matter that the member voted on as a member of . . . the planning commission.” MCL 125.3601(13). Therefore, no, that person cannot vote on issues as a member of the planning commission and as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. The statute does provide, however, that “the member may consider and vote on other unrelated matters involving the same property.” Id.