Clinton Village Council in opposition of bipartisan ‘Housing Readiness Package’ unveiled by state lawmakers

Clinton Village Office

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

After reviewing and then responding in February to Senator Elissa Slotkin’s proposed National Housing Emergency Act of 2026, the Clinton Village Council drafted a similar response to another Michigan senator regarding recent zoning and land use legislation.

In March, the village council gave their approval on a letter drafted and signed by Clinton Village Manager Kevin Cornish, Village President Doris Kemner and Planning Commission Chairman David Orlowski stating the village’s opposition to House Bills 5529, 5530 and 5531.

The letter was mailed to District 15 Senator Jeff Irwin’s office in Lansing. District 15 in the Michigan Senate covers the lower half of Washtenaw County, as well as Clinton, Macon Township, Tecumseh Township and the city of Tecumseh in northeast Lenawee County.

Just as the village said it had “profound concerns” regarding Slotkin’s housing proposal, the same was issued by the village council regarding bipartisan land use legislation championed earlier this year in the Michigan House of Representatives by Reps. Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Township) and Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids).

According to the Michigan House Republicans, the legislation was introduced to lower the cost of housing for everyone by making it easier to build new homes — thus increasing supply. 

Grant, a Democrat, said the bills aim to reform zoning laws and reduce red tape, which will make homes more affordable.

“Throughout my time in the Legislature, I have worked to advance housing reforms that address the real pressures Michigan families are facing in this housing crisis. We cannot ignore the impact that limited supply and outdated systems have had on affordability and stability,” Grant said in a Feb. 17 statement from the Michigan House Republicans. “The bipartisan Housing Readiness Package modernizes our development processes to reduce unnecessary costs and delays, making housing more affordable and available across the state. This is about ensuring Michigan is prepared for growth and that more residents have access to safe, stable homes.”

The Clinton Village Council, meanwhile, said the legislative proposals are aimed at stripping local municipalities of their zoning and land use authority, all while “cutting corners” in the development process, describing such a maneuver as a “short-term strategy that yields long-term costs.”

“While we acknowledge the statewide dialogue surrounding housing availability, these bills represent a fundamental departure from the established principles of sound community development and Michigan’s long-standing tradition of local governance,” the village’s letter to Sen. Irwin, who sits on Michigan’s Housing and Human Services committee — among other committees, said.

The Michigan Municipal League (MML) also stands in opposition to the bill package, stating the bills will preempt local zoning authority and restrict local decision-making on key zoning issues including duplexes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), minimum setbacks, lot sizes and dwelling unit sizes.

The MML is urging communities to contact their legislators and ask them to oppose any effort that restricts local decision-making. The MML said zoning is an example of democracy in practice, as it empowers communities to manage housing, infrastructure, local economic growth and neighborhood character.

“Citizens and their elected local leaders should not be prohibited from engaging in vigorous debate on matters that impact them. This is the foundation of democracy itself,” the MML said in a statement.

By centralizing zoning control in Lansing, the village of Clinton said the state risks undermining the very “neighborhood integrity” that families prioritize when choosing to invest their life savings in a Michigan home.

“And we have serious concerns about that,” Cornish said. “…When you look at it, for example, (the bills) have a 60-day shot clock. So we have 60 days to respond to a subdivision. Well, that’s just not enough time to make an informed decision on a subdivision.”

That 60-day shot clock is part of House Bill 5531, which initiates the decision clock after receipt of a site plan for a local unit of government. Additional aspects of each bill range from the creation of a statewide definition of ADUs to prohibiting a minimum area requirement greater than 500 square feet for a dwelling, “making it easier to build smaller and more affordable starter homes and apartments in areas where larger parcels may not be abundant,” House Republicans said.

The village and Cornish also shared their thoughts about the bills with surrounding communities and the Michigan South Central Power Agency (MSCPA) of which Clinton, Coldwater, Hillsdale and Marshall are members.

Calling them “overbearing,” Cornish said such state regulations are not uniform for every community across the state, and they could eventually take away the uniqueness that towns need.

“If you have the state take away local control, (communities) can’t do some unique things,” he said. “What makes a town where someone wants to be there? They want some unique things that are in their interests. If it’s all cookie cutter from Lansing no one wants to be there.”