A steady stream of opposition to an electrical substation eyed for a 9-acre parcel north of M-72 near a well-recognized windmill generator in Elmwood Township was heard Tuesday night by the Elmwood Township Board.

The board responded by putting its backing behind a letter written by supervisor Derith Supervisor asking Wolverine Energy Cooperative to reconsider its plans.

The vote was 5-0, with trustee Terry Lautner forced to abstain following advise from township attorney Jim Young.

The proposed site is owned by Lautner, who is a past member of the board of directors for Wolverine and a current director for Cherryland Electric Cooperative. Wolverine plans to build the substation, which it says is needed to assure reliable service to Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties, in cooperation with Cherryland and Traverse City Light & Power.

It was attorney Young whose legal opinion in August laid the groundwork for Wolverine to proceed with its plans — and Young who, after stating he wanted to "take his hat off" as an attorney involved in the issue, suggested all involved seek a non-legal solution.

Young said he was involved as an attorney in siting an electrical substation about 10 years ago. The issue was satisfactory resolved through better communication between community members and a municipal-owned utility.

"The last thing I want to see is a frivolous lawsuit…," he said.

Young also suggested that seeking an interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance from the township Zoning Board of Appeals in an effort to overturn the zoning administrator's decision may "not be the best way to handle this."

Neighbors of the substation, which would occupy most of nine acres Wolverine hopes to buy from Lautner, have appealed the zoning ordinance interpretation to the ZBA. The issue is expected to be decided at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. next Wednesday, Dec. 19.

In an email to former zoning administrator Don Witkowski, Young suggested the township write a letter to Wolverine stating "that the proposed substation is an Essential Service as provided in … the Elmwood Township Zoning Ordinance." Such an interpretation exempts the substation from township zoning standards.

A proposed ordinance that has recently been completed would require a public hearing and a special use permit for the substation.

Neighbors and township residents filled the Elmwood hall Tuesday to register their discontent with how the township and Wolverine have handled the growing substation controversy.

Lisa Argue, whose husband, Mason, is selling property as part of the adjacent Bahai Vista subdivision, requested the item be placed on the agenda. She asked that the board "please support us and let Wolverine Power know you do not think this is in the best interest of your people."

She was not alone in her request, with some residents offering more forceful testimony.

"Wolverine Electric Cooperative," said Doug Cohl, with an emphasis on the last word. "Cherryland Electrical Cooperative. Perhaps the irony is lost on you, but it is not on me."

Added resident Pei Shan ZanZoeren, who said Wolverine previously stated property in Garfield Township was the only site that met the cooperative's requirements: "Either they were lying then, or they are lying now."

Other residents brought out health concerns over substations and a negative effect upon one of Traverse City's most popular travel corridors.

The M-72 corridor and the township master plan were used as reasons to find another site for the substation in the letter approved later that evening by the board.

"As a collaborative effort by four townships, the M-72 corridor study reflects the planning and development goals of communities that front this corridor and should be considered in the review process," the letter states. "Accordingly, this letter is being sent to you as good neighbors who want to do what is best for our Grand Traverse community. Please contact (the board) so that we can cooperatively find a productive solution that works for all of us."

The substation has received substantial public criticism at two board meetings and one Planning Commission meeting without response from a representative of Wolverine Power.

Lautner questioned the validity of the M-72 corridor study before an opinion by Young effectively led to a vote to recuse him from the discussion.

Said trustee Jeff Howell: "I think with all due respect, Mr. Lautner has a conflict of interest and should not even be in this discussion," he said.

Young offered some clarity into the decision. He said if the board was considering changing the zoning ordinance, Lautner should not be recused since state law requires members of charter township boards to vote on such decisions even if their property would be affected.

However, as the letter pertained specifically to Lautner's property, the trustee did hold a clear conflict, Young said. A unanimous vote of the board was needed to exclude Lautner.

The vote to declare the conflict was 5-0, with Lautner abstaining.