The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is a quasi-judicial board, made up of five (5) voting members and two (2) alternates who are residents appointed by the City Commission to serve a three (3) year term. A majority of the quorum present is needed to approve a request. The decision of the ZBA is final and any appeal of its decision is made to the Berrien County Trial Court. The ZBA typically meets the third Thursday of the month beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 700 Broad Street.

An example of a dimensional variance can include a “variance from the required 30 foot rear yard to 28 feet to allow an open unclosed porch at the rear of the residence”. Use variances are not permitted (i.e., request for a fast food restaurant in a residential district).

Staff Contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Community Development Director/Zoning Administrator
Address: 700 Broad Street
Phone: (269) 983-1212
Fax: (269) 985-0347

Current Members
Zoning Board of Appeals General Information
Agendas, Packets and Meeting Minutes

The Water Services Joint Operating Board meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month in the Water Treatment Plant at 4:00 p.m.

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The St. Joseph Housing Commission meets on the 3rd Thursday of (Jan., Feb., Mar., May, Jul., Sept., Nov.) at 1:00 p.m. in the Library on the 15th floor of  Lakeview Terrace High-rise.

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Contact Information:

Recording Secretary: Deb Koroch - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

General Information:

The Retirement Board meets on the 3rd Wednesday of January, April, July, and October at 10:00 a.m. in the City Commission Chambers. If you have any further questions about this Board please contact the St. Joseph City Staff contact, using the link above.

Agendas:

Minutes:

Contact Information:

Staff Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Director, West Basin Marina
273 Marina Drive
St. Joseph, Michigan  49085
Phone:  269-983-5432
Fax:  269-983-8795

General Information:

The Recreational Harbor Authority meets April through October, on the last Wednesday of each month at Noon, at the St. Joseph River Yacht Club (128 N Pier St. St. Joseph, MI 49085). Agendas and minutes can be found by clicking http://stjosephcitymi.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx.   If you have any further questions about this Commission, please contact the Manager, using the link above. 

Contact Information:

Staff Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer (part of the Building Inspection Department)- Trudy Wilder, Building Official 

General Information:

The Property Maintenance Board of Appeals' 2022 Meeting Schedule is available by clicking on it. If you have any further questions about this Commission, please contact the St. Joseph City Staff contact, using the link above.

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Minutes:

Planning Commission

The City of St. Joseph’s ability to create the Planning Commission is found in the Michigan Planning Enabling Act and Chapter 22 of the City of St. Joseph Code of Ordinances created the Planning Commission.

Contact Information

Staff Liaison:               This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
                                      Community Development Director/Zoning Administrator
Address:                        City Hall, 700 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 
Phone:                           269.983.1212
Fax:                               269.985.0347

Purpose of the Planning Commission

The PC exists to make recommendations on certain zoning requests. In the City of St. Joseph, the PC has many roles and functions, below are the four main functions:

1. Conduct public hearings and make recommendations to the City Commission regarding Map (rezoning) and Text Amendments; Special Use Permits and Planned Unit Developments (PUD’s) requests;
2. Review sign requests per the Code of Ordinances and approve or deny;
3. Prepare and make recommendations, maintain and work on implementing the goals and objectives of the Master Plan; and
4. Complete studies and make recommendations to the City Commission on changes to the Zoning Ordinance.

Planning Commission Composition

There are nine (9) voting members are appointed by the City Commission to three (3) year terms, unless appointed to fill a vacant seat. Full term appointments are from May 1st through April 30th for three years.

The Chair and Vice-Chair are selected annually by the members of the PC.

Current Members and Appointments

The City Clerk’s Office maintains the list of current members and the application for appointment to all City Boards and Commissions. All completed applications must be returned to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 700 Broad Street for processing.

Agenda’s, Meeting Packets and Minutes

The Planning Commission’s monthly meetings are generally scheduled for the first Thursday of each month beginning at 4:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public and take place in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 700 Broad Street. All applications must be submitted to staff, reviewed and found to be administratively complete, no less than twenty-four days before the next scheduled meeting date. Please plan accordingly as incomplete applications are not accepted and will delay your request.

Agenda packets and approved meeting minutes are posted on the website.

Applications, Forms and Meeting Dates

There are numerous applications, forms along with an annual list of meeting dates and deadlines utilized by the Planning Commission.

Annual Reports

In accordance with the Michigan Planning Act, the Planning Commission is required to complete an Annual Report. This report is typically reviewed during the January meeting each year before beginning sent to the City Commission.

2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

Miscellaneous Other Information and Documents

Planning Commission Description of Duties and Activities – 2020
Planning Commission Bylaws – dated June 2, 2009
Planning Commission Code of Conduct
Planning Commission Ethics and Conflict

Contact Information:

Staff Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Deputy Director of Public Works
Phone: (269) 985-0309
Phone: (269) 983-6325 (Riverview Cemetery)
Mailing address: 700 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085
Physical Address: 1160 Broad Street (for shipments, etc.);

General Information:

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets the second Thursdsay of every month at 8:00 a.m. If you have any further questions about this Board, please contact the St. Joseph City Staff contact, using the link above.

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Minutes:

The Municipal Officers Compensation commission meets once every two years.

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The Library Board meets every 4th Tuesday-monthly (no meeting in August and December) at 6:00 p.m. at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library (500 Market St. St. Joseph, MI 49085) and is composed of 5 City and 4 St. Joseph Township representatives.

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The Joint Wastewater Treatment Board meets every 3rd Thursday-monthly at the Joint Wastewater Treatment plant (269 Anchors Way Saint Joseph, MI, 49085)

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Contact Information:

Staff Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

General Information:

The Construction Board of Appeals/Property Maintenance Board meets when essential. If you have any further questions about this Board please contact the St. Joseph City Staff contact, using the link above.

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Contact Information:

Staff Contact: City Clerk's Office
                         (269) 983-6325

General Information:

The Cemetery Board meets the last Thursday in February, April, June, August and October at 9:00 a.m. at Riverview Cemetery. If you have any questions about this Board, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 269-983-6325.

Agenda & Minutes:

To view the agenda and/or minutes from past Cemetery Board meetings, please click here. 

Contact Information:

Staff Contact: Kristen Gundersen (Community Development Director)

General Information:

The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meets the 1st Wednesday of even-numbered months at 4:00 P.M. in the City Manager's Office. If you have any further questions about this Board please contact the St. Joseph City Staff contact, using the link above.

Agendas:

Minutes:

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Contact Information:

City Representatives:  Patricia Preston; John Chaddock, Alternate

General Information:

The Airport Authority meets every 3rd Thursday-monthly at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (1123 Territorial Rd Benton Harbor, MI 49022) at 9:30 a.m. If you have any further questions about this Board please contact the St. Joseph City Staff contact, using the link above.

Agendas:

Minutes:

Each year, the St. Joseph City Commission appoints citizens who express an interest in serving on one of the seventeen boards, commissions or committees that are so vital in helping to shape the future of the City of St. Joseph.  A majority of the volunteers live within the City of St. Joseph, however, a few boards allow business or property owners to be members.

Current Boards & Commissions Roster

The City of St. Joseph’s Downtown Development Authority was created on October 11, 1976 by the City Commission as authorized under the current Public Act 57 of 2018 by the state of Michigan which replaced the original Public Act 197 of 1975.            

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