Petition to the Byron Township Board

Demand for Permanent Grandfathering of Existing Homes from Mandatory Sewer & Water Hookups — and for the Protection of Our Wells and Environment

We, the undersigned residents of Byron Township, hereby demand immediate action from the Township Board regarding the current water and sewer projects.

Our Demands:

1. Permanent Grandfathering of Existing Homes

Any home built prior to the construction of the new sewer or water lines shall be permanently exempt from mandatory hookup requirements.

This exemption must apply even in the event of septic system failure. Homeowners must be allowed to repair or replace their private septic and/or well systems without ever being forced to connect to municipal utilities.

2. Protection for Future Home Sales

The Township must adopt binding protections ensuring that future buyers of these grandfathered homes are not forced into mandatory hookups as a condition of property transfer or sale.

These protections should be recorded in a legally recognized manner (such as variance approval or deed protection) so that current and future homeowners have certainty and security.

3. Immediate Board Action

We demand that the Township Board approve permanent exemption for existing residents.

We further demand that the Kent County Drain Commission approve the permanent exemption for existing residents.

We expect the Township Board to place this item on the agenda and vote to approve it by the next township meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025.

Delays, loopholes, or conditional language will not be acceptable. This policy must be clear and permanent.

4. Environmental & Community Protections

Ongoing construction practices, including dewatering, are lowering the water table and have already caused private wells to run dry, destroying the reliability of residents’ primary water source.

These practices are also drying up ponds, draining wetlands, and threatening critical habitats, including areas that may harbor endangered or protected species.

Wetlands serve as natural filters and flood control for our community. Their destruction poses long-term risks to water quality, wildlife, and the environment we depend on.

We demand that the Township halt and prevent any project practices that damage our aquifer, wetlands, and ecosystems.

5. Fair Burden of Growth

Growth-related infrastructure must be funded by the developers who profit from high-density projects, not by shifting financial burdens or environmental risks onto longtime residents.

Conclusion

The residents of Byron Township will not accept forced water or sewer hookups. We insist on permanent protections for all existing homeowners, both now and for future generations, to remain free from mandatory water or sewer connections.

Equally, we demand that the Township take responsibility for protecting our environment, wetlands, water table, wildlife habitats, and our private property rights guaranteed by the Constitution from harmful construction practices such as dewatering. The preservation of our natural resources and private property is inseparable from the well-being, health, and financial security of our community.

By signing below, we demand that the Byron Township Board take immediate action to place this item on the agenda and vote to approve the permanent exemption for existing homes AND to issue a cease and desist on all activities that put wells, ponds, wetlands, wildlife, and other environmental resources at risk by Monday, September 8, 2025. The Byron Township Board has taken an oath to protect the citizens of Byron Township.

We also demand that the Board enforce strong environmental protections to safeguard wells, ponds, wetlands, and species habitat from further destruction.

Our property, our water, and our environment are not negotiable.