The Open Meetings Act (OMA) of Michigan requires notice to be given before a meeting is held and requires minutes to be prepared as a record of actions taken at the meeting.  Perhaps most importantly, the OMA is the source of requirement that all votes of a public body must be made public.

Lawrence Township complies with the OMA by posting notices of meetings at three locations:  Lawrence Community Services Building (Fire Station), Lawrence Post Office, Lawrence Township Hall (near the Business Office door).  In addition, public notices are posted to this website.

Lawrence Township is inviting you to join their FreeConferenceCall Meeting Room.

Join the meeting using one of these easy options:

    1) One Tap Mobile Dialing: +17605489303
    2) Join online for Video and Screen Sharing: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/clerk060

Additional Options to connect:
    Dial-in number (US): (760) 548-9303
    Find your local number: https://fccdl.in/i/clerk060

    Having trouble connecting?
    Text 'Call Me' to (760) 548-9303 to receive a call back. Standard Messaging rates may apply.

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP MEETINGS NOTICE

 Meetings for Fiscal Year (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027)

Will be held on the following dates at the

Lawrence Township Hall

411 N PAW PAW STREET

TOWNSHIP BOARD 6:00 p.m. 

(3nd Thursday of each month)

          April 16, 2026                                      October 15, 2026

          May 21, 2026                                        November 19, 2026

          June 18, 2026                                       December 17, 2026

          July 16, 2026                                        January 21, 2027

          August 20, 2026                                   February 18, 2027

          September 17, 2026                             March 18, 2027

Planning Commission Meeting 5:00p.m.

(4th Tuesday of first month of each fiscal quarter)

April 28, 2026

July 28, 2026

October 27, 2026

January 26, 2027

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 5:00 p.m.

(4th Monday of every month, when scheduled)

BOARD OF REVIEW

July/December/March as per statute

PARKS AND REC MEETINGS 

Quarterly at 6:00 p.m.

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST

Notice is hereby given that the Lawrence Township Election Commission will conduct a Public Accuracy Test of the electronic voting equipment to be used in the November 3, 2026 General Election.

The Public Accuracy Test will be conducted as follows:

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Lawrence Township Hall
411 N. Paw Paw Street
Lawrence, MI 49064

The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the computer programming used to tabulate votes cast at the election has been properly programmed to count votes accurately.

The Public Accuracy Test is open to the public.

Tracie Rindfield
Lawrence Township Clerk
Van Buren County, Michigan

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION COMMISSION MEETING

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Lawrence Township Hall
411 N. Paw Paw Street
Lawrence, MI 49064

Notice is hereby given that the Lawrence Township Election Commission will hold a special meeting for matters related to the November 3, 2026, General Election.

The purpose of the meeting will include consideration of:

• Delegation of Preliminary Accuracy Testing to the Township Clerk/authorized assistant;
• Scheduling and preparation for the Public Accuracy Test, including documentation of designated substitutes as applicable;
• Appointment of Election Inspectors for November 3, 2026, General Election; and
• Other election-related business properly before the Election Commission.

The meeting is open to the public in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

Tracie Rindfield
Lawrence Township Clerk
411 N. Paw Paw Street
Lawrence, MI 49064
269-674-4255

PUBLIC NOTICE

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the Lawrence Township Hall, 411 N. Paw Paw Street, Lawrence, Michigan 49064, regarding the following request:

Applicant/Property Owner: Glen Fabian
Property Address: 48790 Main Street, Lawrence, MI 49064
Parcel Number: 80-13-180-012-00
Zoning District: R-3 Waterfront Residential

The applicant is requesting a dimensional setback variance to allow construction of a new single-family waterfront dwelling with a 25-foot setback from Christie Lake rather than the required 50-foot setback, resulting in a requested variance of 25 feet.

The Lawrence Township Zoning Ordinance provides that for lakefront lots, the applicable yard requirements are those of the zoning district, and dimensional requirements are calculated from the generally acceptable high-water elevation. § 1-9.18C(10)–(12). Schedule A establishes a 50-foot required front yard for the R-3 Waterfront Residential District and further provides: “For lots or parcels with frontage on a lake, the minimum rear yard setback shall be 50 feet for all structures.”

The Zoning Board of Appeals will consider the variance request and receive comments from interested persons at the public hearing. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing to the Lawrence Township Zoning Administrator at zoning@lawrence-township.org or delivered to Lawrence Township.

The application, proposed site plan, survey, and related materials are available for review through the Lawrence Township Zoning Administrator.

Christopher Mihelich
Zoning Administrator
Lawrence Township
(269) 539-9074
zoning@lawrence-township.org

Public Information Notice
Data Center Educational Resources

Lawrence Township is sharing the following educational resources provided by Consumers Energy for general informational purposes only.

These materials are intended to help local officials and community members understand how data center projects are discussed at a statewide level, including general information about energy usage, infrastructure considerations, and regulatory processes.

Important clarification:
Lawrence Township has not approved, proposed, or received an application for a data center project.

No data center development is currently planned, under review, or authorized within Lawrence Township.

The Township is providing these links solely as public education resources so residents may review general information and better understand how such projects are discussed elsewhere in Michigan.

Consumers Energy Data Center Information Hub:
https://brandfolder.com/consumersenergy/data-center-information

Consumers Energy – Michigan Growth webpage:
https://www.consumersenergy.com/work-with-us/economic-development/michigan-growth

Sharing these materials does not indicate Township support, endorsement, or intent related to any specific project.

Questions regarding Township planning, zoning, or development processes may be directed to the Lawrence Township Office.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2023

We are often asked about local food pantries.  Here is a great website that is helpful for local listings.

Feedwm.org/findfood/

 If you want Programs you have to qualify for that do distributions locally.  

SMCAA Commodity supplemental Food Program:  http://www.smcaa.com/programs/commodity-supplemental-food-program

Van Buren County Brush and Invasive Species Spray Program

Road Commission Launches New

Service Request App

Recently the Van Buren County launched SeeClickFix, a new app allowing citizens to report non-emergency road issues.  Residents and the motoring public can take a photo of a road issue, such as a pothole, give the location, add a description, and click “submit” to send requests directly to the Van Buren County Road Commission through SeeClickFix.  

Road Commission Interim Managing Director/Operations Director, Greg Brucks, states, “SeeClickFix makes it easier for staff at the Van Buren County Road Commission to identify and address road-related issues in a timely fashion.  SeeClickFix is a mobile app that lets citizens report issues on-the-go, and receive real time notifications when the service request has been updated.  This will not only serve to increase civic engagement by involving citizens in community dialogue, but will also improve the efficiency in which service requests are addressed.”

SeeClickFix is available immediately for citizen use as follows:

•On Facebook at www.facebook.com/VBCRC

•On the Van Buren County Road Commission’s website at www.VBCRC.org

•Download on the App Store or on Google Play

•On line at www.SeeClickFix.com

For answers to any questions about SeeClickFix, please contact the Van Buren County Road Commission at 269-674-8011, Extension 0.  The Road Commission urges you to, “Get Connected.  Get Involved.  Get Results.”