ANTRIM COUNTY – An Antrim County man says Milton Township is enforcing decades-old zoning rules that could force the closure of his firewood business after nearly 30 years of operation. Donald Way, a resident of the township since 1972, says the new restrictions have already caused him to lose thousands of dollars in revenue and turn away neighbors in need of heating fuel.
The enforcement of the rules, which date back to 1975, reportedly began after the township received a complaint from a nearby resident. Although the regulations have been on the books for 50 years, Way says they were not enforced during the three decades he has operated his home-based business.
Way first began selling firewood on the property next to his current home before moving the operation to his own land around 2001. He says the business has remained largely unchanged for nearly three decades, focusing on providing firewood for local residents during the colder months. The winter season is typically his busiest time of year, as many neighbors rely on the wood to heat their homes when temperatures drop.
Way noted that many regular customers were caught off guard by the sudden enforcement, leaving them without their usual heating source. “People did not know this was going to happen, obviously,” Way said. “And they’ve already run out of wood and I’m having to turn them away. And these are my neighbors and friends that I have not been able to help, get through the winter with.”
The township’s enforcement includes requirements for set hours of operation and requests to inspect Way’s barns and garages. Additionally, the township is requiring the installation of a fence along the property line, a project Way estimates will cost roughly $4,000. He says the fence would also interfere with an existing power line on his property.
“They also are going to request for me to be putting up a fence, which is roughly $4,000, and it takes away from my property line because I have a power line running through my property that I cannot put a fence underneath,” Way said. He expressed concern that these costs and physical restrictions could make it impossible to continue the business.
The firewood operation also serves as a financial support for Way, who recently retired. “Well, you know, I retired here last year. Hoping to have the wood business to offset my income to be able to retire,” Way said. “I’ve lost thousands of dollars in revenue by not servicing the public with what they need.”
Multiple attempts were made to contact the Milton Township Zoning Board for comment on the matter. The board has not yet responded to those inquiries.