Mettler Walloon, LLC v. Melrose Township
Michigan Court of Appeals · 2008-10-02 · cited 160×
The case involved a developer, Mettler Walloon, LLC, challenging Melrose Township's denial of its site plan for a marina and boathouse development with living units on lakeside property zoned C-3 for commercial uses. The developer alleged that township officials, including the supervisor, improperly redefined "boathouse" to exclude residential components, removed a supportive planning commission member, and delayed or blocked approvals through zoning amendments, leading to federal §1983 damages claims for substantive due process violations. The trial court entered judgment for the defendants on all remaining claims, finding no cause of action, and the Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that the plaintiff lacked a protected property interest in discretionary plan approval and failed to establish causation between the alleged misconduct and the denial.