Here’s a bit of good news from the Benzie County Zoning Department.

County Zoning Administrator Craig Seger says his office is close to signing a contract with the Village of Beulah to provide zoning administrative services.

The contract will probably be signed next week, and it certainly makes sense: The village avoids hiring a zoning administrator to interpret and apply its ordinance, and the county gets to demonstrate that it can indeed fill the vital role of providing zoning services to a local government.

The county deserves some credit here; it’s been trying hard to change its ways.

Until about a year ago, Benzie County was failing to maintain good working relationships with local townships and governments. The disconnect between the county and local townships has cost the county dearly: Just last year, a frustrated Inland and Homestead Townships pulled out of county zoning and created a joint planning commission. The commission then adopted a two-township master plan that permits sprawling development along U.S. 31, the county’s main highway—and flies in the face of the county’s own master plan, which was the product of a very thorough, vigorous, broad, citizen-based planning project.

For the past year the county’s new zoning director, Craig Seger; its longtime planning director, Dave Neiger; and other county staff, including county commissioners and planning commission members, have been trying to rebuild relationships with all local governments in Benzie County, including Beulah. I have personally watched Mr. Seger make such efforts in Inland and Homestead, and we know he and others have reached out to other local governments, too.

Whether Mr. Seger and other county officials will succeed in keeping other townships in countywide zoning remains to be seen. But moves like contracting with Beulah and reaching out to township officials are important steps.