Roxanne C. Seeber

Partner Roxanne Seeber has been with Bauckham Sparks since 1997. Before joining the firm, she worked for a municipal law firm in Battle Creek and as a legal intern at the City of Toledo. She advises both urban and rural townships on a multitude of municipal law issues.

Roxanne studied law at Western Michigan University. She graduated from the University of Toledo Law School, where she served on Law Review and won book awards in Torts and Evidence. Roxanne lives with her family in the same Kalamazoo County neighborhood where she grew up. In her spare time, she volunteers with the rescue animals at the SPCA of Southwest Michigan and contributes her sewing skills to the Little Dresses for Africa organization.

Municipal Practice Focus

Roxanne is the firm’s lead prosecutor for zoning and code violations. She works with and advises zoning administrators, ordinance enforcement officers, building officials, and others on topics such as dangerous buildings, ordinance violations and zoning and planning issues. Roxanne’s undergraduate accounting degree uniquely equips her to assist municipal clients with financial issues, including USRDA-financed projects and special assessments. She has assisted many clients with Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act concerns and has negotiated and drafted many inter-local agreements.

Zoning and Enforcement

Roxanne’s practice has required her to regularly appear in District Courts in Kalamazoo, Calhoun, St. Joseph, Cass, Allegan, and Van Buren Counties as well as in Circuit Courts in Cass, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren Counties. Her professionalism with judges and magistrates, coupled with her knowledge of zoning and enforcement issues, has led to her routine success with local judges on ordinance code enforcement matters. Roxanne has also worked with the State Fire Inspectors association, lecturing on building code enforcement and fire-related issues.

Instructor

Roxanne is a regular instructor for the Michigan Townships Association and ZAPPIT in St. Joseph County. She also teaches throughout the state on topics such as planning and zoning issues, ordinance drafting, ordinance violations and enforcement, municipal civil infractions, building code implementation and enforcement and fire-related subjects.

Reported Cases

• Kaminsky v. Milton Township, 495 Mich 864 (2013) (zoning enforcement)
• BAM Excavating v. Ashland Township, Michigan Court of Appeals Case No. 289723
• Leemreis v. Sherman Township, 273 Mich App 691 (2007) (zoning and building code)
• Township of Yankee Springs v. Fox, 264 Mich App 691 (2007) (anti-funneling)
• Frens Orchards, Inc. v. Dayton Township Board, 253 Mich App 129 (2002) (zoning/migrant housing)
• Wayne County v. Plymouth Charter Township, 240 Mich App 479 (2000) (county jails)
• Cornerstone Investments, Inc. v. Cannon Township, 239 Mich App 98 (1999) (zoning escrow fees)
• Tunier v. Bedford Charter Township, 235 Mich App 663 (1999) (taxes on greenhouses)
• Cornerstone Investments, Inc. v. Cannon Township, 231 Mich App 1 (1998) (zoning escrow fees)