The Glennborough subdivision in Superior Township has filed a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service to try to change its Ypsilanti zip code to an Ann Arbor zip code.
The Glennborough Homeowners Association filed the lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Detroitafter five years of trying to get the zip code changed from 48198 to 48105, but being denied without cause by the U.S. Post Office. Kathy Marx is a member of the homeowner’s association and says they want to make the change because, currently, Glennborough residents get their mail delivered from the Ypsilanti Whittaker post office location about 20 miles away instead of the Green Road location, which is located less than 4 miles from the subdivision.
Kathy Marx: To go and get packages and do any kind of personal mailing, we have to go, it’s almost 40 miles round trip.
In a statement sent to WEMU, the U.S. Postal Service said that because zip codes are based on the location of delivery post offices, the boundaries often do not correspond to municipal or perceived boundaries. A court hearing has yet to be scheduled in the case.
Full USPS statement sent to WEMU:
“The Postal Service determines ZIP Code boundaries. They are developed to facilitate efficiency of delivery - the locations and assignments of ZIP Codes are determined by operational needs of the Postal Service. Because ZIP Codes are based on the location of delivery Post Offices, the boundaries often do not correspond to municipal or perceived community boundaries/identity.
We do recognize that the widespread use of postal ZIP Codes for non-postal purposes such as setting insurance rates, delivery charges, and community identity has created problems for those citizens whose mailing addresses do not match their actual city of residence.
Although delivery growth and changing demographics can necessitate adjustments to ZIP Code boundaries in order to achieve Postal Service objectives, the general stability of boundaries is essential to prompt and accurate distribution of mail.
As new housing developments emerge, political jurisdictions expand, or areas incorporate into separate communities, delivery is extended from a nearby established Post Office which is capable of accommodating the new territory.
As a consequence, many communities throughout the nation have mail delivered from a Post Office with a different name than their community. It is too costly to establish a new Post Office or create new ZIP Codes for community identity purposes. ZIP Codes and mailing addresses are intended to help us provide prompt and accurate mail service.”
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu
