Go to the Belle Tire location in South Lansing and you'll see a 600 square foot American flag flying above.

At the Delta Township location of the Allen Park-based business and a total of 46 stores, you'll see another giant flag high up on a flagpole.

But drive past the Meridian Township location and it's a different story. A much smaller 35 square foot flag flapped in the wind Tuesday.

Belle Tire wanted a larger flag for this store, asking the township for a variance to fly a 96 square ft. flag after it was fined earlier this year for flying a flag that was too large.

That request was denied, but Tuesday night, the Board of Trustees loosened Meridian Township's flag restrictions.

By a unanimous vote, the Board increased the size of American flag allowable in commercial districts from 35 square ft. to 60 square ft.. The move also increases the maximum flagpole height from 35 ft. to 40 ft.

Supervisor Susan McGillicuddy told WILX the concern with having large flags is that on low-wind days, they could block visibility of drivers pulling into a driveway. McGillicuddy added that the changes preserve a 15 ft. clearance between the flag and the ground.

In a statement sent to WILX, Belle Tire says it will honor the Board's decision on flag size and continue to respect local zoning rules.

Although neither Lansing nor Jackson have restrictions on the size of US flags, Meridian Township is far from alone in Michigan. Farmington, Portage and Bloomfield Township are a few communities that have similar restrictions.