Open house Wednesday on SLT zoning ordinance

Tue, Aug 25, 2009    to del.icio.us

SPRING LAKE — Spring Lake Township officials will host a zoning ordinance open house from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Barber School, 102 W. Exchange St.

The public is invited to provide input on plans that may be implemented in the next several decades — or, in certain circumstances, immediately.

Township community planner Lukas Hill said the multiple-paged zoning ordinance is aimed to implement the goals and objectives of the township's new master plan, which was approved in June 2008.

"This new ordinance has elements of sustainability and will hopefully recognize the needs of the neighborhoods," said Hill, adding that the new ordinance language "relaxes" setback requirements in congested neighborhoods such as Strawberry Point. "We recognize some neighbors have had challenges meeting the setback requirements in that area. Neighbors have consistently come in for (zoning) variances."

Proposed ordinance language also calls for new rules regarding wind turbines and wood furnaces.

Hill said the ordinance update was long overdue.

"I don't think this has been updated since the late '80s," he said. "This version has additional graphics and is a lot more user-friendly."

Township Manager Gordon Gallagher said he encourages all citizens to attend Wednesday's unveiling of the proposed zoning ordinance.

"I encourage people to come and listen and have input," Gallagher said. "This is just another opportunity. (The Township Board) will vote on this in the next couple of months after we get some public input and review any changes that need to be made."