Traverse City Record-Eagle

Elmwood Township

January 11, 2008

Elmwood ordinance may be nearing its end

By Melissa Domsic

GREILICKVILLE -- A decades-old zoning ordinance that prompted years of disputes could be on its way out as Elmwood Township officials near final approval of new rules.

"It's been years of hard work by a series of planning commissions and public input," township Supervisor Derith Smith said. "I feel that every effort has been made for it to closer reflect the master plan, which is a vision the community has put forth on how they want to see the township develop in the future."

Current zoning rules are outdated, contradictory and have gray areas that put the township at risk for lawsuits and make enforcement difficult, Smith said.

The township planning commission has to approve a final draft, then Leelanau County's planning commission will weigh in before the township board considers adopting the ordinance.

The township passed a new zoning ordinance in 2002 but it was rejected by voters in a referendum the following year.

"That ordinance contained easy-to-identify large loopholes that were going to allow densities of up to one unit per acre in agricultural districts," said Erik Saxon, who served on the planning commission prior to 2002. "The community thought that was going to open the door to cookie-cutter subdivisions."

Saxon is a member of Elmwood Citizens for Sensible Growth, which supports the new ordinance.

Proposed rules require five acres per dwelling in agricultural zones with some exceptions for "smart planning," said Jeff Aprill, planning commission chairman. Landowners who provide increased open space are allowed greater density, up to one unit per 2.5 acres, he said.

Resident Mary Barrows thinks the ordinance is "OK," but she's frustrated with the way it came about.

"It's the greatest waste of money ever perpetrated on the residents of Elmwood Township," said Barrows, who served on the planning commission in 2005. "It was ridiculous the amount of time that has been spent on it."

In addition to a full-time planner on staff, the township spent more than $60,000 since 2005 to have a professional planner assist in drafting and reviewing new ordinance language, Smith said.

The commission spent about $59,000 on legal fees since 2005, she said. Smith estimates less than half of that funded legal reviews of the new ordinance, and most of the remaining costs were due to difficulties in addressing proposed developments with the existing ordinance.

Elmwood zoning ordinance meetings:

-- Open house about the ordinance at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Elmwood's fire station, 10090 E. Lincoln Road.

-- Public hearing at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at township hall, 10090 E. Lincoln Road.

Check out the proposed ordinance at www.leelanaucounty.com/elmwoodtwp.asp

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