The “wedding barns” or “rural event facilities” issue in Dorr Township is being placed on hold until after the State Legislature decides on a bill introduced in Lansing last month.
State Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Potterville) submitted a bill that would protect wedding barns as an approved use on land zoned agricultural, or even rural estates.
“I think we should table this until they (state legislators) decide what they’re going to do,” said Dorr Township Planning Commission Chairman Robert Wagner Tuesday night. “Otherwise, we may be wasting our time.”
Vice Chairman Robert Traxler concurred, saying, “I think that would be a wise decision, Mr. Chairman,” adding later, “This could be just an exercise in futility.”
Commissioner Terri Rios wanted clarification that the bill’s provisions would affect wedding barns, or rural events facilities in all cases.
Lori Castello, zoning administrator from Professional Code Inspections, said passage of the bill would indeed because it would take in all property under the Right to Farm Act.
“Right to Farm includes anywhere that agriculture is a committed use,” she explained. “And this very well could include rural estates.”
She explained that state officials very likely may see this proposal “as a way for farmers to diversify their income.”
Some residents have objected to such facilities being established near residential areas, causing noise, traffic and safety problems.
Lisa Hazen made an emotional plea against one proposed facility near her house because “We will have absolutely no privacy… I’ll have 250 strangers in my back yard every time there’s an event, and with alcohol there’s a high potential for bad behavior.
“I would ask you (Planning Commissioners), would you want this in your back yards?”
Keith Nichols added, “We don’t want this in our area (residential neighborhoods). You have to look at what residents in this area may have to put up with.”
Bob Senneker began the meeting by telling commission members the real problem is proximity of the commercial facility to residences and he advocated restrictions on that basis.
Wagner acknowledged, “Even if the state passes this bill, you’d still have to apply for a special use permit,” which he said could be determined by the local township.
But Wagner also noted the State Legislature will not be in session until late August or September because it’s election season.
The local issue prompted about 75 residents to show up at the May Planning Commission meeting, when the issue was tabled the first time. A little more than half that number showed up Tuesday evening, but the two meetings together probably have attracted the largest audiences in a long time.
Castello urged Dorr Plan Commissioners to attend a Michigan Townships Association workshop July 18 at the Fetzer Center in Kalamazoo to get a better handle on agricultural issues and wedding barns.