by Joseph Schultz
The Leighton Township Planning Commission Wednesday night took up the proposed zoning amendment to deal with local water and sewer connections.
The ordinance amendment seeks to clear up if and when new construction would be required of residents to hook up to public or private water or sewer utilities.
The amendment would require any new building that is within 200 feet of a public or private water or sewer connection to hook up to those connections. This would prevent any future builders from digging their own well instead of hooking up to an available connection.
The term “public or private” was used because the Dorr-Leighton Waste Water Authority is operated by the Dorr and Leighton Townships, but Dorr-Leighton Water Works, LLC is a private business. Those connections would be subject to the utility providers rules and policies.
The commission voted to recommend approval of the amendment to the Township Board.
Short-Term Rentals:
The commission also continued to work on creating a short-term rental ordinance that would only permit short-term rentals to homes in the L- R, or Lake – Residential areas. It would prohibit short-term rentals for homes in the R-2 zones.
The ordinance would require an annual registration, and limit the number of occupants of the rental. The use of sleeping bags, tents and campers would be prohibited. A rental operator could have their permit revoked for having two incidences of violating new ordinance.
Resident Bruce Gezon told the commission that though he liked having the rules and registrations, he wanted to see more flexibility in the ordinance. He also questioned why rentals would not be permitted in R-2 areas.
The commission explained they did not want to “throw the door wide open” and allow rentals in R-2 at this point. They pointed out that the township could expand the rentals to include R-2 areas in the future.
The commission took no official action on the ordinance. Instead, they are sending it to the township attorney for review.
In other news from the meeting:
- The commission approved the site plan for Green Lake Calvary Church to expand its parking lot. The lot currently has 180 spaces, but it will be expanded to 214. The commission had also approved a building expansion of the church earlier this year.
