The Leighton Township Board Thursday evening adopted a resolution to allow creation of a Lake Residential District around Green Lake.

Approval came just 24 hours after the Township Planning Commission gave its blessing in a public hearing at the Leighton Township Library.

Planner Mark Sisson explained that most of the lots closest to the lake are small and won’t support larger houses not being built and they have become non-conforming with the local ordinance, but protected by grandfathering. Creation of the new district and support from adjacent R-2 districts, Sisson said, will reduce the needs for variances.

The minimum house size for the smaller lots is 20,000 square feet for unsewered lots and 15,000 for sewered.

The Lake Residential District will require a minimum for five feet setbacks for side yards and eight feet for frontage. There will be 25 feet minimums in R-2 district homes and yards, and provisions will be available for placing garages on nearby vacant lots.

Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis said she was impressed with how well the Lake Residential District proposal was received.

Sisson added, “Everyone (at the Planning Commission hearing) seemed pleased that we were making an effort.”

PHOTO: Township Planner shows a map with the new Lake Residential Districts around Green Lake.