The Leelanau Township Planning Commission continued its review and discussion of revisions to an agriculture section in the Zoning Ordinance.

At its meeting Thursday, March 22, the commission discussed proposed changes to Article 4 that were put together by chairman Tom Nelson. In a phone report Friday, Nelson said the commission is working on integrating innovative concepts into the township’s Agriculture district.

He said the commission is using ideas already implemented in some downstate townships and patterned after concepts developed by Rod Cortright of Charlevoix County’s Michigan State University Extension Office.

Nelson said some ideas being incorporated into the proposed new Agriculture district include promoting value-added agricultural uses. He said planners are looking at ways to keep the land in agricultural uses, and to help keep growth centered around the township’s population centers of Northport and Omena.

Current township Agriculture zoning allows a by-right minimum of one house per 10 acres. Nelson did not say if changes the planning commission are considering would increase the minimum.

“We are looking at a lot of different ideas where a property owner could get some density bonus for preserving large
areas of a parcel in Ag,” he said. The commission has not yet reached the point where it is ready to set a public hearing on the proposed changes.

The commission also revisited the topic of accessory building placement and screening requirements in the Residential district. Nelson said the commission is just starting to review work done by a subcommittee chaired by member Marlin Bussey. Nelson declined to elaborate on the specific problems commission members have with the existing language.

In February, the Township Board approved a contract with Wade Trim, a Traverse City company, for the use of consultant planner Nick Lomako on an as-needed basis. One of Lomako’s first duties is a review of the most current township Zoning Ordinance and making recommendations for changes to make it a more user-friendly document.

Nelson said the planning commission is waiting for Lomako to complete his review before making any new changes.

Nelson added that in the meantime, Lomako is being kept abreast of any work the commission undertakes concerning the ordinance.

The commission’s next scheduled meeting is Thursday, April 12.