The final Elmwood Township Planning Commission meeting chaired by Jack Kelly will be remembered as long - but productive.

Planners on Tuesday put the final touches on a text change to the township Zoning Ordinance that could allow a proposed luxury yacht development in Greilickville to build a tunnel under M-22, and recommended that the minimum lot size remain at 5 acres in agriculturally zoned lands.

The terms of Kelly and fellow Planning Commission member Diane Gilbo expire May 8. Kelly said he will not accept another appointment.

One of the final pieces to the new zoning ordinance puzzle was approved on a 4-0 vote at the meeting, setting the minimum lot size at 5 acres. Residents in a referendum tossed out a revised zoning ordinance in 2003.

As proposed, the minimum size could be reduced to 2 1/2 acres if developers followed every suggestion in a clustered housing provision. Planners added a provision that would keep set-aside land in active agriculture.

The provision was supported by planners Kelly, Mark Luegers, Steve VanZoeren and Jeff April, who requested the active farming bonus. Absent from the nearly 3-hour meeting were Jeff April, Don Schubert and Jeff Howell.

The process to replace the rejected ordinance is now into its third year. Kelly, who had hoped to have a new document ready for public hearings last year, said the township attorney and professional planner Val Lazdins have recently completed their reviews.

The tunnel provision will allow West Bay Partners to proceed with plans for a $10 million development that includes a new pier for yachts.

The developers, are now required to provide parking for the pier on the east side of M-22 — where space is limited.

The project has received preliminary site plan approval for buildings housing a yacht club, restaurant, retail shops and boat storage on the west side of M-22.

Developer Ron Walter has stated the project is only economically viable with the boat pier. As recommended, access to parking could be separated from its use through a "grade separation" (tunnel or overpass) or an "at-grade crossing activated by a control device that safely and conveniently conveys pedestrian traffic between the use and the parking." The township Planning Commission would need to approve a special use permit for the crossing.

Commissioner VanZoeren opposed the change.

The provision must receive final approval from the Township Board.