Discussion centers on Lee Point Rd. housing proposal

The Bingham Township Planning Commission last week continued a public hearing on a controversial clustered housing development proposal on Lee Point Road.

Commission chairman Mike Park reported that a "large and vocal" group of citizens attended the hearing about a property owners’ plans to develop three building sites on a parcel just over six acres in size.

“Some of the residents feel it would not fit in with the character of the area,” Park said.

The development proposal is also controversial because of an ongoing dispute between the property owners and a neighbor over a land division which the township was found to have effected improperly several years ago. At least one of several complicated lawsuits filed in the case is still outstanding, Park said.

Bingham planners decided to table the site plan and continue the public hearing next month, Park reported. In the meantime, a three-member committee will meet with the township zoning administrator, the staff planner and a township attorney to formulate a recommendation for the rest of the Planning Commission to consider, Park said.

“We want be sure that we’re basing whatever we do on what’s legal, not on emotions,” Park explained. The public hearing will continue at the planning commission’s next regular monthly meeting on June 7.

Also the subject of a public hearing at next month’s meeting will be a draft zoning ordinance amendment setting a minimum of 20-acres for a “clustered” housing project, Park said.

If the amendment is adopted – perhaps later this summer – it could preclude projects such as the one proposed on Lee Point Road. However, because a site plan request has already been submitted for the Lee Point Road project, it would not be subject to any of the new zoning ordinance provisions, Park explained.

In other business at last week’s meeting, planners heard from vintner Tony Ciccone who wants to increase the number of “special events” allowed at his winery from 24 per year to 48; and the number of people allowed to attend each event from 200 to 300.

Several years ago, the Bingham Township Planning Commission spent months hammering out “special events” language in their zoning ordinance that allows wineries to regularly host large functions such as weddings, banquets and concerts.

Park said the extent and nature of the changes proposed by Ciccone will require the planning commission to hold a public hearing on the topic next month.

Also last week, the Bingham Township Planning Commission conducted a preliminary review of a site plan modification requested by Bayview Pines developer Wayne Kiley. Park said Kiley wants to add 8.8 acres to his project and five new housing units while maintaining open space at present levels.

Park said Kiley will likely return to the Planning Commission with a formal application for a final site plan review sometime in the next several months.