Acting on recommendations from the township Planning Commission, the Bingham Township Board this week adopted a zoning ordinance amendment increasing the minimum lot size for “clustering” of homes, and granted a developer’s request for a time extension on his special land use permit.

Township trustee Mary Bush, who serves as the township board’s representative on the Planning Commission, explained that a 15-acre minimum was being recommended for site plans approved under “clustering” provisions of the zoning ordinance. Clustering allows property owners to place more homes on their land than would otherwise be allowed as long as they maintain open space elsewhere on the property.

Recently, a property owner had requested a “clustered” project on a three-acre parcel. Bush said the recommended change to a 15-acre minimum was more in keeping with concepts spelled out in the township’s Master Plan.

The township board voted 5-0 for a motion by Bush to adopt the zoning ordinance amendment.

Bush also explained that Bayside Pines developer Wayne Kiley had requested a two-year extension on a special land use permit he had obtained to build five condo units on the West Bay waterfront near his inland Bayview Pines development. She said it was clear that a slow state economy had delayed some of Kiley’s plans, and that township planners had endorsed Kiley’s request.

The board voted 5-0 on a motion by Bush to grant Kiley the time extension.

In other business, the Bingham Township Board:

• Agreed to expend up to $175 to make five additional copies of the township Master Plan for use at the township hall.

• Learned from Parks and Recreation Committee chairman Robert Walton that he and his committee are still looking into the status of a “beach grooming” permit for Hendryx Park, but expect to develop a site plan before conducting any major work at the park.

• Accepted an offer from former township supervisor Robert Foster to construct four picnic tables for township parks with volunteer labor and no more than the $400 already budgeted for materials. One additional picnic table would go to Hendryx Park, and three new picnic tables would replace old ones at Bingham Park.

• Formally accepted the resignation of Mike McManus from the Parks and Recreation Committee.

• Learned that the Traverse City Orthodox Mission Church group is no longer requesting to rent the township hall for Sunday services, having located facilities elsewhere.

• Learned that township supervisor Ross Ard had contacted a Michigan Townships Association attorney to ask whether procedures used by the township board to adopt salary resolutions for the current fiscal year were proper. Ross said an MTA attorney recommended that separate salary resolutions be adopted for each elected official before the township’s Annual Meeting, but the fact that resolutions were approved separately at the Annual Meeting made them “legal.” A member of the public had questioned the procedure used at the June 16 Annual Meeting.