The Leelanau County Planning Commission this week endorsed a proposed Leland Township zoning ordinance amendment that may help facilitate redevelopment of the county courthouse property.

Developers James Varley and Gene Kelly of Leelanau County had requested a change to zoning ordinance language outlining requirements for a Planned Unit Development (PUD). The change would allow PUDs on parcels smaller than 10 acres in the township’s Residential-2 district.

The partners have inked an agreement to buy the 2-plus acre courthouse campus in Leland from Leelanau County and plan to develop housing in the area located between Chandler Street and Grand Avenue currently bisected by Cedar Street.

The Leland Township Planning Commission may also apply the proposed zoning ordinance amendment to a PUD project being considered for the Leland Lodge property on Pearl Street, according Sarah Lucas of the county’s Planning and Community Development department.

Lucas described the changes proposed by Leland planners as “minor,” and noted that Leelanau County planners posed no objections to the draft amendment.

Now that county planners have added their endorsement, the Leland Township Board is slated to consider adoption of the amendment at its next regular monthly meeting on Aug. 13. Around the first of next year, the county government is expected to move from its campus in Leland into a new Governmental Center now under construction in Suttons Bay Township.

At its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening, the Leelanau County Planning Commission also endorsed a series of “housekeeping” amendments to the Centerville Township zoning ordinance proposed by Centerville Township planners.

Lucas said “minor” changes from Centerville include new zoning ordinance language describing dog kennels, building heights, and requirements for wineries. County planners decided to return the series of changes to Centerville Township along with staff and commissioners’ comments.

County planners are also working on a “model” zoning ordinance that may be useful to the county’s 11 townships, Lucas added. She said commissioners discussed the latest changes to the model ordinance before adjourning their hour-long meeting.