The Village of Suttons Bay Planning Commission laid the groundwork last week for what may be a busy agenda next month, according to staff planner Rochelle Rollenhagen.

Village planners last week completed work on a draft zoning ordinance amendment that may allow taller homes in the village’s single-family waterfront residential district.

The current allowable height of homes in the districts is 30 feet, with a maximum of two stories. The height is measured from the lowest grade to the highest peak of the building.

The proposed change would allow the height measurement to be taken from the side of the home nearest the road rather than the side on the beach, which is invariably lower than the road.

“People who should be able to have a walkout basement on the waterfront side can’t do that right now because of the way the ordinance is written,” Rollenhagen explained. “What’s important about the maximum height is the elevation as seen from the road, not from the beach which is always lower. If this new formula for measuring height goes into effect, more people may be able to build a home with a walkout basement on the waterfront,” she said.

A public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance amendment has been scheduled for the village planning commission’s next regular monthly meeting on Dec. 12.

Also at the next meeting, Rollenhagen said, planners hope to review site plans for two new projects in the village. Assuming applicants submit plans in time for the next meeting, village planners will review:

• A site plan for a telecommunications tower on property leased by a cellular phone company from Suttons Bay Public Schools. Although the school is exempt from zoning, a commercial telecommunications tower is not considered an essential part of the school and plans must be approved by the village, Rollenhagen explained.

• A site plan for a proposed new retail/commercial building in Hansen Plaza south of Fourth Street being proposed by retired grocer Dave Hansen, for whom the plaza is named. The plan could include a new entrance to Hansen Plaza directly off M-22 via an extension of Beach Street.