After working for more than a year on 13 different drafts, the Cleveland Township Planning Commission decided last week to recommend adoption of a "wind energy systems" amendment to the township's zoning ordinance.

During a public hearing held just prior to commission’s regular monthly meeting on Dec. 5, no members of the public offered any comment on the latest draft. During the regular meeting, commissioners voted 4-0 to recommend approval of the proposed zoning ordinance amendment, with chairman Tim Ewing absent.

Assuming the draft is adopted by the township board, Cleveland Township residents will have more specific guidelines to follow if they plan to install windmills to generate electrical power for individual residences. The proposed amendment does not address larger commercial wind energy systems.

In other business during last week’s meeting, Cleveland planners discussed their continuing review of the township’s Master Plan. Commissioners considered written public input on Master Plan language regarding farmland preservation. They also decided to expend no more than $50 to procure a large scale version of the township’s Future Land Use map for reference.

An ongoing review of a proposed zoning ordinance amendment redefining the township’s residential district was tabled until the commission’s next regular monthly meeting on Jan. 2, according to minutes.