The Empire Township Board and Planning Commission held a joint meeting Tuesday night to review and address concerns about the township’s proposed new Zoning Ordinance.

Planning commission chairman Richard Figura said the two groups met for about two hours to review the proposed ordinance. The commission has been working to update the Zoning Ordinance to bring it in line with the township’s Master Plan, which was updated two years ago.

“We wanted the board members to understand
what changes we have proposed, show them
what the existing Zoning Ordinance states and
what the new zoning rules will be if the changes
are approved . . . It went really well.”
–Richard Figura,
Empire Planning Commission chairman

The commission has already held public hearings on the proposed new zoning document, and also had it reviewed by the county Community Development and Planning Department. The Township Board will make the final decision on adopting the new zoning rules. Figura said the proposed document is a whole new Zoning Ordinance, not just an update of the existing rules.
“We wanted the board members to understand what changes we have proposed, show them what the existing Zoning Ordinance states and what the new zoning rules will be if the changes are approved. We put on a little PowerPoint presentation for them. It went really well,” Figura said.
One concern board members brought up regards the setback requirements for any project requiring a site plan review within the Scenic Roadway district. Under the proposed zoning rules, for property fronting on M-72, M-22 and County Roads 616 or 677 if the land owner wants to develop a parcel and needs a site plan review, the development must sit back 100 feet from the edge of the pavement. “We have a lot of requirements for landscaping and berms for all projects requiring a site plan review,” Figura said.
Figura said other township residents have voiced concerns about the proposed Gateway Commercial zoning district. This district’s rules would apply to property along M-72 from the eastern boundary of the township to Plowman Road. The area already has a good mix of private residences and commercial businesses. Those opposed to implementing this new district, according Figura, don’t want the township encouraging any commercial development along M-72. He said they favor centering all development around Empire Village, and feel the Gateway district will only bring more commercial growth to that part of the township.
“The problem is there are established business along M-72 in that area and we would like to see more of a mix of residential and commercial,” he said.
Figura said since the township Planning Commission will incorporate any new changes from the joint meeting into the proposed document and get it to the Township Board for its March 11 meeting.
“If they don’t take action on it at the March meeting we’re hoping they can act on it at their April meeting,” he said.