The Empire Village Planning Commission recommended approval of changes to the village’s temporary outdoor land use permit procedures.

At its meeting last week, the commission unanimously recommended the Village Council approve changes to the village’s Zoning Ordinance regulating temporary land use permits for outdoor events. The language would regulate uses such as Christmas tree sales and events like the Asparagus Festival, and the Dunegrass and Blues Music Festival.

Chairman Paul Skinner said the commission held a public hearing on the proposed changes prior to considering the matter. No written or verbal comments were received for or against the proposed language.

Under the change, estimates of the size of the crowd would change the criteria an applicant must meet to receive a land use permit. If the applicant is expecting less than 750 people, the rules are less stringent. If it’s 750 or more, higher standards would be applied.

The time limit for a temporary permit is 45 days, Skinner said, so someone could sell Christmas trees for a season and not have to reapply for a temporary permit half-way through the event.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved a recommendation to the Village Council that no expansion of non-conforming uses be allowed. The Planning Commission has discussed whether requests for changes to a non-conforming use should go the village Zoning Board of Appeals. Skinner said that standard has not changed, so anyone wanting to change a non-conforming building footprint will still have to apply for a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

• Will seek advice from the township zoning attorney on whether the village is required to allow by right multi-family housing on property zoned mixed residential. Skinner said the Planning Commission included language to that effect in the village Zoning Ordinance because members believed it was required by law.

• Unanimously approved submitting a joint application for the Partnership for Change program through the Land Information Access Association in Traverse City to explore options for joint-zoning with Empire Township. “We want to at least explore the possibility and this grant would let us do that. The village Planning Commission is into it as is the township Planning Commission,” Skinner said.

• Put out a reminder to village residents and property owners that questions for issuing building permits should be directed to the county Building Inspections Office at (231) 256-9806.