The Leelanau County Planning Commission last week recommended approval of new zoning ordinance language for Bingham Township that will make it easier for the owners of farms and other agricultural property to attract visitors for "agritourism."

Township and county officials say they believe Bingham Township may be one of the first units of government in Michigan ready to adopt "agritourism" zoning ordinance language.

The director of the county’s Planning and Community Development Department, Trudy Galla, said members of the county Planning Commission generally supported a draft zoning ordinance amendment presented by Bingham Township officials, but suggested that language may be focused too tightly on wineries and other fruit growing operations.

“We also have agricultural businesses in the county that brew beer, make hard cider, grow flowers for customers to pick – and some of them hold weddings among the flowers,” Galla said. County planners indicated they wanted to see Bingham’s language include such businesses.

Bingham zoning administrator Steve Patmore was in attendance at the June 24 meeting of county planners and indicated that those were ideas that might be appropriate and easy to include in future amendments to the zoning ordinance, Galla reported.

County planners also recommended adoption of a series of proposed “housekeeping” amendments to Bingham’s zoning ordinance that clarify expiration dates and renewal requirements for land use permits. The Bingham Township Board was expected to consider the amendments for adoption at its next regular monthly meeting on July 21.

In other business at its meeting last week, the Leelanau County Planning Commission also recommended approval of an updated Parks & Recreation Plan prepared by the county Parks & Recreation Commission. The plan requires an update every five years for the county to maintain eligibility for state parks and recreation grant funding, Galla explained.