Eaton County planning panel approves zoning code amendments after debate over duplexes and agricultural building rules

The Eaton County Planning Commission voted to approve proposed amendments to the county Land Development Code (DCA 5-25-1) with a planned removal of section 7.3 (the provision on duplex dwellings as drafted) and with additional clarifying language about agricultural buildings, parking and a rename of "livestock auction yards" to "auction venue." The commission voted to send the package on to Public Works and Human Services; if that body approves it, the package will go to the Eaton County Board of Commissioners on May 21.

The revisions the commission approved would: allow certain accessory agricultural buildings to follow updated zoning rules; add agricultural buildings to the general provisions in Article 6; update off-street parking rules (including increased parking for auction venues, calculated as 1 space per 300 square feet of sales area); and rename and clarify livestock auction yard rules to permit indoor or outdoor auction functions under an "auction venue" standard. Staff said the agricultural-building language was drafted to align zoning rules with the state construction code exemption for many farm buildings (Public Act 230 of 1972), while preserving county setback and lot-coverage checks.

The commission's discussion…