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Resident urges commission to revisit zoning definition of "family," citing constitutional opinions
Summary
During public comment April 23, resident Patrick Rose urged the Planning Commission to put review of the city's zoning definition of "family" on its agenda, saying legal opinions find the current definition unconstitutional. Commissioners and staff noted the matter has had prior public hearings and that City Council is an appropriate next forum.
During the public comment period at the April 23 East Lansing Planning Commission meeting, Patrick Rose of 310 Oxford Road urged the commission to reopen consideration of the city zoning ordinance's definition of "family," arguing the current definition violates U.S. and Michigan constitutional protections.
Rose told commissioners he had submitted a letter and legal opinion from several attorneys and experts asserting East Lansing's zoning definition of family excludes functional families and is inconsistent with Moore v. East Cleveland (1977) and a Michigan Supreme Court decision addressing similar ordinances. "I would ask each one of you…
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