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Resident voices opposition as Eaton County committee considers allowing duplexes in limited-agricultural zones
Summary
A resident urged the committee to slow or reconsider proposed zoning changes that would allow duplexes in limited-agricultural areas; zoning committee members discussed planned text amendments and outreach.
A resident told a county planning-related meeting that he is opposed to a potential zoning change that would allow duplexes by right in limited-agricultural (limited-ag) zones and urged more public notice and discussion.
"I couldn't get this information out so the average person knows this kind of stuff's being voted on," said Drew Marks, a Lake Odessa resident, referring to a recent zoning committee discussion and an upcoming planning commission consideration. Marks also said he was "opposed" to allowing duplexes in limited-ag areas and asked for more committee discussion before changes advance.
Planning staff and members noted the Zoning Ordinance Committee had recommended amendments to make several rules "less restrictive," including allowing duplexes in limited-ag property, and that the potential text amendment would be on the Planning Commission agenda on May 6. A planning staff member told the panel the committee had reviewed fee increases but that a requested pause had left current application fees unchanged for now.
During public comment, Marks described living "out in the country a little bit" and said he did not want a rapid build-out of duplexes in rural areas. He also said he had trouble locating the agenda online while preparing to attend the meeting.
Committee members discussed scheduling: the zoning ordinance committee may meet again (one meeting was scheduled for April 15) and staff said they would examine calendars and send an email to plan a date. The transcript records no formal vote on text amendments during the meeting; the Zoning Ordinance Committee's recommended amendments will be considered by the Planning Commission on May 6.
The meeting packet and staff report cited the county master plan's agricultural preservation designation and described the proposed amendments as returning some uses to "by right" status in certain zones; staff clarified there would be additional public hearings as the amendment proceeds through the formal ordinance revision process.
