Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Cascade planning commission recommends draft zoning ordinance update, advancing form‑based village code and 28th Street overlays
Summary
The Cascade Charter Township Planning Commission voted to recommend a comprehensive zoning ordinance amendment that adds a form‑based code for the village, mixed‑use overlays along 28th Street, tighter design standards, a near‑ban on new private roads and incentives for redevelopment; the recommendation advances to the township board for further review.
Cascade Charter Township’s planning commission voted to forward a draft comprehensive zoning ordinance to the township board after a public hearing that drew residents, business owners and housing advocates.
The commission’s recommendation, made at the end of a long presentation by planning consultant Chris Corey of McKenna and a public comment period, asks the township board to consider the August 7 draft with three housekeeping edits (restore current R‑district side‑setback language; require covered enclosures for chickens in R1/R2; clarify fence location language). The vote was taken by voice; the transcript records an affirmative voice vote but does not supply a roll‑call tally.
The draft rewrites how parts of Cascade will develop. Consultant Chris Corey told the commission the ordinance is aimed primarily at developers and redevelopment — not routine single‑family alterations — and is intended to align zoning with the township’s 2024 master plan. “We want development in this community to be high quality,” Corey said, describing a package of interventions: a village form‑based code that creates four village districts, mixed‑use overlays focused on the 28th Street corridor, stricter site and architectural standards, and a purchase‑of‑development‑rights program to discourage sprawl.
Why it matters: township leaders framed the rewrite as a way to concentrate growth where infrastructure already exists and to preserve rural character east of Buttrick Road. Supervisor Grace, speaking before…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
