Cascade Township subcommittee debates village density, form‑based code, and protections for existing businesses; postpones final vote

Cascade Charter Township’s planning subcommittee spent a lengthy work session reviewing a proposed form‑based code and a wide range of zoning changes for the village overlays, but postponed final action after members asked staff and legal counsel to tighten language protecting existing businesses and clarify how density and lot‑split rules will affect current homeowners.

The group zeroed in on residential density in the village core, where members debated several alternatives — proposals discussed included a baseline of two units per acre, ranges of six to 14 units per acre with bonuses, and site‑specific higher densities in designated ‘Star’ and Centennial zones. Speaker 2 said a low baseline was deliberate: “We’re not hurting for development,” and several members signaled support for a two‑units‑per‑acre compromise during a straw poll. The subcommittee did not adopt an ordinance; members asked staff to return with revised text and data on how many existing lots would become nonconforming.

Why it matters: The draft would reshape where and how housing and mixed‑use redevelopment can occur in the village and nearby overlays. It ties density increases to voluntary incentives — including green‑space donations, on‑site green set‑asides,…