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Planning commissioners demand redlines and clearer scope as zoning 'rewrite' moves to subcommittee
Summary
Commissioners pressed staff and consultant McKenna for explicit redlines to show material zoning changes, demanded PC representation on a new subcommittee, and asked staff to provide clearer statements of work so the planning commission can reliably review proposed text.
Commissioners at the Cascade Charter Township Planning Commission meeting on Monday pressed staff and an outside consultant to make substantive changes to a proposed zoning ordinance transparent before the commission moves forward.
The commission’s concern centered on the distinction between a “rewrite” and a reformatting of the existing code. Commissioner Scott Kramer said the master plan requires the zoning code to allow more form-based, village-style development, but added that any material changes must be clear: "Any changes have to be in red for us," he said, emphasizing that redline edits are necessary for commissioners to identify substantive modifications.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the changes affect how the township enforces setbacks, heights and accessory dwelling unit rules and how future applicants will be treated. Multiple members warned that undocumented changes had previously appeared between packet distribution and meetings, which they said undermines trust and the ability to review proposals.
What happened: Planning Director Andrea (first name used in the record) told the commission the board will direct the planning commission to consider amendments and that a subcommittee will be formed to shepherd drafts back to the planning commission. Several commissioners asked for a planning commission member to sit on that subcommittee and for a clear statement of work from McKenna, the consultant the township retained for the master plan and zoning updates.
Accountability and legal context: A township attorney from the firm Foster Swift reminded members that, under state rules, the board is the ultimate decision-maker on zoning amendments while the planning commission is charged with discussion, holding public hearings and making a recommendation to the board. Commissioners nonetheless insisted McKenna be held responsible for failing to present changes in a redlined format and asked staff to demand redline versions going forward.
Next steps: Commissioners agreed the subcommittee will convene under staff leadership and return recommended redline drafts to the planning commission. The commission asked staff to include the statement of work and clear expectations for McKenna at the subcommittee kickoff so that reviewers can compare the existing ordinance to proposed language line by line.
The commission closed the discussion by urging staff to circulate clear, redlined drafts and a short summary of substantive changes before the next formal review so commissioners and the public can evaluate revisions without relying on memory or anecdote.
