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Council approves first readings for ZBA rule change and updated fire code
Summary
Council approved first readings on two ordinances: an amendment to the Zoning Board of Appeals rule (changing a required joint member from 'shall' to 'may') and an update adopting the 2021 International Fire Code to align with the Michigan building code; both measures proceed to the planning commission and later council action as required.
Walled Lake 99The Walled Lake City Council approved first readings on two technical but consequential ordinance updates: a zoning-board appeals amendment that makes a joint member optional and an update to adopt the 2021 International Fire Code.
City Attorney summarized the ZBA amendment as a one-word change: it "literally just changes one word, from shall to may," removing the requirement that one member serve jointly on both the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission. The change makes that joint member optional and responds to practical recruitment difficulties in a small community.
On the fire code, the attorney told council the city currently enforces the 2018 International Fire Code and proposed adopting the 2021 edition to align with the Michigan building code, saying the update mainly affects new construction and does not impose immediate burdens on existing businesses.
Both items were moved for first reading and approved to proceed to the planning commission (for the zoning amendment9s required public hearing) and for subsequent procedural steps before final adoption.
Next steps: the zoning amendment will be scheduled for a Planning Commission public hearing; the fire-code ordinance will return for second reading and adoption as required by local ordinance procedures.
