Cascade Charter Township adopts revised zoning ordinance after heated public comment

Cascade Charter Township trustees voted to adopt a revised zoning ordinance package after more than a year of work and a lengthy public comment period.

Supervisor Lehi Prince opened the discussion by thanking consultants and staff and saying the process had included “extensive public participation.” Trustee Shipley moved to adopt the zoning ordinance with amendments noted in staff and supervisor memos; Clerk Slater seconded. After deliberation the board approved the ordinance on a recorded roll call.

The ordinance package includes updates to density and design standards, an updated Centennial Park overlay allowing some increased density where infrastructure exists, and incorporates prior standalone private-streets and subdivision rules into the zoning code. Manager Jade Smith and legal counsel explained the changes and said the private-streets and subdivision ordinances must be repealed because their provisions are now incorporated into the new zoning text.

Opponents at the meeting urged the board to pause and commission an economic analysis before adoption. Doug Merriam of the Greater Regional Alliance of Realtors told trustees he and members had submitted “1,212 emails” asking for an economic study and warned that overly restrictive rules could depress property values and shrink the tax base. Several residents, including realtor Julie Rockwell and property owner David Jackson, said the draft omitted protections for potential data-center uses and would render eight of the township’s 12 hotels nonconforming if the changes pass.

Supporters, including Tyler Johnson and other residents, urged the board to allow higher-quality multifamily housing in Centennial Park to address local workforce housing shortages. Johnson said the site has “public utilities adjacent” and walkable access to retail and that higher-density housing can be built with objective design and traffic controls.

Trustees who voted against the ordinance cited specific concerns: private-road provisions, accessory-building size limits in rural parcels, and certain density increases. Trustee Rizzi, who voted no, said much of the ordinance was “really good stuff” but that issues around private roads and site rebuilding thresholds needed more work.

The board also approved companion resolutions to repeal the separate private-streets ordinance (Ordinance No. 9 of 2002) and the subdivision ordinance (No. 5 of 2003) because their provisions were incorporated into the new zoning code. Staff said construction standards remain the same though some width specifications were adjusted.

The ordinance takes effect as specified in the adopted text; trustees said further tweaks would be expected as staff and the board apply the rules. The township did not produce an economic study at the meeting and several residents said they will press for additional analysis in follow-up sessions.