Planning commission directs revisions to Town Center draft, separates tiny homes discussion and will revise private-road language

At the Jan. 5, 2026 meeting, the Allendale Charter Township Planning Commission continued a multi-part text amendment discussion covering Town Center revisions, tiny homes and private roads in the Agricultural and Rural District.

Staff member Greg Ransford reviewed revisions to the Town Center draft and accompanying drawings and was directed to make additional revisions, have legal counsel review the language and prepare the item for a future public hearing. Commissioners did not adopt new language at this meeting; the matter will return once staff and counsel complete revisions.

On tiny homes, the commission continued the conversation and decided to treat tiny homes as a separate ordinance/article rather than fold the topic into other code changes. Ransford will prepare a written example of proposed language for a future meeting.

Regarding private roads in the Agricultural and Rural District, Ransford restated the topics covered in prior meetings. Commissioners discussed scenarios that would and would not be allowed under existing ordinances and directed staff to revise the draft language as directed and return it to the commission for further review.

All three items were discussion-level actions; no final votes on the amendments were taken. Each item was directed back to staff for redraft and, in the Town Center case, legal review before a public hearing is scheduled.