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Township to advertise zoning amendment tightening outdoor wood‑fired boiler rules
Summary
The board approved advertising Ordinance 2026‑01 to move outdoor wood‑fired boiler rules from the burning ordinance to the zoning ordinance, add setback and stack‑height requirements, and allow replacement only with Phase 2 units in most cases; county review and staggered repeal/replacement are planned to avoid regulatory gaps.
The Dickinson Township Board on Feb. 4 approved advertising Ordinance 2026‑01, an amendment to Chapter 205 (Zoning Ordinance) that would move regulation of outdoor wood‑fired boilers from the township’s open burning code into the zoning ordinance and update definitions and operational standards.
Planning Commission member Beth Kikla, who outlined the amendment, said the commission removed outdoor wood boilers from the open burning ordinance and proposed specific zoning requirements — including stack height and setbacks — so that enforcement can occur through zoning. The commission also recommended that non‑Phase 2 (older, lower efficiency) units already installed be allowed to remain, while new installations or replacements must meet Phase 2 standards.
Solicitor Matthew Boyer explained the process: the township intends a repeal‑and‑replacement approach so that the burning ordinance is updated in March and the zoning amendment is advertised and acted on in April, a staggered timeline intended to prevent regulatory gaps. The ordinance will be reviewed by the county planning agency as required before final action.
Vice Chairperson Jennifer DeGaetano moved to approve advertising Ordinance 2026‑01; Supervisor Robert Line seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The board scheduled advertisement now and formal consideration at future meetings with county review in between.
