Peters Township council adopts zoning changes to Mixed Residential Overlay District

Peters Township Council voted 5‑0 on June 22 to adopt Ordinance No. 928, amending Chapter 440 (Zoning) for the township’s Mixed Residential Overlay District.

Township staff introduced the ordinance at a public hearing, describing several substantive changes: right‑of‑way and street construction standards (50‑foot ROW with 24‑foot cartways), a reduction in permitted density from six dwellings per acre to 2.5 dwellings per acre, an increase in required open space from 10% to 30%, elimination of multi‑family housing as a permitted use, and a written definition and allowance for three detached single‑family house types including patio homes. The ordinance also raises side‑yard setbacks, reduces maximum lot coverage, and establishes minimum lot sizes.

During the hearing, resident Robin Hex, a retired engineer, expressed concern that the posted ordinance document contained language about commercial wireless communication facilities and said she feared locating towers near schools could raise health and property‑value issues. The township manager said the item before council that night was limited to the residential overlay changes and that a separate, future zoning amendment governing wireless facilities will be publicly noticed and receive its own hearing and opportunity for input.

Council took no additional amendments at the hearing and adopted the text staff recommended. The adoption vote was recorded as 5‑0. The ordinance number referenced by staff is 928. Council members and staff said any future changes affecting wireless communications will follow the same public‑notice and hearing process.

What happens next: the ordinance is adopted and will be incorporated into the township code; separate zoning work on wireless facilities will return to council for public review and comment.