Green Township Committee rejects proposed Lake Tranquility zoning change; ordinance to be revised and re‑noticed

The Green Township Committee voted on Sept. 15 to withhold adoption of Ordinance 2025-09, a proposal that would create a new R-1.5/0.5 residential zone intended to relax lot-size and bulk standards for certain existing developed properties in the Lake Tranquility area.

The ordinance was the subject of a public hearing during which resident Josephine Fracasso asked where the proposed change would apply. Mayor Virginia “Ginnie” Raffay said the measure targets properties in the Lake Tranquility area and is intended to “help ease the restrictions for certain accessory structures.”

Township Attorney Ursula Leo said she had spoken with the township planner and that the planner’s suggested revisions would be substantial and would require re-noticing. On the attorney’s recommendation the committee proceeded to a roll-call vote on adoption. The motion failed: Ayes: none; Nays: James DeYoung, Margaret “Peg” Phillips, Bader Qarmout and Mayor Raffay. As a result, the committee declined to adopt the ordinance as presented and directed staff to revise the draft in line with the Land Use Board’s comments and to re-notice a future hearing.

Ordinance 2025-09 would have amended Chapter 30 of the township code to add a 0.5-acre standard applicable to certain existing residences in the current R-1.5 district, and to permit specified accessory structures closer to lot lines under set conditions. The ordinance text and schedule of requirements were included in the meeting packet and posted as part of the meeting minutes.

The committee’s action means the zoning change will return to the committee after revisions and the required public-notice period. No final adoption occurred at the Sept. 15 meeting.