Riparian Ordinance Update
Complete the Riparian Survey - Responses due Sunday, July 23
The Township has been discussing the need for updates to the current riparian regulations since before the flooding in 2018, when groundwater and lake levels did not recede following rain events as they had in years past. Now that the Township is in the home stretch with final permitting and eventual construction of a long-term solution, the Township Board has directed the Planning Department and Planning Commission to resume work on updating riparian regulations to protect lakes, ponds, and streams within the Township, in addition to centralizing the regulations within the Zoning Ordinance for simplicity.
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, the Planning Department held a public listening session for the purpose of learning more about current riparian challenges and discussing the upcoming riparian ordinance process. There were approximately 25 in-person attendees and over 30 Zoom attendees. We'd like to thank all who attended and provided input on this process. A summary of the meeting has been completed and a link to the summary is provided below.
During the week of June 19, 2023, postcards with a link to an online survey to collect additional information and validate feedback received at the listening session were circulated to all riparian property owners. The deadline for survey responses is Sunday, July 23, 2023. Once the survey has been closed, the results will be made public and it is likely that a community workshop meeting will be held to discuss and analyze the results prior to the Planning Department and Planning Commission resuming work on ordinance amendment drafts. A link to the postcard circulated is provided below.
The continued process is focused on engagement. It is unlikely that the Planning Commission will be reviewing any drafts of the ordinance until late Summer or early Fall of 2023.
If you would like to discuss specific details regarding this process, please call Zoning Administrator, John Lovely at 269-548-4305.