New residential district added to proposed zoning ordinance

Bearinger Township supervisor Dick Mowers asked the Presque Isle County Planning Commission for ?a little protection? between now and the time they develop a new master plan. With some refinements to the commission?s draft zoning map, which is being worked on as part of an update to the county?s zoning ordinance, his request was granted. The planning commission convened in the Circuit Court Room in Rogers City for a special meeting to specifically consider zoning changes along the west side of US-23 in Ocqueoc and Bearinger townships. Monday?s special meeting was called by planning commission chairman Mike Libby to continue discussions regarding a request to change parcels on the west side of US-23 from forest-recreation to a R-1 low-density residential district. The Huron Beach Civic Association supports the zoning change to R-1 as a way to bring more ?controlled development? to the area.

A MOTION TO change the forest-recreation zoning designation west of US-23 from Grace Harbor Highway north to the county line on parcels 10 acres or less was defeated 5-3 following the public hearing from October 26. The Planning Commission is working with professional planner Fran Brink of Wade Trim to finalize a new zoning ordinance and map. She brought back a revised map with smaller parcels highlighted for possible revisions. On a 6-3 vote of approval the commission decided to change a stretch of small parcels just north of an existing R-2 district. The new R-1 district would start just south of the section 24/25 line in Bearinger Township and continue north to almost the top of section 15.

The ?no? votes came from Dennis Felax, Richard Wright, and Dennis Budnick. Another R-1 also would be established for small parcels between the north side of the Black Mallard River and an existing R-2 district. The new draft ordinance and zoning map were available for review at a public hearing conducted October 26.

PLANNING COMMISSION member Bud DeLong, who is a member of the Huron Beach Civic Association, said he is in favor of development, but not without regulations and zoning. ?I moved up here from a small town: Oxford,? said DeLong, of the community north of metro-Detroit. ?We lived there when they widened the main south road. There was a lot that happened because of the absence of zoning and regulations.? Many Bearinger and Ocqueoc township residents were concerned that the forest-recreation designation does not provide property owners with control, or a voice in any future development. Because the parcels are located along a state trunkline, forest-recreation would have left the door open to a wide range of uses such as a sexually-oriented business, a refinery, or a landing strip, said planning commission member Tom Harkleroad. Most of the comments following the vote to change the designation supported the decision. Michael Sullivan said the planning commission ?made a good move.?

Earlier in the meeting, Wright suggested that DeLong and Harkleroad preclude themselves from voting because of what he believes is a conflict of interest. He was in favor of letting Bearinger Township move forward with its changes, as they look at developing a master plan.

DELONG SAID the rezoning would not prevent hunting, as was previously mentioned at the last meeting. He said ?Nothing says you cannot (hunt).? DeLong said the Department of Natural Res

ources has a 450-foot safety zone, where hunters are not allowed to discharge a firearm or point a firearm at a home. Prior to the vote, each board member was offered a chance to comment on the proposed zoning change. Felax was not in favor of a change because he believes it would restrict business development. Jerry Counterman, who said he had mixed feelings, was not in favor of changing larger parcels to R-1, but would support the proposal for smaller lots. Harkleroad said the changes proposed by Brink were a ?workable compromise.? DeLong also approved of the changes made by Brink and said he would endorse them.

Once the draft is completed, the 10-member commission will forward it to the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners for review and possible approval.

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