By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Board has put on hold a decision on whether to approve a residential planned unit development rezoning pending an upcoming training session on zoning-related issues.
The Township Board on June 17 tabled an upcoming public hearing and final reading on the proposal to rezone the 13.4-acre parcel at 9501 Woodbridge St. from R-1 rural residential to R-2 medium-density residential PUD.
The board has scheduled a special workshop for Tuesday, July 15, prior to the board’s regular meeting, to go through training on issues related to zoning that may help them reach a final decision later that night on whether to approve the rezoning, which is being requested by property owner Woodbridge Estates LLC.
“It’s effectively a guide to development training for the board and the Planning Commission, to walk through (the zoning categories of) PUD and R-1 and R-2, the differences and intricacies – what is the process – have we misstepped anywhere, are we following the process?” Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
While the workshop is primarily for the board, the township Planning Commission will also be invited, Eggleston said.
The Planning Commission, on a 6-2 vote May 13, recommended the board approve rezoning the Woodbridge parcel despite objections from neighboring residents who say the development will result in increased traffic on already-busy nearby streets and reduce their property values.
The township’s future land use map shows the parcel eventually being rezoned as medium-density residential, which could be met with either an R-1 or R-2 zoning designation. The neighbors who oppose the rezoning want the township to maintain the present R-1 zoning designation.
“All we’re asking is, please look at the neighborhood that’s there and make it like the neighborhood,” said Jeff Wierenga, who lives just a few houses east of the proposed development. “If it’s only 30 homes, it’s 30 homes. We’re just asking for integrity. That’s all we’re asking for.”
Project engineers have presented a preliminary plan to the township board, calling for 41 housing units on the site – 29 single-family homes and six attached two-unit condominiums. The development would set aside four acres of land as open space and include a walking trail on its perimeter. It also proposes that 19 of the lots have a lot size of 6,500 square feet, which meets the minimum requirement for an R-2 residential PUD under the township ordinance.
By comparison, the minimum required lot size for a conventional R-1 residential zoning is 15,000 square feet, while a conventional R-2 zoning has a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet, according to the township ordinance.
The township’s ordinance requires that residential PUDs be at least five acres in size, that each lot be a minimum of 6,500 square feet (except for an R-1 PUD, where a minimum lot size must be at least 7,500 square feet), that at least 30 percent of the property be set aside as open space and that at least 70 percent of the development consist of single-family homes.
Township Trustee Kerri Bosma, who is the board’s representative on the Planning Commission, said that most of her fellow commissioners welcome the idea of a training session.
“They were looking forward to being extended more training (on) PUDs, zoning, site (condominiums), all of that … They were positive about that,” Bosma said.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Board has put on hold a decision on whether to approve a residential planned unit development rezoning pending an upcoming training session on zoning-related issues.
The Township Board on June 17 tabled an upcoming public hearing and final reading on the proposal to rezone the 13.4-acre parcel at 9501 Woodbridge St. from R-1 rural residential to R-2 medium-density residential PUD.
The board has scheduled a special workshop for Tuesday, July 15, prior to the board’s regular meeting, to go through training on issues related to zoning that may help them reach a final decision later that night on whether to approve the rezoning, which is being requested by property owner Woodbridge Estates LLC.
“It’s effectively a guide to development training for the board and the Planning Commission, to walk through (the zoning categories of) PUD and R-1 and R-2, the differences and intricacies – what is the process – have we misstepped anywhere, are we following the process?” Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
While the workshop is primarily for the board, the township Planning Commission will also be invited, Eggleston said.
The Planning Commission, on a 6-2 vote May 13, recommended the board approve rezoning the Woodbridge parcel despite objections from neighboring residents who say the development will result in increased traffic on already-busy nearby streets and reduce their property values.
The township’s future land use map shows the parcel eventually being rezoned as medium-density residential, which could be met with either an R-1 or R-2 zoning designation. The neighbors who oppose the rezoning want the township to maintain the present R-1 zoning designation.
“All we’re asking is, please look at the neighborhood that’s there and make it like the neighborhood,” said Jeff Wierenga, who lives just a few houses east of the proposed development. “If it’s only 30 homes, it’s 30 homes. We’re just asking for integrity. That’s all we’re asking for.”
Project engineers have presented a preliminary plan to the township board, calling for 41 housing units on the site – 29 single-family homes and six attached two-unit condominiums. The development would set aside four acres of land as open space and include a walking trail on its perimeter. It also proposes that 19 of the lots have a lot size of 6,500 square feet, which meets the minimum requirement for an R-2 residential PUD under the township ordinance.
By comparison, the minimum required lot size for a conventional R-1 residential zoning is 15,000 square feet, while a conventional R-2 zoning has a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet, according to the township ordinance.
The township’s ordinance requires that residential PUDs be at least five acres in size, that each lot be a minimum of 6,500 square feet (except for an R-1 PUD, where a minimum lot size must be at least 7,500 square feet), that at least 30 percent of the property be set aside as open space and that at least 70 percent of the development consist of single-family homes.
Township Trustee Kerri Bosma, who is the board’s representative on the Planning Commission, said that most of her fellow commissioners welcome the idea of a training session.
“They were looking forward to being extended more training (on) PUDs, zoning, site (condominiums), all of that … They were positive about that,” Bosma said.
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