Sumpter Planners send yard waste ordinance to township board

An ordinance banning people from putting yard clippings, grass, sticks and other yard waste into the ditches and roadways was recommended approved by the Sumpter Township Planning Commission at its Dec. 13 meeting.
The ordinance now goes to the township board for consideration and a final decision, possibly at a January meeting.
A man came before the township board a few months back and told about how slippery grass clippings are when thrown on roadways when the weather is rainy. He told of his friend who was riding a motorcycle and was decapitated by smashing into a sign after sliding on wet grass clippings on the roadway.
Trustee Matthew Oddy, who is the township board’s liaison to the planning commission, said the board found there was no ordinance to enforce to comply with the man’s request for a safer roadway.
Trustee Oddy said they asked the planner to put together an ordinance and this is what planner Chris Atkin presented at the Dec. 13 meeting.
Commissioners decided to add “mulch” to the listing of things that couldn’t be dumped on the public roadway, right of way or ditches.
If approved this will be added to the township’s general ordinances. It is similar to a Wayne County ordinance and people could be cited under the township or county ordinance, with the county having a more severe penalty, Atkin said.
Atkin said the board would put the fines in place and he’ll talk to the township attorney about that.
In other business at the one-hour-and-40-minute meeting on Dec. 13, commissioners:
• Again discussed the draft Master Plan and directed Atkin to make the updates discussed and bring it back to the Jan. 10 meeting. Commissioners also want colored, more-detailed maps, so they can read them easier; more up-to-date information on building permits in the township; more precise information about adjoining townships; and other things;
• Tabled Atkin’s proposed “amendments” to the current slaughterhouse zoning ordinance after Commissioner Jim Clark questioned the need for changes at this point. Atkin said this wasn’t an amendment, but only information. “If people have problems they will come to the township,” Clark said. “Right now we don’t know.” Commissioner Mary Sherwood said she thinks the township’s only slaughterhouse is open on Bemis because there are animals and people there. Oddy said the lights are on, there is an open sign, and he saw a trailer and several cars. Atkin said he doesn’t know if they have a certificate of occupancy, but there are things that need to be taken care of before opening;
• Discussed at length proposed amendments to the language on the accessory structure ordinance and then voted to have the planner make changes and bring it back to the commission in January for consideration. The problem is that there have been five cases before the Board of Zoning Appeals over the last few months because residents want to build big pole barns, some bigger and taller than their houses. The BZA has allowed the bigger pole barns because their neighbors have big pole barns and neighbors say they don’t have a problem with another big pole barn next door. The commission is trying to loosen up the rules, again, to solve this problem so people won’t have to go to the BZA. One suggestion that will be put into the ordinance amendment is that the maximum height would be 18’. “You can go home to sleep and say I pleased a lot of people tonight,” said Commissioner Clark, referring to eventual passage of the amendments; and
• Heard Oddy say he is hoping to get a training schedule for the commission, since the policy calls for each member to get one training session per year. He also is looking forward to setting up training with Belleville and Van Buren Township planning commissions.
This was the first planning commission meeting since August and the August minutes were approved.
Tim Rush, who was appointed to the planning commission last summer, sat in the audience because he was elected trustee Nov. 6 and can’t sit on the planning commission, as well.