Commissioners flag needed clarifications for sign rules, parking surfaces, trailers and animal-control enforcement

Commissioners reviewed a set of ordinance and enforcement topics staff had compiled and raised multiple areas for possible revision.

On signage, staff noted the township’s adopted Clear Zoning product contains references to sign types and content-based categories. The township attorney cautioned that "our ordinance regulations for signage have to be content neutral," and commissioners acknowledged complaints involving political signs and labeling who paid for them; staff said such labeling issues are typically handled by the Secretary of State or elections bureau. Commissioners asked for clearer sign definitions that avoid content-based restrictions while addressing placement and size.

Members also debated allowed parking surfaces (the distinction between pavers and gravel) after an enforcement case was dropped in court. The attorney recommended asking the Zoning Board of Appeals to interpret the code provision so future enforcement is consistent.

On vehicle/trailer rules, commissioners discussed limits on trailers, RVs and campers (the current rule allows up to two and limits hookups to 14 days per calendar year). Several members questioned whether the 14-day hookup allowance should be reduced because it can be used for long-term occupancy and enforcement is difficult.

Finally, a commissioner recommended aligning township ordinances with animal-control agency standards (for example, consistent definitions for number-of-pet limits and kennels) to simplify enforcement and reduce bouncing complaints back and forth. Staff noted that vendor edits to the Clear Zoning product can incur per-page charges and that a full re-write of the zoning ordinance would be costlier than targeted edits.