On Thursday, February 16th at 7 pm a 2nd informational meeting was held regarding the progess on developing a comprehensive plan and an outline for potential zoning. Steven Grittman from Northwest Associated Consultants presented work completed so far and answered questions from residents. Over 70 people attended the meeting.
The following link was uploaded to YouTube and is a recorded presentation from a meeting attendee. It is the consultant’s presentation only and does not include the public question and answer session.
| Policy and Goal Statements |
| Allow as broad a range property rights as possible without negatively impacting the neighbor beyond normal residential impacts. |
| Land uses in the Township to be primarily agricultural and residential. |
| Business uses may be allowed, but designed to be primarily an extension of home-based business, only minimally as free-standing business operations. |
| The majority of non-residential uses on residential properties should be located within a building to ensure compatibility with neighboring residential areas. |
| Free-standing business uses, if and where allowed, served by existing major roads (primarily County), and with extraordinary buffering and separation from residential neighbors. |
| Larger lot size, setbacks, and buffering shall be required for business uses. |
| Agriculture shall be protected and supported, but such lands may be converted to residential as desired by the property owner, per required zoning and subdivision limitations. |
| Agricultural uses shall be those traditionally appropriate and agricultural in nature, including crop and animal farming, farmstand sales of produce grown on-site, and limited processing of agricultural produce for wholesale transport to off-site processors or retailers. |
| Non-agricultural uses – such as event centers, rural recreation, vineyards or orchards with visitor centers, and other uses incorporating business activities, are not considered traditional agriculture, and are intended to be allowed only under CUP or IUP requirements applying to business activities. |
| General residential densities shall be limited to 1 dwelling unit/5 acres, with higher densities allowed near shoreland with public sanitary sewer, accommodating appropriate shoreland protection and continued “rural” densities – 1du/2.5 acres. |
| Regulations should create adequate spacing between residential units to minimize likelihood of negative impacts from neighboring uses. |
| Ensure subdivision design providing connection to adjoining properties for future extension. |
| Permit the creation of new Township roads for new subdivisions, presuming developer-paid improvements, pursuant to a comprehensive set of requirements to ensure other property owners don’t absorb related costs. |
| Ensure that new subdivisions have accounted for process review by other applicable jurisdictions, including Sewer District review, County highway review, and similar requirements. |
| Consider code language that adequately defines nuisance land uses, including accumulation of junk, noise, lights, or other factors that interfere with reasonable property rights of neighbors. |
| Ordinance Clauses and Regulations |
| 5 acre Residential Lots 2.5 acre residential with sewer Setbacks to separate building and use areas |
| Permit Ag and Residential Uses Limit Business Activity All home-based business with low impacts |
| Create specific, limited conditions where commercial businesses might locate Create specific standards and buffering |
| Building capacity ensures large home-business operations generate property value Business activities inside buildings minimizes impacts on neighboring residential |
| County road frontage for business uses minimizes impacts on Town road maintenance Setbacks and buffering helps minimize impacts on neighboring residential |
| Additional business lot size requirements help ensure adequate room for business activities Lot sizes create a natural limitation on business land uses |
| Agriculture, both crop and animal, is a permitted use throughout the Town Restrictions may be created for small plots that include some agricultural uses |
| Ancillary agricultural uses are also expressly allowed to avoid objections of residents Common roadside stand sales; Agricultural processing; Animal waste (feedlot) containment per PCA requirements |
| Non-agricultural uses that often occur in rural areas are treated as business, not ag If allowed, special zoning processing is required similar to business zoning The single district approach permits farms to subdivide under current zoning |
| Comp Plan densities translate to Zoning lot sizes Higher (but still “rural”) densities permitted under sewered uses in Shoreland Non-sewered areas would retain the 1 unit per 5 acre standard |
| Setbacks requirements ensure separation, greater use of private property without impact Lot sizes create adequate room for residential use, open space, and accessory uses |
| Subdivisions require adequate services to provide continuation of access to surrounding area |
| New residential subdivision must pay its own costs The Town will permit new road construction, per Township requirements Due consideration for future development is a requirement of subdivision review |
| New development incorporates coordination with other jurisdictions County Highway authority, Sewer District authority, Soil and Water C and others must occur as subdivisions are reviewed |
| Clear nuisance language protects neighborhood property values Minimizing nuisance land uses helps ensure long-term community character |
Zoning Regulations
Draft 1a – 2/16/23
1. General Purpose
2. Non-specified Uses
3. Definitions
4. Nonconformities
5. Process (Zoning; CUP; Variances, etc.)
6. Districts (Ag; Rural Res; Conservancy)
7. General Standards
a. Principal/Accessory Buildings
b. Guest Homes/Short-term Rentals
c. Mining/Wind Energy/Commercial Solar
d. Agriculture – Feedlots/Farm Uses/Non-farm Uses
e. Home-Based Business
f. Other General Standards
8. District Standards
a. Permitted Uses
b. Ag District Area/Frontage – 5 acres; 300 feet width
c. Residential District – 2.5 acres; 150 feet width (sewered)
d. Setbacks (Ag: 50 feet all; Res – 40 feet/20 feet side)
e. Conditional Uses: Business Uses other than Ag –
i. County Road Frontage ii. Additional Lot size/separation
ii.
9. Other Regulations
a. Shoreland/Floodplain
b. Subdivision
The following is a link to the results of the public survey.
https://chengwatanatownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Survey-Cheng-Prelim.docx
