5/22/13 - Some single-family homes in Howell Township will be rezoned if a proposed âairport serviceâ zoning district is approved. The township planning commission held a public hearing at its regular meeting last night, although no members of the public attended. The new zoning district will include portions of the townshipâs heavy commercial and regional service commercial zoning districts north of the intersection of Grand River and M-59, covering the entire area currently occupied by the Spencer J. Hardy Airport. It will also include a small portion of the single-family residential district north of Bowen Road and east of Burkhart. Township Planning Consultant Ben Carlisle tells WHMI those parcels were included because they have redevelopment potential for the growing airport, but residents there will be grandfathered in as a residential use in perpetuity, allowing residents to live in their homes and sell them as single-family residences as long as they like. However, the nonconforming use for a home in the airport district will expire if it goes unoccupied for too long. Carlisle says it is the hope of the township that allowing residents to sell their parcels as something other than single-family homes will increase their property values. The township planner is currently researching concerns of the commission and will report back on the proposed district next month. (TD)
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