By Sterling McGinn
For the first time in its’ history, the Village of Newberry will have zoning ordinances when they become implemented in December of 2025.
The council approved the zoning ordinance draft from the planning commission at the April regular meeting, which took place on Tuesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. in the village chambers. Only one member of the public was in attendance.
The Village of Newberry Planning Commission worked for nearly three years to create zoning ordinances—regulations that control land use and development within the village limits. A major reason to establish ordinances is that it will allow for the village to apply for certain grants that they were not eligible for without zoning. The village can also now participate in the Redevelopment Ready program through the State of Michigan.
The zoning will take effect on December 15.
The zoning ordinance document, which was created by Beckett and Raeder, was reviewed by the zoning steering committee comprised of community members. They prepared the ordinances for review by the planning commission.
The council held a public hearing concerning the approval of the proposed zoning ordinance on November 19 of last year, which resulted in approximately 30 residents attending. Those who spoke expressed concern about the proposal which caused the council to table to adoption to give residents more time to submit comments and express concerns.
Village residents received information on the ordinance in their monthly utility bill, and revisions were made after consumers gave feedback on the proposed ordinances.
Many residents were wary of the term “nonconforming”, which was frequently used in the ordinance language. Nonconforming properties do not comply with the ordinance, though they were legal before the ordinance was made. Those properties will be “grandfathered in,” as zoning in Michigan cannot be retroactive.
“The majority of the concern seemed to boil down to folks misunderstanding what it means to have nonconforming property,” said Village Manager Allison Watkins. “If you are not in compliance with the zoning ordinance, you are considered nonconforming, and you are not required to add or take away from your current property.”
One change in the section on accessory buildings will allow for storage/shipping containers to be used in commercial and light industrial areas.
“The original draft of the zoning ordinance did not allow it on any properties,” said Watkins. “We had at least one property owner, who owns light industrial property in town, who uses those for their businesses. They were not happy and asked to have them be an exception.”
The containers have to stay in good repair and not block sidewalks or driveways.
Permanent use of new storage containers on residential properties will be prohibited once the ordinances are in place, but those already in use will be considered non-conforming and can remain.
Storage pods or containers can be used for up to 14 days in residential areas for loading or unloading purposes only.
The planning commission and ordinance committee recommended the approval at the April council meeting.
Prior to the vote on that matter that evening, Watkins asked for at least six months’ time before the ordinances are implemented to give her time to create and prepare the necessary forms and permitting and physical documents.
In other news, Watkins told the board that she attended the zoning administrator training in Mt. Pleasant in February and is now a certified master citizen planner and zoning administrator. “Someone in the town has to be the zoning administrator…in order to have zoning, you have to have an administrator,” Watkins said. Ordinance officer Cliff Fossitt will likely be certified as well.
Finally, the board will hold two public hearings at the May 20 regular meeting. The first public hearing, regarding the lead service line replacement project, begins at 5:30 p.m. The project is part of the unfunded lead service line replacement mandated by the State of Michigan.
The second will be the truth and taxation hearing set to take place at 6 p.m. The regular meeting will follow.
