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Dexter Twp: Summary of Ordinance #37
Township of Dexter
Washtenaw County, Michigan.
Notice of Adoption of Amendments to the Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance
Please take notice that the following is a summary of Ordinance No. 37 amending the Dexter Township Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance No. 37. This amended ordinance was adopted by the Township Board at a regular meeting held on June 21, 2022.
Members Present: Ratkovich, Stamboulellis, Metz, McDole, Nolte, Sanders, Sikkenga
Members Absent: None
The Township or Dexter hereby Ordains:
Section 1: Finding and Declaration of Purpose
Amends the Ordinance for Dexter Township by replacing existing language and providing new regulations for open space preservation developments. This includes the purpose; the scope of the regulations; general development regulations; open space requirements; design standards; review criteria; and an approval process.
Section 2: Definitions
Amends definitions to be more encompassing of farmland, and open space. Amendments include the following definitions: “Application”, “Conservation Easement”, “Open Space”, “Residential Development Rights”, and “Substantially Undeveloped Land”.
Section 3: Authorization
Amendments include the Board of Trustees to create a Development Rights Acquisition Fund through voted on Millage, Allocations from the Township General Fund, Fees earmarked for Farmland Preservation, or with contribution or bequests.
Section 4: Retained Residential Development Rights
This amendment was added to the Ordinance to include: promotion of agricultural use of properties on which the Township has purchased the Development Rights; property owners to retain some residential developments rights; sale of existing dwelling units on the site; restrictions on building locations for retained residential development rights.
Section 5: Eligible Lands and Priority of Acquisition
Amendments made to the Criteria For Selection to include Open Space. Initial Screening description added. Additional amendments in this section include: Description of the System; Priorities; Agricultural Land System; Percentage of Prime and Locally Important Soils; Acreage Score; Farmland in Agricultural Use; Proximity to Protected Land; Features; Stewardship of the Land. Added amendment to include scoring process for Open Space Land.
Section 6: Farmland and Open Space Preservation Board
Amends the number of members required for the board. Amends the requirements for the board members, and the terms of the board members. Amendments also include responsibilities of the board members.
Section 7: Selection
Amendment to remove responsibility of The Preservation Board to give notice in a newspaper.
Section 8: Duration of Acquired Interests
Amended conditions for property owner to repurchase property, including payment conditions, and repayment allocation.
Section 12: Development Rights Funding Sources and Acquisition Fund
Amendment to funding for purchasing development rights.
Section 14: Enforcement
Amendment includes addition of this section to make it the responsibility of the Preservation Board to make recommendations to the Township Board regarding monitoring and investigation of complaints violation of rights acquired by the Township.
Appendix A:
Amendment includes addition of this section to provide further definitions.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the full text of this Ordinance has been posted in the Office of Dexter Township Clerk at the address set forth below; on the Dexter Township website at https://dextertownship.org; and that a copy of the Ordinance may be purchased or inspected at the office of the Dexter Township Clerk during regular business hours of regular working days (Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30am – 4:30pm) following the date of this publication.
