Trustees to vote on zoning amendments

Perry Township trustees soon will take the next step toward prohibiting the raising of farm animals and livestock in certain housing subdivisions.

Trustees, at their March 26 meeting, are expected to vote on three proposed zoning amendments. One of those measures would forbid raising livestock and farm animals in recorded subdivisions that have at least 15 lots, with each lot required to be 1 acre or less in size.

A March 12 public hearing sponsored by trustees on the suggested zoning-text changes was a quick and quiet event. No citizens commented on the initiatives.

The trustees usually do not vote on proposals discussed during a public hearing on the same night as that hearing. Trustee Rick Amos said he prefers giving the board more time to consider

the focus of the hearing.

If trustees follow through with a vote on March 26, it’ll mark the second time in two years that they’ve acted on a zoning amendment regarding the keeping of typical farm animals in certain subdivisions.

Last year, trustees approved a zoning amendment that allowed residents in specific subdivisions to raise chickens, as long as certain conditions were met. That amendment also applies only in recorded subdivisions that have at least 15 lots, with each lot measuring 1 acre or smaller.

The proposed amendment regarding livestock and farm animals would be added to Section 301.4

of the township’s zoning resolution.

Along with declaring that keeping farm animals and livestock is prohibited in certain subdivisions, the proposal states examples of the forbidden animals include “horses, mules, other equine, cattle, moose, elk, bison, sheep, goats, swine, alpacas, llamas and captive deer.”

Regarding the inclusion of bison, elk and moose to the list, the township Zoning Commission stated, in a Feb. 18 memo to trustees, “The (commission) did not think that many people would consider raising these animals in a subdivision, but saw no reason not to add them.”

Trustees on March 26 also will consider two other proposed zoning amendments. If approved, these measures would:

• Add definitions for public, private and commercial schools to the township zoning resolution. This request was suggested by the Lake County Planning Commission, according township Zoning Commission minutes.

• Repeal regulations on the minimum distance separating a main building and accessory building in agricultural and residential districts. A second revision proposed in this same amendment would increase the allowable sizes for accessory buildings on lots over 1 acre in size in the same districts.

The township’s Zoning Commission held its own public hearing regarding these suggested zoning amendments on Feb. 13, before sending the proposals to trustees for further action.