Want lakefront access? Better get some lakefront property.
On Tues. Aug. 21, Independence Township Board members voted unanimously for the first reading of a keyholing ordinance.
Keyholing has been under discussion between Independence Township Board, Planning Commission, and lake residents for nearly 20 years. A sub-committee was formed back in March to study the issue in more depth. The committee included Trustees Dan Travis, Dan Kelly, and Charles Dunn, and some lakefront riparian owners.
‘It’s taken overly long; we have spent a ton of money on getting this ordinance established to this point. It has gone through many draft revisions, many hearings and I think the intent is that we are protecting and providing for a future it isn’t what you might construe as a ‘down zoning,? but it is to protect our lakes and protect our riparian uses against something that has devastated many lakes as far as over capacity. It is with pleasure that this work has been done and I am glad to move it forward,? said Travis.
According to Treasurer Jim Wenger the board had originally looked at general ordinance that could be retroactive, and could impact existing riparian owners. They were also looking at issues concerning dock size and the number of watercraft. Wenger said those issues ‘would have been hard to suppress on a single lake, let alone all lakes.?
‘It’s been a long, long road? I think we are looking for something that is generic and can fit, that does move us in the right direction. I think a zoning ordinance is the right way to go,? said Wenger.
Trustee Larry Rosso said he believes this ordinance will relieve many of the concerns people have.
‘I strongly believe that this is the best approach, it’s the right approach and I think this will resolved a lot of the concerns a lot of people have about pollution, about boat safety, (and) about riparian rights,? said Rosso.
Kelly said he believed the ordinance ‘provided a standard? for what was acceptable and not acceptable.
‘I think it makes a statement more than anything else that we’re going to apply standards to the uses of our lakes and ultimately it will protect our lakes, so I wholly endorse the ordinance,? said Kelly.
Trustee Charles Dunn agreed with Kelly saying it also provided for ‘other developers coming into the community.?
‘Not only does it provide protection to the township residents, it also provides protection to residents and other developers coming into our community to show that we are not acting arbitrary, but we do have some standards that are not overly burdensome. It provides us with enough information so our planning commission and ultimately the board can make decisions on re-zoning. From that perspective the ordinance does cut both ways,? said Dunn.
Supervisor Dave Wagner thanked the sub-committee for their help in bringing this issue to a conclusion.
‘I am very pleased that we are finally putting this to bed,? said Wagner.
The ordianace will have to go through a second read before it is fully implemented.

Keyholing?

Definition: Developer provides lake access to non-lakefront properties through a single lot on the lake. This can result in too many boats on the water, leading to problems with pollution overcrowding.

Keyholing Ordinance: Limits access to lakes to actual lakefront property owners. Prohibits keyhole access without prior approval.