The 10-month process devoted to developing a new sign ordinance for Orion Township needs a few more weeks for the final touches to be completed.
The ordinance was ready for possible adoption at the Jan. 17 meeting, but some township board members and members of the community expressed doubts about approving it in its current state.
Trustee Matthew Gibb and Neal Porter of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce pointed to a few specific concerns.
The ensuing discussion prompted trustee Michael Gingell to make a motion to create a subcommittee that would look into five items of the ordinance, and report back to the board.
The board then established a committee of Gibb, Gingell and township clerk Jill Bastian to review the outstanding issues.
The issues they will discuss include changing minor things on nonconforming signs, vehicle signs, notification of removal of a sign from private property, sufficient signage size for larger office buildings, and specific review dates.
The postponement of action on the ordinance also postponed action on two related agenda items.
Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said he was disappointed that the decision had to be delayed.
‘I wish we could have gotten this done sooner,? he said. ‘We’ve extended a lot of effort.?
It is not yet known when the subcommittee will come back with the ordinance, though it could be as soon as the next meeting.
The sign ordinance was first discussed about five years ago.