Quick Hits: West Bloomfield Planning Commission Turns Down Chicken Ordinance

Highlights from the meeting Tuesday night at included:

Unanimous vote against chickens ordinance

The Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend that the West Bloomfield Township Board vote against a zoning ordinance to amend another ordinance to allow for the keeping of chickens in residentially zoned areas. Township board liaison Steven Kaplan was absent. The township Board of Trustees will likely consider the matter at its Sept. 12, said senior planner Sara Roediger. The vote occurred after a public hearing was held, during which resident Mary Fox had spoken in favor of keeping chickens, as she currently does.

"As a real estate broker, Realtor, developer, what's best for development and future developments and neighborhoods ... this has been one of the hardest decisions I've had to make since I've been on this board," Commissioner Jim Manna said.

"While I laud the efforts (Fox) is making to try and be self-sustaining and grow things, I agree with Mr. Manna that West Bloomfield is not the place for these types of activities to be going on," Vice Chair Steven Budaj said.

According to Roediger, the need for an ordinance arose after the two cases were brought before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Current township regulations allow only animals classified as domestic pets, such as dogs and cats.

“We felt we should develop an ordinance that applies to the entire township instead of deciding each case individually,” Roediger said in May.

Tabled vote on expanded parking lot for nursing home

The commission agreed to table a vote to expand the parking lot of The Court at West Bloomfield, a nursing home facility that plans to expand from 120 beds to 140 beds and asked the commission for permission to expand its parking lot by 44 spaces to accommodate the growth.

After listening to complaints from neighbors Lisa and Larry Garfinkle regarding the noise already produced by trash disposal services employed by The Court's parent company, Heartland, as well as by The Court's staff, the commission asked petitioner Brad Brickel of Pontiac for a number of changes to his application. The matter is expected to be heard at the next commission meeting Sept. 13.

Commission bids farewell to Abbo

The commission bade farewell to Commissioner Albert Abbo, who officially resigned Aug. 15.

"We wish him good luck and good health," said Chair Karmen Santourian. "He was elegant and soft-spoken, but often with great insight."

Roediger said she expects the township board to appoint a new member to fill his seat at its next meeting Sept. 12.