Proposed Changes to Cooper Charter Township Ordinance will reduce or eliminate agricultural rights in Rural Residential and other zoning districts

11/9/2017

By Wendy Lockwood Banka

On Monday, November 13 at 7 pm, the Cooper Charter Township Board will vote on proposed changes to the ordinance that would reduce or eliminate agricultural rights in the following districts:

R-1 Rural Residential District (Raising of livestock)
R-2 Residence District (Agricultural crop farming on 2.5 acres or less)
R-3 Residence District (Agricultural crop farming on 2.5 acres or less)
R-4 Residence District (Agricultural crop farming on 2.5 acres or less)
R-5 Residential District (Agricultural crop farming on 2.5 acres or less)
R-6 Mobile Home Park District (Agricultural crop farming)
RD Recreation District (Agricultural crop farming on 2.5 acres or more)
CBD Cooper Business District (Agricultural and horticultural uses)
C-1 Commercial District, Local (Agricultural crop farming on 2.5 acres or more)
C-2 Commercial District, General (Agricultural crop farming on 2.5 acres or more; greenhouse, nursery)
Industrial District, Restricted (Greenhouse, nursery)

Current Cooper Township Ordinance can be found here.
Annotated list of the proposed changes can be found here.

DEANNA JANSSEN
Clerk Cooper Charter Township Hall
1590 West D Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 382-0223

Monique

4/22/2018 10:08:17 pm

I just wanted to say thank you for posting this. I live in Cooper Township and when I called to see about keeping chickens, I was informed that they were removed from zoning and no longer allowed in the township in residential areas. This was very confusing as it was all done somewhat quietly. Removing the small animal provisions and the other animal provisions would seemingly mean that much of the township residents are in violation. As someone with a small farm/homestead operation, this can be devastating. I have no idea if my birds are grandfathered in or if I am unable to expand my flocks. This could cause me to remove both my home and my business from Cooper Township. Thank you for posting the PDF with the proposed changes, since I could no longer find a copy of the previous wording for the zoning ordinances. I find it interesting that these changes passed, when they are contrary to what the Master Plan survey indicated, that the majority of residents want less regulation, more agricultural preservation and enviornmental protection, and 83% are interested in having a local farmers market. It seems that small farms and homesteads would be the way to go.

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Proposed Changes to Cooper Charter Township Ordinance will reduce or eliminate agricultural rights in Rural Residential and other zoning districts

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