Columbia Township Planning Commission will hear a request to change zoning from agriculture to residential suburban for property located in Clark Lake’s north shore area. The property is owned by Hitt Farm Incorporated, and is located north of North Shore, and south of North Lake. Although the same parcel continues north of North Lake, owner Rick Hitt is asking to change only the section closest to the lake.
Rick Hitt also owns an undeveloped lakefront parcel close to it.
Hitt undeveloped lakefront property
The planning commission will review the request at a meeting on Tuesday, January 23rd, 7 pm, at the Township office. Notice of the meeting was sent to neighbors and published in the newspaper. This is an open meeting, and individuals can take advantage of three minutes to express themselves during public comment.
Some neighbors, who received the notice, wondered if the owner proposed creating a subdivision. Would those new home owners gain lake access through the Hitt lakefront property? That set off alarm bells. Would Clark Lake be accommodating a community dock where subdivision property owners would moor multiple boats and rafts? This kind of thing is called funneling. Those at Clark Lake and other locations have become aware of the downside consequences.
This website investigated, and here are the findings.
The attorney for Hitt Farms is Kevin Thomson, also a Clark Lake home owner. He says the request to change zoning is based on the following. A Hitt property neighbor, Vincent Simonetti, wished to purchase about a 40 x 40 foot section of the Hitt property so he could erect a pole barn. But the current zoning (agriculture) would prevent a standalone “accessory structure.” If the zoning were changed, to residential suburban, as in the request, such a structure would be allowed.
Vincent Simonetti property adjacent to the Hitt parcel in question.
Kevin Thomson further states this is the sole reason for the request, and it only includes the section of the Hitt parcel that is north of North Shore and south of North Lake. The Township might also condition the zoning change in a way that would address funneling concerns. However, another safeguard is already in place. Funneling is prevented by Township law. On September 16, 2019 Columbia Township adopted an ordinance to prevent funneling, known as the Columbia Township Common Use Riparian Lot Ordinance (CURL). In essence, it stands in the way of attempts to establish multi-boat docking for property owners who would own land in a nearby subdivision. Click here to read the ordinance.
The official notice as it appeared in the Exponent ad section on December 26, 2023.
The State and local government agencies responsible for enforcement of existing laws regarding marinas and in particular use of road ends for access to the lake have not been enforced. Why would we believe that they would enforce any violation of the laws and rules they generate regarding this rezoning request.
If you are concerned, you have an obligation to let your feelings be heard at the public meeting.
Thank you for investigating this proposal for our community.
We live next to the Hitt Lakefront property. We are very concerned about the possibility of this lot being used for a community dock, should the property being considered for rezoning eventually be subdivided.
Unfortunately, we are out of state and cannot attend the meeting on the 23rd. We encourage all Clarklake, & Township residents to speak out against this possility.
Rick & Mary Miller
Rick & Mary I thought you were also interested in purchasing a parcel for the same purpose of building a pole barn/garage yet you are encouraging others to speak against it?
Cheryl & Vince,
Again, we are concerned about the lakefront property (lot403-003-00) becoming a lake access point, with a community dock, for homes that could be built on the rezoned property. . .
Rick & Mary I thought you were also interested in purchasing a parcel for the same purpose of building a pole barn/garage yet you are encouraging others to speak against it?
Have you spoken to Mr. Hitt about his intentions?
Many Many more details would be needed to consider this change – I don’t see a reason to rush on this request
Parcel 403-003-00 is the lakefront parcel with 40′ of frontage. Parcel 251-001-01 is a total of 59 acres. Of the 59 acres, my guess is that the parcel under the rezoning request (north of North Shore and south North Lake) is comprised of about 8 to 10 acres. Why does all 8-10 acres have to be rezoned for Vince and Cheryl to erect a pole barn that would take up but a small section of that total acreage. Divide off the amount that Vince and Cheryl would need that would allow them to fall within the setbacks and let the balance remain zoned agricultural. I’m basing this information off the Jackson County Tax Parcel Viewer.
I do not understand why the property in question has to be rezoned to residential for a pole barn with lake access?