Columbia Township passed the CURL ordinance tonight. What’s CURL, and what does it have to do with Clark Lake? CURL stands for “common use riparian lot”. The CURL ordinance regulates how property on the water can be used by multiple owners of property not on the water. This practice is commonly known as “funneling” or “keyholing.”
Trustee Flip Reynolds pointed out that there were three properties on Clark Lake where this could take place. The Township has no ordinance that outlines requirements for a CURL. Because of that, the Township Board voted unanimously to create one. Clerk Barry Marsh explains how a CURL might work and how this ordinance affects it.
The ordinance states “the minimum water frontage of a CURL shall be the greater of 120 feet or 60 feet for each dwelling…served by the CURL. For example purposes, a CURL that serves four dwellings shall have a minimum water frontage of 240 feet.” Further, “A CURL devoted solely to docking of boats shall have a minimum of 60 feet of water frontage for each 2 boats that may be docked on the CURL…” And, “…no dock, pier or similar device shall be closer than 50 feet to another dock, pier or similar device.”
To read the entire ordinance, please access this PDF. (Please see the final paragraph in this article to note the change in the final version).
At the meeting of trustees, there was considerable discussion as to the process of how this ordinance was adopted. It was pointed out by Flip Reynolds and others that this ordinance had not gone through the Township Planning Commission. John Calhoun and others felt that this ordinance was needed now, and putting it through the planning commission might take up to a year. This ordinance was not passed as a zoning ordinance, but as a police ordinance. A police ordinance does not require the more elongated process of a zoning ordinance.
In recognition of the Planning Commission’s role, Flip Reynolds proposed a change that was adopted in the final form of the ordinance. The final sentence in 6-A was altered to read the “Township shall refer a preliminary application to the Columbia Township Planning Commission for advisory comments.” The word “shall” was substituted for “may.”
In English what does it mean.
You all have done very good work on this
So what is the real effect and purpose of the exemption in Section 8? It seems that any action that continues in violation of this ordinance can continue?
What are the 3 properties on the lake where this funneling can take place?
So you found a way to eliminate lake access. Then there’s no reason to live “on “ the lake. We better sell before the public finds out.
I notice no member of the Board of Trustees is answering the questions stated here. Are they trying to shut down boat docking at lake access points? Flip or Bud, can you please tell us what the bottom line is here? I use a dock at an access point shared by 5 homes directly behind lake front homes on Clarklake. This access has been shared by these homes since at least 1948. Are you trying to take away our ability to dock our water crafts at this and for others at similar access points around Clarklake? What is the bottom line result from this ordinance for those of us who use an access point to enjoy the lake?
Recommend you read the second article, a follow up to the original one. It’s relevant to your comment. https://clarklakespirit.com/more-curl/