Elmwood Township Planning Commission members voted Tuesday night to table a vote on two important amendments until their May 2 meeting. The two amendments would have established new standards for the Recreational-Commercial (RC-1) zoning district and for PUD (planned unit development) developments. The second amendment has attracted attention for its innovative use of a "hearing officer" who would review and, in one version, decide on PUD applications. The use of a hearing officer is common in other states, but seems to be unprecedented in Michigan. Advocates for the practice (including township attorney Jim Young) say it can help depoliticize a process that is often controversial.

The vote on the two amendments was put off in order to give the planning commissioners and staff time to analyze and digest comments from the public, including a lengthy and detailed comment from the Gordie-Fraser company. The local engineering firm is representing the Glacier Bay water park proposed for the township's largest RC-1 parcel. Several planning commissioners expressed chagrin that the Gordie-Fraser comments were presented only on the evening of the meeting, with no time for review. The Glacier Bay developers have said that they want their project to be considered under the ordinance as it is currently written, without the proposed amendments, and--perhaps coincidentally--the late submission of Gordie-Fraser's comments will have the effect of delaying any implementation of the new amendments.