Ovid Township master plan needs corrections
A frustrated Ovid Township board will send its Master Plan revision back to its planning commission for some correction before passage.
At its August meeting, supervisor Jeff O'Dell questioned planning board chairman Andy AcMoody.
"Here's my problem. We have been like you say, a year and a half on this. We have spent thousands of dollars. We still have spelling errors in a final document coming to this board," he said.
O'Dell and the board did not fault the planning commission, but criticized the consultants.
"I can't disagree with you," AcMoody said. "We sent it back nine times" to consultant McKenna and Associates.
The board was unhappy with a provision calling for "non-motorized transportation" trails along old U.S. 27, Angola Road, and along the Coldwater River from Coldwater Lake.
"It'll probably never happen even though it's a priority," AcMoody said. "We don't have the funds for it. It's in there because the public wanted to years ago, and we didn't strike it out."
The proposal came when Indiana planned a trial from Ft. Wayne to Pokagon Park north of Angola.
Clerk Any Havasy noted her name was spelled wrong. Also, there was another cemetery encompassed in Lockwood Cemetery, one named Union Cemetery.
No land is available with marijuana recreational sales allowed only in the Fenn Road Enterprise Zone. AcMoody said, "No expansion or reduction of the enterprise zone is in the master plan."
The township has approved two solar farms totaling around 30 acres. Both were approved because they were close to the Kinderhook substation in Ovid Township. Both approved solar farms are located in an area deemed not appropriate for solar farms.
AcMoody said the township master plan states that 5% to 7% of the land could be zoned for solar farms. He said that based on legal advice, the commission did not reduce the limit to 3% to 5%.
Because Coldwater Solar already presented plans for a large 1,500-acre project straddling Ovid and Coldwater townships, the commission went for the larger number.
AcMoody said the solar company never brought up possible litigation.
"If we had started the master plan prior to them coming to us, we probably would have been alright," AcMoody said.
The 5% to 7% would allow for 900 acres maximum to 500 minimum. There is an ordinance in place requiring setbacks, restrictions around residences, and for construction and decommissioning.
"So that's where the planning commission set it because of potential litigation for the township in the future," AcMoody said.
O'Dell and the board approved a motion to send the master plan revision back to the planning commission to correct spelling, add the additional cemetery and strike the non-motorized vehicles section. It also wanted to make clear that Consumers Energy Kinderhook substation is in Ovid Township on Pearl Road.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Ovid Township master plans needs corrections
