About two dozen people were in attendance for the Monday, July 27 meeting of the Lima Township Planning Commission, which, after months of debate, unanimously adopted a resolution to recommend the approval of a special land use application for Nordman Lake LLC to the Lima Township Board of Trustees.
The Camp Woodbury site on Nordman Lake, located on Steinbach Road between Dexter Chelsea Road and Trinkle Road, has been increasingly used for weddings and other events. Residents have complained about amplified music and noise going on past the 10 p.m. cutoff time stipulated by township ordinance.
After meeting with neighboring residents, as well as Nordman Lake LLC owners Jan Muhleman and Tom Hollyer, a subcommittee composed of Planning Chairwoman Marlene Consiglio, Vice Chairman Ed Greenleaf, and Planning Commissioner Bill Coury passed on its recommendation to the Planning Commission.
In a rough draft of the Planning Commission’s resolution to be forwarded to the board and read aloud by Consiglio, eight findings were cited, accompanied by 14 restrictions. All findings and restrictions are subject to change when the matter is taken up by the Township Board at the regularly scheduled Aug. 10 meeting.
The findings describe how the business is to be set up, maintained, and operated. The restrictions are the conditions recommended to be placed on the special land use permit.
Included are that the campground “Be harmonious and in accordance with the objectives of the Lima Township Master Plan.” And “Will be designed, constructed, operated, maintained and managed so as to be harmonious and appropriate in appearance with the existing or intended essential character of the area, because this use (as a campground) has existed in this area for almost 90 years and is part of the character of the area.”
The restrictions include limiting number of guests at any event, and propose dictating that any event shall be shut down by 11 p.m., and that attendees who are not camping must leave by midnight.
The recommended restrictions also state that “Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. shall be strictly maintained in accordance with the Lima Township noise ordinance.” And that “No amplified sound associated with an event will be permitted outside of the lodge, including but not limited to live or prerecorded music, announcements, speeches, etc.”
Another recommended restriction states that the number of events with over 100 guests shall be limited to eight between May 1 and Oct. 31.
Township Supervisor Craig Maier weighed in, saying that “I believe there’s one point that needs to be made extremely clear. Should the Board approve this special use permit, according to two attorneys I’ve spoken with, you give up your grandfathered rights as a campground should this special use permit ever be revoked.”
In other news, Greenleaf reported that so far, 59 Lima Township residents are in favor of a completely new Town Hall, while 29 are in favor of renovating and adding on to the existing structure. There is still time to voice your opinion on this issue by completing the survey sent out with the summer tax bill, and returning it by Sept. 1.
