Tom
08-08-2008, 12:24 AM
I have 66 acres of land that was recently changed to Residential zoning from Agricultural zoning. During the winter, the land was used for outside storage of boats and boats hoists. This is not an acceptable use of the land as it is currently zoned, unless a special use permit is obtained. Rich neighbors complained louder than I did, and White Pigeon Township, in St. Joseph County, Michigan, declined my application for a special use permit.
My question is, would it have been an acceptable use of the land had it remained Agricultural, or would that also have needed a special use permit?
What happened is that I have been using the land for that purpose since 2003. Last year we put up a storage barn on the land. The township required that we have a special use permit for boat storage on land zoned residential. They declined my application for that permit. Now they say even outside storage is not allowed on the land. If use of agricultural land for offseason boat and hoist storage is a commonly accepted use, then I will be grandfathered in to continue doing that. If a special use permit was required for Ag. land, then I am screwed!!!
My question is, would it have been an acceptable use of the land had it remained Agricultural, or would that also have needed a special use permit?
What happened is that I have been using the land for that purpose since 2003. Last year we put up a storage barn on the land. The township required that we have a special use permit for boat storage on land zoned residential. They declined my application for that permit. Now they say even outside storage is not allowed on the land. If use of agricultural land for offseason boat and hoist storage is a commonly accepted use, then I will be grandfathered in to continue doing that. If a special use permit was required for Ag. land, then I am screwed!!!