GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Meridian Township
Meridian Tree Ordinance--Dead!
Thanks to the GLHBA Government Relations Team and others, Meridian Township’s effort to pass a tree ordinance has failed! In the Township Board meeting on March 6th, Supervisor McGillicuddy was unable to rally support to keep it going. McGillicuddy promised to discuss further options with the Meridian Environmental Council. The current Land Clearing Ordinance stands without any change, and residents may continue trimming their trees without a permit!
Tree Ordinance Update February 2007
The Township decided to set aside the Tree Ordinance in favor of attempting revision to their current Land Clearing Ordinance. The concept is still the same. That is: to tell you where, when, and how you can cut your trees down. You would have to ask permission. We see this as a taking away more of your property rights. Here is the latest version of the: Revised Land Clearing Ordinance. It has been sent over to the Meridian Environmental Council for discussion at their next meeting on February 20th. The goal is to have it back to the Meridian Board for discussion on March 6th.
Tree Ordinance (Dec. 2006)
Meridian Township is trying to add more ordinances to the mix. The latest is a Tree Ordinance. They claim that they are reacting to a resident that clear-cut an entire parcel. That may be the case, but GLHBA believes that a broad-reaching tree ordinance that severely restricts property rights and penalizes homeowners is not the answer. GLHBA responded with a letter to the Board, and appeared in person at a Meridian Board meeting to encourage an alternate path. The Township pulled the most recent draft of the ordinance off the table for review. GLHBA encouraged the Township to continue encouraging the development of innovative smart growth through the utilization of Planned Unit Developments (PUDs.)
Meridian Township Lighting Ordinance Update February 2007
Meridian Township revised the proposed ordinance. The new guidelines apply to all public an private outdoor lighting. This includes residential. Non-adjustable fixtures that are deemed to be in non-compliance would have to be changed out in five years. Any new lighting installed after the implementation date of the ordinance must include conforming fixtures. This is one more effort by Meridian to tell you how you may or may not light up your property at night. Here is the revised copy of the ordinance: Revised Lighting Ord 012307.
Meridian Township Proposes a Lighting Ordinance (Dec. 2006)
Apparently someone in Meridian believes that light going up into the nighttime sky is pollution. So, they are attempting to pass what GLHBA has termed a Dark Sky Ordinance. The purpose as the Township puts it, is to “curtail and reverse the degradation of the nighttime visual environment.” GLHBA thinks that such an ordinance is unnecessary, and will be costly for the residents of Meridian, and will be very difficult to enforce. As an example, the current draft calls for decorative holiday lighting to be turned off from midnight to 6:00 AM. Who will monitor this?
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