Within 20 days and no more than 40 days of receiving an application, the Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing, which is the 1st Wednesday of the month, (or the month following the month the application was received; Application received in January = February ZC hearing). The commission will take into consideration the recommendation of OCRPC and vote to approve the request, deny or approve with modifications. This recommendation is certified to the Board of Trustees within 30 days after the ZC hearing (typically done the following week at the Trustee’s regular meeting), at which time the Trustee’s are requested to schedule a public hearing before them.

Upon receiving the receipt of the ZC’s action, the Trustee’s are required to schedule a public hearing within 30 days. This hearing is typically held the 1st meeting (2nd Wednesday) of the month for the Trustees (ZC hearing in February = Trustees hearing in March). The Trustee’s typically hold the public hearing on the request prior to the start of their regular meeting. The Trustees shall reach their decision to approve the request, deny or approve with modifications within 20 days of holding their hearing on the request. Again, the typical practice of the Township is to reach a decision on the night of the hearing and pass a resolution on such action. However, in some circumstances, the resolution adopting their action from the hearing may not occur until their next meeting, which is less than 20 days after the hearing.

Once the resolution is passed and adopted, the amendment does not become effective until 30 days after the date of the resolution passing and adoption. Once the 30 day period has passed, and no petition has been filed opposing the amendment and action of the Trustee’s, the Zoning Inspector records the adopted resolution and amendment at the Ottawa County Recorder’s office.