PUBLIC NOTICE – PUBLIC HEARING OF HASTINGS-RUTLAND JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION – NOVEMBER 19, 2025

October 24, 2025

HASTINGS-RUTLAND JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION

BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF HASTINGS-RUTLAND JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION ZONING ORDINANCE AT NOVEMBER 19. 2025 MEETING

Please take notice the Hastings-Rutland Joint Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at its regular meeting on November 19, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Rutland Charter Township Hall/offices located at 2461 Heath Road, within the Charter Township of Rutland, Barry County, Michigan to consider the following proposed amendments of the Zoning Ordinance of the Hastings-Rutland Joint Planning Commission (Rutland Charter Township Ordinance No. 2016-156; City of Hastings Ordinance No. 532):

  1. Section 5.05 subsection A.4. pertaining to general lighting requirements is proposed to be amended with respect to the permissible height of lighting fixtures.
  2. Section 5.06 subsection C.7. pertaining to general screening requirements is proposed to be amended to add a new sub-part c authorizing the Planning Commission to modify the preceding requirements of that subsection when the public benefit could still be achieved with a plan that varies from those requirements.
  3. Section 6.05 subsection A and sub-part 2 therein pertaining to lot coverage in the MU Mixed Use District are proposed to be amended to increase the maximum permissible lot coverage if areas of slopes greater than a specified percentage will not be developed or graded.
  4. Section 12.09 subsection C.1. pertaining to screening and landscaping of off-street parking areas is proposed to be amended to change the minimum required number of canopy trees for an off-street parking area with 11-20 parking spaces, and for off-street parking areas with more than 20 parking spaces.
  5. Section 13.05 subsections B and C pertaining to permitted signs in the MU Mixed Use District and LI Light Industrial District are proposed to be amended to increase the permissible area of wall signs on buildings over 150,000 square feet in area; to provide that wayfinding and other informational signage is not included in the wall sign area limits; and to increase the permissible area of a pole sign and the permissible height of a ground-mounted sign.

Subsequent to this public hearing, at the same meeting or at a different meeting, the JPC will consider whether to recommend approval of the proposed Zoning Ordinance text amendments and submit same for approval by the Rutland Charter Township Board and Hastings City Council, each of which by statute and agreement have the right of final approval and adoption. The JPC and Township Board/City Council reserve the right to revise the text of the proposed amendments as submitted for public hearing and/or as recommended by the JPC before final approval/adoption without a further public hearing, to the extend allowed by law.

The Tentative Text of the proposed amendments, and the existing JPC Zoning Ordinance/Zoning Map may be examined by contacting the Clerk of the City of Hastings or the Clerk of Rutland Charter Township at their respective offices during regular business hours on regular business days until and including the day of the hearing/meeting, and further may be examined at the hearing/meeting.

Written comments concerning the proposed amendments of the Zoning Ordinance may be submitted to the JPC in c/o the Hastings City Clerk at any time prior to this public hearing/meeting leaving sufficient time for the receipt and distribution of same to the JPC before the meeting, and may also be submitted to the JPC at this public hearing/meeting.

Necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services will be provided at the hearing/meeting to individuals with disabilities, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being considered, upon reasonable notice to the Rutland Charter Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Rutland Charter Township Clerk.

HASTINGS-RUTLAND JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION

c/o Linda Perin, Hastings City Clerk

City of Hastings

201 E. State St.

Hastings, MI 49058

(269)945-2468

 

Robin Hawthorne, Clerk

Rutland Charter Township

2461 Heath Road

Hastings, MI 49058

(269) 948-2194