ADAMS TWP — Ongoing slope ordinance revisions occupied discussion again at an Adams Township planning commission meeting Wednesday night.

The slope ordinance, which details rules for the management of steep slopes in the township, has been in progress since 2019.

At a meeting in December, residents and developers commented on item 8G under Application Procedure, which specified that in residential zoning districts, slopes steeper than or equal to 3h:1v, created or pre-existing, must be placed in conservation easements as defined by the township.

This would result in areas that have certain levels of steepness being placed under conservation easement protection, which would prohibit construction or changes to the land.

The newest revision, published Dec. 17, adds a specification that “where possible, steep slopes should be placed on property owned by the Homeowners or Property Owners Association.”

According to the new revision, where slopes steeper than or equal to 3h:1v are present on individual residential landowner property, the slopes may modify the definition of conservation easement to allow for fencing and grass cutting.

No vote was held and the item was tabled until next month's meeting, but members of the planning commission discussed whether large revisions to the ordinance were necessary.

“To me, it's too much ordinance,” said planning commission vice chairman Brett Schultz. “As I stated two and a half years ago when we started this, let's identify the slopes we want to protect and put stricter restrictions on those slopes, and let's identify the steepest slope that we want to have.”

“We've been working on it, particularly this section, for a while,” said committee member Liz McMeekin. “I think in my mind there's been a lot of thought that went into this to this point, and a lot of input. To throw it all out and start over again, I don't think that's where we want to go.”

“This ordinance has another purpose in my mind, and it's to keep the township wild and natural, which is in the Comprehensive Plan,” township engineer Ron Olsen said. “People took a survey and they wanted Adams Township to remain rural. Farming's pretty much gone away, but what this ordinance does is preserve a lot of the mature forested areas.”

Chairman Martin McKinney suggested getting the input of a geotechnical specialist to review the ordinance, and encouraged local residents to submit public comment on the current iteration of the ordinance by Jan. 24 to be reviewed by the planning commission.