ADAMS TWP — Residents spoke at the township planning meeting Wednesday to discuss the draft slope ordinance revision.

Chairman Martin McKinney hopes to get the project — a revised ordinance detailing rules for the management of steep slopes in the township — done by the end of 2021.

“The last six months or so, we have been actively trying to resolve it — to get it out of the talk and into codification,” McKinney said.

The most recent draft of the ordinance is from Oct. 19. Its stated purpose is to “provide minimum standards to safeguard persons, protect property and promote the general welfare by preventing excess erosion, hazardous rock and soil slippage, sediment production and other soil and water management problems by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use location and maintenance of grading, excavations and fills.”

The next draft of the ordinance, if there is an additional draft, is scheduled to be posted for public review by the week of Thanksgiving.

“We expect it to be out in advance and in enough time for people to review it and see where we are at,” he added. “I'd like to get this off of my plate this year — that's my goal.”

McKinney said that the township's goal is to have a good ordinance as soon as is reasonably possible, and that leaders are listening and doing the best they can.

A number of residents raised their concerns about the proposed ordinance.Resident Clayton Woodward asked the planning commission about what the intent of the slope ordinance was, and inquired whether it was intended to minimize development in the community.“I'm going to have to become much more educated in what is going on because it has an impact on us,” Woodward said.McKinney clarified the purpose of the ordinance.“What this is, is the ability to protect steep slopes and make sure that if steep slopes get designed and built, they are done appropriately, and to protect some of the steeper properties in the township,” he replied. “We don't want everything cut off and leveled, but what gets done needs to be done geologically appropriately. It is in no way trying to defer or stimulate development. It is simply trying to make sure that we don't allow something too steep or improperly designed to be built.”“The draft ordinance, in my opinion, does not adequately protect existing steep slopes from disturbance,” said Rob Crouthamel, an Adams resident. “I think it has a lot of benefits. I think there are a lot of good parts of this ordinance, and I agree it does help protect adjacent landowners. I'm just not sure it's worth the trade on protection of existing steep slopes.”“Back in 2019, I did say one of the big problems we had was the protection of the existing slopes. We were addressing the engineering part of tearing the slopes down and putting them back,” said resident Tim Stack. “I appreciate the advances you have made, but we're still just kind of treating the top of a hill as a pile of dirt as opposed to a living organism.”McKinney encouraged residents to submit their concerns in writing to the township and agreed the ordinance would be important across the township.“It has an impact on every property owner in the township, and we are trying to protect everybody,” McKinney said. “No matter what we do, it's not going to be perfect. It's a document where we are trying to do better, and protect the interests of everybody.”