News
The Township Rezoning Process: The Lawson Property - Preliminary PUD Plan
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Recently, Silverman & Company Inc., on behalf of Charlie & Bonnie Lawson, requested a change to
the way the property off of Tylersville Road is zoned and used. The formal application received by the
township for the Lawson property proposes to change the 17.588 acre property from Residential
Single-Family (R-SF) use to Neighborhood Business Planned Unit Development (N-B PUD).
When a Planned Unit Development (or PUD) is involved, a rezoning request must go through two
stages. In the first stage, the preliminary plan is reviewed and evaluated; the second stage involves
another review and evaluation of the final (site) plan. The applicant is only permitted to go to the
second stage if the first stage is approved by the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees. The Lawson
Property application is currently at the middle of the first stage (Deerfield Township Zoning
Commission Review).
At the conclusion of the Zoning Commission meeting on Monday, May 10, 2021, the board
unanimously voted to continue the public hearing in progress to Monday, June 14, 2021. The
continuance allows proper time for review, proponent and/or opponent questions, concerns and/or
comments on the additional conditions the applicant would be agreeable to in order to alleviate
concerns raised by surrounding property owners. The Lawson Property rezoning public hearing is
scheduled to continue in progress before the Deerfield Township Zoning Commission on Monday,
June 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Following the May 10, 2021 meeting, it was indicated to staff one zoning commission member will be
absent from the June 14, 2021 meeting (Mr. Tim Rowell). The zoning commission is comprised of five
(5) board members. When there are four (4) members present, a tie vote [two (2) yes – two (2) no]
moves forward as a recommended denial to the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees. In such a case
the full board is not present, the applicant is given the option to move forward with review by the
available members or request to continue the case in progress until all five (5) zoning commission
members are present to vote on the application. Per a written request, the applicant has formally
requested the application be continued in progress until all five (5) members are present.
At the June 14, 2021 Zoning Commission meeting, the board will be presented with the formal
request and vote to continue the public hearing in progress to the next available meeting on Monday,
July 12, 2021. As such, there will be no public comments accepted or further board discussion on the
case.