By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
JACKSON – At their meeting on Feb. 28, members of the Jackson Township Council are expected to consider the adoption of two ordinances: one ordinance that defines a dormitory and one ordinance that prohibits dormitories as a principal or accessory use or structure in all of township’s zoning districts.
The ordinances were introduced on Feb. 14. Members of the public will be able to comment on the ordinances prior to their consideration by members of the council.
Township Attorney Jean Cipriani said dormitories are not currently addressed in the municipal code.
“It was brought to the attention of the council that there was no provision positively or negatively (regarding dormitories). The issue of dormitories was not addressed in the code so there was a determination that (dormitories) would not be an appropriate use,” Cipriani said.
Ordinance No. 04-17 defines a dormitory as “any building, or portion thereof, designed or converted to contain living quarters which are provided as residences or for overnight sleeping for individuals or groups operated as an accessory use to a school, college, university, boarding school, convent, monastery, nonprofit educational institution, religious order or other.”
Ordinance No. 05-17 states that “all uses not expressly permitted in any given (zoning) district are expressly prohibited in such district.” The ordinance states that dormitories are prohibited in all zoning districts in Jackson.
In an interview on Feb. 16, Cipriani said schools will continue to be permitted in the Planned Mixed Unit Residential Development (PMURD), Limited Commercial (LC) and Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zones.
“Dormitories as defined by the ordinance are prohibited in all zoning districts in the township. The residential zones that were highlighted by the ordinance were amended in order to remove schools as permitted uses. Schools continue to be permitted in the PMURD, LC and NC zones,” she said.
Cipriaini said dormitories will be prohibited in all zones even if they are proposed to be connected to a school.
