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A public hearing at the board's November meeting brought out residents on both sides of the issue, chiefly Tim and David Peterson, owners of Peterson's 31 North restaurant. The Peterson's believe that the amendments are specifically aimed to limit their commercial activity on Torch Lake.

If passed, the amendments would prohibit lake accesses, boat ramps, hoists, lifts, docks, boat launches and shoreline from being used for commercial purposes. The Peterson's believe that they are the only commercially zoned parcel in the township that would be affected by the ordinance and that, because of this, they are specifically being targeted by "exclusionary zoning."

Township Supervisor Bob Spencer believes the township needs more time to look at this possibility. He also noted that a marina on Golden Beach Drive was possibly zoned for commercial use and would fall under the ordinance.

Spencer said he was currently trying to ascertain whether the marina was commercial or not. According to his research, the property was zoned and assessed as residential. "More time" was needed on the issue, he said, and that the township needed to determine the impact of the ordinance if It would affect both pieces of property.

"This is important stuff," Spencer said. "It obviously is or there wouldn't be this level of interest. I see no urgency in getting this done."

Trustee Alan Martel was concerned with the purpose of the ordinance and wanted the Planning Commission to clarify its intent. The wording of the ordianance itself says that the restrictions are meant to "limit the number of users of a riparian or littoral land parcel in order to preserve the quality of the adjacent waters, to promote safety, and to preserve the quality of recreational use of all waters within the township."

Martel said the original intent of the ordinance was to be an anti-funneling ordinance and that it should reflect that.

"It should say what it means and what it's doing," Martel said.

Funneling is the practice of granting lake access to non lakefront users by way of a small waterfront lot.

"We need a reasonable way to get to the lake and protect property owners," Martel said.