Planning Board to Revisit Outdoor Wood Burning Furnaces

ERMA — A group of township residents submitted a petition to the township clerk calling for a voter referendum on the outlawing of outdoor wood burning furnaces.
Council voted March 19 to send the matter back to the township’s Planning Board for further consideration.
Township Council passed an ordinance Feb. 22 in a 3-2 vote prohibiting the installation of new outdoor, wood-burning furnaces used to heat homes and swimming pools. Units installed before the ordinance was passed would be allowed to remain in use.
Councilman Glenn Douglass asked council to send the matter of outdoor wood-burning furnaces to the township’s Planning Board for further consideration such as allowing the units with requirements for a minimum amount of acreage and setbacks from neighbor’s property.
Township Solicitor Michael Donohue said it would take time to confirm the large amount of signatures on the petition. He said the ordinance was “technically” suspended while the review takes place.
Township Planning Director Bill Galestock said the planning board could look at zoning districts, lot sizes and setbacks. He said the night the planning board originally discussed outdoor furnaces only members of the public opposed to the units were in attendance.
“Maybe this time we’ll here from both sides,” said Galestock.
He suggested Township Manager Michael Voll, in his letter of request to the planning board, include any specific areas the board should examine as allowable zones for outdoor furnaces.
Deputy Mayor Kevin Lare said council had the choice of rescinding the ordinance, amending it or allowing it to go to a voter referendum. Donohue said the group of petitioners had the option of withdrawing the petition.
Lare said he believed the petition has 700 to 800 signatures.