LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREA

The Low Density Residential Area is intended to maintain the option of using land on the ridges in the center of Forest Home Township for future agricultural and forestry purposes, as well as open space and clustered residential use. This area has soils that are well suited for orchard crops and timber production. The center of the Township contains large areas with severe slopes that are not suited for development.

As the population of the Township increases, some of the property in this area, especially along East Torch Lake Drive and Clam Lake Road, will be in high demand for residential sites with a lake view. It will be critical to protect the scenic views that everyone enjoys from our public roads. These Scenic views and open spaces are essential components of the Township's rural character.

A maximum density of one dwelling per five acres will help to maintain this rural character. A minimum of 60% of the area of any parent parcel should be retained for open space or be used for forestry or agricultural purposes. Clustering building sites on a portion of the property is one viable means of providing the necessary open space, while reducing the development costs and limiting the number of roads and utilities that must be provided by the property owner.

The areas designated for Low Density Residential Areas will not be connected to the Bellaire Wastewater Treatment Plant at any point in the foreseeable future. For this reason, sufficient areas for on-site sewage treatment will be necessary.