With colder weather on the way, the Fenton Planning Commission is recommending an ordinance on ice rinks in residential areas to city council.

John Jones, the property owner who built an ice rink in the Andover Woods subdivision in Fenton thanked the commissioners for acting quickly, saying the proposed ordinance is a framework that people can move forward with.

The city placed a temporary ban on ice rinks in residential neighborhoods.

If it doesn’t move forward, there will be a lot of unhappy little skaters, Jones added. He builds the rink because he sees its value for the children in the neighborhood, he said. Jones doesn’t live in Andover Woods but owns property there.

Fenton resident Malissa Bossardet, who was instrumental in having city council approve an ordinance on the keeping of chickens, also spoke on the proposed ice rink ordinance. The U.S. has more laws and regulations than any country in the world, Bossardet said.

She told the planning commission that she hopes they listen to Jones and his family. She believes the ice rink is very important, Bossardet said. It helps bring the community together, and she hopes Fenton adopts the ordinance on ice rinks in residential areas.

The proposed ordinance lists required setback distances. If an ice rink is 26 feet from the property line, it’s not considered to be in someone’s front yard, said Zoning Administrator Brad Hissong.

The planning commission approved recommending the ordinance to city council, 7-0. Two members were absent.

While the Planning Commission made the recommendation to approve the ordinance, the Andover Woods Homeowners Association has voted down Jones' ice rink, according to the Flint Journal.

The article stated that Jones is in process of putting a petition together in the neighborhood.

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