Residents near potential mining sites in Chocolay Township won a delay Monday, Aug. 10, when the board of trustees voted to table a proposed zoning ordinance that would have allowed mining operations in residential areas, WLUC reported.

The board also approved a six-month extension of its moratorium on applications for mining, mineral extraction and other natural resource extraction activities, freezing any new proposals while officials rework the ordinance language.

The decision came after a packed public hearing at which residents raised concerns about noise pollution, well water contamination, the lack of minimum setback requirements and health effects from fine silica dust.

Board Trustee Mark Stonerock acknowledged the crowd's concerns and said he would feel the same way if he lived near a proposed mine site.

"I think we owe it to the people that are in this room and have done their homework and have had sleepless nights and been terrified at what might happen with their property or their health," Stonerock said. "I think we owe it to everybody that's in this room to come up with language that satisfies them as well as protects us and I don't think we're there yet."

Township officials have said the ordinance changes are necessary to bring Chocolay Township into compliance with Michigan state law. But residents argued the proposed language went too far without adequate protections.

Resident Jeff Neuner told the board that the Marquette County Planning Commission had already voted unanimously to reject the amendment. The county commission also recommended the township include setback requirements, Neuner said.

That unanimous rejection came at the county planning commission's July 1 meeting, according to commission minutes. Planner Nico Vermaat presented a staff recommendation against the text amendment, and commissioners Smith and Struck moved and seconded the motion to reject it.

After going into closed session at the Aug. 10 meeting, the board voted to hold a special meeting Friday, Aug. 14, at 5:30 p.m. at Chocolay Township Hall, 5010 US-41 South in Marquette. At that meeting, the board will approve recommendations on the ordinance to send back to the Chocolay Township Planning Commission for further revision.

The moratorium extension means no new mining or mineral extraction applications will be accepted while the planning commission reworks the ordinance. Residents who want to weigh in on the board's recommendations can attend the Aug. 14 special meeting.