FENTON, Michigan – A dispute over a Fenton neighborhood ice rink has caused city officials to consider regulating backyard skating ponds.

John Jones, 37, who owns a house in the Andover Woods subdivision, has put up an ice rink in his corner lot property for six years. It started with him and a few other fathers in the neighborhood, he said. Area children use the rink every winter.

But in late October as Jones was putting up the rink, his neighbor Bob Campbell, asked Jones not to put it up. Campbell, who works as the Flint School District spokesperson, argues that the ice rink is not aesthetically pleasing and lowers property values.

"It's the location, the appearance, the aesthetic," Campbell said. "There's a very strong sensibility of quality of life as it relates to aesthetics (in Fenton)."

Jones said he doesn't think the ice rink lowers property values. It's up only during the winter season and when it's cold out, there can be 15 children using it, he said.

"I'd rather see the kids doing something like that than sitting on the couch or getting into trouble. They'll skate out there for hours on end," said Jones, who has a 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter.

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In August, Jones and his family moved to a new house in Fenton Township, but he leases his house in the city of Fenton to family friends. He put up the ice rink this winter because neighbors wanted it, he said.

Campbell said some of the other families that use the ice rink can put it in their backyards or the children can use the subdivision's retention pond instead.

"There are viable alternatives in keeping with the aesthetics of the overall area," Campbell said.

Andover Woods Homeowners Association board member Mike Piacentini said residents are not allowed on the retention pond for liability reasons.

The ice rink issue went through the homeowners association, where Campbell filed a complaint. The board arbitrated the issue with both the Campbells and the Joneses and came up with an acceptable decision that both sides agreed to at the time, said Piacentini, who also sits on the city council.

"We listened to both sides and we arbitrated it," allowing the rink this season, Piacentini said.

Campbell said he did agree to the rink under some conditions, but says the rink isn't following that agreement either.

Mark Piper of Piper Realty, who manages the homeowners association, declined to comment, citing legal reasons.

The issue also was taken to the city during the dispute by both Jones, who asked for a permit to have the ice rink, and Campbell, who feels it violates the city's land use ordinances.

And, he said that the city influenced the homeowners association to allow the rink -- even though it had twice ruled it was in violation of their rules and should be removed. He also said the homeowners association failed to follow it's own rules and bylaws and that the city isn't enforcing its land use ordinance by allowing the rink.

Now the city is drafting an ordinance that would regulate the ice skating ponds – something the city never did before.

Brad Hissong, building/zoning administrator, said the city hasn't had rules on ice rinks, nor backyard swimming pools, trampolines and basketball hoops.

Hissong said because of the rink argument and because the rink has increased in size over the past few years, the city will consider an ordinance that would prevent a similar situation in the future.

"There's enough of a concern there we think there should be some regulation," Hissong said.

Aside from the Jones' ice rink, Hissong said he knows of only one other backyard skating pond in the city.

The proposed ordinance could regulate the size of rinks, height of their walls, their location -- or simply prohibit them altogether.

Hissong said once drafted, the ordinance will be brought to the planning recommendation before it goes to the city council. He did not expect the planning commission to take it up by this month's meeting.

Campbell said he's been in regular contact with the association to reverse its decision.

Piacentini called the ice rink "harmless Michigan fun" for kids. Piacentini, who has lived in the subdivision for 10 years, said there have never been problems with the rink before.

"It's an ice rink. It's for the kids," said Piacentini, who also sits on the Fenton City Council. "I don't see any demeaning value to our neighborhood. It's a plus for our neighborhood."

Jones said he spends more than $500 to build and maintain the ice rink. It also has insurance on it and parents have to be with the children when they're using it, he said.

Jones has responded to requests from the homeowners association and city to reduce the ice rink's size, to shield its lights from neighbors and that children don't use the rink after a certain time. He also agreed to put it up later in the season next year.

"Of course, this winter hasn't done me any favors," Jones said about the lack of snow on the ground.

The adjustments aren't enough for Campbell, who wants to see the rink removed.

Campbell said he never complained before about the ice rink, because he assumed Jones had gotten the association's approval before.

"There was no secret that it did not sit well with us," Campbell said of the ice rink in years past.

Rob Cox, 41, who lives next to ice rink, said his children, especially his 8-year-old son, use the ice often. It's a young subdivision, Cox said, with many children who have grown up together.

"We've used it for many years because we have children who love to ice skate," Cox said. "Anyone who wants to come down and use it, we always allow them to."