Watertown Charter Township

Minutes of Special Board of Trustees Meeting

With the Planning Commission

August 14, 2008

6:00 P.M.

Call to order:  The meeting was called to order at 6:01 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board Members Present: Supervisor Adams, Clerk Husby, Treasurer Thelen and Trustees Maahs, Mitchell, Weitzel, Zay(6:05 p.m.)   Planning Commissioners present: Beth Ball, Don Hartwick (6:54 p.m.), Craig Landes, Francis Mcnamara (6:10 p.m.), Ron Overton, Dick Turcotte, Ulrika Zay (6:05p.m.). Absent: Chuck Openlander.    Staff present:  Tubbs, Polverento.

Public Comment:

Agenda Approval:  Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to approve the special meeting agenda as presented.  Motion carried

1.   A history of the plan and an introduction to the goals and objectives for the plan were provided by Polverento.

• Seek to enhance the overall health, welfare and safety of the community, offer variety of choices for transportation and variety in routes, promote recreation and enhance recreational opportunities, involve the public in each phase, provide education to the public about the plan, routing, and development, foster a sense of cooperation and community.
• Improve safety by separating pedestrian and motorized traffic wherever possible and or practical, a way to create a link to points of interest within the township and to tie into routes outlined in the regional plan, to build the plan around the desire to maintain rural character, a way to offer variety in design and designated routes and surfaces, provide more opportunity for exercise and recreation, can add value to the community.
• The plan will identify the areas of greatest need, create a contiguous circulation pattern, coordinate with efforts on a regional level to create a NMCP, encourage the use of alternate modes of transportation, create a blueprint for future growth, create a practicable plan which will be able to be implemented and enforced.

These goals and objectives were refined and are included with the Mission statement in the executive summary of the plan.

      Committee Chair Holly Madill then outlined the work completed by the committee regarding             the survey or inventory of existing conditions; identification of provisions within the CDP,           ordinances, and policies; and a look at other local and regional initiatives.

      The following five main goals are detailed within the plan:

·         Enhance the overall health, safety and welfare of the community

·         Enhance the township's sense of community

·         Create choices

·         Promote education regarding the non-motorized circulation plan and the designated circulation route.

·         Enhance recreation opportunities within the township

The committee identified three areas they felt offered the population density to support and benefit from circulation planning.  Three areas of study, the "pods" , are identified as:

·         Wacousta – the village area, south to the cemetery, north to the township hall, east to the first bridge and west to include the church and the school.

·         Airport Road – centered on the area of Westwinds and Lakeside Preserve and the two intersections of Herbison and Airport Roads, extending south to the Clark Road area.

·         South Airport – two subdivisions under development with other projects proposed at Stoll and State Roads.

Each area was inventoried, attractors and linkages were identified and preliminary plans for improvements are outlined in the plan document.

Summary – The report also contains a summary of intra and inter connectivity; a list of potential resources; suggested implementation strategies; and other information related to the data, methods and supporting documents.

The committee would like to see the township use the information to move forward by working with the Clinton County Road Commission.  A sidewalk ordinance sample is provided to assist the township in the establishment of an ordinance outlining their authority, setting criteria for development and maintenance, and for enforcement.  They ask that the township look for funding and to work to promote community education. 

Discussion:  Trustees and commissioners discussed the plan in some detail.  There was support for many of the implementation strategies especially keeping the public involved and promoting education.  A couple of questions were posed related to the widening of road shoulders and speed control and the potential for use of power lines row's or easements to be included for circulation.

All agreed that maintaining rural character was the most important element of the plan.

Next steps:  The NMCP will be posted to the website, with a request for input.  All the invitees and related agencies will be asked to forward comments on the plan.  The committee will gather all the comments and meet to compile a summary to forward to the Board by year end.

Announcement: A Community Visioning Session for the Master Plan (CDP) is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on October 15, 2008. 

Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m.

Date approved: ________________                             _____________________________

                                                                                    Deb Adams, Supervisor

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Jean Husby, Clerk