PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MINUTES
Wednesday September 5, 2007
I. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance - Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call Doug Fleming – present
Donald Hartwick – present
Craig Landes – present
John Maahs - present
Ronald Overton – present
Richard Turcotte – present
Ulrika Zay – present
Charles Openlander – present
Beth Ball - present
Also present – Andrea Polverento, Planning Director
Harriet Smith, resident and member of Non-Motorized Pedestrian 9; Circulation Plan Committee.
II. Communications Received –
Polverento outlined the new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance.
III. Agenda Approval
MOTION by MAAHS and seconded by OPENLANDER to approve the agenda as presented.
Passed unanimously
IV. Public Comment – Non-Agenda Items
Openlander commented that there was an article in the Grand Ledge Independent regarding the newly renovated Freund home, and that the newspaper said it was in Delta Township, and that he would like someone to contact the newspaper regarding the misprint. Polverento said she would do it.
V. Approval of Minutes
MOTION
by MAAHS and seconded by HARTWICK to approve the minutes of 8/01/07 as presented.Passed unanimously
Public Hearing Opened at 7:06 p.m.
Public Hearings
A.
Case #06-10 TXT, Watertown Charter Township, proposed zoning amendments to the Watertown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance. Sections 2.19 (Definitions - S) and 2.17 (Definitions - P).Overton outlined the public hearing process.
Polverento summarized her staff report, indicating that there had been a delay in holding the public hearing to ensure that all requirements for public notice had been met. She explained that following the amendment to section 3.22, Water and Sanitary Sewer Service, that it was important to define the terms "public water supply" and "sanitary sewer service," as referenced in that section. She explained that the sewer definition referred to the definition in the sewer ordinance, and the water definition was similar to one used in DeWitt Township and Clinton County.
Overton added that they chose to use the word "a" instead of "the" in the last line where referring to "a public utility authority" thus allowing for changes in who may be providing those utilities in the future.
Public Hearing Closed at 7:10 p.m.
Unfinished Business
A. Case #06-10 TXT, Watertown Charter Township, proposed zoning amendments to the Watertown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance. Sections 2.19 (Definitions - S) and 2.17 (Definitions - P).
Overton recapped the discussion.
MOTION by MAAHS and seconded by HARTWICK
that the Watertown Charter Township Planning Commission recommend to the Township Board of Trustees to approve the zoning amendments to sections 2.17 and 2.19 as amended and described in Case #06-10 TXT, for the following reasons and findings of fact: 1.) The zoning amendments are necessary to provide clarification and improvement to the existing Watertown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance.
2.) The zoning amendments address areas of the Zoning Ordinance where existing language does not adequately cover current zoning issues.
3.) The new zoning amendments clarify section 3.22 and make it easier for developers, residents and staff to understand all requirements in each zoning district.
.
Passed unanimously
VIII. New Business
Discuss Keeping of Animals – Section 3.21
Polverento summarized her staff report.
Turcotte said that the way the ordinance was read; it said that two acres were required.
Polverento agreed, but said she felt the language was a little vague, and that perhaps adding the word full or whole in front of two acres in the text would help clear up the confusion.
Zay commented that many local children raise animals for 4-H and need ample space and permission to do that.
There was some discussion among many of the commissioners regarding how many animals were appropriate, what was humane space for large animals, and some discussion related to intensive livestock operations.
Openlander asked about the Right to Farm Act and how that applied to this discussion. Polverento said she would provide a copy of the Act to the ORC if a meeting was scheduled.
MOTION by HARTWICK and seconded by MAAHS to send the Keeping of Animals, Section 3.21 to the Ordinance Review Committee for review.
Passed unanimously
Landes and Maahs asked to be kept up to date on that subject and the date of the ORC meeting.
Capital Improvements Yearly Review
Polverento outlined her staff report.
Overton gave a brief overview of the Capital Improvements process, the history of the document itself, and the task at hand, which was to review and determine if any adjustments should be made to the existing report.
Openlander referenced item #30, the sewer improvements, and asked if they were in coordination with the sewer master plan, and the zoning ordinance change.
Polverento said she would review the master plan and report back at the next meeting to see if they corresponded.
Turcotte asked if the Board of Trustees still had a utility committee. Maahs responded that Township Manager Tubbs and Trustee Weitzel sat on the SCCMUA board, but that he didn’t think a utility committee still existed.
Zay felt that following the recent work of the Non-Motorized Pedestrian Circulation Plan Committee, that the subject of paving road shoulders should me moved to a "high" priority rating.
MOTION by OVERTON and seconded by MAAHS to change the priority rating of Item #24 of the Capital Improvements Plan from "Mid" to "High."
Passed unanimously
Polverento said she would report back on the sewer questions at the next 9; meeting, and would then send both to the Board of Trustees to review at that
time.
C. CUP - Pitchfords, On-going complaints
Polverento outlined her staff report, indicating that over the past several months, she had received many complaints from passers by regarding the appearance of Pitchfords. She reported that she had sent a letter and visited the shop in the past few months, and that things didn’t seem to be improving. She passed out a copy of the CUP and indicated many of the violations she had witnessed or had photos of.
Overton said that the violations there had been going on too long, and that we needed to be very clear and very strict in requiring them to make improvements and come into compliance.
Polverento explained that the terms of the CUP stated that all violations must be cleaned up within 30 days, with the option to apply for one 30 day extension, with no repercussions, otherwise, the permit was revoked and they were no longer able to operate. She asked the Commission their thoughts as to if they then would be required to file for a new CUP.
The consensus among the commission was that yes, if their permit was revoked, they would have to apply for a new permit.
Fleming stated that maintaining on-going compliance should be required. They have gotten in trouble many times and don’t seem to stay clean. He said that future violations should result in an automatic ticket.
Overton said that according to the ordinance, each subsequent violation was treated the same, however if a new CUP was developed, that may be able to be included.
Maahs reiterated Overton’s comments, that the Planning and Zoning office needs to be very strict and follow the letter of the permit very carefully.
The consensus among the commission was to proceed with sending certified letters to both the store and the owner with a clear process stated regarding how they must comply, and make follow-up visits if necessary.
D. Administrative Decision - Temporary Uses & Structures
Polverento outlined her staff report. She indicated that a house had burned down on Howe Road earlier this year, and that it had since been demolished. The property owner wished to put a travel trailer on the site and live in it until the house was completed. The ordinance didn’t specifically allow for that type of structure, but that she had drafted a type of contract with the applicant to allow for it, only during the time the house was being built. She indicated he must have a valid building permit in place, and that he must hook the trailer to the existing septic and water and have it inspected.
Ball said she was concerned about the fire hazard that a trailer might be, and suggested possibly adding that the applicant might submit to inspections and that the fire department might be involved in that.
Fleming said that he felt that the document which listed requirements for smoke detectors and fire extinguisher were plenty. He added that you can’t plan for everything, and that he felt general safety guidelines were sufficient.
Overton stated that he felt the spirit of the ordinance was met.
The general consensus of the Commission was that Polverento was ok to go ahead with the administrative decision.
IX. Committee and Staff Reports
A. Executive Committee Report - None
B. Ordinance Review Committee Report – None
C. Site Plan Review Committee Report - Discussed time of next meeting, Sept.12, at 6:30pm.
D. Board of Trustees Report - DRAFT Minutes (7/16/07) – Maahs presented the Board of Trustees Report.
E. Zoning Board of Appeals - None
F. Non-Motorized Circulation Plan Committee Report – Overton, Zay and Smith presented the report from the meeting. Next meeting is September 26, 2007. Overton invited everyone to attend.
G. Environmental Affairs Committee Report - None
H. Capital Improvements Committee Report - None
I. Staff Report -
1. Assistant’s Report - July 2007 - Polverento noted that building permits were down.
2. Director’s Report - June 2007
X. Comments and Questions from Audience, Staff and Commissioners
Polverento shared with the Commission that Planning Assistant Amy Wixon would be getting married next month, and would be changing her name to Amy Kinney, so to be aware of that when receiving correspondence from her.
Polverento also shared with the Planning Commission that there was some interest on behalf of the owners of the Wacousta Mall to open a used book shop inside. She asked the commissioners about Special Land Use Permits and whether they should be required.
XI. Adjournment
MOTION by ZAY and seconded by MAAHS to adjourn the meeting.
Passed unanimously
Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Date approved:
_____________________________ _____________________________
Ron Overton, Chair Don Hartwick, Secretary