MARION TOWNSHIP

            PLANNING COMMISSION

                     APRIL 15, 2003 @ 7:30 PM

MEMBERS PRESENT:   Debra Wiedman-Clawson, Jim Anderson, Jean Root and Dave Hamann,

                                           and John Lowe (arrived late)

MEMBERS ABSENT:            None

OTHERS PRESENT:       Kathleen Kline-Hudson, L.C. P.D.  Brian Shorkey, L. C. P. D.

                                           Bob Hanvey, Township Supervisor

                                           Annette McNamara, Zoning Administrator

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CALL TO ORDER  

Dave Hamann called meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Jean Root motioned to approve the agenda as presented.  Jim Anderson seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES  

Dave Hamann motioned to approve the minutes from the March 18, 2003 Comprehensive Plan Workshop

as amended.  Debra Wiedman-Clawson seconded.  Motion carried 4-0 (Root abstained) 

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BUSINESS

Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives

Infrastructure and Community Facilities:  There are two goals listed under this heading.  The first one is to assist the

Livingston County Road Commission (LCRC) in maintaining a safe and efficient road network and improve roads to

promote use in a manner consistent with the goals and objectives of the Marion Township Comprehensive Plan.

Brian asked if the Planning Commission was happy with the goal as written.  It was decided to keep the goal as

written.  The first objective will be rewritten to read “Prioritize township road needs in cooperation with the

Livingston County Road Commission.”  The second objective will remain as written.  The third and fourth objectives

will be replaced with verbiage from the Livingston County goals and strategies. Objective three will be “Encourage

development to areas where adequate infrastructure is present or available.”  Objective four will be “Maintain focused

infrastructure improvement to areas that can support more dense development.”

Kathleen pointed out that the survey results indicated quality of gravel roads and maintaining the rural character. 

Should an objective be created to address these concerns that might encourage planned developments along paved

roadways.  The Planning Commission was not in favor of making that an objective.

The second goal will read “Where public utilities exist, insure a safe and adequate water supply and environmentally

sound sewage treatment which are efficiently provided and cost effective.”  The first objective for this goal will be

expanded to read “Continue to coordinate and maintain the provision of sewer and water infrastructure to include

designated drinking water protection area.  Prepare and implement a plan for the carefully timed provision of public

sewer and water service in limited areas of the township, consistent with the development goals and objectives of the

Marion Township Comprehensive Plan.”  Objectives two and three will be eliminated. 

Housing and Residential Areas:  Keep the first goal from the Marion Township plan as written. Objective one will be

changed to read “Encourage new residential development to fit into the rural character of Marion Township.”

Objective two stays the same.  Objective three will be reworded as “Designate appropriate area of the township for

manufactured housing.”  Eliminate the second goal.  Objective four should read “Encourage and cluster new residential

development to preserve open space and agricultural land.”  Objective five should read “Structure zoning and land

division regulations to permit open space developments.”  For objective six, combine strategies 4, 6, and 8 from

 page 38 and 39 of the Livingston County goals and strategies.  Objective six will read “Encourage an array of zoning

districts and innovative zoning ordinance language that permits many different types of housing opportunities such as

live-work units, elder cottage housing, granny flats, and housing for special needs.”   

Interjurisdictional Cooperation:  Keep the first goal and change the first word to “encourage.”  Delete objectives one

and three.  Make objective two the new objective one and change wording to “Provide adjoining municipalities with

 up-to-date copies of the Marion Township Comprehensive Plan.  Leave the second goal as written, as well as the

three objectives.

Agricultural:  Kathleen presented a sample from Cohoctah Township on agricultural goals and objectives.

It was agreed to use the same goal and six objectives for this section; however, eliminate the language pertaining to

 transfer of development rights (TDR) and reword the objective regarding farming activities.

(Jean Root excused herself from the meeting.)

Discussion was held regarding Transfer of Developmental Rights and Purchase or Developmental Rights.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2003 at 7:30 p.m.  Hazard Mitigation, Transportation and

Economic Development will be discussed. 

CALL TO THE PUBLIC  

None.

ADJOURNMENT