SPECIAL/JOINT MEETING

July 10, 2007

6:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER:

APPROVAL OF AGENDA FOR:      July 10, 2007 Special/Joint Meeting

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS:

CALL TO THE PUBLIC:               Agenda Items only – 3 minute limit

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM:                                                                                

OLD BUSINESS:

1)     Premier Farms Walk-thru with Marion Township Planning Commission & Board of Trustees – meet at the corner of Amos and Norton Road

NEW BUSINESS:

CALL TO THE PUBLIC:

ADJOURNMENT:

SPECIAL/JOINT MEETING

JULY 10, 2007

draft minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:                 JOHN LOWE, CHAIRPERSON

DAVE HAMANN, CO-CHAIRPERSON

JEAN E. ROOT, SECRETARY                    

JAMES L. ANDERSON

MEMBERS ABSENT:                   DEBRA WIEDMAN-CLAWSON (will meet Planning Commission on site)                                            

OTHERS PRESENT:                    ANNETTE MCNAMARA, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

                                                PHIL WESTMORELAND, ORCHARD, HILTZ & MCCLIMENT

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CALL TO ORDER

John Lowe called the meeting to order at 5:53 p.m.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Dave Hamann motioned to approve the July 10, 2007 agenda as amended.  Jean Root seconded.  Motion Carried 4-0. 

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

The members of the Planning Commission introduced themselves.  Debra Wiedman-Clawson was absent for this portion of the meeting and will meet the Planning Commission members on site. 

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

John Lowe opened the call to the public.

No response.

John Lowe closed the call to the public.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

No minutes to approve

NEW BUSINESS

No new business.

OLD BUSINESS

Premier Farms Walk Through

The Planning Commission members entered the bus and rode to the corner of Amos Road and Norton Road .  Debra Wiedman-Clawson, Mark Janeck, Jim Barnwell and a writer & photographer from the Livingston County Press joined the group.

Mark Janeck gave a synopsis of Premier Farms Phase I.  He noted the intersection would be open to retain the rural character.  The group went north on Amos Road, Mark Janeck showed the group where the senior housing would be located east of Amos Road and North of Norton Road, there will be a wetland detention along the corner between the road and the housing.  On the west side of Amos Road and north of Norton Road there will be multi-family housing and there will be recreation field buffering the development from the road.  Further north on the west side of Amos Road there will be additional multi-family housing.  Beyond to the west will be open space area.  Amos Road will be improved and the trees along the east side of Amos Road will remain.

The bus turned around and went south on Amos Road, making a left at Norton Road (going east) then a right on Cedar Lake Road (going south).  Mark Janeck noted a 200' wide detention pond will separate the housing from Cedar Lake Road .  There will be a walking path along Cedar Lake Road .  An intersection will be created near the abandoned farm houses.

The bus turned left onto Emily Court .  Mark Janeck showed the area to the south of Emily Court for multi-family dwellings, at the easterly end of Emily Court will be 2 acre plus lots and to the north will be multi-family housing.  There will be an active recreation area to the north of Emily Court and a walking path that will run from the southern corner of Emily Court and Cedar Lake Road to the east, then along the north side of Emily Court up to the recreation area.

The bus left Emily Court and proceeded north on Cedar Lake Road , turning left onto Norton Road .  Mark Janeck said the trees along north and south side of Norton Road will remain and the road will be improved up to Pingree Road .  The bus continued south on Pingree Road to the Radio Control Club driveway.  The bus turned left on the driveway and went east to the interior of the site.  About a quarter mile into the site the bus stopped and the group exited the bus to view the 100 plus acres of open space.  There will be walking paths and active recreation in the open space.

The group left the site and proceeded to the corner of Amos Road and Norton, then up the farm lane to one of the highest points of the site.  The tour was over and the group went back to Marion Township Hall to finish the meeting.

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

John Lowe opened the call to the public.

No response.

Jack Lowe closed the call to the public.

ADJOURNMENT

Dave Hamann motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m.  Jean Root seconded.  Motion Carried 4-0.