MARION TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

AGENDA and MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING

July 26, 2011

7:30 p.m.

 

CALL TO ORDER:

 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 

   APPROVAL OF AGENDA FOR: July 26, 2011 Regular Meeting

 INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS:

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

 APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM: June 28, 2011 Public Hearing & Regular Meeting

PUBLIC HEARING #1:

1)        Proposed Text Amendment – Section 8.02 E #10 – Adding Commercial

OLD BUSINESS:

1)        Proposed Zoning Ordinance requirements for Outdoor Furnaces

2)        Proposed Text Amendment – Section 8.02 E #10 – Adding Commercial

3)        Proposed Text Amendment - Adding Agricultural Uses to Suburban Residential

4)        Discussion – Land Divisions creating non-conforming structures

5)        Discussion – Section 6.27 Wellhead Protection Area possible preemption by NREPA

NEW BUSINESS:

CALL TO THE PUBLIC:

 ADJOURNMENT:

MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:                 JOHN LOWE, CHAIRPERSON

                                                JERRY SIDLAR, VICE-CHAIR

JEAN ROOT, SECRETARY

BOB HANVEY

MEMBERS ABSENT:                   JIM MURRAY

OTHERS PRESENT:                    JOHN L. ENOS, CARLISLE/WORTMAN & ASSOCIATES

ANNETTE MCNAMARA, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

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CALL TO ORDER

John Lowe called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Bob Hanvey asked to have discussion on the State of Michigan Dashboard mandated for municipalities placed under new business.

Jean Root asked to have discussion on cancellation of the August meeting placed under new business.

Jean Root motioned to approve the July 26, 2011 public hearing and regular meeting agenda as amended.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion Carried 4-0.

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

The members of the Planning Commission introduced themselves.  Jim Murray was absent. 

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

John Lowe opened the call to the public.

There was no response.

John Lowe closed the call to the public.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

June 28, 2011 Regular Meeting & Public Hearing minutes

Jean Root motioned to approve the June 28, 2011 regular meeting and public hearing minutes as presented.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion Carried 4-0. 

PUBLIC HEARING #1:

Proposed Text Amendment – Section 8.02 E #10 – Adding Commercial

John Lowe opened the call to the public.

No response from the public.

John Lowe closed the call to the public.

OLD BUSINESS:

Proposed Zoning Ordinance requirements for Outdoor Furnaces

The Planning Commission members reviewed the changes requested at the June 26, 2011 meeting.

John Lowe called the Canadian Agency that certifies Outdoor Furnaces to find out what procedures/methods are used for testing.  The man who runs the department will return his call.  Jack asked if a requirement regarding prevailing winds should be included in the text.  John Enos said that item #4 would take care of any problems.

Jean Root asked what is done with the ashes from the furnaces.

Jerry Sidlar said some put the ashes in their gardens.  John Lowe said the ashes can be put in the trash.

The Planning Commission members requested the following change.

1)         Delete the second sentence from the definition

Jean Root motioned to send the proposed text for Outdoor Furnace to the Board of Trustees for review and comment, and then return to the Planning Commission.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion carried 4-0. 

Proposed Text Amendment – Section 8.02 E #10 – Adding Commercial

Jean Root noted that this is more of a housekeeping amendment than a change of intent.

The Planning Commission agreed there is no need to send this to the Livingston County Department of Planning.

Jean Root motioned to send Section 8.02 E #10 adding the word ‘Commercial’ to the Board of Trustees for review and approval.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

Proposed Text Amendment - Adding Agricultural Uses to Suburban Residential

The Planning Commission members discussed Mike Kehoe’s letter dated July 18, 2011.

The Planning Commission members would like to see the following changes to the text;

1)        Delete the word ‘Agricultural” and keep ‘Crop Operations”

2)        Add language to the intent section of 8.02 Suburban Residential

Jean Root motioned to send Section 8.02 A-Intent and 8.02 B #5 to the Board of Trustees for preliminary review and comment, and then return to the Planning Commission.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

Discussion – Land Divisions creating non-conforming structures

The Planning Commission members discussed Mike Kehoe’s letter dated July 18, 2011.

John Enos felt the Land Division Act covers this.

Bob Hanvey said there is language for platted subdivision yet nothing to cover meets and bounds parcels.  He summarized a scenario of a resident that divided a parcel and the resulting parcel had 4 feet of a barn built on the parent parcel.  Bob Hanvey fells the intent of the Land Division Act is to give municipalities the authority to maintain the integrity of zoning.

The Planning Commission members agreed to have John Enos and Annette McNamara discuss this with Mike Kehoe.

Jean Root motioned to table discussion on creating non-conformities with land divisions to the next regularly meeting.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

Discussion – Section 6.27 Wellhead Protection Area possible preemption by NREPA

The Planning Commission members discussed Mike Kehoe’s letter dated July 14, 2011 and agreed to leave Section 6.27 as is.

Jean Root motioned no action taken at this time.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Dashboard mandate

Bob Hanvey gave a synopsis of the dashboard mandate.  The Planning Commission members discussed ideas for the dashboard.

August 23, 2011 Planning Commission meeting

 The Planning Commission members discussed canceling the regularly scheduled August 23, 2011 meeting.  All agreed that there is no pressing business and to cancel the meeting.  The Planning Commission will meet next on September 27, 2011.

 CALL TO THE PUBLIC

John Lowe opened the call to the public.

No response.

John Lowe closed the call to the public.

ADJOURNMENT

Jean Root motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m.  Jerry Sidlar seconded.  Motion Carried 4-0.