|
MARION
TOWNSHIP
AGENDA and DRAFT MINUTES
ZONING
BOARD OF APPEALS
MARCH 6, 2006
CALL TO ORDER:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
CALL TO PUBLIC:
Agenda Items only – 3 minute limit
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
March 6, 2006
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR:
January 9, 200 Regular Meeting
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS: ZBA
Case # 01-06 – International Transmission Company –
Madrid
Station
CALL TO PUBLIC:
ADJOURNMENT:
DRAFT
MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT:
John Lowe, Dan Lowe, Linda Manson-Dempsey (part of meeting), Larry
Fillinger
and Dan Rossbach
MEMBERS
ABSENT: None
OTHERS
PRESENT: Mike
Kehoe, Township Attorney
Annette McNamara, Zoning Administrator
****************************************************************************************************
CALL TO ORDER
John Lowe called the meeting to order at
7:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
NEW BUSINESS
ZBA Case #01-06—International Transmission Company (
Madrid
Station)
Donna Zalewski from International Transmission
Company was present to ask for an interpretation of the zoning
ordinance. ITC
owns and operates the high voltage transmission lines.
They would like to expand the Madrid
Station to increase the capacity and
reliability of the electric transmission station for this area.
ITC feels this is an
essential service and is therefore exempt from the
requirements of the zoning ordinance.
John Lowe asked Mike Kehoe to comment on Carlisle/Wortman’s
review letter. Mr. Kehoe said
there are two different
issues before the ZBA and that’s how Carlisle/Wortman
prepared its review. There is a
request for a variance because
the use is non-conforming, and ITC is asking for an increase
in the non-conforming use. The
other issue is that ITC
would like an interpretation from the ZBA as to whether or
not they meet the definition of “essential service.”
If the ZBA
determines that the operation is an essential service, then
the variance aspects don’t need to be addressed.
Ms. Zalewski provided some background on the structure.
It’s an 840 square foot control center that houses relay
controls. The
controls need to have weatherproof covering.
John Lowe said that OHM, the township engineer, was somewhat
concerned about the guardrail along the embankment.
Ms. Zalewski said ITC is willing to put the guardrail in
along the driveway, and she provided drawings.
They will also
provide the legal description for the transmission corridor.
Mr. Lowe said if it is determined that this is an essential
service, he would still like the township to be able to
review the site plan. Mr. Kehoe
said they would still have to get a
land use permit.
Linda Manson-Dempsey asked what area would benefit from the
upgrade. Ms. Zalewski said it
would provide an update
for all of
Livingston
County
. Dan Rossbach asked how long
this station would be adequate for the county.
Ms. Zalewski
said their engineers have done 15-20 year load projections.
Ms. Zalewski explained that when DTE had the system, they spent a lot of
their budget on storms and customer call
centers, because they were always responding to reactive
situations. When the blackout
happened, the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission said the grid needed to be upgraded,
and they offered incentives for local utilities to sell off
transmission assets. All
of ITC’s capital budget dollars are allocated to building transmission,
and rebuilding the grid in
southeastern
Michigan
.
ITC’s engineer, Steve Watros, reviewed the drawings and
explained the operation. Two residents, Kristie
Bergman,
2788 Pingree, and Nora
Hretz-Whitefoot, 2853 Dutcher, reviewed the drawings and posed questions to
the ZBA and
Mr. Watros.
Dan Lowe motioned to determine, for ZBA Case #01-06—International Transmission Company, that this is an essential
service based on this request, and that ITC will comply with the three conditions in OHM’s March 6 review letter, and
they will go through administrative review when obtaining a land use permit as suggested by Carlisle/Wortman in
March 2, 2006 review letter. Larry Fillinger seconded. Roll call vote: Larry Fillinger, Dan Rossbach, John Lowe,
Dan Lowe—all yes. Motion carried 4-0.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
None.
ADJOURNMENT
|
