REGULAR MEETING

May 26, 2009

7:30 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER:

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

APPROVAL OF AGENDA FOR:         May 26, 2009 Regular Meeting

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS:

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM:   April 28, 2009 Regular Meeting

OLD BUSINESS:

     1)     Howell Area Parks & Recreation Five-Year Plan

2)     Proposed Text Amendment – Section 6.07 size requirements for Accessory Structures

3)     Comprehensive Plan Updates & Revisions

NEW BUSINESS:

CALL TO THE PUBLIC:

ADJOURNMENT:

                                 DRAFT MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:                 JOHN LOWE, CHAIRPERSON

                                                JEAN ROOT, SECRETARY & ACTING CO-CHAIR

BOB HANVEY

JIM MURRAY

MEMBERS ABSENT:                   JERRY SIDLAR

OTHERS PRESENT:                    ANNETTE MCNAMARA, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

                                                JOHN ENOS, CARLISLE/WORTMAN

LES ANDERSEN, TRUSTEE

SCOTT LLOYD, TRUSTEE

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CALL TO ORDER

John Lowe called the meeting to order at 7:56 p.m.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Jean Root motioned to approve the May 26, 2009 regular meeting agenda.  Jim Murray seconded. 

Motion Carried 4-0.

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

The members of the Planning Commission introduced themselves.  Jerry Sidlar was absent.

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

April 28, 2009 Regular meeting minutes

Bob Hanvey motioned to table the April 28, 2009 minutes to the June 23, 2009 meeting due to lack of quorum.  Jean Root seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

OLD BUSINESS

Howell Area Parks and Recreation Master Plan

John Lowe asked the Planning Commission members if they would like to update the Marion Township Parks Master Plan along with or instead of adopting the Howell Area Parks and Recreation (HAPRA) Master Plan.

John Enos told the Planning Commission members the HAPRA Master Plan will be approved by the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  Marion Township has invested time and money into the HAPRA plan yet can specify a plan for Marion Township Parks #1 & 2, and submit it to the DNR also.

Jean Root wants to know who would have jurisdiction over the Marion Township Parks.  She has seen the previous Parks Authority cannibalize other parks and uses.  She saw parents use their time and resources only to have the authority threaten to take it away.

Charles Musson, 333 Triangle Lake Road ; the Board of Trustees can join the authority to get the grants or Marion Township can update their own plan to apply for grants.  If you don’t want Marion Township parks to be a part of HAPRA then update the Marion Township Parks Master Plan.  If you want to retain your own parks, have your own plan.

Les Andersen, 4500 Jewell Road; told the Planning Commission members that Deb Mikula, Director for HAPRA told the Planning Commission in April that she wanted to take Marion Township out of the parks business.

Paula Wyckoff, Treasurer corrected Les Andersen, she spoke with Deb Mikula and Deb said she wants to take Marion Township out of the recreation business, not the parks business.

Jean Root asked if Marion Township wants passive or active parks, she is not clear on what the Parks Advisory Committee wants.

John Lowe answered passive and he thinks HAPRA is more active.  John Lowe told the Planning Commission members the Parker High School fields are open to the Marion Township residents as long as the gates are open.  Our residents can use Marion Township Park #1 for passive and Parker High School for active.

The Planning Commission members asked Annette McNamara to go through the Marion Township Park Master Plan to note what changes should be made to update the plan.  Then pass it on to Lucy at Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc. to make sure it is ready to submit to the DNR for approval.

Jean Root wants to know if both plans were adopted which would override development of future use HAPRA or Marion Township .

The Planning Commission members agreed it would be a good idea to have a joint meeting between the Board of Trustees and the Planning Commission to have questions answered.

Les Andersen, 4500 Jewell Road ; he agreed a joint meeting with the Board of Trustees and Planning Commission would be a good idea.  Right now there are too many questions and he is afraid if the Planning Commission adopted a plan it would get bogged down at the Board of Trustees level.

Jean Root motioned to table the HAPRA Master Plan.  Annette McNamara will review the Marion Township Park Master Plan dated 2002-2007 and will include the HAPRA resident input then forward to Lucy at Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc. for her review.  Jim Murray seconded.  Motion carried 4-0. 

Proposed Text Amendment – Section 6.07 size requirements for Accessory Structures

Jean Root motioned to send Section 6.07 size requirements for accessory structures to the Board of Trustees for preliminary review.  The text should include the changes discussed at the Planning Commission meeting tonight.  Jim Murray seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

Marion Township Comprehensive Plan Updates

John Enos told the Planning Commission members that the update will not be extensive.

Jean Root motioned to table the Comprehensive Plan updates to the June 23, 2009 Planning Commission meeting.  The Planning Commission members will review the current plan and come back with comments.  Bob Hanvey seconded.  Motion carried 4-0.

NEW BUSINESS:

No new business.

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

John Lowe opened the call to the public.

Bob Hanvey gave the Planning Commission members an update on HomeTown Village of Marion and the possible placement of the MHOG water tower within the Copperfield development.

John Lowe asked if anyone was going to the Citizen Planner Workshop.  No response.

John Lowe closed the call to the public.

ADJOURNMENT

Jean Root motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:00p.m.  Jim Murray seconded.  Motion Carried 4-0.