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Planning Commission Meeting
Sept. 27 2004
AGENDA 1.
Presentation by Michael Archinal, Township Manager regarding paperless
packets.
2. Review and discussion of proposed zoning ordinance updates.
MINUTES
The work session of the Planning Commission was
called to order by Chairman Don Pobuda at 6:30 p.m. The following
commission members were present constituting a quorum for transaction of
business: Don Pobuda, James Mortensen, Curt Brown, Teri Olson, Dean
Tengel, and Mark Snyder. Also present were Kelly Kolakowski, Township
Planner, and Jeff Purdy from Langworthy, Strader, LeBlanc & Associates,
Inc. By the end of the work session,
there were a few persons in the audience.
Moved by Olsen, seconded by Mortensen, to amend the
agenda to have Item #1, Presentation by Michael Archinal, Township
Manager, regarding paperless packets, discussed at the work session as
there was time permitting. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Archinal stated the Township will purchase laptop
computers for the Township Board, ZBA, and Planning Commission. Each
board member will receive a disk with their packets. They are going to
begin requiring petitioners to submit electronic petitions. This will
allow staff to more efficiently move packets and drawings back and forth
between board members, the planner, engineer, and petitioners. Since the
ZBA’s packets have less detail, they will be the first ones to begin the
program. The Planning Commission will be next and then the Board. The
Township will provide the necessary training and troubleshooting
resources for each member.
Commissioner Tengel questioned if the Board Members
will be able to log onto the website and download the packets and/or
information or if the packets could be e-mailed. That is not the plan at
this time, however, Mr. Archinal will discuss this with the IT staff.
The regular session of the Planning Commission was
called to order by Chairman Don Pobuda at 7:0p.m.
Moved by Brown, seconded by Tengel, to approve the
amended agenda where Item #1 was discussed during the Work Session. The
motion carried unanimously.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of
silence was observed.
The call to the public was made to discuss items not
on the agenda. There was no response and the call to the public was
closed at 7:05 p.m. Chairman Pobuda noted that the Board will not begin
any new business after 10:00 p.m.
Review and discussion of proposed zoning ordinance
updates.
Mr. Purdy stated he was going to review the proposed
changes to the zoning ordinance as discussed at the joint meeting.
The keeping of animals schedule will be changed to
reduce the number of acreage per the number of equine allowed.
In the Public and Recreational Facilities District,
the density requirements for clustering residential developments will
be changed from one per acre to two per acre.
The schedule for commercial uses will add dry
cleaning with a drive through service as a Special Land Use in all
districts.
They have consolidated / reorganized the ordinance
regarding drive through pharmacies and other businesses in commercial
districts.
The industrial district will be changed to have
more intense uses, such as cement manufacturers, chemical uses,
landfills, metal working, tool and die shops, etc. will require a
Special Land Use.
There will be a provision in the industrial
district where lot area can be reduced from one acre to .5 acre with
Planning Commission approval and shared driveways with adjacent uses
be provided. Commissioner Mortensen proposed having all industrial
uses be Special Lane Uses when they abut or are across the street from
residential. Mr. Purdy stated there is currently a 50-foot buffer
requirement when industrial abuts residential and only a 20-foot
buffer when next to commercial. Commissioner Mortensen asked Mr. Purdy
and Ms. Kolakowski to review the zoning map to determine if there are
any vacant sites where this would be the case. Ms. Kolakowski stated
there are approximately 150 acres on Chilson Road between the railroad
tracks and the expressway that is zoned industrial; however, she will
look into this further.
There has been an option added to the PUD ordinance
for Town Center PUD, which would specifically apply to the Grand River
and Dorr Road intersection. This option would be a “traditional”-type
downtown neighborhood development with mixed uses, pedestrian
friendly, etc. Ms. Kolakowski suggested adding criteria limiting the
percentage of the mixture of uses allowed to avoid a developer coming
in and developing the area at a high percentage of one type of use and
then a small percentage as the other (i.e. too much residential and
not enough commercial, etc.) Mr. Purdy agreed and will review this
further. There was a discussion regarding road widths in this option.
It was decided that a road width of 45 feet will allow parking on both
sides and a road width of 28 feet will allow parking on only one side.
Mr. Purdy will reword the language to address this issue.
Landscaping around accessory structures will be
changed to be at the Planning Commission’s discretion and not an
absolute requirement.
With regard to septic systems, the developer will
need to provide a bond as well as space if the septic system that is
constructed fails and needs to be replaced.
Private road standards will be changed. Currently
private roads of two-acre lots with no more than eight units could
have a gravel road. This has been changed to 18 lots or fewer of
two-acre lots can be serviced by a gravel road.
The window sign ordinance definition will be
changed to read “Permanent signs which are affixed to a window or are
positioned within two feet of the inside of a window so that they are
visible from the outside”.
The definition of a carry out restaurant has been
changed to distinguish it from a drive through restaurant.
Mr. Purdy advised he would make the changes discussed
this evening and forward them to the Planning Commission for review.
Ms. Kolakowski advised the public hearing regarding
the ordinance changes will be held on Monday, Oct. 25, 2004.
Moved by Mortensen, seconded by Tengel
to approve the minutes of September 13, 2004. The motion carried
unanimously.
Member Discussion
The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Submitted by: Patty Thomas, Recording
Secretary
Approved by: Barbara Figurski,
Secretary
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