01-14 A request by Mark Groulet, Section 26, 6616 Challis, is
fora15-foot side yard variance to construct pole barn.
01-20A request by Ernest Egan, Section33, 5366 Chilson Road, is
for a 1footside yard variance and a size variance to allow for a
1200 sq. ft. pole barn.
01-21Arequest by Adler Building, Section 5, 6108 Shadetree, is
for a variance to allow a fence 6-foot in height.
01-22 A request by Weiss Land Development, Section 5, 3477 Grand
River, is for a 5-foot side yard and a 50-foot rear yard variance to
construct a retail building.
01-23 A request by Richard Jones, Section 1, 316 S. Hacker Road,
is for a variance to construct an addition to a nonconforming
garage.
01-24 A request by Chilson Hills Church, Section 33, 4440
Brighton Road, is for a variance to construct a spire not to exceed
93 feet.
01-25 A request by Joann Bartolomucci, Section 22, 3914 Highcrest,
is for a 1-foot side yard variance on both sides to construct a new
home.
01-26 A request by Doyle Camp, Section 26, 5522 River Ridge
Drive, is for a 6-foot rear yard variance to construct a screen
porch over existing deck.
01-27 A request by Mark Santoni, Section 30, 2410 E. Coon Lake
Road, is for a 40-foot front yard variance and a 15-foot side yard
variance to construct a new home.
Minutes:
A regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was called to
order by Chairman Staley at 7:00 p.m. at the Genoa Township Hall.
The following board members were present constituting a quorum for
the transaction of business: Rick Staley, Barbara Figurski, Judith
Stornant, Chris Hensick and Jean Ledford. Also present were Zoning
Enforcement Officer Adam VanTassell and Township Manager Michael
Archinal and approximately 25 persons in the audience.
Moved by Figurski, supported by Ledford, to approve the Agenda as
presented. The motion carried unanimously.
A Call to the Public was made with no response.
01-14 A request by Mark Groulet, Section 26, 6616 Challis, is
fora15-foot side yard variance to construct pole barn.
A Call to the Public was made with no response. Moved by Hensick,
supported by Ledford, to table the petition until the property is
staked. The motion carried unanimously.
01-20A request by Ernest Egan, Section33, 5366 Chilson Road, is
for a 1footside yard variance and a size variance to allow for a
1200 sq. ft. pole barn.
A Call to the Public was made with the following response: Robert
Egan - I have no objection to this petition. Ledford - It would not
be feasible to attach a garage to this 100-year old home. It is not
conducive to the architecture. We should try and maintain the unique
architecture of the farmhouse. Hensick - We should not be looking at
architecture when making our decision. It would not be objective or
in line with our responsibility. Moved by Ledford, supported by
Stornant, to approve a 1-foot variance and the 1200 sq. ft. pole
barn as requested, contingent upon removal of the existing garage
and workshop. The practical difficulty is the maintenance of the
architectural design of the home. The motion failed as follows: Ayes
- Ledford and Stornant. Nays - Staley, Hensick and Figurski.
01-21Arequest by Adler Building, Section 5, 6108 Shadetree, is
for a variance to allow a fence 6-foot in height.
Douglas Zachow (representing Adler Building) - The fence is
already installed. It fits the surrounding neighborhood and screens
noise from Hughes Road. The fence is six-foot high and raised
one-foot off the ground. The residence at 6122 Shadetree has
installed a similar fence but it is not raised off the ground.
Staley - Anyone buying that property is well aware of the traffic on
Hughes Road before they purchase. A Call to the Public was made with
the following response: Dorothy Neil - We live at 6122 Shadetree and
we put up a fence because of the noise and to eliminate trespassers.
Moved by Hensick, supported by Figurski, to deny the request since
the petitioner presented no practical difficulty.
01-22 A request by Weiss Land Development, Section 5, 3477 Grand
River, is for a5-foot side yard and a 50-foot rear yard variance to
construct a retail building.
Harvey Weiss - It is our intention to demolish the existing
building "Slender You" and construct a 13,000 sq. ft.
building on the site. Our original site plan could be completed
without a variance. The Planning Commission requested that the
existing driveway be abandoned and a new access be constructed. The
moving of the driveway forced us to move the building and resulted
in a reduction in the size of the buildable area of the site. Since
we could meet the zoning requirements originally and were trying to
accommodate the township and planners we are asking for a variance.
Archinal - The Planning Commission is in favor of the project and
the re-alignment. They made no recommendation to the Zoning Board of
Appeals. Weiss - We could move the building 5' to the west, reduce
the greenbelt on the east and place additional landscaping to the
west. A Call to the Public was made with no response. Moved by
Figurski, supported by Ledford, to table the request until the
property is staked with markings for a 5' setback and a second
marking for a 10' setback. The motion carried unanimously.
01-23 A request by Richard Jones, Section 1, 316 S. Hacker Road,
is for a variance to construct an addition to a nonconforming
garage.
A Call to the Public was made with no response. Moved by Hensick,
supported by Ledford, to grant a variance to construct an addition
to a nonconforming one-story garage, measuring 24' x 36' (less than
900-sq. ft. in area), contingent upon the removal of the
"raised" parking area. The motion carried unanimously.
01-24 A request by Chilson Hills Church, Section 33, 4440
Brighton Road, is for a variance to construct a spire not to exceed
93 feet.
Wally Krall - This addition will be traditional in design. A
three dimensional replica of the church facility was presented.
There will be no lights from the steeple shining out. We would like
to shine a light on the steeple from dusk until midnight. We could
place that lighting on an automatic timer. The height will not
exceed the FAA limit. A letter of objection was received from
Gottfied Schiller. A Call to the Public was made with the following
response: Christine Klasner - A steeple is needed to identify the
church that sits off Brighton Road, behind many trees. Mike Kontz -
The backside of the church includes a tree line that has not been
disturbed. There should be no problem with neighbors to the rear.
Mrs. Wisser - The new building is very large and is disturbing. Al
Patterson - The church is used as a voting site and it is difficult
to find for first time voters. The steeple would be visible to
persons wanting to vote. Sandra Skolnick - The spire is appropriate
and the chime system is wonderful. I do not want to see a cell tower
in this location. The lighting does not bother me since it is
directed downward. I am concerned with the parking lot and the
flooding of my yard. The drainage appears to be inadequate. The
petitioner advised Skolnick that they would meet with her personally
to resolve the issue. Mr. Wisser - I don't see why the steeple needs
to be so tall. Moved by Ledford, supported by Figurski, to table the
request until the board can be assured that the FAA requirements are
met. Further, to review comparable steeples within the community to
determine average height. The motion carried unanimously.
01-25 A request by Joann Bartolomucci, Section 22, 3914Highcrest,
is for a 1-foot side yard variance on both sides to construct a new
home.
A Call to the Public was made with the following response: Tom
Craine - My family owns property across the street. We have a
problem with residents of this home parking on our property. The
garage is now 2' off the road. If this variance were granted, there
would be no room for an addition to the existing garage.
Bartolomucci - I did not know that we couldn't park on the other
side of the street. Jackie Blaire - I have made several complaints
on cars parked in that area. We did talk to the renters and they
were adversarial. We did file a complaint with the township and the
county. Bill Burnett - I believe that a variance would also be
needed on the lakeside. The lot dimensions are not correct. Archinal
- We can verify that in the field. Moved by Hensick, supported by
Figurski, to deny the petition since no practical difficulty was
presented and the petitioner should be able to meet the requirements
of the ordinance. The motion carried unanimously.
01-26 A request by Doyle Camp, Section 26, 5522 River Ridge
Drive, is for a 6-foot rear yard variance to construct a screen
porch over existing deck.
A Call to the Public was made with no response. Moved by Figurski,
supported by Ledford, to grant a 6' rear variance for a screened
porch. The practical difficulty is the location of the home placed
dead center of the lot and the heavily wooded area to the rear that
would eliminate any view from adjoining neighbors. The motion
carried unanimously.
01-27 A request by Mark Santoni, Section 30, 2410 E. Coon Lake
Road, is for a 40-foot front yard variance and a 15-foot side yard
variance to construct a new home.
A letter of objection was received from David TeGrotenhuis. He
asked for additional pine or spruce trees to be planted at the
northern lot line. Archinal - The request you have before you is a
result of an error by my office. It was originally thought that the
zoning was lakeshore residential when in fact it is country estate.
A Call to the Public was made with the following response: Al
Patterson - I received no notice of the variance request. There is a
blind corner coming up to this property and hopefully the petitioner
can cut back the berm to allow for a greater site distance. Steve
Plasner - The home looks real nice. I'm sure the petitioner will
gladly handle the road issue. Santoni - There are many trees on the
lot. We moved $1,800.00 worth of trees to the north side. We will
provide for five additional spruce or pine trees on the north side.
Moved by Hensick, supported by Ledford, to grant the request for a
15' side yard variance and a 29' front yard variance contingent upon
the following: The petitioner will provide additional screening with
five spruce/pine trees on the north side. The petitioner will
enhance the visibility along the intersection of the drive and the
access road by reducing the existing berm. The petitioner will
remove the existing cottage within 90 days of the Certificate of
Occupancy being issued. The township is responsible for the existing
situation and created the practical difficulty that forced the
Santoni's to seek a variance. The motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Figurski, supported by Ledford, to approve the Minutes
of the May 8, 2001 regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
Paulette A. Skolarus
Genoa Township Clerk
