MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE LEE TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY,

JANUARY 3, 2006,

LEE TOWNSHIP HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

 

 

PRESENT:  Commissioners –   Carol Alexander, Toney Kerns, Darla Rippee, Dale Wolfgang, and Tom York

ABSENT:  None

OTHERS PRESENT:  Tim Smith, Township Enforcement Officer, and Dan Coe

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chair Tom York.

 

It was moved by Darla Rippee, seconded by Dale Wolfgang, that the minutes of the regular meeting of December 6, and the special meeting of December 29, 2005, be approved as written.  Motion carried. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE:  None

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  None

 

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:

 

Status of proposed Zoning Ordinance -  A brief discussion took place with regard to mobile home regulations and whether or not the Township has any control over mobile home parks.  Mini-storage buildings were also discussed.  It was determined that they should be a permitted use in Commercial as well as in the Industrial zoning classifications. 

 

It was the consensus of the Commission that we need to have a copy of the Property Maintenance Code before we proceed any further with the proposed Rental Housing Ordinance.  It was moved by Dale Wolfgang, seconded by Darla Rippee, that the Planning Commission present to the Township Board a request for the purchase of the International Property Maintenance Code.  Motion carried. 

 

Tom said he had stopped at Mullins’ Restaurant, and remodeling work has begun.  He presented the new owner with a copy of the sign regulations for Lee Township.

 

The adult foster care home on Olson Road has been provided with an application for a Special Use Permit so they can get their State license renewed.  The home was established in 1978, and has never received Township approval for its operation.  There are also a couple of buildings on the property that are multiple-family dwellings.  The property is not zoned for this use.  If the proposed new Lee Township Ordinance is approved and enacted, this property would be zoned for multiple-family dwellings and would become a legal use.

 

Tom expressed concerned that the Planning Commission had granted a site plan approval for Central Michigan Home Improvements on M-20, and approved the owner’s request to wait to remove an illegal sign until June 1, 2006.  He said that if any similar situations arise, the Commission should talk with Tim before issuing approval, when Tim has been involved in an Ordinance violation on the subject property.

 

ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S REPORT:  Tim said he has visited a property on Bradford Road several times with regard to a lot of cars and junk in the yard.  To date, he has found no one at home, so he left a written notice of violation.

 

The Noack farm on West Stewart Road was supposed to have the front yard cleaned up by January 1, and the rest of the property is to be cleaned up in the spring.

 

Tim said he understood the Board has received a letter from a resident with regard to Tim’s handling of a complaint about a barking dog.  The resident filed several complaints on his neighbors, all having to do with noise (dog, snowmobiles, etc.).  Tim said he went to the homes of all the neighbors (including the resident’s parents, who live next door to the complainant), and they all said they do not wish to file a complaint.  They said the dog barks from time to time, but the barking is not a nuisance.

 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2006:

 

It was moved by Dale Wolfgang, seconded by Toney Kerns, to re-elect Tom York as Chair.  Motion carried.  It was moved by Dale Wolfgang, seconded by Darla Rippee, that Carol Alexander remain as Secretary.  Motion carried.  It was moved by Toney Kerns, seconded by Darla Rippee, that Dale Wolfgang remain as Vice Chair.  Motion carried.

 

There was no further business, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Carol Alexander, Secretary