MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION,
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY,
PRESENT: Planning Commissioners – Carol Alexander, Darla Rippee, Lee Thompson, and Dale
Wolfgang
ABSENT: Tom York
OTHERS PRESENT: Tim Smith, Township Enforcement Officer
The meeting was called to order at
It was moved by Darla Rippee, seconded by Lee Thompson, that
the minutes of the regular meeting of August 7, and the special meetings of
August 21 and 22, 2007, be approved as written.
Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE: A letter was received from the Midland County Department of
Planning about the County Planning Annual Workshop, to be held at the Homer Township
Hall on Thursday,
November 8, from
Lee asked about the open house being held by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency on September 13, from
PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments.
Dale commented that the
Carol said that Joel Shook has only had two or three cars on
the site of his special use permit, but that the trees required for screening
along the M-20 frontage have not been planted.
Darla asked if we should look at specific items that are not
covered in the proposed new Ordinance; i.e., a provision for offices, duplexes,
and multiple-family housing. In
examining the existing zoning map, it was determined that there is an area
zoned Residential B at the corner of Eleven Mile and M-20. However, offices are only permitted in this
zoning district by special use permit and are not permitted in any other. There was discussion as to whether it would
be a good idea to work toward changing the Zoning Ordinance to include zoning
districts that allow offices, and then changing the zoning map to include some
of this zoning, giving the fact that we are now working on a new Zoning
Ordinance which will provide for offices, duplexes, and multiple-family housing. The consensus was that it will be quite some
time before a new Zoning Ordinance is in place.
Dale mentioned the discussion between the Planning
Commission and the Board about proposed language in the new ordinance that
would prohibit swimming pools in front yards, and some members of the Board
questioning the need for such a prohibition.
Dale said that recently in
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S
REPORT: Tim said that Ed Schultz has cleaned up most
of the Noack property, except for some junk farm machinery, which is still to
be removed.
The Kleinhans property is pretty well cleaned up.
Kevin Letts will be going to court. The hearing will be August 24th. This is the fourth time he will be in court
for the same thing.
Josh Boulis was given until the end of July to clean up his
property. It is cleaned up, and all the
vehicles he has are operable.
Tim received a barking dog complaint on Gene Woods. Tim visited nine of Mr. Woods’ neighbors, and
only one complained, so Tim cannot take him to court on only one
complaint.
Gordon Pioszak was given 10 days to clean up his
property. Nothing was done, so today Tim
gave him a ticket.
Tim expressed concern with the Planning Commission’s having
approved the request of Mid State Towing for an impound lot on M-20. He felt that the Commission should have
required Mr. Tousignant to have the fenced in area for the impound lot moved to
the back of the property, behind the front line of the building. Dale felt the fence should be a cyclone
fence. Darla expressed concern about the
overhead power line, but had not mentioned it at the public hearing. Carol explained that if a site plan presented
for approval meets all the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, the Commission
must approve it or open itself up for a lawsuit. The Commission can request the petitioner to
make changes, and can require changes deemed necessary to protect adjoining
property owners. The Commission required
the owner to install a screening fence between his property and that of Gene
Maxwell, the neighbor to the east. Mr.
Maxwell agreed with the requirement for the fence and indicated where he felt
it should be placed. At the Commission’s suggestion, Mr. Tousignant agreed to
move the fenced-in impound area 20 feet north of what had originally been
proposed. He did not want to move it any
farther back, because it would mean he would have to remove a stand of trees,
which give the property some protection from someone trying to enter the lot
from the back. Dale pointed out that the
fenced area will be approximately 125 feet back from the center of the road.
Some Commissioners expressed their ongoing concern about the
lack of cleanup of the Frederickson property, which was to have been completed
by
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
at
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Alexander, Secretary