Ensley Township in Newaygo County MI

Planning Commission

August '07 Minutes

Ensley Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

August 27, 2007

Members Present: Phil Starr, Matthew Bonzo, Ralph Palmer, John VanderMeulen, Keith Bouwkamp, Ron Bell and Louise Yowtz

Members Absent:         None

Guests Present:  8

Meeting:

            A         Pledge of Allegiance

Meeting was called to order at 8:00 by Phil Starr.  Pledge of Allegiance was cited.

B.                 Roll Call: 

All members were present.

C.                 Approval of Agenda

Starr presented the agenda for August 27, 2007.  Motion made by Yowtz/VanderMeulen to approve the agenda. All ayes, motion carried.

D.                Approval of Minutes

Motion made by Bouwkamp/Palmer to approve Minutes of July 30, 2007. All ayes, motion carried.

Public Hearing – Alfred Raymond

Motion made by VanderMeulen/Yowtz to close the regular meeting and open the public hearing.  The purpose of the public hearing is for the special land use of a parcel of land that has no road frontage.  The applicant submitted a land division request to divide this parcel into two (2) new parcels.  Section 3.04 mandates that all lots shall have frontage on a public or private street for a distance equal to or greater than the minimum lot width specified for the district in which the lot is located.  This parcel is in the A-R district.

Section 3.37 mandates that the depth of all lots created of record shall not exceed four times the width.  The Planning Commission may permit the creation of a lot which exceeds these standards as a special land use, providing that the listed standards have been satisfied.

The proposed divisions and combining of another parcel owned by the applicant would result in two more conforming lots than the existing non conforming lot which is accessed by easement only.  The proposed resulting parcels would exceed the 4:1 lot depth to width ration.  The resulting parcels would have frontage on a public street.

The Raymonds are in the process of purchasing the 75 feet for a driveway.  They would have to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance.

Motion made by Yowtz/Bouwkamp to close public hearing and open the public meeting

Motion by Yowtz/Bouwkamp to approve the variance to meet the 4:1 ratio – contingent on the Zoning Board of Appeals decision.  All ayes, motion carried.

Public Hearing – Conover Lake Property

There was a motion by Bouwkamp/Bell to go to public hearing on Conover Lake.  All ayes, motion carried. 

Mr. Hall explained the need to make a sound decision as there will most likely not be much change in the near future for the property, but the potential is there for development.  The decisions that the Planning Commission makes will be documented in the formal resolution.  Both sides will agree with this resolution.

Mr. Stuive explained the PUD changes that the Planning Commission wanted.  He told that lot 15 was adjusted to meet the 4:1 ratio, the preservation area along 120^th Street was accomplished, lots 1 and 2 are allowed shared access, the language of the covenant is to preserve the large trees, the open space was made larger, the road grades were approved by an engineer, and the family would like to build tennis courts and basketball courts in the open space, which was made an acre larger.  Mr. Bloom asked if there would be parking by the courts.  Mr. Stuive said there would be room for it.

Mr. Sevald wanted to be sure that all the agreements are made permanent.  If the association wanted to make changes later, the Township Board would have to approve them.

Mr. Bloom explained that a PUD is a complicated process and the decisions will affect the family for many years to come.  A PUD requires a resolution approved by both the planner, both attorneys, the zoning administrator, the Township Board and at the county as a deed restriction.

The planner and the attorneys will make a resolution and recommendations at the September 24^th meeting.

There was a motion by Yowtz/Bell to close the public hearing and open the regular meeting.  All affirmed. 

Bouwkamp/Bell made a motion to table the discussion until they have the resolution next month.  All affirmed.

Reports

A.                 Correspondence Received

Starr presented education conference material.

B.                 Township Representative

John VanderMeulen gave the Planning Commission an update on the Township Board.

C.                 Public Comment

9:15 PM none

D.                Zoning Administrator

Robert Hall reported that the Board has adopted several amendments.  Verduin is reformatting the ordinance and Hall will get caught up so everyone will get a new up to date ordinance.

 Old Business

A.                 Planning Commission By-Laws

Yowtz presented the PC with a new copy of the by-laws that included information for the minutes.  Mr. Bloom stated that requirements are something to “strive for” but should not be higher that required by state law.  There was much discussion about hiring a secretary to take the minutes.  The PC will discuss the by-laws at the next month’s meeting, paying attention to the conflict of interest.

New Business

A.                 Additional meetings when needed

There will be a special meeting on October 22 at 7:00 PM to work on the master plan.

Motion made by VanderMeulen/Bouwkamp to adjourn at 9:52 PM.  Motion carried.

Submitted by,

Cynthia Harwood,

Clerk

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