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

Members Absent:  Ronald Bell

Guests Present:  None

Public:  None

Meeting:

A         Pledge of Allegiance

Meeting was called to order at 8:05 by Phil Starr.  Pledge of Allegiance was cited.

B.                 Roll Call

All present

C.                Approval of Agenda

Starr presented the agenda for February 26^th, 2007.  Motion made (Yowtz) and supported (VanderMeulen) to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

D.                Approval of Minutes for January ‘07

Motion Made (Matt) and supported (Bouwkamp) to approve Minutes of January ’07 with the following change.  Under “Election of Officers for 2007”, the motions made for both Chairman and Vice Chairman were made by Bouwkamp and supported by Bonzo.   Phil called for a vote, motion carried.

Reports

A.                Correspondence Received

Revised document entitled “State of Michigan, County of Newaygo, Township of Ensley, Land Division Ordinance”

Citizen Planner Classroom Core Curriculum description with Classroom Local Topics

Citizen Planner information was discussed.  Keith Bouwkamp expressed interested in the course but also concern in being able to attend all of the dates.  He asked if it would be possible if there could be a “second” for someone if that person could not make all dates.  Phil Starr to check with Ryan Coffee to see if the course could be attended in such a manner or if each session builds on the last making the division of the course amongst more than one person impractical.  All interested should RSVP to Phil Starr by mid March.  The board will support any PC member who would want to attend plus mileage.

B.                 Township Representative

John Vander Meulen gave the Planning Commission an update on the Township Board including but not limited to the following;

Joan VandenBerg is new Trustee

Internet Tower not feasible

The Township is looking into a high speed internet access for the Township Hall only.

Ordinance reprint will be on hold until the Master Plan is done and the changes required for the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act is done.

Vicious dog ordinance passed

            Assessor contract was changed from one year to three years.

April 6 and 7 clean up days 8:00 to noon 

C.                Information and Inquiry

None

D.                Zoning Administrator

Robert Hall was absent

Public Hearing to Eliminate Section 3.11.B.2

            A.        Cancelled due to insufficient public notice

 Old Business

A.                Land Division Ordinance

Phil Starr reported that the township attorney and the planner recommend that the Township take out Section IV of revised document entitled “State of Michigan, County of Newaygo, Township of Ensley, Land Division Ordinance”.  Additionally, Yowtz pointed out the need to correct Section VII, paragraph A to read “lot width” and not “lot with” 

Motion made (Yowtz) to remove Section IV and make the section VII correction of “with” to “width” and move issue forward to a public hearing for approval. Starr called for a vote: Starr Aye, Bonzo Aye, VanderMeulen Aye, Bouwkamp Aye, Yowtz Aye, and Palmer Aye.  Motion passed.

Starr raised the issue of the minimum 109ft width requirement for a lot and that this minimum footage makes it difficult for a person to add a garage next to a house once the 30 ft set back requirements are met.  Starr also advised that Winfield Township has a minimum lot width of 200 ft with a minimum of two acres.  Yowtz asked if Robert Hall could gather more information on what neighboring townships are doing and Starr said he would request this.

B.                       Michigan Zoning Enabling Act

Phil Starr reported that Robert Hall is not quite ready to move on submission of the final required statutory changes.  Robert Hall is working with the Township lawyer and the lawyer recommends that the Planner makes some recommendations as well.  The Planning Commission will wait for a report from Robert Hall at the next meeting.

C.                      Non Conforming Lots/Zoning Changes

Phil Starr reported that Robert Hall is waiting on the planner to submit some sample language.  Phil Starr postponed until Robert Hall is back.  Hall did report that he is waiting on planner to give us some sample language.

New Business

A.                      Master Plan

Phil Starr opened with the suggestion of going through the existing Master Plan from 1996 chapter by chapter and make any changes the Planning Committee felt were necessary as the chapters were reviewed.  The intro was reviewed and noted that it refers to a Future Land Use map; Phil Starr to locate this map for the Planning Commission.

 Louise Yowtz distributed printed web pages from www.legilature.mi.gov entitled “Municipal Planning (Excerpt) Act 285 of 1931, which listed the definition of a “Master Plan” in “Section 125.31 Definitions” and “Section 125.36 Municipals planning commission; adoption of a master plan; contents; amendment; recommendations; land use issues”.  In the latter, section 6, paragraph (4), and includes the statement that “the plan shall also include those of the following subjects which reasonably can be considered as pertinent to the future development of a municipality”.  Yowtz recommended that the above and the listed subjects be used as the basis and outline of the new Ensley Township Master Plan.  It could also be used to delete existing material deemed unnecessary. 

Phil pointed out hat the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act is the legal basis of a Master Plan.

Louise Yowtz agreed to rewrite the \chapter one of the Master Plan for next meeting.

Phil Starr asked that all be prepared to discuss the chapter two of the Master Plan.

Motion made by (Keith) and supported (Mat) to adjourn at 9:40 PM.  Motion carried.