Ensley Township in Newaygo County MI

Planning Commission

July Minutes

Ensley Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

July 31, 2006

Members Present:        

Phil Starr

Matthew Bonzo

John Vander Meulen

Ralph Palmer

Louise Yowtz

Ronald Bell

Members Absent:

Keith Bouwkamp

Guests Present:

Robert Hall Zoning Administrator

Public:

            None

Meeting:

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

Starr presented the agenda.  Ron Bell made a motion to approve the agenda, Louis Yowtz approved.  Motion carried.

Unapproved meeting minutes of June  26^th ‘06

            Minutes of 6/26/06 were reviewed.  There were several changes made to add “motion carried” to all the motions made in the minutes and correcting the spelling of Ryan Coffey.

Motion made (Yowtz) and supported (Bell) to approve minutes with above changes.  Motion carried.

Reports

A.  Correspondence Received

Ryan Coffey, MSU Extension Land Use Educator has agreed to come to the August meeting of the Planning Commission.  He was asked by Phil to bring information about Home Occupation Zoning, Dangerous Building and Land Division Ordinances.  The Planning Commission was asked by the Township Board to look into the latter.  Phil reminded that his services are free to the township and that this is a good opportunity for the Planning Commission.  

B.     Township Representative

John Vander Meulen asked if there were questions concerning the meeting minutes and gave a quick recap.

C.     Information and Inquiry

Phil Starr reported that as of 7/22/2006, the Planning Commission has used a total of $4,683.95 of the $10,850 budgeted.

Checks for this month for PC members will be issued next month due to calendar/meeting date issued this month. 

Master Plan surveys are coming back and Phil is asking us to start to think about what to do next. 

D.    Zoning Administrator

Robert Hall passed out a Zoning Administrators Report for the month of June, 2006, which included actual notes and summaries of his activities of the month. 

Public Hearing Eave Overhang

The Freemont Times Indicator failed to put the notice for the public hearing in the paper and thus, there was no public meeting for Eave Overhang held.  The public hearing for eave overhang to be held at the August meeting,

An open for discussion within the PC was held. Phil Starr has had  input from neighbor to have no requirement.

Bob Hall reported that he investigated several building professional associations/groups and was given no basis or grounds for an overhang requirement.  Further, there does not seem to be any rational for an overhang requirement to facilitate proper ventilation or anything else to justify an overhang in the building requirements.   There is however, a legitimate basis for an overhang requirement in a community’s ordinance when the rational is a concern for aesthetics of the community

 Old Business

A.                 Dangerous Building

Per Phil Starr, the county planning commission reviewed the proposed Dangerous Building ordinance and had concerns over section 2.10.  Specifically, for those people spend winters out of state or people trying to sell homes in a soft market. 

Matt Bonzo pointed out that these situations/concerns should be covered in the text of under Section2.10.B of the proposed ordinance. All agreed.

B.                       Home Occupations

Discussion postponed until next meeting for Ryan.

C.                       Michigan Zoning Enabling Act

Robert Hall gave a short report that there are eight or nine sections to be updated and that he is working with counsel to do so.

New Business

A.  Land Division Ordinance

Reviewed and discussed the County of Montcalm, Township of Winfield Land Division Ordinance.  It was decided to continue discussion with Ryan in the August meeting.

Motion made by Ron Bell and supported by Ralph Palmer to adjourn at 9:00 PM.  Motion carried.

Sec.  Palmer

Copyright 2011 - Ensley Township - All Rights Reserved