Ensley Township in Newaygo County MI

Planning Commission

June Minutes

Ensley Township Planning Commission

June 28, 2010 

Members Present: John Vander Meulen, Matt Bonzo, Janet Dravk, Ross Harwood, Keith Bouwkamp, Cynthia Dubay

Guests: ZA, Doug Verduin

Public: Eleven members present

Meeting:

            A         Pledge of Allegiance

                        Matt Bonzo called meeting to order at 7:30.  Pledge of Allegiance was cited.

B.                 Roll Call

Ralph Palmer, Absent

C.                 Approval of Agenda

Motion made (Vander Meulen) to add PC Secretarial duties under New Business, Supported (Harwood), All Affirmed.

D.                 Approval of Minutes

a)      May 24, 2010 Minutes: Motion by Bouwkamp, Supported by Dubay to Approve May 2010 PC minutes with the following changes –All Affirmed:

                                                               i.      Reports section, under item C. change the word “massage” to “message”. 

                                                             ii.      New Business section, under Bylaws, Conflict of Interest change the word “President” to “Chair”.   

b)      April 26, 2010 Minutes: Motion made by Bouwkamp, Supported by Dravk to Approve, All Affirmed.

Reports:

A.                 Correspondence Received

a)      MTA Seminar Brochure for Planning Commission members.

      Dravk, Dubay, and Harwood to attend pending Board approval.

b)      Phil Starr provided PC members with copies of “Outdoor Heating Units” and “Signs and Billboards” ordinances from Brooks Township.

B.                 Township Representative

John Vander Meulen gave the Planning Commission a cursory update of the Township Boards last meeting.

C.                 Information and Inquiry Including Public Comment

Members present voiced their opinions regarding zoning parts of Ensley as some type of commercial district.

D.                 Zoning Administrator

The temporary ZA, Doug Verduin was present but did not give a report.

Old Business:

A.                 Neighborhood Commercial Rezoning / Brenda Moore

a)      Brenda Moore – Township Board approved Professional Planner was present and gave insight along with the pros and cons of things to consider when rezoning for any type of commercial district within Ensley Center.  Brenda to provide the township board with a monetary estimate of what it would cost the township to use her professional services if  

b)      Matt Bonzo (Chair) proposed, All Affirmed to form a subcommittee made up of a Professional Planner, PC members, and business owners to work out a plan in how to move forward in the best interest of the business owners and the township residents in re-zoning for a type of commercial area within the township.  5 business owners and 3 PC members (Bouwkamp, Dravk, Vander Muelen) agreed to sit on the subcommittee.

c)      Revisited the subject of conflict of interest as it applies to the Planning Commission.  PC members were asked by the chair to research and come up with a Conflict of Interest definition.

New Business:

A.            Planning Commission duties of the Secretary

a)      John Vander Muelen brought the duties of the PC secretary up for discussion.  The PC member’s agreed to table these discussions until Ralph Palmer (the present PC Secretary) could be present.  All Affirmed.

Motion made by (Dravk) and supported (Bouwkamp) to adjourn at 9:35 PM.  Motion carried.

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