Members Present:  Phil Starr,  Matthew Bonzo, Ralph Palmer, John VanderMeulen, and

Louise Yowtz

Members Absent:  Ron Bell, and Keith Bouwkamp

Guests Present:  Robert Hall

Public:  None

Meeting:

            A         Pledge of Allegiance

                        Meeting was called to order at 8:10 by Phil Starr.  Pledge of Allegiance was cited.

B.                 Roll Call

Ron Bell and Keith Bouwkamp absent

C.                 Approval of Agenda

Starr presented the agenda for May 21^st, 2007.  Motion made (Yowtz) and supported (Bonzo) to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

D.                Approval of Minutes for April ‘07

Motion Made (Yowtz) and supported (Bonzo) to approve Minutes of April ’07 with no changes.   Starr called for a vote, motion carried.

 Reports

A.                 Correspondence Received

The following correspondence was received;

·         Starr introduced an article from the Michigan Planner about “Meeting minutes” and asked the PC to consider if it should be included in the bylaws of the Planning Commission.

·         Robert Hall passed out the ’06 copy of the “Michigan Zoning Guidebook: for Citizens and Local Officials” to each PC member.

B.                 Township Representative

John Vander Meulen gave the Planning Commission an update on the Township Board.  The Board did pass the deletion of the Section 3.11(b) (2).

            C.        Information and Inquiry

No updates.

            D.        Zoning Administrator

Robert Hall went over the Zoning Administrator Report for May 2007

 Old Business

A            Michigan Zoning Enabling Act

The March 22^nd memo from LSL Planning, Inc with the recommendations for changes was reviewed.  All changes will require a public hearing with proper notice even though the changes are mandated by the state and each Township must comply with the changes.    Motion made (Yowtz) and supported (Vander Meulen) to have a public hearing June 25^th on the updates required to the Zoning Ordinance to comply with the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.   Starr called for a roll call vote: Phil Starr-aye, Bonzo-aye, Palmer-aye, Vander Meulen-aye, Yowtz-aye.  Motion passed.

B.                 Non Conforming Lots/Zoning Changes

The Zoning Administrators recommendations for section 3.23.C were discussed. Motion made (Bonzo) and supported (Yowtz) to have a public hearing on June 25^th on Nonconforming Uses, Buildings or Structures.  Starr called for a roll call vote: Phil Starr-aye, Bonzo-aye, Palmer-aye, Vander Meulen-aye, Yowtz-aye.  Motion passed.

C.                 Lot Width and 4 to 1 Lot Depth

Starr opened with comments that there are people have difficulty with the larger lots and cited the issues discussed in the Law Weathers & Richardson August 30^th letter from Cliff Blum as an example. After discussion, a Motion was made (Yowtz) and supported (Bonzo) to have a June 25^th public hearing on the revision of 3.3.7.  Starr called for a roll call vote: Phil Starr-aye, Bonzo-aye, Palmer-aye, Vander Meulen-aye, Yowtz-aye.  Motion passed

Further discussion on Lot Width ratio tabled until June meeting.

New Business

A.                       Maps (Conflicts with web-site/zoning ordinance)

Robert Hall requested feedback on the mapping of the Township relative to discrepancies in information contained in various maps of the Township. His question is if the PC has any information to determine which map is correct.    

B.                       Master Plan

Various drafts of sections or topics for the Master Plan were handed out.  Starr requested that all read them as requested a special meeting for the PC to be held on July 11^th at 7:30 to be dedicated solely to the Master Plan.  All present were in agreement and the meeting will be held.

C.                       Citizen Planner Update

The Citizen Planner classes continue to be very enlightening.

Motion made by (Palmer) and supported (Yowtz) to adjourn at 9:43 PM.  Motion carried.