Ensley Township in Newaygo County MI

Planning Commission

September Minutes

Ensley Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

September 25, 2006

Members Present:                       

Keith Bouwkam, Phil Starr, Matthew Bonzo, Ralph Palmer, Louise Yowtz,

Ronald Bell and John Vander Meulen

Members Absent:  None

Guests Present:  None

Public:  None

Meeting:

A         Pledge of Allegiance

Meeting was called to order at 7:55 by Phil Starr.  Pledge of Allegiance was cited.

B.                 Roll Call

All present

C.                 Approval of Agenda

Starr presented the agenda.  Motion made (Keith) and supported (Yowtz) to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

D.                Approval of Minutes for July 31^st and August 28th

Motion Made (Bouwkamp) and supported (Bonzo) to approve Minutes of July and August with minor changes.  Phil called for a vote, motion carried.

Reports

A.        Correspondence Received

Phil received a letter concerning containment of the Emerald Ash Borer.  A meeting sponsored by MSU Extension office will be held on 10/4 at 7pm at the County Administration Building in White Cloud.

Phil also received the Survey results from LSL Planning, Inc dated September 7^th.

B.                 Township Representative

Vander Meulen gave the Planning Commission an update on the Township Board and said that LCL has made a recommendation to change or update the sign ordinance because they consider it weak

C.                 Information and Inquiry

Phil reported that Bob Hall thinks the Bob Johnson issues are solved with the consideration of additional property owned by Mr. Johnson 

John will take the Planning Commission’s Site Condo and Eave Overhang recommendations to the Township Board.

D.                Zoning Administrator

The Zoning Administrators Report to the PC for September 25^th was passed out by Phil Starr.

 Old Business

A.                       Discuss Land Division Ordinance

At the next Planning Commission meeting, Jason and Bob to come and explain there position on the Land Division Ordinance.

B.                       Discuss Home Occupation Zonin

Planning Commission members are concerned about having too many ordinances.  If the of Ryan Coffee definition “a Home Occupation is one that is not visible from outside of the home or the street” then, there should not be a problem for the Township.  However, if there is a complaint, then the township should follow up as it would with any complaint.  The Zoning Administrator is not a policeman hired to run around and look into citizens homes.  The current consensus is to leave the ordinance as is.

C.                       Michigan Zoning Enabling Act

There is a workshop on 10/3 at the town hall at 8:00am.  Planning Commission members are welcome to visit the workshop.  The Zoning Administrator will be providing a recommendation to the township as to what will change.

New Business

A.                       Master Plan Survey Results

Planning Commission members have only seen/received tabulation of the survey results with no analysis.   The cover letter from LCL refers to two options for the Township.   Motion made (Yowtz) and supported (Palmer) to recommend that the Planning Commission hire LCL Inc to provide graphics and an analysis. Phil called for a vote and all were in favor.  Motion carried.

Discussion were held on the viability, necessity for the Planning Commission to write the Master Plan.  Phil suggested that it be done a chapter at a time and that the work should start after receipt of the Survey Analysis from LCL Inc.

Motion made by Ron Bell and supported by Keith to adjourn at 9:05 PM.  Motion carried.

Sec.  Palmer

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