Planning Commission
May 12, 2011
7:00 p.m.

 

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. 

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag 

Roll call:  Present:  Westrick, Acciavatti, Cataldo, M. Boulier, Short, Dembinski. D. Boulier, Cunningham.   
           Absent:  Karadimas

 Motion by M. Boulier to approve agenda as presented.  Seconded by Westrick.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by M. Boulier to approve minutes as presented and addition of D. Boulier to roll call.  Seconded by Dembinski.  Motion carried unanimously.

 Brief Public Comment: None

 Correspondence/Communications: 

            Semscope magazine           

New Business: 

            Set public hearing for ordinance amendment on accessory structures and non-conforming
structures.   

            Brian Bayly – Discussion held regarding houses located in the Industrial or General Business districts do not allow the reconstruction of the house if it burns down.  Residents are having difficulty getting mortgages on these structures.  I would like to eliminate the phrase that states reconstruction of 50% or more and replace it with the phrase they could replace it as long as they don’t change the footprint of the structure.  I had a resident call last week and they won’t let her refinance her home because it is located in an industrial district.  Bayly – this should also apply to businesses that are located in a residential area.  Motion by Westrick to place on June agenda the revision of non-conforming structure ordinance and accessory structures ordinance amendment.  Seconded by Cataldo.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Old Business: 

            Short – the Church in China Township has been sold, so the new facility in our Township will be going through.  Cataldo – Do we know why the ½ mile radius for religious facilities is in our ordinance?  Bayly – the ordinance in Ira Township is the same way.  Possible it could have something to do with losing tax base. 

 Call from the Floor:

             Resident from Wadhams road inquired regarding building a structure on the property

prior to building the house.  When the ordinance is changed you could do that over 5 acres with a $5,000 bond.  We are planning on building, but it is contingent on selling my current home.  The current ordinance states you still have to pull the permit for the house along with a $1500 bond. 

M. Boulier – we have had people put up an accessory structure and pay their bond and leave it there year after year and never build the house.  Westrick – we had several ordinance from surrounding communities.  I think we compromised on a reasonable ordinance.   

            Leaman – I don’t think that we have a problem.  If someone wants to put up a building
and store their equipment in it, why not.  I would have constructed a nice building to store my equipment; instead I have equipment under tarps.   

            M. Boulier – We could argue the ordinance on both sides.  We can’t change an ordinance every time that we have a different situation that should be looked at.   

            Westrick – I think we need to look at the surrounding properties also.  If a resident invests $300,000 in their home and property and then an adjacent property owner constructs a barn and stores his junk around it that is not fair to the property owners.   

            M. Boulier – The Planning Commission is not in a position to give you permission to
construct any building.  You can talk with Brian Bayly and maybe go before the BZA and ask for a variance.   

Reports: 

            Township Board – Mike Boulier – Approved recreation monies, getting bids for parking lot work asphalt and concrete, reappointments and appointment BZA and Planning Members. 

            BZA – No meeting 

            Next meeting June 9, 2011 7:00 p.m. 

Meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.

                                                                                    Respectively submitted, 

 

                                                                                    Mike Boulier
                                                                                    Secretary