SUTTONS BAY TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

Wednesday, October 4, 2006-6:30 p.m.

Suttons Bay Township Office

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Meeting Called to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

ROLL CALL: Chair Jerry Bergman, Commissioners: Doug Periard, Cristal Guinan, Jon Walter, Ron Send, Tom Nixon, Don Gregory.  Absent Jeff Corbin and Shirley Wall.  Quorum Established. 

 

 

STAFF PRESENT:  Rochelle Rollenhagen.

 

GUESTS:  There were 10 guests present.

 

The minutes of June 7, 2006 were presented.

 

MOVE BY NIXON SUPPORT BY GUINAN TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.

AYES 7, Nays-0, Absent-2 Motion Carried

 

The minutes of September 6, 2006 were presented.

MOVE BY SEND SUPPORT BY NIXON TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.

AYES 7, Nays-0, Absent-2 Motion Carried

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: 

Chair Bergman stated that Thorntree Commons had been pulled from the agenda at the request of the applicant.

 

MOVE BY GUINAN SUPPORT BY SEND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

AYES 7, Nays-0, Absent-2 Motion Carried

 

PUBLIC COMMENT: None

 

Conflict of Interest:  Don Gregory indicated that he had a conflict of interest with Item # 3-- Dan Young Pre-Application Conference and would refrain from discussion on this matter.

 

CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING-TO CONSIDER A REQUEST TO CONDITIONALLY REZONE PARCEL 45-011-029-015-00 located at 9496 E. Stone House Road from the Agricultural District to Residential Zoning District, with the condition that development would be done under provisions of Article X, Open Space Residential Developments and limited to 20 residential units, submitted by Vincent Bertram.

 

Rochelle restated the history of the project’s application to the Planning Commission.  She stated initially the applicant made the request to rezone in December of 2005.  This proposal was based on the condition to limit the project to 20 units.  The application was heard in March and April where it was not recommended for a rezone.  County Planning reviewed the project where they subsequently denied it as well.  The applicant then asked the application be removed from the Township board agenda.  The applicant is now before the commission requesting a conditional approval based on 2-conditions; 20 units and the application will come in under a cluster development. 

 

Rochelle added that the commission should note that multi family dwellings are allowed in the Residential District but not the Ag District.    She also stressed that the attorneys all agree that the question regarding the deed restrictions should not play a part in the decision making process of this commission on whether to rezone or not-- nor should the question regarding the road standards as this will be reviewed during the site plan review process.

 

Public Hearing Opened at 6:35 p.m. 

 

Attorney Kurt Bowerman spoke on behalf of the applicant.  He stated that the applicant agreed with the findings of fact presented by the staff dated September 6, 2006.

 

Public Hearing Closed at 6:40 p.m.

 

Commission Discussion:

 

The commission discussed Stonehouse Road, and the standards that apply as well as how many divisions had been granted.  Gregory asked what would happen if the applicant failed to meet the conditions imposed on this rezone.  Rochelle stated that the property would revert back to Agricultural.  Timelines were discussed with Rochelle indicating that attorney Bryan Graham had stated that if nothing happens to the property in one year it reverts back to Agricultural.  Nixon asked if the applicant had given any indication on whether he proposed multi family housing.  Kevin Endres from Gosling Czubak stated that they were not proposing multi family housing.. 

 

Walters indicated that he had walked the property and clustering would minimize the “forcing of the land”. 

 

MOVE BY GREGORY SUPPORT BY GUINAN TO RECOMMEND THE TOWNSHIP GRANT THE REZONE OF PARCEL # 45-011-029-015-00 LOCATED AT 9496 E. STONE HOUSE ROAD FROM THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT, BASED UPON THE FINDING OF FACTS DATED SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 AND WITH THE CONDITION THAT DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE DONE UNDER PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE X, OPEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND LIMITED TO 20 RESIDENTIAL UNITS

 

AYES 6, Nays-1, Absent-2 Motion Carried

 

Gregory asked if it was necessary for each commission member to receive a full size site plan.  He would be happy with an 11 X 17 or an e-mail that contained the attachments.

 

 

Items for consideration:

 

Master Plan-Intent to Plan:

 

Rollenhagen stated a letter of intent to plan has been drafted and has yet to be filed.  She was hoping to get a meeting together with the Village and the Township to look at the needs of the Township as a whole.  Gregory suggested the committee look at this section by section.  Gregory offered to sit in on the meeting as well.

 

 

Pre-Application Conference: Dan Young and Nicki Rothwell addressed the commission on a proposal to put in a “cidery” in the Township.  They currently own 4 acres and have an option for a long term lease on 10 acres.  They asked whether a lease would satisfy the requirements of the ordinance.

 

The applicants indicated that they were proposing a tasting room, farm stand and possibly a commercial kitchen.  The commission encouraged the applicant to present a formal site plan and present this to the commission.

 

 

Draft Conditional Rezone Amendment:

 

Rochelle informed the commission she has prepared a conditional rezone amendment and would like the commission to review the same.  It was decided that the Master Plan committee would review the draft and make a recommendation for the commission.

 

Planning Commission Priorities:

 

Rochelle presented a list of priorities for the commission Gregory added that review of the Master Plan should be added to the list.

Reports:

 

Zoning Administrator:

 

As Presented.

 

Planner:

 

Rollenhagen stated that the office has been incredibly busy this past month with a lot of walk in traffic.

 

Zoning Ordinance Committee:  No Report

Township Board Report: No Report

 

Chairman’s Perspective:   No report

 

Commissioner Comments:   The commission discussed the purchase of the Herman and 45th Parallel property and the applications to the Department of Natural Resource Trust Fund. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

No comments.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted

 

Dorothy Petroskey

Recording Secretary