SUTTONS BAY TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

Wednesday, January 4, 2006  6:00 p.m.

Suttons Bay Township Office

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

Staff Present:  Rochelle Rollenhagen and Steve Patmore.

Guests Present:  Gary & Sue Herman, Ralph Herman, Randy Herman, and Ron Korson. 

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Approval of December 12, 2005 Meeting Minutes as presented.  Move by Wall support by Send.  Ayes-8, Nays-0, Absent-1, Abstaining-0.

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 

Motion to accept the agenda as presented; starting at 6:00p.m.  Move by Walter support by Nixon.  Ayes-8, Nays-0, Absent-1, Abstaining-0.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Guest Patti O’Donnel from the Northwest Council of Government updated the Commission on the Grand Traverse Bay Joint Planning Project.  Workshops were held including 17 local bodies of government on the pros and cons of municipality.  One of the solutions is to take “baby-steps” to work together; the dark-sky’s project will be one of the first joint issues.

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING

  1. Petition to Rezone 6 Acres on Herman Road from Agricultural to Residential, submitted by Gary and Sue Herman

 

Zoning Administrator, Steve Patmore, stated the said parcel is approximately six acres; has a four-unit apartment building and two trailers currently on site.  The parcel is in non-conformity with the Zoning Ordinances.  The property to the west and east are residential and currently the Master Plan identifies this area as Village Residential.  The applicants would like to make the parcel conforming to the current Zoning Ordinances and Patmore stated rezoning this parcel would be justifiable.

 

Planner, Rochelle Rollenhagen, stated that rezoning would be consistent with the Master Plan and explained statements in her written report.

 

Public Comment

Ron Korson of 994 Herman Rd. (Suttons Bay) discussed his concerns with additional housing should the property be rezoned.

 

Patmore stated the Residential Zoning is allotted one unit per acre, therefore currently there are six units on the property and that is all that would be allowed. 

 

Guest Randy Herman asked if the existing housing could be replaced.

 

Patmore stated that the existing home could be replaced but would have to comply with the one unit/acre density in the Residential Zoning District.

 

Commissioner’s Discussion

The Commission discussed trailer restrictions, options other than rezoning, and rezoning to residential to make the property in compliance to the Residential Zoning Ordinance.

 

Motion to recommend to the Township Board to change the said parcel from agricultural to residential; property #43-011-032-001-00.  Move by Gregory support by Guinan.  Ayes-7, Nays-0, Absent-1, Abstaining-1. 

 

 

REPORTS

Zoning Administrator Report

Steve Patmore stated there have been two land use permits issued and no ZBA activity.  He discussed attending a meeting for flood planes, and the Provemont Village issue regarding TWP property.

 

Planner Report

Rochelle Rollenhagen discussed Committee reassignments and a lighting issue in the Office Transition District.

 

Chair Bergman discussed Dual Lighting, a registered trademark, for the Office Transition District lighting issue.

 

Zoning Ordinance Committee Report

None

 

Township Board Representative Report

Finalizing agreement with the Village for the shared Planner and Zoning Administrator.

 

Chairman’s Perspective

None

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Draft Language Section 12.6

The Commission decided to defer discussion on this issue until next months meeting.

 

  1. Leelanau County Planning Commission Vacancy

Wall stated the County is looking for people to represent farm land preservation.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Model Junk Ordinance

The County is developing a universal junk ordinance; Bingham is also interested in the ordinance.

 

  1. Election of Officers.

Motion to re-elect the current Officers.  Move by Walter support by Gregory.  Ayes-8, Nays-0, Absent-1, Abstaining.

 

  1. Introduction – Rezoning request from Vincent Bertram (set public hearing).

Patmore discussed the rezoning request and he stated he told the Bertram’s they would not have to be present at this meeting.  The 30 acre parcel is located next to residential zoned properties and is near the Village.  The lot is mostly wooded with a steep slope; there is one private access-Stonehouse Rd.  Patmore stated more information would be needed and a Public Hearing will have to be set.

 

 

COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS

None

 

 

ADJOURNMENT at 7:23p.m.

 

 

Minutes submitted by:  Shelly Routzahn