SUTTONS BAY TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

Wednesday, May 3, 2006  6:30 p.m.

Suttons Bay/Bingham Fire Hall

 

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Meeting called to order at 6:37p.m.

 

 

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

 

Staff Present:  Rochelle Rollenhagen and Steve Patmore.

Guests Present:  Chris Branson, Bob Chamberland, Gary Hoensheid, David Bahle, Kevin Endres, Gerald & Pauline Walters, Bill Klein Sr., and Don Coe.

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES of April 5, 2006:  Accepted as presented.  Move by Guinan support by Send.  Aye-6, Nays-0, Absent-3, Abstaining-0

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 

Consensus to approve the revised agenda as presented.  The public hearing on the Thorntree Commons site plan was postponed at the applicant’s request.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

1.        Introduction of a request to rezone the Walter’s property (45-011-029-023-50) submitted by David Bahle/Gerald and Pauline Walters and conceptual review of a new site plan.

 

Engineer Kevin Endres presented the new conceptual plan of this site condominium project.  He discussed retaining the same character as the previous plan with the addition of 20 acres and with those, additional units.  This additional 20 acres will have to be rezoned as residential; there is currently three sides of the property zoned residential.  Pending the rezoning an additional 18 lots will be added to the previous site plan. 

 

Guest David Bahle discussed working with the University of Michigan on this development as a research project.  He also discussed his desire to place small signs  to make the public aware of the Thorntree Commons project subject to Township approval. 

 

Chair Bergman explained that a public hearing would be scheduled for the June 2006 meeting.  The signage for additional units for sale should state “subject to Township approval.”

 

2.        Introduction of a request for rezoning the Fountain Point Properties, submitted by Susan Jay Nichols

Guest Dave Christianson, representing Fountain Point, is asking for a rezone of the property from agricultural to residential to continue with the plans for a Cluster Housing Proposal.

 

A public hearing will be scheduled for the June meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Office Transition District  (OTD)

The Commission discussed the length of time it has taken to get the OTD into a final form for public hearing.  The new district commenced when a letter was received from Chris Branson about 21 months ago. 

 

Rochelle Rollenhagen presented five items of concern from the Zoning Ordinance Committee.  She discussed finishing this issue tonight so that the Commission may proceed to a Public Hearing next month. 

 

The first suggested change is to replace the word “parcel” with the word “lot.”

There was a consensus from the Commission to change the wording through out the document.

 

Another suggested change is in Section 6.A.6 Setbacks; suggestion to change letter c. ….when abutting residential property the setback will be 75 feet (from 20 feet.)

 

Guest Gary Hoensheid, 1114 Peck RoadSuttons Bay, discussed his concerns with the 75ft. setbacks.

 

Guest Bob Chamberland, Suttons Bay, discussed his concerns for the setbacks with regard for potential residential abutting to the OTD.

 

Guest Chris Branson, Suttons Bay, discussed his concerns with setbacks being too wide.

 

Guest Bill Klein, Peck RoadSuttons Bay, discussed his concerns with businesses being available at night.

 

The Commission discussed the setback length with regards to theoretical residential home owners abutting to the OTD.  They discussed the guest’s questions and concerns, density of structures, and density of parking areas.  The Commission determined that the buffer distance for the OTD should be less than that required for the Commercial Zoning District.

 

Motion to change the setbacks to 40 ft. for setbacks adjacent to property zoned residential and to require buffering per Section 12.6.  Move by Periard support by Guinan.  Ayes-6, Nays-0, Abstaining-0, Absent-3

 

Next suggested change is to eliminate Section 6.A.5.a requiring buildings over 3500 square feet to obtain a Special Use Permit.

 

Consensus of the Commission to retain Section 6.A.5.a.

 

The Zoning Ordinance Committee requested that the full Commission discuss Section 6.A.6.2.b  Impervious Surfaces shall not cover more than 75% of the lot area.

After some discussion it was the consensus of the Commission to retain Section 6A.6.2.b as is.

 

The Zoning Ordinance Committee suggested defining “security lighting.”  The Commission agreed to leave Section 6A.6.10 as is.

 

Guest Don Coe, President of the Leelanau E.D.C., discussed economic development, creating new jobs, writing the Zoning Ordinance to encourage new businesses to come to Leelanau County, and size of buildings; all pertaining to the new ordinance.  He mentioned wanting to bring technology, knowledge, and innovation based businesses to the county.

 

a.       Motion to add Technology and knowledge based businesses to Section 6.A.8.b.  Move by Guinan support by Periard.  Ayes-6, Nays-0, Abstaining-0, Absent-3

 

 

 

REPORTS – in the interest of time, no reports were read.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Policy for tape recording Township Meetings

Consensus of the Commission to record meetings and approve the policy as submitted.

 

  1. Discussion on By-Law change to amend agenda – next meeting

 

 

COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS

None

 

 

ADJOURNMENT was at 8:47p.m.

 

 

Minutes submitted by:  Shelly Routzahn