DRAFT

County  of  Antrim

PLANNING  COMMISSION

Jill Barnard

Al Luurtsema, Chairman

 

Shirley Klunzinger

Joe Allen

Jim Gurr, Vice-Chair

 

Laura Stanek

Barbara Bradford

Alan Martel, Secretary

 

Marshall  Wright

 

Vacant

 

Minutes for March 3, 2009

Antrim County Building - Board of Commissioners Room

 

Members Present:

Al Luurtsema, Jill Barnard, Joe Allen, Jim Gurr, Alan Martel, Shirley Klunzinger, Laura Stanek, Barb Bradford, and Marshall Wright

Members Absent:

None

Advisory Present:

None

Staff and Others:

Joe Meyers and Pete Garwood

Audience Present:

None

 

1.       Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Al Luurtsema.

2.       Public Comment

 

None.

3.       Minutes

 

Motion by Marshall Wright, supported by Barb Bradford, to approve the

February 3, 2009 minutes as amended.  Motion carried – unanimous.

4.      Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance Amendments

 

Joe Meyers informed the Commission that he felt that the language was standard “sign language” and believed that it was reasonable.

 

Marshall Wright spoke on:

  • How he felt that 100 sq. ft. was too large for a commercial sign.
  • How he felt that signs for a home occupation and a home based business should be the same size.
  • How under construction requirements F: they need to specify that they are not to be within 6 feet of an underground power line.

 

Barb Bradford spoke on how she thought that they did a good job over all in creating this ordinance. She did indicate that she felt that they should define what a designated agent was and questioned why violating the ordinance was a misdemeanor instead of a civil infraction. 

Ms. Bradford congratulated them on addressing night skies and thought that the ordinance was clearly written.

 

Jill Barnard spoke on how she felt that having only 10% of window recovered for a sign on page 3 was a very small sign and that she didn’t understand the lit sign portion.


Discussion ensued over lit signs in Kearney Township.

 

Jim Gurr spoke on how he felt that the ordinance was excessive but liked that they did allow for one (1) small sign without a permit.  Mr. Gurr also felt that the intent portion of the ordinance was overwritten.

 

Pete Garwood indicated that the enforcing agent should be the Zoning Administrator.

 

Motion by Marshall Wright, supported by Barb Bradford, to recommend Kearney Township approve Zoning Ordinance 1 of 2009 with the following conditions being met:

  • The Township should change the designated agent to the Zoning Administrator
  • They should address the size of commercial signs because they feel that 100 sq. ft. is too large and would like to see it significantly smaller.
  • The size of a home occupation should be no more than 4 sq. ft.
  • They should change 6.C.ix. to say “the seal of certificate of a registered structural or civil engineer when an engineer is required.
  • They should classify a violation as a civil infraction instead of a misdemeanor.
  • There are concerns regarding underground electrical connections on 8.F

Motion carried as a yea and nay vote:  Yea: Al Luurtsema, Alan Martel, Jill Barnard, Barb Bradford, Laura Stanek, Marshall Wright, Shirley Klunzinger; No: Jim Gurr, Joe Allen.  Motion carried.

 

Discussion ensued over the Zoning Map amendment.

 

Joe Meyers informed the Commission that the map amendment was not consistent with the future land use map of the township but it would not be spot zoning because is directly adjacent to resort residential.

 

Motion by Barb Bradford, supported by Jill Barnard to recommend Kearney Township approve the Zoning Map amendment so long as they look to amend their future land use map to be consistent with this change. Motion carried – unanimous.

5.      Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance Amendment.

 

Marshall Wright discussed the change for the Zoning Board of Appeals in Elk Rapids Township.

 

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Jim Gurr to recommend Elk Rapids Township approve the Zoning Ordinance amendment.  Motion carried – unanimous.

6.      Various Matters

 

Joe Meyers spoke on the Citizen Planner course being offered in the Elk Rapids Area.

7.      Public/Member Comment

 

Alan Martel spoke on an avenue for appealing a planning commission’s requirement.

 

Jim Gurr spoke on a school board member for the planning commission.

 

Barb Bradford discussed the deep Alba injection well and how it might be stopped at this time. 

Discussion ensued over the injection well. 

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.