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

August 4, 2009

7:00 p.m.

Antrim County Building - Board of Commissioners Room

 

Members Present:

 

Al Luurtsema, Jill Barnard, Joe Allen, Jim Gurr, Barb Bradford, Laura Stanek, Shirley Klunzinger, and Alan Martel (entered the meeting at 8:30)

Members Absent:

 

Marshall Wright and  Jill Barnard

Advisory Present:

 

Stan Moore

Staff and Others:

 

Joe Meyers

Audience Present:

 

Gene Dawson, Terry Smith, and Patty O’Donnell

 

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

2.       Public Comment

 

None.

3.       Minutes

 

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Joe Allen, to approve the July 7, 2009 minutes as presented.  Motion carried – unanimous.

4.      NWMCOG Green Infrastructure Project  

 

Patty O’Donnell presented the Green Infrastructure Project from the NWMCOG (Attached). 

 

Discussion ensued over the presentation and the term “rural character”. 

5.    Milton Township PUD

 

Joe spoke on the PUD amendment for Milton Township and it is being reviewed.

 

Shirley Klunzinger indicated that she liked how Milton Township worked with land owners.

 

Motion by Shirley Klunzinger, supported by Joe Allen, to recommend Milton Township approve the proposed PUD amendment.  Motion carried –unanimous.  

  

6.      Forest Home Township Zoning Ordinance Amendment

 

Al Luurtsema stepped down as Chair to make a public comment at 7:40 p.m.  Jim Gurr took over as Chair.

Joe spoke on what was in the County’s Master Plan and that he felt that the Amendment was consistent with it.

 

Al Luurtsema spoke regarding his personal property, and how with the wetlands he owns, this Ordinance Amendment would affect him personally.  Al indicated that he didn’t feel that, with all the other permits he has to get, another permit was necessary.  Al spoke on how he felt that the 25-foot buffer would affect his property.  He also felt that allowing sunbathing within this buffer was absolutely unnecessary.  He indicated that there is some poor wording throughout the document.

 

Terry Smith spoke on the process of creating the Ordinance and all the groups that were brought together during the process.  

 

Discussion ensued over the Ordinance. 

 

Al Luurtsema spoke on the Shoreline Zone and how the definition was flawed and totally unneeded. 

 

Alan Martel inquired about how the Ordinance was posted and how many houses may become non-conforming. 

 

Terry Smith discussed the process they used.

 

Alan Martel spoke on how the residents affected should have been personally notified. 

 

Shirley Klunzinger spoke on the flawed definitions of 15-404 and Shoreline Protection. Shirley also stated this was not posted on the Township Website.  She spoke on how she felt this would be a burden to landowners.  She also spoke on how this Ordinance should allow for ADA in creating a maximum of a four (4) foot boardwalk.  Shirley discussed how Section 15-1316 and Figure 13 was confusing.  Shirley would also like to recommend that the Township notify all the lakefront property owners.

 

Joe Allen left the meeting at 8:55 p.m.

 

Barb Bradford spoke on how Shirley made some good points and feels that she would like to see it on the website and that 15-404 be revised. Barb indicated that the caretaking of Forest Home Township was pretty good.

 

Laura Stanek indicated that she felt that buffer zones are a good thing.

 

Joe Meyers discussed the process of adopting ordinances.

 

Stan Moore talked about conflicts of interest.  Discussion ensued over conflicts of interest. 

 

Jim Gurr spoke on the process of this ordinance crafting an ordinance.   

 

Motion by Laura Stanek supported by Barb Bradford, to recommend Forest Home Township approve Article 15 Shoreline Protection Overlay District with the following conditions:

 

  1. Reword Section 15-404;
  1. Reword Section 15-302;
  1. Reword the definition of Shoreline Protection;
  1. Add further explanation of Figure 13.

 

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

7.      Various Matters

 

Joe Meyers presented Citizen Planner Completion Awards to Alan Martel and Jim Gurr.

8.      Public/Member Comment

 

 Barb Bradford gave an update on the Alba Well issue, along with the five (5) events that are coming up in August and September.

 

Al Luurtsema spoke on the ORV Ordinance for Antrim County and how he thought it was an absolute mistake.

 

Alan Martel spoke on helping townships with legality issues, and how he would like to see all residents notified of the issues when they arise.

 

Jim Gurr spoke on how the Forest Home Township Ordinance came to be.

 

Shirley Klunzinger discussed a county-wide directory.

Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Submitted and Approved

 

 

Alan Martel, Secretary       Date:

Antrim County Planning Commission