County  of  Antrim

PLANNING  COMMISSION

Jill Barnard

Al Luurtsema, Chairman

Jim Gurr

Joe Allen

Tom Maleck, Vice-Chair

Laura Stanek

Barbara Bradford

Alan Martel, Secretary

Marshall  Wright

 

Terry Morris

 

 

Minutes

September 4, 2007

7:00 p.m.

Antrim County Building - Board of Commissioners Room

 

Members present:

 

Jim Gurr, Alan Martel, Joe Allen, Al Luurtsema, Laura Stanek, Barb Bradford, Jill Barnard, Tom Maleck, Terry Morris, and Marshall Wright

Members absent:

 

None

Advisory present:

 

Stan Moore

Staff and others:

 

Joe Meyers, Pete Garwood, Bob Bagley, and Norton Bretz

 

 

 

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

 

2.       Public Comment

 

None.

 

3.       Minutes

 

Motion by Jim Gurr, supported by Barb Bradford, to approve the August 7, 2007 minutes as presented.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

4.       Conflict of Interest Disclosure

 

None.

 

5.       Milton Township Re-zoning Request

 

Jill Barnard spoke on the amendments and indicated that she felt like this was a step in the right direction.

 

Jim Gurr spoke on this same issue in Helena Township and the problems that they faced with the combination of lots.

 

Barb Bradford spoke on similar issues that Kearney Township faced.

 

Joe Meyers indicated that they would be moving from a non-conforming to another non-conforming use but the use is more compatible to their master plan.

 

Motion by Jim Gurr, supported by Joe Allen, to recommend the Township approve the Zoning Ordinance amendment, and commend them on trying to right some wrongs.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

Discussion ensued over the size of cottages and the different generations.

 

Al Martel spoke on Torch Lake Township and issues of water quality.

 

 

6.       Water Quality

 

Norton Bretz gave a presentation on water quality.

 

Discussion ensued over adding a summary on their findings in our master plan.  The Commission decided to add this on their first revision.

 

7.       Master Plan

 

Discussion ensued over the master plan.

 

The Commission went through the chapters that had been revised.

 

Motion by Barb Bradford, supported by Tom Maleck, to send the Board of Commissioners the final Master Plan for their review.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

8.      Correspondence

 

None.

 

9.      Public/Member Comment

 

Tom Maleck spoke on the American Competitive Initiative.

 

Jim Gurr spoke on the Michigan Association of Planning and going to conferences.

 

Alan Martel spoke on updating the plan and informed the Committee of the progress of the Soil Erosion Committee.   Al also spoke on the Open Meetings Act and Torch Lake Township.

 

Barb Bradford thanked the Commission for allowing her to go to the Open Meetings Act training and spoke on the various matters section on many agendas.

 

Marshall Wright spoke on his absence for the next 4 meetings.

 

Al Luurtsema spoke on his disappointment of the two trainings he went to and a book on the Open Meetings Act he received from Elk Rapids Township.

 

Jim Gurr spoke on public hearings and the requirements of the minutes.

Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Submitted and Approved

 

 

Alan Martel, Secretary       Date:

Antrim County Planning Commission