|
|
||||||||||||
|
County of Antrim |
||||||||||||
|
PLANNING COMMISSION |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
Minutes |
||||||||||||
|
February 1, 2005, 7:00 p.m. |
||||||||||||
|
Antrim County Building - Board of Commissioners Room |
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Members present: |
|
Jim Pascoe, Tom Maleck, Al Luurtsema, Marshall Wright, Barbara Bradford, Jill Barnard, Laura Stanek, and Alan Martel (at 7:10 p.m.) |
||||||||||
|
Members absent: |
|
Joseph Allen |
||||||||||
|
Advisory present |
|
None |
||||||||||
|
Staff and others |
|
Peter Garwood and Elizabeth St. Pierre |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
1. Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Jim Pascoe, Planning Commission Chair. |
||||||||||||
|
2. Public Comment: |
||||||||||||
|
|
None. |
|||||||||||
|
3. Approval of Minutes |
||||||||||||
|
|
Motion by Barbara Bradford, seconded by Al Luurtsema, to approve the January 4, 2005 minutes as submitted. Motion carried – unanimous. |
|||||||||||
|
4. Conflict of Interest Disclosure |
||||||||||||
|
|
None. |
|||||||||||
|
5. Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Map |
||||||||||||
|
|
Each Planning Commission member received a copy of the PASER map. Antrim County has a relatively high PASER (road surface) rating compared to other counties in this region. This means Antrim County roads are generally in better condition than the other counties in the region. Tom Malek stated that the current lack of highway funding through MDOT would probably continue until and unless the highway bill is passed. |
|||||||||||
|
6. Banks Township Land Use Plan Comments |
||||||||||||
|
|
The list of purposes, table of contents, physical descriptions and several other aspects of this plan were considered well done by several committee members.
Pete Garwood will put in a request for a color printer so that maps from the next plan will be more readable. |
|||||||||||
|
|
Motion by Marshall Wright, supported by Al Luurtsema to recommend Banks Township approve the proposed Land Use Plan with the following comments and recommendations:
1. Planning Commission members were concerned that the 1993 opinion survey might be too old to use as a basis for the plan. 2. Page 2-1 indicates that 1990 census data was used. The Planning Commission recommends using 2000 census data. 3. Statement of needs for affordable housing. 4. Alan Martel suggested that a statement encouraging landowner participation and education in the planned use of their property be included. 5. Land use planning for facilities that meet the needs of the elderly and their families. 6. The plan was missing Figure 2.9 7. Page 2-12: a. Waste Management has purchased Top Rank Disposal. b. The paragraphs are mixed up on this page and do not flow properly. The Planning Commission recommends reorganizing them.
General planning options such as clustering of development, the mixed-use category to accommodate residential, commercial and public service (e.g. south of Atwood) were discussed. |
|||||||||||
|
7. Interim Rules of Procedure Update |
||||||||||||
|
|
Mr. Garwood informed the Planning Commission that he sent a communication to legal counsel on January 27, 2005 accepting his offer to help rewrite the rules for conducting business and the ordinance authorizing the Planning Commission. |
|||||||||||
|
8. Sub-committee Reports |
||||||||||||
|
|
Farming sub-committee: Laura Stanek stated she has begun writing the agricultural portion of the plan. Health sub-committee: Jill Barnard and Jim Pascoe indicated they have not started writing the Health Section. Natural Resources sub-committee: Alan Martel, Jim Gurr, and Barbara Bradford. Barbara Bradford indicated information on forestry and other natural resources is coming in for the natural resources section of the plan. |
|||||||||||
|
9. Communications |
||||||||||||
|
|
The low population density in Antrim County and its proximity to larger cities makes it unjustifiable to develop a new Hospital in Antrim County (Jim Pascoe).
Question of how zoning applies to schools. New legislation is currently being proposed that could require schools to obey zoning laws according to Pete Garwood. Jim Pascoe stated it is unlikely the proposed legislation will be passed.
The due date for a rough draft of the Master Plan was set for the October meeting and should include a Future Land Use Map.
The definition of private roads was discussed. |
|||||||||||
|
10. Public/Member Comment |
||
|
|
Marshall Wright stated that lands receiving state or federal money must document that their land qualifies as prime farmland to be protected.
Elizabeth St. Pierre noted that private landowners continue to impact natural resources needed by neighboring communities. Some, but not all, private landowners are willing to take the time to understand the economic benefits of native ecosystems and ecological processes on their land. Those who do may or may not conduct or coordinate land stewardship activities with their neighbors which sustain such resources for future landowners.
Jim Gurr stated that some farmers might not want to participate in the farmland preservation program and could be affected by others who do participate in this or any other state or federally funded programs. |
|
|
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. |
||
|
Submitted and Approved
Alan Martel Date: Secretary Antrim County Planning Commission |
|
|