County  of  Antrim

PLANNING  COMMISSION

 

Jill Barnard

Jim Pascoe, Chairman

Al Luurtsema

Joe Allen

Tom Maleck, Vice-Chair

Laura Stanek

Barbara Bradford

Alan Martel, Secretary

Marshall  Wright

 

Terry Morris

 

Minutes

September 6, 2005

7:00 p.m.

Antrim County Building - Board of Commissioners Room

 

Members present:

 

Alan Martel, Barb Bradford, Jim Pascoe, Jill Barnard, Terry Morris, Joe Allen and Al Luurtsema

Members absent:

 

Tom Maleck, Marshall Wright and Laura Stanek

Advisory present:

 

None

Staff and others

 

Peter Garwood, Joe Meyers, Charles Koop

 

 

 

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 Al Luurtsema, supported by Barb Bradford, to approve the minutes of the August 2, 2005 meeting with an amendment removing Alan Martel as being present at the meeting.  Motion carried – unanimous.

4.       Conflict of Interest Disclosure

 

None.

5.       Interim Rules of Procedure Update

 

Charles Koop, Legal Counsel for Antrim County, spoke about the revisions to the Antrim County Planning Commission Ordinance and the Rules for the Transaction of Business and Rules of Procedure.  Mr. Koop went over the sections of the documents informing the Commission what was changed and what could be changed.  Jim Pascoe recommended that the Commission review these documents and submit comments to the Coordinator/Planners Office.  The Coordinator/Planners Office was asked to compile these and give them to Mr. Koop.  Mr. Pascoe asked Mr. Koop to attend the next meeting. 

6.       Sub Committee Reports

 

Joe Allen turned in a draft on County Infrastructure to be reviewed by the Coordinator/Planners office.  Barb Bradford informed the Committee that she should have her final rough draft to the Coordinator/Planners Office by the end of the week pending on a part of her report that is coming from another source.  Mr. Pascoe informed the Commission that he could possibly have his report by next months meeting but there is a better possibility that it will be complete by the November or December meeting.

7.       Communications

 

v      Banks Township Future Land Use Map

Two maps were distributed to the Commission for Banks Township showing a change on their Future Land Use Map that has not been adopted.   Joe Meyers explained the change and Pete Garwood informed the Commission that no action needed to be taken at this time per statute. 

 

v      Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area

The Commission was distributed the letter signed by the Chairman to the DNR providing support for the Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area Grant.

8.      Member/Public Comment

 

Alan Martel indicated that Torch Lake Township changed their zoning ordinance to reflect that rentals of less than 30 days be considered commercial use; therefore not allowing any weekly rentals in a residential area.  Mr. Martel also noted that there have been multiple cases where the ZBA in Torch Lake Township has interpreted the zoning ordinance but the interpretations are not readily available to the public.  Mr. Martel was wondering if any Commission member had a suggestion on how to deal with this situation.

 

Terry Moore asked Mr. Koop to research whether the Planning Commission Sub-Committees are considered work sessions and not subject to the Open Meetings Act.

 

Jill Barnard promoted the Household Hazardous Waste Day on September 10, 2005 and October 1, 2005.

 

Jim Gurr thanked Mr. Koop for attending the meeting and for explaining the Rules and Procedures.  Mr. Gurr also spoke about how disappointed he is with the news and how they’ve been treating Bill Clous in the Elk Rapids Newspaper.  Mr. Garwood clarified the situation regarding the permitting and violations on the project.    

Meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.

Submitted and Approved

 

 

Alan Martel, Secretary       Date:

Antrim County Planning Commission