MINUTES
CASCO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 17, 2009

Present:   Members Kathy McKenzie, Joe Stevens, Eric Reeve, William Ruemenapp, Wayne Baumgarten, Jennifer Andersen, and Denise Page; also present,  Planner David Campbell

Absent:    None

  1.    CALL TO ORDER

    The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m., by Chairman Ruemenapp.

  2.    PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

    The Pledge to the Flag was recited.

  3.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

    It was moved by member Page and seconded by member McKenzie that the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on October 20, 2009, be approved as presented.

        Ayes:    Members McKenzie, Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, Andersen, and Page
        Nays:    None
       The motion carried.

  4.    APPROVAL OF AGENDA

    It was moved by member Stevens and seconded by member Andersen that the agenda be approved as submitted.

        Ayes:  Members McKenzie, Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, Andersen, and Page
        Nays:  None
        The motion carried.

    Gerald Parylo entered the meeting at 7:02 p.m.

5.    COMMUNICATIONS

    A communication from Semco entitled Public Improvement Projects that Impact Semco Energy Gas Facilities was presented and discussed.
 

6.    DISCUSSION FROM THE FLOOR

   There was no Discussion From the Floor.

7.    PUBLIC HEARING
    A.  SIGN ORDINANCE
   
    The Public Hearing was opened at 7:12 p.m.

    Proposed changes were presented by Planner Campbell. 

    Chairman Ruemenapp asked if section 1.m. should read no closer than 100 feet from the property line. He also asked if it would be appropriate for the ZBA to give a variance  for this. Planner Campbell stated that he thought that the ZBA could give a variance for this since it is out of the control of the applicant and no change was needed.

    Chairman Ruemenapp stated section 3.c. says signs can be 20 feet from the right of way under special approval of a special land use.  He stated that other sections for signs for R1, R2, ROS, RT, and all the other zoning does not reference how far a sign has to be from a right-of-way; so if we want 10 feet, it  should say 10 feet.

    Planner Campbell stated that perhaps section 1.m. should say 10 feet from the property right-of-way     unless another ordinance section says it should be more for a certain request.

    It was moved by member Stevens and seconded by member Page that the Public Hearing be closed at 7:21 p.m.

        Ayes:  Members McKenzie, Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, Andersen, and Page
        Nays:  None
        The motion carried.

    It was moved by member Page and seconded by member McKenzie that the Amendments to Section 13.08 of Ordinance #30 Casco Township Zoning Ordinance, including subsections 13.08.1, 13.08.3, 13.08.4, 13.08.6, 13.08.7, and 13.08.10 be recommended for approval to the Township Board, with the correction of section 1.m., by the Township Planner.

        Ayes:  Members McKenzie, Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, Andersen, and Page
        Nays:  None
        The motion carried.

 8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

    There was no Unfinished Business.

 9.    NEW BUSINESS

    There was no New Business.

10.    PLANNER'S REPORT

    Planner Campbell gave a presentation of a new product Birchler Arroyo is offering:  Clearzoning. Clearzoning is a process of transforming a community‘s existing zoning ordinance into a format that is  much more concise, interactive, and graphics-oriented, without changing the existing ordinance‘s regulatory intent.
 

   The process and how changes would be made in the future were discussed.  The Planning Commission suggested Planner Campbell make the presentation to the Township Board.

11.    REPORT FROM COMMITTEES

    It was reported that a number of Planning Commission members attended the St. Clair County Workshop. They gave a review of presentations which were made by a planner and a lawyer. 

    It was reported that there would be a training workshop in the spring.

12.    ADJOURNMENT

    It was moved by member Baumgarten and seconded by member Andersen that the meeting adjourn at 8:11 p.m.

        Ayes:  Members McKenzie, Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, Andersen, and Page
        Nays:  None
        The motion carried.




 

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