MINUTES
CASCO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
Present: Members Joe Stevens, Eric Reeve, William Ruemenapp, Wayne Baumgarten,
and Jennifer Andersen; also present Township Planner Rod Arroyo, John Pavlik,
Eric Quint, Roland Suess, Hugo Mancini, Mr. & Mrs. Clancy,
David Kaufman, and Gerald
Parylo
Absent: Kathy McKenzie and Denise Page
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 - JULY 20, 2010
It was moved by member Stevens and seconded by member Andersen that the
minutes of the Regular Meeting held on July 20, 2010, be approved with the
following correction:
Page 4
The vote on adjournment was corrected as follows:
Ayes: Members McKenzie, Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, Page,
and Andersen
Ayes: Members Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, and Andersen
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 Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, and Andersen
Nays: None
The motion carried.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
It was reported that there will be a
St. Clair County Metro Planning
workshop on October 28, 2010.
Information on a topic has not received yet, but will be forward to members
as soon as possible.
It was reported that the Township Board approved the pawn shop ordinance and
tabled the federal, state, and local law ordinance.
6. DISCUSSION FROM THE FLOOR
Mr. Pavlik asked what he needed to do next to get a pawn shop approved.
The
Planning Commission stated that Mr. Pavlik would have to get an
application for a Special Land Use from the Township office and pay a fee. When
he turned the application back in it would have to have a sketch of his property
with it.
Planner Arroyo stated that because there was no site plan available, it
would be better if a survey was included with the application with details on
what each building would house. He also stated that ten copies of the survey
should be included with the application.
When asked about selling guns, Planner Arroyo stated the Planning Commission
could approve it with the Special Land Use, or they could make a decision that
it is similar to approved uses. He also stated that he would have to check the
ordinances to see if it is a permitted land use in commercial.
It was asked if the guns are approved under the Special Land Use would they
be tied to the pawn shop, so if the pawn shop closes they could no longer sell
guns.
Planner Arroyo stated that he didn‘t think they needed to be tied together.
Mr. Kaufman stated that he is the builder for Saint Clair Eye. He said the
Road Commission told him he would need a 100-foot culvert which would put it
into the neighbor‘s property.
The Planning Commission stated that they had no jurisdiction over the
decisions of the Road Commission.
Mr. Kaufman stated that he also had a problem with the parking area, because
if they use the garage driveway it puts it over 8,000 feet and they will need a
drainage plan.
The Planning Commission stated that when the site plan was presented, they
were informed that the driveway would not be used.
Mr. Kaufman stated that they now wanted to use the driveway and the owner
and his employee would park in the garage. He stated that they also wanted to
put a light in the parking lot and not put lights on the outside of the
building.
Planner Arroyo requested Mr. Kaufman to send him the light specifications
when they picked one so he could check it and it could be added to the site
plan.
Mr. Kaufman indicated that they had not picked a sign yet.
The Planning Commission stated that they should fill out a permit at the
township office when they knew what sign they wanted.
Planner Arroyo stated that if the Planning Commission was comfortable with
the changes being approved with him doing a review, Mr. Kaufman could submit a
site plan with the light changes written on them, a comment that the driveway
would be left on the site plan but would not be used which would keep the
parking lot under 8,000 feet, and any other minor changes they were planning.
Mr. Pavlik, Mr. Quint, and Mr. Kaufman left the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
The Planning Commission indicated that they felt that review and approval
from the Planner would be appropriate for the changes to the site plan.
Mr. Clancy stated that they would like to add a fuel storage system. It
would have double wall tanks and cement block. They wanted to make it look nice
so they would like to put a structure around it which would have a front of
split faced block, two open sides, and a metal roof. He also stated that he
had taken the plan to the Ira Fire Department and they had approved it.
It was asked if the Clancys had contacted the state department with the
plan.
Mr. Clancy stated that the company supplying the tanks met all requirements.
Planner Arroyo asked if they were going where tanks were on the site plan.
Mr. Clancy stated that they were not on the site plan, but they would like
to add the building.
Planner Arroyo stated that he thought this could be added to the site plan
if the Planning Commission was comfortable with him doing an administrative
review to approve it. Planner Arroyo also stated the plans showing the fuel
system would not require an engineer‘s stamp.
The Planning Commission stated that they were comfortable with an
administrative review by Planner Arroyo and told Mr. Clancy he would need to
fill out a form for a review by the Planner at the Township office along with
four sets of the amended site plan and there would be a fee for the review.
\
Mr. & Mrs. Clancy left the meeting at 7:38 p.m.,
7. PUBLIC HEARING
There was no Public Hearing
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. MASTER PLAN - UPDATE
Planner Arroyo and the Planning Commission discussed the updates to the
introduction of the Master Plan including new demographics, new economic
information, township and county population, average household size, and
employment. The following changes were suggested:
Page 5 - if the increase in development for Columbus Township includes the
golf course that has been abandoned, it should be changed.
Page 6 - states I-94 runs through the middle of the township. This needs to
be changed to diagonally through the township.
Page 6 - mentions St. Clair Highway traverses the township, so 26 Mile Road
needs to be added to the section.
Page 7 - mentions all of the neighboring townships except Columbus.
Planner Arroyo stated that this was because they did not have Columbus‘s
Master Plan, but they do now so it can be added.
Page 8, paragraph 2 - mentions water and sewage capabilities. Casco has
none.
Planner Arroyo stated that the next step is to decided if you want to do
more, or wait until next year. You can make a determination that after a review
you feel changes or amendments are not necessary at this time and you would like
to wait until next year when you can gather more information.
The Planning Commission asked what they should do if they thought things
like setbacks should be changed in some areas.
Planner Arroyo stated that could be changed by amending ordinances.
It was moved by member Reeve and seconded by member Stevens that the
Planning Commission accept the amendments as discussed, and will postpone
further work on the Master Plan until the spring of 2011.
Ayes: Members Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, and Andersen
Nays: None
The motion carried.
9. NEW BUSINES
A. DISCUSSION ON OUTDOOR GATHERING ORGINANCE NO. 31
A copy of the current township ordinance was presented. It was stated that
it needed major updates or the township could go to an event ordinance.
The Planning Commission and Planner Arroyo discussed whether the ordinance
should specify activities
and number of people.
Mr. Suess and Mr. Mancini left the meeting at 8:07 p.m.
It was decided that Casco should look at what neighboring communities do and
determine if just an ordinance change is needed, or a special event permit would
be better.
Planner Arroyo stated that he would work on wording and send it to the
Board.
10. PLANNER'S REPORT
Planner Arroyo stated that he would send a report on the new complete street
legislation, that has been approved and signed by the Governor, for October‘s
meeting.
The Planning Commission requested Planner Arroyo to contact Township
Supervisor Holk about the recreation plan since the millage passed.
11. REPORT FROM COMMITTEES
It was reported that the Richmond recreation program has requested more
money from the townships.
12. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by member Baumgarten and seconded by member Andersen that the
meeting adjourn at 8:18 p.m.
Ayes: Members Stevens, Reeve, Ruemenapp, Baumgarten, and Andersen
Nays: None
The motion carried.