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.
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    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.