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IV PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS - None
V ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE DRAFT -Continued review and discussion of May 6, 2008 memo as provided by McKenna Assoc.
(Professional Planner, Greg Milliken to attend)
Finalize discussion pertaining to commercial areas as they relate to M-43.
Section 17.19 Fences. The intent is to allow barbed wire/electric fence for livestock, Ag, and gardening uses in all districts. It was suggested to possibly modify paragraph B, to include fences prohibited in ASD/WF except for Ag-type uses included in gardening, in regards to minimum lot sizes in the Ag District. Recognition was made of the statement made by Attorney Kelly Page in previous Township Board meeting minutes regarding family members exception for minimum lot sizes. Ron Marvin suggested allowing two (2) acre minimums everywhere, as it seems to fit better with what most residents want.
Professional Planner, Greg Milliken, responded that the separation of minimum lot sizes and overall density requirements becomes, administratively, more complicated, but is not impossible, as this is already being done elsewhere.
There was discussion regarding publicity for the PC open house regarding the zoning ordinance draft, for public input. The open house is scheduled for Monday, September 8, 2008 from 6-9 p.m., which will be printed in the Summer tax bill newsletter. It was mentioned that the revised proposed zoning map should be on display, along with all the proposed zoning ordinance modifications including: land splits/densities, zoning map district names and locations, land uses permitted in each zone (commercial development), and development of regulations.
Planner, Greg Milliken, provided density specifications in the schedule of regulations for each district. Two (2) acre minimum in all districts except AMD, one (1) acre minimum in AMD. Milliken will check with others at McKenna for potential examples. Chair Rumsey shared that road frontage will need to be reduced if minimum lot size is reduced to1 or 2 acres.
Ron Marvin suggested revision is necessary on page five (5) of the memo, Section 4.05 - Other Provisions, E) Alternative Minimum lot Size for the Division (Sale) of a Lot for Family.
Memo: Commercial (page five)
There was discussion of contract versus conditional zoning, which is not legal
everywhere (omit)
in some states (add), and must be consistent with the master plan.
Planner, Milliken, gave an review of conditional zoning situations/applications. Chairman Rumsey requested elaboration on the concept of overlay. Overlay takes precedence over zoning ordinances for underlying zoning districts.
Another item for open house discussion: Question posed of residents, as to where to put additional commercial district in Almena Township, and to have the residents indicate such on the map. The concept of nodes, and the concept of overlays.
The summer tax bills will include an invitation to the open house regarding the draft zoning ordinance rewrite and process. Nina Consolatti will put together a small paragraph to be included with the tax bill, with bullet points of interest, which will be sent out to all PC members by email.
The next meeting, work session, was scheduled for Monday, June 16 @ 7:00 p.m.
Possibly to include for the township board, toward the end of the rewrite process, a list of changes/comparisons of the new proposed zoning ordinance versus the current zoning ordinance. Milliken explained that Chuck Eckenstahler, Planner, had begun a revision form, which will be updated.
Also, to be updated before the open house, will be the zoning ordinance draft document, of which seven (7) copies will be needed.
There was no old business, nor any new upcoming business.
ADJOURNMENT- The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
