Minutes of Helena Township Planning Commission

October 04, 2018

Meeting called to order by Gurr at 7:04 p.m.

Opened with Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call:

Present:            Jim Gurr            Laura Westerman

Mike Robinson  Gord (y) Schafer

Bonnie Robbins

Absent:             Joe Bassil

Township officials present:                        Bob Logee

Gurr and members welcomed Gordie (y) to the Commission.

Approval of Agenda:   Motion: Robbins, 2^nd Westerman. Carried

Statement of Conflict of Interest:         None

Approval of Minutes: September 06, 2018 As presented. Motion: Westerman, 2^nd Robbins. Carried.

Public Comment:         1 in attendance

Resident presented suggested language for addressing yard lighting in relationship to neighboring properties and their enjoyment of dark skies. Materials included samples of lighting. Commission discussed this with the member of the public. Gurr stated the topic is part of the Antrim County Planning Commission discussion of the county master plan. He suggested members of the commission and public attend the next meeting to voice their concerns. Resident and zoning administrator explained the property will not be using the lighting during the winter and there is more time for the commission to review this over the winter. Robbins will add this concern to our points of discussion for possible revision of zoning ordinance language.

Communications:         None

Meeting closed at 7:34 pm for Public Hearing on proposed language change in the ordinance.

No input from the public. Gurr explained the process to Schafer and what the language addressed. Members were asked if there was any further discussion before this would be sent to surrounding townships and the county planning commission.

No changes or further discussion.

Public hearing closed at 7:42 pm. Motion by Robbins to approve submitting this proposed language to the neighboring townships and county for review. Support by Westerman. Motion carried.

Robbins will follow through on mailing copies to entities as required by law.

Robbins explained that the November meeting will be before any of these entities will be reviewing it and therefore the Helena planning commission will not have any feedback until the December meeting. If there are no significant changes generated from those reviews the language can be submitted to the township board for their December 2018 meeting.

New Business:             September 2018: LU 2; FC 5; AC 1; PC 7; ZV 0

Logee has been contacted about tentative plans for the Alden Bar property. The discussions are to determine what might be allowed in accordance to the zoning ordinance. It is all tentative and no plans or permit application has been submitted to date.

Old Business:               Ordinance review will be tabled to next meeting. Robbins will add lighting to the review topics. Westerman would like to revisit digital signs language, especially with winter coming and the businesses not being open during winter months when the trees no longer offer any screening for the neighboring properties.

Public Comment:        

Resident found the process interesting and plans to attend the county meeting to discuss including protecting night skies in the county master plan language.

Robinson stated his hours of work may change and he would know more at next meeting.

Adjourn: 9:09 pm Motion Robbins, 2^nd Westerman. Carried

Respectfully Submitted,

Bonnie Robbins

 

 

Helena Township Planning Commission Recording Secretary