Minutes of Helena Township Planning Commission

September 02, 2015

Meeting called to order by Gurr  at 7:01 p.m.

Opened with Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call:                      Present:            Jim Gurr                  Ken Renaud

Bob Johnson          Bonnie Robbins

Chris Dewald

Absent:             Mike Robinson        Rodger Dewey

Township officials present:                    Guy Molby,

Approval of Agenda:    Motion: Johnson, 2^nd Renaud.  Carried (5,0)

Statement of Conflict of Interest:          None

Approval of Minutes:   Spelling correction.  Motion:  Renaud, 2^nd Johnson.  Carried (5,0) Carried (5,0)

Public Comment:         (1 in attendance)  No comment.

Communications:         None

New Business:             ZA report 6 land use, 10 field checks, 2 attorney contact, 15 other public contacts, 0 violation (tickets written

Molby asked if we should revisit the need for medical marijuana sales in our township.

Old Business:              Master Plan Review:  Discussion of points noted previously.  Commissioners will review the language and make recommendations to assure the language is cohesive between the master pland and the zoning ordinance at the November meeting.

Fines and Penalties:  Language currently in the zoning ordinace was reviewed.  Discussion of areas where minor changes might meet the needs of the township based on recommendation previously submitted by legal counsel.  Commissioners have moved this item to the list already noted and will discuss it again during zoning ordinance review.

Public Comment:         Question raised about township’s ability to recoup enforcement cots of nuisance violations.  How does the township enforce these violations?  Gurr explained that it is a concern for the township to be able to not have unreasonable cost to enforce our ordinances.  This ordinance is a policing ordinance and while it has been the role of the township board of trustees to address the ordinance the planning commission would take them into consideration if that were the desire of the township board.  The township has been successful so far at not having these issues be a cost concern by working with property owners to get the issue resolved.

Adjourn: Motion Johnson, 2^nd Renaud. Carried (5,0)

Respectfully Submitted,

Bonnie Robbins

Helena Township Planning Commission Recording Secretary