Minutes of Helena Township Planning Commission

September 9, 2014

 

Meeting called to order by Gurr (7:02pm)

Opened with Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call:                      Present:            Jim Gurr                  Bob Johnson

Chris Dewald           Bonnie Robbins

Welcome new member:  Ken Renaud

Absent:             Mike Robinson        Rodger Dewey

 

 

Township officials present:                    Guy Molby

 

Approval of Agenda:  as submitted       Motion: Johnson, 2^nd Dewald.  Carried

Statement of Conflict of Interest:          None

Approval of Minutes:  Correction on name spelling.  Motion: Johnson, 2^nd Robbins.  Carried

Public Comment:         (0 in attendance)

None

Communications:         Discussion that conference on Mackinaw Island may be of value for content but the expense to                                       the tax payer to send representatives is excessive.

 

Robbins shared letters that had been submitted to the Board of Trustees concerning the                                                  extended use of fireworks and requests for ordinance language.  Robbins asked Molby if Sheriff                                                 Bean had discussed if the county had completed their language as she had been absent from the                                    last Trustees meeting. Molby reported Bean had not reported on this subject.  Robbins wanted                                      the commission members aware the topic is in the process of being addressed, policing                                                             ordinances have been drafted by the Trustee board in the past but the commission may be asked                           to address this when the county has language we can refer to and draft an enforceable                                                    ordinance.

 

Discussion of Private Roads language suggestions from Kate Redman, legal counsel.  Language                                                 was discussed during last review of ordinance.  Review of language that was meant to be                                                 removed and consensus to strike bullet J in section 7.07 or the ordinance (pg 90) to solve the                                                 issue of road standards in the ordinance.  Language requiring the road have approval from the                                            fire department for equipment serviceability and county road commission will remain, but there                                         will be no defined standards.  Commission members will review the document and identify any                                           conflicts with the road language in both the zoning ordinance and master plan.  These topics will                                            be addressed at a public hearing to be held after the work sessions have been completed.

 

 

Old Business:   Zoning violation fee language:

Discussion as to where the language request came from.  Molby stated he did not request the                                         language.  Discussion that ordinance has served township in the past and administrator has been                                     able to resolve issues without fines.  No language change recommended at this time.

 

New Business:

ZA report

Aug 2014:  Land Use  7 , Field Checks 16 , Attorney Contacts 0 , Public Contacts 21 ,  Zoning Violations 0

 

Public Comment: None

                       

 

Adjourn: Motion Dewald, 2^nd Johnson. Carried

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Bonnie Robbins

Helena Township Planning Commission Recording Secretary