Republic Township Planning Commission Meeting

July 21, 2008

 

Call to order: at 7:00 by Chair Leslie Hurst

 

Members in Attendance: Glenn, Marcy, Marie, Tom, Jim, Leslie, Paul Polanski, Bill DeGenaro, Bill Payne (Zoning Administrator).

 

Members absent: Diane Tapio (excused)

 

Approval of June 16, 2008 minutes: Move: Jim; 2nd: Tom.  All in favor; Motion carried

 

Approval of Agenda: With addition of (3) Land Division requests, to be discussed under “New Business”. Move: Jim; 2nd: Glenn.  All in favor; Motion carried.

 

(Public Comment: Steve Heikkinen, add to agenda: land divisions for Zaiki and Johnson; was told already added to agenda under New Business.)

 

Reports:

          Zoning Administrator: See attached sheets. Includes Zoning Administrator report for June 16, 2008 (3 Compliance permits; all approved and one land division); and report for July 21, 2008 (10 Compliance permits, all approved; 4 land divisions)

          Letter written to James Lindholm was passed around concerning non-compliance of his property in South Republic.  No response to letter as yet.

          Land division: Jon Mykkanen: Division of one 20-acre parcel into 2 10-acre parcels. Move to approve: Tom; 2nd: Paul.  All in favor (Marie recused); Motion carried

 

Parks & Recreation:

          No report, as Diane was absent.

 

EDC: No report.

 

Heritage Trail:

          (Submitted by Chuck Hurst):

• ·        July 5 the Wetlands Preserve/Heritage Trail Open House was a success-85 attended.
• ·        Received final $5000.00 CCI donation for the Wetlands Preserve development.
• ·        Took Sherry Davies (Senator Stabenow’s UP representative) on a tour of the Wetlands with Ken Salo and Dale Hemmila.
• ·        Took Rick Marks, a Washington, DC lobbyist on tour of Wetlands, beginning preliminary work on declaring Iron Ore Heritage Trail as a National Heritage Park

 

          Kudos to all who helped out at Open House.

 

Master Plan/Zoning Ordinance Committee: See minutes for Master Plan Meeting, held prior to this meeting.

 

Ordinance Subcommittee:

          Met on 6/26 and 7/9.  Updated Cemetery Ordinance, attorney review, recommending to Board.  Created Ordinance Enforcement Ordinance, attorney review and recommended to Board.  Working on new Nuisance Ordinance; will meet again 8/13, 5:30 pm. Members will also be attending a seminar concerning enforcement on 7/23 in Escanaba.

 

Campground Committee:

          Guidelines have been posted.  Committee is disbanding, as their job is completed.

 

Website Report:

          Good numbers posted for June, averaging over 500 hits per day, 67% of them on images.

 

Old Business:

          Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments will be submitted together at next Board meeting.  (Detailed below). Discussion of each of the following amendments was held at length:

• 1)     Amendment to Section 14, Administration, Enforcement and Penalties to specify requirements for zoning permits.  Move to approve and send to Board: Marie; 2nd: Paul; all in favor. Motion carried.
• 2)     Change in minimum lot size for R2 and WR1 parcels.  Move to approve: Paul; 2nd: Marie; all in favor.  Motion carried
• 3)     External wood burning boilers ordinance. Much discussion of details of this ordinance, prompted by recent citizen complaints, including those of David and Debra Keto, who were in attendance and who wrote letter to Commission detailing their concerns. Move to approve: Tom; 2nd: Marie; all in favor.  Motion carried.

 

(Jim Brennan left the meeting at this point)

 

New Business:

          Planning Commission Ordinance: Looked over draft sent by Michelle DeWitt; Motion to approve: Glenn, 2nd: Paul; all in favor.  Motion carried.

          Planning Commission By-Laws.  Determined we needed more time to study the somewhat lengthy, updated version before we took a vote.  Tabled discussion until August meeting.

          Sign Committee Recommendation:

          Chair Paul Polanski submitted final design of proposed changes to existing sign at beach entrance.  Motion to approve and send to Board: Marie; 2nd: Bill D. 6 in favor, 1 opposed. Motion carried.

          Heard comment (via letter) from Rebecca Dexter, of Egg Harbor, WI about her reservations that the new sign is just another billboard.  Her comments were taken under consideration, along with Tom’s, but the vote had been taken. Glenn will present recommendation to the board.  In addition, Marie brought up the point that the sign on the highway advertising “Antiques” will occlude the new sign (as it is doing now) and that someone will have to approach the owners about possibly removing the sign.  Bill P was assigned this diplomatic task.

          Land Divisions:

          Zaiki: Steve Heikkinen from ECI described the division.  It was deemed to meet land division and zoning requirements, but Bill Payne had some reservations about the future planned split, as future divisions were granted to the new parcel.  Motion to approve division: Glenn; 2nd: Bill D.  All in favor; motion carried.

          Johnson:  Brief explanation of request given by Steve Heikkinen from ECI.  After short discussion, motion to approve division: Marie; 2nd: Glenn.  All in favor; motion carried.

          Kilpela:  Division was deemed to meet existing land division and zoning requirements.  Motion to approve division: Tom; 2nd: Paul.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

No Public Comment

 

Discussion at end of meeting concerning the lack of information when land divisions are proposed.  Members generally feel that we would like to have access to the applications and supporting documents before the meeting during which they will be discussed.  Education concerning the land division act is also desirable.

 

Motion to adjourn at 9:20pm: Move: Tom; 2nd: Glenn.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

 

 

 

Amendments to Zoning Ordinances:

Section 14 Administrative, Enforcement and Penalties

 

Section A may stand as it is.

Add the following (new Sections B-E; old Section B will become F and the rest become G-N, accordingly):

• B.    An application fro zoning approval shall be required for all new structures, and for any additions and alterations to existing structures which affect external dimensions.  Applications shall also be required for mobile homes as well as for the removal or relocation of structures.

               C. An approved application shall constitute a permit.

• D.   A Zoning Permit shall automatically expire 18 months from the      date of issuance whether construction has begun or not.  The Zoning Administrator may extend the Permit for an additional 12 months if it is determined that the applicant will make a good faith effort to commence or complete construction.  If a permit shall          expire while the construction is still in progress, the applicant or his designee shall apply for a new permit.
• E.    Application for a Zoning Permit shall be filed in writing with the Zoning Administrator, signed by the person, firm, or co-partnership or corporation requesting the same or by the duly authorized agent of such person, firm, co-partnership or corporation.  There shall be submitted with all applications for zoning permits, two (2) copies of a plot plan, giving accurate dimensions on a scale drawing.  Scale drawings shall be required for all structures and shall contain the following information: building information, footprints, location on the lot, dimensions, setbacks, typical floor plans to scale.  Also, the following must be indicated:
• 1.     Existing or intended use of the structure
• 2.     Lines and dimensions of the lot to be used.
• 3.     Location upon the lot of all existing and proposed structures, streets and utility easements.
• 4.     Evidence that all required federal, state and county licenses and permits have been acquired or that applications have been filed for the same.  These include, but are not limited to: Michigan DEQ, Marquette County Erosion Control, Michigan Department of Public Health, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, etc.
• 5.     Other information with respect to the proposed structure, site, use, lot and adjoining property as may be required by the Zoning Administrator.

 

Change in Minimum Lot size for R-2 and WR-1:

          The minimum lot size in Section 4, subdivision 7 and Section 4, subdivision 6 shall be changed to read:  Minimum Lot width 150 feet and minimum lot area, more than one acre.

 

New Section 9: (following Mobile Home Parks; present section 9 will become Section 10 and the Sections following will be renumbered accordingly.)

          Section 9: External Wood Burning Boilers/Units

          In order to protect the health, safety and economic well-being of the citizens of Republic Township, the following regulations shall affect the use of external wood burning boilers/units:

• A.    Minimum parcel size will be 5 acres
• B.    Setbacks will be 75 feet on all sides
• C.    Minimum chimney height of 15 feet, measured from grade to chimney top, or two feet higher than the neighboring principle dwelling within 1000 feet, whichever is higher.
• D.   Unit shall not be located in a front yard.
• E.    No fuel other than natural wood without additives, wood pellets without additives and agricultural seeds in their natural state may be burned.
• F.     Fuel shall not be visible from any surrounding properties.
• G.   The granting of a zoning approval permit constitutes an agreement between the landowner and Republic Township, that the Zoning Administrator, at any reasonable time, may enter the property for the purpose of inspection to determine compliance with the above conditions.

         

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Marie Serafin, Secretary

 

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