BERRIEN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES FOR

April 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION

TO GAIN INFORMATION ON A SPECIAL LAND USE APPLICATION

FROM ADVENTIST FRONTIER MISSIONS

The Berrien Township Planning Commission met on April 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the township hall for a special meeting.  Chairman Dale Sherwood called the meeting to order and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.

Roll call: Chairman Dale Sherwood, Vice-Chairman Ron Harner, Secretary Doug Shelton, Dave Riedlinger, Robert Norris, and Ross Rogien were in attendance. Ed Kerlikowske Jr. was absent. 

Also attending was Supervisor Paul Bixby, Craig Moore, Bruce Wickwire, and John Kent.

Packets were put together by Adventist Frontier Missions (AFM), including a site map, letter of intention, floor plan drawings of new buildings, and a letter from the Health Department.

Craig Moore serving as spokesperson for AFM presented their plan for the property identified as 11-04-0030-0010-11-7 on Range Line Rd, the former Pennellwood property.  Craig was contracted to find property adequate for AFM’s purposes.  Pennellwood became available and AFM entered into an agreement to purchase the property if they were able to acquire the needed special land use.

It is the intention of AFM to complete this project within three years.  The large dining hall is being repaired by the insurance company.  Their first priority is to bring the pools and existing buildings back to a good condition.   The site plan as shown is a final vision for the campus.  They are not looking to add things at a later date.

Question:  Did the Health Dept. give a drawing of where soil borings were made?

Answer:  Yes, they dug everywhere a building is to be placed.

Question:  There are concerns about a proposed drain field near the pond.

Answer:  There is plenty of space to move and redesign to alleviate concerns.

Any wells not usable will be shut down and septic possibly as well.  If they find unacceptable items during construction, they will be removed and/or shut down.

AFM would like to keep the “feel” of what is existing.  Keep the open areas, keep the tennis courts, and utilize the view of the ravine.

Question:  What kind of drainage fields would you use?

Answer:  Whatever the Health Dept. requires.

Maximum capacity is estimated to be 60 at any one time.  This is if short term and long term training were to overlap.  It is also estimated that during the first few years the campus would only be utilized for approximately six months out of the year.  However there would be a full time year-round caretaker living on the premises.

At this time it is AFM’s intention to offer the Hall for public use for weddings, conferences, etc.  Also the four acre area across the ravine is intended to be used as a nature area.  They may put in a walking bridge for easier access.

The water access to the river will be for their use only.  For liability issues there will be no public access.

As regards traffic on Range Line.  People staying on campus will go to class there.  They don’t envision much traffic.  With maximum capacity of 60 people and 2/3 having cars, a worst case scenario you could have 35 – 40 cars.  They won’t all be on the road at the same time. 

Question:  you are a non-profit group so would this property be exempt from real estate taxes.

Answer: yes, however there is an application process.

Question:  Can we regulate hours of construction?

Answer: Yes.  Comment from Craig – I don’t believe anyone would have a problem with that.

All roadways are paved.  They need to be brought to a usable state.  Some drives need to be widened.  They intend to have the fire chief out there to verify he can get the biggest truck through with no problems.  The driveway to the house will only be for the house.  Parking will be updated according to zoning.  Parking should be adequate for the use of each building without paving the whole campus.