BERRIEN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

MEETING MINUTES FOR

August 24, 2009

The Berrien Township Planning Commission met with the Berrien Township Board of Trustees at the Berrien Township Hall to continue working on the Zoning Ordinance.

CALL TO ORDER

The Berrien Township Planning Commission met on August 24, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. for a regular

meeting.  Chairman Dale Sherwood called the meeting to order and opened with the pledge to the flag.

ROLL CALL

Planning Commission Members Present:  Chairman Dale Sherwood, Vice-Chairman Ron Harner, Secretary Doug Shelton, Dave Riedlinger, Robert Norris and Ross Rogien.

Members Absent:  Ed Kerlikowske Jr. 

Berrien Township Board of Trustees:  Paul Bixby, Mary Jane Dean, Paul Sprung, Julie Burke, Ross Rogien – absent, Harold Bishop and Kevin Klug.

Others Present:   Jim Hoover, Mike Clark with Williams and Works, and one residents.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is set for September 21, 2009. 

MINUTES

Motion by Ron Harner, supported by Dave Riedlinger, to approve the minutes from July 20, 2009. 

All ayes, none opposed.   Motion carried.

BUILDING PERMITS

Jim Hoover presented the Building Permit Report. There were 3 Electrical Permits issued and 5 Building Permits. 

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion took place concerning the survey and property line locations of the Range Line Road Park property.

Discussion took place on a parcel by Steven’s Nursery on Pucker Street concerning on how it was surveyed and listed.

Larry Overton attended the meeting to obtain information on having a private cemetery on his property located on M-140.  A Public Hearing would need to be held as this would change his Planned Unit Development that had previously been approved.  It would have to be a separate parcel with its own description.  A drawing with dimensions would be required showing the distance between the easement and structures.  A fence would be needed around the cemetery to be approved.  He was asked to fill out an application with the township.

PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE

Discussion began on the Zoning Ordinace:

300.1106    Adult Uses:

D. # 1 Discussion on distance required for set back for an adult business.  Mike Clark will review setbacks. He will also check on the area zoned Industrial in the Township to see if it could be used in the Industrial District.

D. #11 Change to “once a day” rather than “once a week”.

D. # 6 Require patrons off premises by midnight.

D. # 4 &7 Research age being changed from 18 to 21.

D. #16 Add the words “before Planning Commission” to end of sentence.

300.1107 Agriculture Conservation Development:

Discussion took place on a minimum lot size for development in an Agriculture Conservation Development.

Motion by Robert Norris, supported by Ron Harner, to remove 300.1107 Agriculture Conservation Development entirely.  All ayes, none opposed.   Motion carried.

300.1109 Automobile Sales:

B. #2    Will be eliminated due to public sewer requirements.

300.1110 Broadcast Towers:

B. #1    Will be reworded by Mike Clark for additional discussion on height/location of towers requiring to be reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to approval.

300.1112 Carwash:

B. #1    Will be eliminated.

300.1113 Cemetery:

Discussion on requiring a bond for private cemeteries to cover costs if ever abandoned.

300.1115 Contractor’s Yard:

B. #3    The word “be” added after the word “shall.

300.1122 Funeral Home & Mortuary:

B. #1    A minimum size of 5 acres will be required. The paragraph will be modified to reflect this change.

B. #9    Will be eliminated.

300.1123 Garage, Public:

B. #1    Will be eliminated.

B. #2    Will be modified to have a fence.

B. #3    Changed to a minimum of 1 acre.

B. #5    Will be modified for additional review.

300.1125 Home Occupations – Major:

B. #3 g.  Will be modified by Mike Clark for additional review.            

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Robert Norris, supported by Ron Harner, to adjourn meeting.  All ayes, none opposed.   Motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
 

Doug Shelton, Planning Commission - Secretary