BERRIEN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

MEETING MINUTES FOR

Monday, June 21, 2010

CALL TO ORDER

The Berrien Township Planning Commission met on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

for a regular meeting.  Chairman Dale Sherwood called the meeting to order and opened with the

Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

ROLL CALL

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

Members Absent:  Dave Riedlinger and Karen O’Dell. 

Others Present:  Jim Hoover, Paul Bixby, Julius Grau, Mike Clark with Williams & Works, Ron Gest and  recording secretary - Rebecca Downey.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. 

MINUTES

Motion by Robert Norris, supported by Ross Rogien, to approve the minutes from the May 17, 2010 meeting.  All ayes, none opposed.   Motion carried.

BUILDING PERMITS

Berrien Township Building Inspector, Jim Hoover presented the Building Permit Report along with the Electrical Permit Report.  In April thirteen (13) Building Permits were issued with fees collected totaling $2,377.40 and thirteen (13) Electrical Permit was issued with fees collected totaling $1,474.00. 

NEW BUSINESS

Ron Gest, residing at 11507 M-140, appeared before the Planning Commission to question the possibility of using his 42x100 building as a consignment auction house one (1) day a week.  He explained the layout of his properties and his intentions.

It was stated if there is a permitted use for such a project, there should be no problem.

In order to meet the necessary time required for Notice of Public Hearing, he was advised to get the application and fee into the township office as soon as possible.

OLD BUSINESS

Zoning Ordinance:  The Zoning Ordinance was reviewed with changes suggested by Deputy Supervisor, Julius Grau.

Pg. 1-1   300.101 PURPOSE:  change the word “morals” to “values”, change “preserve farmland” to “and preservation of” farmland, omit the word “certain” from the phrase - “minimum standards under which certain buildings”, change the word “conserve the use of funds” to “manage” the use of funds.

Pg. 2-3

ANTIQUES, GIFT, ART AND HANDICRAFT SHOPS:  add the term, antique items.

AUTOMOBILE (MOTOR VEHICLE):  change the word “campers” to “”motor homes”.

AUTOMOBILE (MOTOR VEHICLE) COMMERCIAL:  change the phrase “automobiles have” to “automobiles having”

AUTOMOBILE SALES:  add “motor vehicle” to read:  AUTOMOBILE (MOTOR VEHICLE) SALES:

Pg. 2-4

CAMP, RECREATIONAL: omit the following; outdoor activities for boys, girls or families, normally housed in tents or cabins, usually operated during the summer.

CLINIC:  add the word “medical” to read “MEDICAL CLINIC”:

Pg. 2-5

CONTRACTORS YARD:  put a slash between on off, to read “on/off: premises job site”.

Pg. 2-6

DWELLING, TEMPORARY: change the phrase “farm laborers” to “temporary workers”.

Pg. 2-7

FARM ANIMALS: change the word “slaughtered” to “processed”.

Pg. 2-8  300.207

GARAGE, PRIVATE:  add the word “boats” behind “motor vehicles”.

GAS RECOVERY FACILITY:  switch the words “regulated” and “licensed”

GASOLINE STATION:  add /CONVENIENCE BUILDING

Change the word “Any” to “A”

Add the word “repairing” after “dispensing, servicing,”

Change: “of any automobile fuels” to “motor” fuels.

Pg. 2-9  300.209

IMPROVEMENTS:  Before the word “body” add the phrase “township governing”.

Remove the word “future” from the phrase “future users or inhabitants”.

300.210

JUNK:  After “Any personal” add the word “unused”

Add the word “plastic” to definition of junk.

300.211 KENNEL:  Change the word “dogs to “animals”

Remove the phrase “or training” after “boarding”

End paragraph after “domestic pets”, removing of like number are bread or sold.

Pg. 2-10

LODGES, FRATERNAL, LABOR AND SOCIAL HALL: (continued from pg. 2-9)

Change the word “meet” to “gather” and remove phrase and pay dues.

LODGING HOUSE:  remove the phrase “for three or more”.

Pg. 2-11  300.214

NUISANCE:  Add the phrase “safety and general welfare” after “public health”.

Change the word “morals” to “values”

Change the word “peaceful” to “designated.

Change the word “streets” to “right of ways”.

PARKING LOT:  Add the word “primarily” after “used”.

PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT:  After “varied uses” add “; i.e.”.

Pg. 2-13

REFINERY:  Add the word “air,” after “ground”.

Pg. 2-15

STABLE/RIDING ACADEMY:  Add the word “mules” after “horses”,

TENTS:  Add the word “plastic,” behind the word “rubber”.

Pg.4-1  300.401

G.  Change the word “shall” to read “may”.

Pg. 4-2  300.404

DWELLING, TEMPORARY:  Change the word “farm” to “temporary”.

Pg. 4-3  300.407

F.  Add:  “No overnight parking of semi trucks in R-1 Districts or mobile home parks.”

Pg. 4-5  300.401

C.  After “life and property,” add: “no substandard structure, i.e. basement dwelling, …”

Pg. 4-9

F. Change the term “Township Engineer” to “County”.

Pg. 4-11 300.416

A 1. Change the word “character” to “values”.

    2. Change the word “enable” to “facilate”.

Pg. 4-12

h) Remove the words: “and can be placed no sooner than 30 days before the voting date”.

3. a) Add:  “or other seasonal uses i.e. snowplowing/mowing.”

C. 5. Remove this entire section.

Pg. 4-13

C. 5. Remove this entire section. (continued from page 4-12).

Pg. 4-14

3. a) Sale or Lease/”Rent” Signs.  Add the word “Rent”.

Add:  “One (1) sign per parcel or every 1320 feet in AR District.

Pg. 4-15

4. Change the second to the last sentence of this to read, “If the owner fails…., the Township may take appropriate action for a court of law to have the sign to be removed and collect all costs associated therewith against the property on which the sign was located.

Pg. 5-1  Uses

Financial Institution:  add “SLU” under AR

Funeral Home, Mortuary and Crematory (add)

Pg. 5-2  Uses

Mini Warehouse, Self Storage add: “P” under C

Personal Services add: “SLU” under AR

Wholesale Establishment add:  “SLU” under AR and “P” under C

Winery/Brewery add:  “SLU” under C and “P” under I

Pg. 9-1  300.900

Remove: the word “local” from local commercial and service establishments with local commercial and business enterprises.

Pg. 11-1 300.1100

C. Change:  “36 consecutive months” to “24 consecutive months”.

Pg. 11-2

4. f.  Add:  “where applicable” written comments of other public…

Pg. 11-5

B. Change the word “allowed” to “permitted”.

Pg. 11-7  300.1107

B.1. Add “electrical/electronic”, after the word “chemicals”

Pg. 11-8

4. Add:  “Fence must have accessibility for safety/emergency staff and equipment.

6. Add after “TV transmission” “or telecommunications”.

Pg. 11-9  300.1110

A. Omit the word “outdoor” from definition.

Pg. 11-10  300.1114

Add the word “Clinic” to title to read:  MEDICAL CLINIC

Pg. 11-12  300.1119

A. & B. Change all terms regarding “farm laborers” to read “seasonal laborers”.

Pg. 11-15  300.1124

A.  Change “automobile fuel” to read “automotive fuel” 

Pg. 11-17 300.1129 

A. Change the word “dogs’ from definition to the word “animals”.

Pg. 11-18  300.1132

B. 2.  Add the word “County” to read “Office of the Berrien County Sheriff”.

Pg. 11-26  300.1137

A. To definition, add the word “electrical,” after “chemical”.

Pg. 12-1  300.1201

B.  Add “within Berrien Township” after the word premises. Remove the word “any” from the phrase “any reasonable time.”  Add at end of sentence “to exercise the duties and responsibilities of a Zoning Administrator.”

A. 2. Change the word “kind” to “type”.  Eliminate the words “if any” at the end of sentence.

Pg. 12-2

D. 
Zoning administration fees.  Change the word “fee” in second sentence to read “fees”.  Omit the phrase “fairly and reasonably” from third sentence.

Pg. 12-6

g. (1) Add “i.e.” before (one bedroom…) and add punctuation to end of sentence so last word reflects - units);

g. (7) Add comma after the word “location” and add the word “type” to read “, type and size of recreation and open space areas;”

Pg. 12-8

(2) Add after the word “abatement” the phrase “or other hazardous materials”.

(3) Remove the phrase “or contain it,” remove the phrase “contain and or dispose of  ...”, add the phrase “per D.E.Q. guidelines and regulations.” to end of sentence.

(7) Add the phrase “water, soil or noise” between the words air quality.

Pg. 12-13

7.  Change the word “surety” to “security”.

Pg. 12-15

J. 1. a. Change “Reduction” to “Minor change”

Pg. 13-1

In last paragraph change the phrase “has been put” to “occurred”.  Add the words “per day” after $500.00  In last sentence change the word “say” to “day”.

Pg. 14-6

M. 2.  Add the phrase “and township” to the end of the sentence.

Mike Clark went over the next steps necessary for the Zoning Ordinance.  It was discussed having the Public Hearing once the Township Hall renovation was complete.

AJOURNMENT

Motion by Ron Harner, supported by Doug Shelton, to adjourn the meeting.  All ayes, none opposed.   Motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Minutes as recorded by Rebecca Downey, Planning Commission Recording Secretary and approved by:

_______________________________________

Doug Shelton, Planning Commission - Secretary