Planning Commission 12-05-06

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Planning Commission was called to order by Chair Fortress on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 7:30 PM at the Township Hall.

Members Present:   Fortress, Holton, Jacobson, Poleski, Roth, Williams.

Members Absent: Herlein, Melville, Short.

Visitors Present: Jan Gardner.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:

Motion by Holton, supported by Jacobson, to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2006 meeting.   Motion carried.

DISCUSSION OF ZONING ORDINANCE ISSUES:

Ms Gardner noted a couple of items for discussion in our Zoning Ordinance:

•  Home Occupation (definition at page 2-6 of the Zoning Ordinance) and Signs (Article 9 of the Ordinance):

Currently, no sign is permitted for Type I Home Occupations.   We discussed the possibility of changing the Ordinance to permit a small sign for Type I Home Occupations.   It was generally agreed that no sign should be permitted for Type I Home Occupations; in other words, we are satisfied with the Ordinance as it stands.

•  Day Care Homes (definition at page 2-4 of the Zoning Ordinance) and Signs (Article 9 of the Ordinance):

Signage for Group Day Care Homes is covered by section 5.9.3.D by referring to Article 9.   However, as to Family Day Care Homes, there is no specific reference to signage.

We discussed amending section 9.7.1.C to change the size of the permitted sign from 3 to 24 square feet.   We also discussed adding a reference to permitting such signs for Group Day Care and Family Day Care Homes in the Agricultural District.

We discussed the possible modification of section 9.7.2.C to include Group and Family Day Care Homes, and that such signs should be mounted on the building.

We discussed the possible elimination of sections 9.7.1.B and 9.7.2.B, since signs for those types of entities appear to be governed by section 9.5.3.   We are concerned whether the elimination of those two items would adversely affect some other portion of the Ordinance.

•  Storm Water Drainage:

The Township Board has mandated that storm water drainage for projects should be reviewed for adherence to the approved Site Plan.   The Planning Commission discussed how best to implement that mandate – what zoning ordinance amendments should be made, what Township forms need updating, etc.  

We also discussed the possibility of requiring phasing of projects of certain size, to verify that each phase is appropriately built.

Upon motion by Jacobson, supported by Roth, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM .