Proposed Minutes

Of the

Baroda Township Planning Commission

April 13, 2009

 

PRESENT                                            ABSENT                                  STAFF/OTHERS           Wendie Shafer   Ed Heyn                        Tom Lippert                              Jim Pheifer

Tom Shafer       Dean Schmaltz              Madeleine Carroll, Chair  

David Schultz    Ed Heyn

             

           

Acting Chairman, Ed Heyn called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Baroda Township Municipal Building Meeting Room. There were 9 audience members

 

The minutes of the March 9, 2009 Planning Commission meeting were distributed and discussed.  Tom Shafer moved, seconded by David Schultz to approve the minutes as presented.  Vote - All Yes. Motion Carried. 

 

Zoning Administrator, Jim Pheifer reported he received a letter form Ben Schwartz concerning his interpretation of the minimum lot sizes in the Agricultural zone. There was much discussion on this subject. There was a consensus of the Planning Commissioners in attendance to reword the language, keeping the minimums for residential use and minimum acreage for having livestock animals and horses the same.

             

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Brian Wegener from Williams and Works presented the Community Profile, first draft, of the revised Master Plan.  He went through each section pointing out areas of concern, and items that should be addressed in the master plan.  Some corrections to maps 5 and 6 were made as suggested by Tom Lippert prior to the meeting. Some suggestions made by Mr. Wegener were:  1.Determine how to attract the 20-24 year old population to the area by trying to provide more employment opportunities, recreational areas such as biking/hiking trails, and more affordable housing,

2. Provide some kind of public transportation particularly for the increasing population of elderly citizens. 3. Create a traffic flow into the Village to help bring in revenue from the tourist areas. Mr. Wegener said he still needs information on the number and location of properties enrolled in PA 116, a map of where water is supplied to residents, and the property foreclosure rate within the township.  A special public forum and visioning workshop meeting was scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2009 in the Fire Station Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m.  The first hour will be an informal informational gathering where residents can look at placards with information concerning Township statistics.  The second hour will be used for public comment and discussion.  Mr. Wegener said that the meeting would need to be published and that Williams and Works will produce a flyer of some kind to be sent to each residence in the Township.

 

Dayna Kozminski presented a handout of the property site plan for a proposed recreational vehicle park condominium project.  She said that in order for the project to be viable, they would need to be able to sell small lots. There is currently no provision in the Baroda Township Zoning Ordinance for this activity in the Agricultural district. Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance would be required to accommodate the development of the proposed recreational vehicle condominium project.

 

NEW BUSINESS - The Planning Commissioners discussed proposed amendments written by Ben Schwartz concerning a recreational vehicle Condominium Project in the Agricultural zone.  It was felt that #1 changing the definitions of Recreational Vehicle has already been addressed and is a part of the Zoning Ordinance as adopted in March.  #2 adds recreational travel trailer condominium projects to only the Ag. District. The two variations of # 3 provided by Ben Schwartz were discussed.  Questions arose as to whether the Township Board would be the deciding body to approve a condominium project. And whether Condominium Projects in Ag should be by Special Use? It was decided that Wendie will discuss these with the Township Board, and invite the Board to a special meeting to be held tentatively on April 23, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.. 

 

ADJOURNMENT - Meeting Adjourned by acting Chairman, Ed Heyn at 8:57 p.m.  Next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is to be held on May 11, 2009.  Special meetings are scheduled for April 23, 2009, and May 14, 2009.

 

 

 

 

Wendie Shafer,

Secretary, Baroda Township Planning Commission