Planning Commission Meeting 11/7/17 – Review Eight Sections of Proposed Zoning Ordinance #16 at Request of Board of Trustees.

 

The Township has been working on a revision of Zoning Ordinance #16 since about 2009. This ordinance tells us what we can and cannot do on our properties. It applies to each of us including developers. A few people, not many, have proposed that we have no zoning ordinance. Other people have proposed changes to the proposed ordinance. Based on citizen comment at a recent Board of Trustees meeting, the Board asked the Planning Commission to review eight sections and recommend if they be changed or remain the same.

Since this process started about 8 years ago there has been a complete turnover in every elected or appointed person involved except current Township Supervisor Mike Bailey.

The Planning Commission heard input from residents on each of the 8 in order, one at a time and then deliberated and made motions on all 8, one at a time.  They followed the process set forth in their 2012 by-laws as seen at this link in section 3.10 which allows public comment before motions.

http://www.oaklandtownship.org/boards_and_commissions/planning_commission/docs/By_Laws.pdf

Public comment is not required by the Open Meetings Act after a motion, contrary to accusations by a resident during citizen comment at the end of the meeting.

An understandable 21 page handbook covering the Open Meetings Act can be seen here –

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/ag/OMA_handbook_287134_7.pdf

You can review the entire Open Meetings Act at this link –

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-act-267-of-1976.pdf

 

A brief summary of the motions and votes with approximate time on the video follows:

 

16-??? Penalties

PC recommends to Board to change zoning ordinance to allow a hybrid of civil infraction followed by misdemeanor if that fails vote – 7/0 (84 min.)

 

16-303B – location of accessory buildings

PC recommends no change – vote 7/0 (114 min.)

 

16-306 – Number of Class III animals (example chickens, rabbits, etc.)

PC recommends eliminating 150 pound limit on dogs- vote 6/1, NO- Scaccia

PC recommends change from 2 acres required to 1-3/4 acres required. This is minimum lot in VLRD – vote 7/0, (120 min.)

Commissioner Judy Workings made a motion to reduce the area to 1 acre, this was defeated 1/6.

 

16-??? Dwelling Standards

PC voted 7/0 to keep 1200 square as the minimum building size.

 

16-323 – Home based businesses

PC voted to recommend keeping this section unchanged. It is more liberal that 1976 ordinance in allowing 2 non-family employees and use of accessory buildings. Vote – 7/0 (146 min.)

 

16-331 – Outdoor storage of recreational vehicles and other materials

PC recommended no change to this section. Vote 6/1 NO – Workings (she wanted 72 vs, 48 hour parking limit) (Editorial comment – unfortunately the PC appeared not to remember the citizen comment on how the 3 day period between storage “events” makes a weekend RV trip  hard to do in compliance with this. It was late by this time) (165 min.)

 

16-343 Test Plans

PC voted 7/0 to recommend making two changes less favorable to developers suggested by Craig Blust. (183 min.)

 

16-505 – Bed and Breakfast

PC voted 7/0 to recommend retaining the 120 square foot minimum bedroom size.