| REGULAR MEETING |
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 |
| PLANNING COMMISSION |
1 - 1 |
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Heidt at 7:33 p.m. A quorum was present.
PRESENT
Chairman John Heidt; Commissioners Kathy Amerman, Gary Goodenow, Craig Johnston, Larry Keef, Larry Martin, Peter Murad, Karen Worrell, Stanley Zasuwa
ALSO PRESENT
Building Official Randy Sapelak; Planning Consultant Nick Lomako
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular Meeting January 10, 2008
PC-08-06 Amerman moved, Worrell seconded, to accept the minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of January 10, 2008, as presented. Motion CARRIED
PUBLIC HEARING
Proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment, Sec. 94-386, (h), Period of Completion
PC-08-07 Amerman moved, Zasuwa seconded, to open the Public Hearing at 7:34 p.m. Motion CARRIED
Mr. Lomako reviewed the amendment from his 12/19/07 letter, (on file at Village office). There was no comment from the Public.
PC-08-08 Goodenow moved, Amerman seconded, to close the Public Hearing at 7:37 p.m. Motion CARRIED
PC-08-09 Goodenow moved, Amerman seconded, to forward to Village Council for their approval, text changes to Sec. 94-386, (h), (g), and (i), Period of Completion, per Wade Trim letter dated 12/19/07. Motion CARRIED
CALL TO PUBLIC
Steven Leo, 747 Birdsong, was present to request that Planning Commission consider revising the ordinance pertaining to outside recreational vehicle storage. He said he received a notice from the ordinance officer stating that he was in violation of the ordinance for having his recreational vehicle stored in his driveway.
Chairman Heidt asked the Commissioners if they had any objections to moving the item under “Administrative Comments” to “Call to Public” to keep Mr. Leo from having to wait and the Commissioners agreed.
Mr. Sapelak said that in the past this ordinance has been handled on a case by case basis, but explained that this year a resident had provided a list of addresses they felt were in violation. He said the ordinance officers then created a list and took pictures of many violations of the ordinance throughout the Village.
The Commissioners discussed the following: Is a vehicle considered a recreational vehicle if it is driven to and from work each day. What one person may find offensive may not be offensive to another person. Emergency access needs to be maintained. Whether or not the ordinance should only be applied during seasonal periods.
The Commissioners agreed that some changes to the ordinance may be necessary, and that Council should be made aware so they can also be involved.
Commissioner Goodenow said that if and when an amendment is ready for a Public Hearing, it might be a good idea to send out a letter to those who received a violation notice so they can attend the meeting for discussion. He said that he would attend the next Council meeting to inform Council that this issue has come up.
Commissioner Johnston said that it would be a good idea to provide copies of the pictures to Council for their review.
Mr. Sapelak said he would talk to Village Manager, Arthur Shufflebarger to request that the pictures be provided in Council packets for their review.
Mr. Lomako said he would look at ordinances in other communities pertaining to recreational vehicle storage.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Discussion – Billboards, Sec. 94-337 (f) (1)
Mr. Lomako provided a copy of a recent appeal for the Commissioners to review (on file at Village office). He said he didn’t think that electronic message board signs would be an issue in the Village because there is only one.
Commissioner Goodenow said that if Mr. Sapelak could verify that another billboard could not be installed in the Village, there would be no reason to proceed.
Chairman Heidt asked that Billboards remain on the agenda for the meeting next month.
CONSULTANT COMMENTS
Mr. Lomako said that Milford Township Planning Commission would like to have a joint meeting with Village Planning Commission and asked if they could attend their next meeting on 2/28/08, to discuss the Master Plan.
Commissioners Johnston, Martin, Amerman, Heidt, Worrell and Murad all said they would be able to attend.
Mr. Lomako told the Commissioners that he attended a “Smart Growth” conference last week and found it very extremely informative. Mr. Lomako told the Commissioners that he received an email from Mr. Shufflebarger asking him to verify that our Zoning Code was in compliance with the 2006 Enabling Act. Mr. Lomako said that he completed an audit and would like to have a few minutes at the next meeting to go over his findings.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMENTS
Mr. Sapelak reported that not much progress was made at the ad hoc meeting last month. He asked that he be able to work on putting together a draft language amendment to the fence ordinance, and email a copy to Mr. Lomako for review before passing it to the Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Amerman asked if the signs at Salon 3 are compliant.
Mr. Sapelak said that they were.
Commissioner Goodenow said he noticed a “sold” sign at the Agnew Building and asked if anyone knew anything about it.
Mr. Sapelak said he had not heard of anything happening with the building.
Commissioner Goodenow told the Commissioners that the Fire Department was convinced that Council had given them the five acres on General Motors Road to construct a new Fire Station. He said the Fire Department is aware that they need to provide a preliminary plan. Mr. Goodenow said he spoke with DDA Director, Ann Barnette and John Grissim with Grissim Metz, regarding the visionary plan and he suggested they move the proposed “roundabout” from S. Main and Huron to Mill Street. He reported to the Commissioners that the outside dining ordinance, Sec. 94-358, only relates to dining on private property, and is approved by the Village Manager. Any amendments Planning Commissioners were to make to the ordinance would only affect businesses such as the private property at Red Dog Saloon and Lu & Ruby’s and not the public property portions of those businesses on Main Street. Mr. Goodenow recommended that the Commissioners read the strategic growth article in the January issues of Planning & Zoning News.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Nancy Scott, CMC
Milford Village Deputy Clerk | 
