BRADY TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MAY 21, 2009

A regular meeting of the Brady Township Planning Commission was held on May 21, 2009 commencing at 7:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Members present: Vice Chairman Randy Smith

                                                            Ed Haberle

                                 Mike Henderson

                                 Jan Becker

 Absent: Chairman Gary Miller and Dave Locey.

Also attending: Township Attorney Craig Rolfe and 1 other.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Ed Haberle made a motion to approve the agenda as printed. Randy Smith supported the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mike Henderson made a motion to approve the minutes of February 19, 2009 as printed. Ed Haberle supported, and the motion was carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

A.   APPOINT A NEW VICE CHAIRPERSON

Randy Smith has been appointed to serve as a Trustee on the Brady Township Board and cannot serve as Vice-Chairman on the Planning Commission at the same time. After discussion, Randy Smith made a motion to appoint Dave Locey as the new Vice-Chairman. Jan Becker seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.

B. NEW MEMBERS FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION

Five persons interviewed for the position of Trustee for the Brady Township Board. Those who were not selected were encouraged to seek positions on the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Attorney Rolfe stated that the Planning Commission as a whole should represent the township both geographically and in various fields of interest such as agriculture, commerce, etc.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

B.  REVIEW OF WATERFRONT SETBACK ORDINANCE (Article 15.3)

A three-member panel consisting of Randy Smith, Mike Henderson and Gary Galia has been considering the current waterfront setback ordinance. Mike Henderson distributed handouts depicting various shoreline situations on Indian Lake. He reported that 90% or more of the properties with parallel lot lines could continue to use the current waterfront setback ordinance, but that 5-10% of the properties are on peninsulas and need a different method to calculate the waterfront setbacks.

Mike stated that the peninsular properties could be identified using the parallel lot line test, and a different method of calculation, using a lakeside face extension, would be used. He stated that the criterion for all waterfront setbacks is the impact of one property on another for line of sight.

After further discussion, all Planning Commission members present stated that they are in agreement with the proposals as set forth by Mike Henderson. Attorney Rolfe will proceed to formulate the language for the proposal for waterfront setbacks, incorporating pictorial examples with the text. Mike Henderson agreed to study the plat maps for the Indian Lake area, to apply the parallel lot line test to these parcels.

C.  PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN UPDATE

After discussion, there was a motion by Mike Henderson to approve the submittal of the draft of the Master Plan update and the maps that were intentionally omitted, with the inclusion of the two sentences recommended by Attorney Craig Rolfe in his April 3, 2009 letter to the Planning Commission, and to recommend that the Brady Township Board approve this submittal for distribution to adjoining municipal entities, as required by statute, for comment. Jan Becker supported, and the motion was passed unanimously.

Randy Smith agreed to make the approved changes to the text and to submit the proposed Master Plan to the Township Board.

REPORTS

There were no reports.

MEMBERS TIME

Mike Henderson asked if the private airstrip in Brady Township is being expanded. Randy Smith will ask the Township Board if an expansion has been planned.

Ed Haberle made a motion to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. Jan Becker seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.

The next regular Planning Commission Meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________________

Vice-Chairman Randy Smith

Brenda Brock,

Recording Secretary