A regular meeting of the Brady Township Planning Commission was held on May 17, 2007 commencing at 7:30 p.m.
Members present: Chairman Gary Miller
Ed Haberle
Jan Becker
Mike Henderson
Randy Smith
Absent: Kathy Guthrie and Todd Weddon.
Also attending: no others.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ed Haberle made a motion to approve the minutes of
February 15, 2007 as published. Jan Becker supported, and the motion was carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS: Dock Lengths
There was a request from the Township Board to change the maximum length of a dock from 100’ to 200’. Township Attorney Craig Rolfe advised in correspondence that the DNR sets and enforces the dock lengths. Attorney Rolfe further stated that increasing the dock lengths to 200 feet could impede boat traffic considerably. After much discussion, it was decided to gather dock length ordinances from neighboring townships to see if Brady Townships’ is comparable.
NEW BUSINESS: Land Use Plan Review
Randy Smith has
reviewed the current land use plan and updated 1990 statistics with 2000
statistics from the US Census Bureau. He
has also updated the land use plan with
There was a question of whether a new citizen survey should be conducted. The last survey completed in 1993 received only a 12% response. There was a consensus among the Planning Commissioners that a 12% response does not give a true nature of the township citizens’ desire for township development. Due to the lack of public response and the cost of preparing, mailing and conducting such a survey, it was decided that the Public Hearing would be an adequate means of gathering public input to any proposed changes to the current Land Use Plan. A statement of this intention will be added to the proposed changes in the text of the Land Use Plan.
Ed Haberle noted hat a new census will be conducted in 2010, and that the Land Use Plan statistics should be updated again with the new numbers.
Mike Henderson noted that as we enter and update new data, there is an obligation to look at the conclusions drawn from the old data to see if the conclusions are still valid.
Randy Smith asked that his amended Land Use Plan be made available to all Planning Commissioners to review before the next meeting. He also requested that the township purchase a data projector to use in working sessions and for Public Hearings.
REPORTS
Gary Miller stated that the Zoning Administrator has been meeting with Township Attorney Craig Rolfe about two cases involving “grandfathering-in”: the number of horses kept in R-1 zoning and an existing airstrip.
CITIZEN TIME
None.
Ed Haberle made a motion to adjourn at 9:35
p.m. Jan Becker seconded and the motion was
carried unanimously.
The next regular Planning Commission Meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________
Chairman Gary Miller
Brenda Brock,
Recording Secretary