BRADY TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JANUARY 18, 2007

 

 

A regular meeting of the Brady Township Planning Commission was held on January 18, 2007 commencing at 7:30 p.m.

 

Members present: Chairman Gary Miller

                              Vice Chairman Todd Weddon

                              Kathy Guthrie

                              Mike Henderson

                              Ed Haberle

                              Randy Smith

 

Absent:  Jan Becker.                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Also attending:  Township Attorney Craig Rolfe and three concerned citizens.

 

Chairman Gary Miller welcomed new Planning Commission member Randy Smith. 

 

The Planning Commission recommends that the Township Board pass a resolution to recognize the years of service of Helen McCrumb and to publicly thank her.

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

            

Kathy Guthrie made a motion to approve the minutes of November 16, 2006 as published. Todd Weddon supported, and the motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

Chairman Gary Miller opened the Public Hearing.  Roger Schultz has applied to the Planning Commission to rezone a 5-acre parcel of land at 12035 South 26th Street from R-1 to RR.

 

 Mr. Schultz stated that Mr. Dana Hixson is selling this parcel of land. He stated that his family likes the property and the neighborhood, but wants to have horses.  There is a barn with stables on the parcel, but horses are currently not allowed in the R-1 Single Family Residential District zoning classification.  If the parcel were rezoned to the RR Rural Residential District classification, horses would be allowed. This parcel abuts RR zoned lands.

 

Mr. Dana Hixson stated that he bought the land in 1985 before the zoning ordinances were adopted, and that horses were allowed at that time.  He stated that there are horses on many of the parcels in his neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

There was no further public comment.

 

There was a motion by Mike Henderson to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Todd Weddon and passed unanimously.

 

Gary Miller asked for comments from the Planning Commission members.

 

Mike Henderson stated that when the current zoning ordinances were adopted in 1997, the keeping of horses within the R-1 zoning was an allowable use.  He stated that changing this parcel to the RR zoning is logical with the change in the zoning ordinance for the keeping of animals in the R-1 zoning district.  He further stated that the size of the parcel and the amount of road frontage fits well with the RR zoning. 

 

Kathy Guthrie noted that there are horses on the lands farther to the west on both sides of the road on UV and on TU Avenues, and that 2 other parcels in this neighborhood have been rezoned to RR for the keeping of horses.  She stated that properties on 2 sides of Mr. Hixson’s property are zoned RR and the railroad is on a third side. 

 

Gary Miller stated that this parcel fits well with the Land Use Plan, whether it is RR or R-1.

 

Attorney Craig Rolfe stated that the size and location of this parcel would adapt to RR zoning.

 

There was a motion by Kathy Guthrie to recommend that the Brady Township Board rezone the land at 12035 South 26th Street to Rural Residential District zoning.  Mike Henderson seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

 

Chairman Gary Miller explained that the Township Board will meet on February 6, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. and will consider the recommendation.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

None

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Attorney Craig Rolfe stated that there is an obligation by state law to review the Land Use Plan every five years to see if revisions are needed.  He stated that the Planning Commission members need to re-read the Land Use Plan along with the Zoning Map;  to consider if changes in the zoning amendments should be reflected in the Land Use Plan;  to decide if the Land Use Plan is up to date or if changes need to be made.

 

After discussion, it was decided that new copies of the Land Use Plan would be made available to all Planning Commission members, who would review the plan and the zoning maps before the next Planning Commission meeting scheduled on February 15, 2007.  At that meeting, the members will discuss their findings.  Attorney Rolfe agreed to do a review of any changes needed because of statute changes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORTS

 

Kathy Guthrie reported that the annual budget meeting will be held in February for the 2007 budget.

 

ZBA member, Ed Haberle, reported that the applicant canceled the last ZBA meeting.  Ed agreed to prepare a list of variance requests for the 2006 calendar year for the Planning Commission to review.

 

 

The next regular meeting is set for February 15, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

 

 

Kathy Guthrie made a motion to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.    Todd Weddon seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

____________________________

 

Chairman Gary Miller

 

 

 

 

 

Brenda Brock,

Recording Secretary