Minutes (Planning Commission)

The Village of Suttons Bay Planning Commission convened its regular meeting on October 9, 2024, at 420 N. Front Street, Suttons Bay, MI. The meeting commenced at 5:00 p.m. under the leadership of Chairperson Hetler, with Commissioners Feringa, Pontius, D. Smith, and new member Michael Campbell in attendance. The agenda and minutes from the previous special meeting on July 24, 2024, were unanimously approved. No conflicts of interest or public comments were reported. The primary focus of the meeting was on new business, specifically addressing amendments to zoning regulations in the Bayview District and wireless communications.

Under new business, the commission discussed amending Article 5-3 of the zoning ordinance to allow for 1.0 story buildings in the Bayview District, following observations that recent permits for 1.0 stories had no detrimental effects. Additionally, a housekeeping amendment to Article 9-13 was proposed to align with state law, eliminating the need for a special land use permit for collocation equipment on existing towers. Both amendments were set for a public hearing scheduled for November 13, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Reports from the Zoning Administration and Village Council were presented, with the latter confirming Michael Campbell’s appointment to the commission.

In the “Good of the Order” segment, Commissioner D. Smith suggested future discussions on height/stories in the Single-Family Waterfront District and the encouragement of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and room rentals. Staff also proposed changing the meeting schedule from the second to the third Wednesday of the month due to scheduling conflicts, with the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting to be moved to the second Wednesday. The next regular meeting was set for August 14, 2024, with agenda items including public hearings on zoning text amendments, height/stories in the Single-Family Waterfront District, Master Plan review, 2025 budget, and the 2025 meeting schedule. The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.