Summary
The Glen Arbor Township Planning Commission met on October 1, 2024, with Chairman Lance Roman presiding. Six members were present (Roman, Thompson, Dotterweich, Burton, Ihme, Hawley); Bob Berlacher was absent. The Commission approved the September minutes with corrections and worked through several zoning ordinance punch-list items, including fences, keyholing, and accessory buildings, deferring some items to the November 7 meeting.
Public Comments
No comments were offered at the start of the meeting. Later in the meeting, an audience member asked about the status of the trail between Glen Arbor and Homestead; Bob Ihme responded that the Tart Trail organization is studying it but he did not know the current status of that study. Another audience member asked what is required to develop a business in a residential zone. Chairman Roman explained the process: the Zoning Administrator must approve an application to change zoning and review permit and site plan applications, the Planning Commission would then schedule a Public Hearing published twice in the Enterprise, letters would be sent to properties within 300 feet of the parcel, and after the hearing the proposal and Commission recommendation would go to the County Planning Commission for comment and finally to the Township Board for approval.
Other Business
- Master Plan Review was opened for discussion (noted as "Start Punch Line").
- Fences (ZOv5.1 Item #2): Dotterweich presented tables and a proposed definition of a Fence for final review; the Commission discussed but took no final vote noted.
- Keyholing: Bob Ihme and Roman presented a proposed Zoning Ordinance change (Version 5.1). The Commission discussed it and agreed to revisit the item at the November Planning Meeting to review Zoning Administrator comments.
- Accessory Buildings: Roman presented a proposed Zoning Ordinance change (Version 5.1); the Commission discussed but no decision was recorded.
- Accessory Dwelling Units and "Frogs": No action was taken.
- Solar and Wind: No action was taken.
- Shipping Container use: Hawley agreed to prepare a report for the November 7 Planning meeting.
- The Township Board Report (Hawley), Zoning Administrator's Report (Cypher, absent), and Zoning Board of Appeals Report (Dotterweich) were all given with no updates.
Action Items
- Keyholing zoning ordinance change to be revisited at the November Planning Meeting, incorporating Zoning Administrator comments.
- Hawley to provide a report on Shipping Container use for the November 7 Planning meeting.