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Planning Commission Qtly Meeting Minutes, July 10, 2025

Arvon Township Planning Commission Quarterly Meeting Minutes

Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 6 PM

Call to Order:

Roll Call:       All present

Nancy Strohschein (Chair)

Joe Bollech

Bob Janda (Township Board Rep)

Jay Loman (Zoning Board of Appeals Chair)

Donna Preston

John Salisbury

Recognition of visitors:  Jay Fish, Kathy Salisbury, Whitey Soli

Pledge of Allegiance: Done

Comments on agenda: None

Approval of agenda: Motion:  Bob, Second:  Jay.  Agenda approved.

Approval of minutes from Special meeting on May 8, 2025:  Motion: Bob, Second: Jay.  Minutes approved.

Public comments:  Whitey Soli expressed his concern that our Zoning Ordinance has many unnecessary things in it that are not related to health, welfare and safety. 

Chairman Comments:

  1. Nancy reviewed the notes from the Monday 7/7 Board Meeting.
  2. PC Member terms:
    1. Joe Bollech – 1 Year, expires June 2025.  Willing to serve another year but prefers a replacement.  Joe will get with Lisa Marinch, Township Clerk, to renew his term.
    1. Bob Janda – per term on township board
    1. Jay Loman – 10/2024, 3 years, expires 10/2027
    1. Donna Preston – 10/03/2022, 3 years, expires /10/03/2025.  Donna is willing to serve an additional term.
    1. John Salsbury – October 2024, 3 years, expires October 2027
    1. Nancy Strohschein – August 2024, 3 years, expires August 2027

Old Business:

  1. Planning commission comments/concerns:  None stated.
  2. Bob Janda:  Report from Township Board Rep:  Nothing to report.
  3. Jay Loman:  Report from Zoning Board of Appeals – Jay reported that Lee Probst modified his build plans after the ZBA upheld the denied zoning application. 
  4. Buddy Sweeney:  Report from Zoning Administrator.  A report of recent applications was presented via email.  They are listed on page 3 of this document.  Suggested changes to our Ordinance will be discussed in New Business.
  5. Review of accomplishments with 2025 Quarterly Meetings:
    1. Review Master Plan – April 2025.  No changes are significant to need an update to the plan.
    1. Review Recreation Plan – July 2025.  We should update the plan with accomplishments in 2024 and 2025.  This information needs to come from the Recreation Committee.
  6. Tracking Zoning Ordinance APPROVED Changes (PC has discussed and agrees)
    1. Change 1:  Use of campers on property for occasional use
    1. Change 2:  Minimum acreage for Forest Resource.  Should be 10, not 40

New Business:

  1. Review possible ZO changes.  See information attached to this document.
    1. Add “from high water mark” in section 404?  YES, this should be changed in the ZO as Change 3.  We need a definition of “high water mark”. It was suggested to use “ordinary high water mark” for clarification.  This needs more study at the October meeting.
    1. Consider changing water setbacks – Move to October agenda
    1. Page 38 “Section 602” typo – Approved to fix this typo.  Make Change 4.
    1. Page 85/86.  Should we have height min and max for residential? – Revisit this at the October meeting.  More discussion is needed.
  2. Review process for Special Meeting and approval of Liimatainen Rd dome resort.  Nancy reviewed the process we used to complete this request.  We agreed that it went smoothly, everyone who wished to speak was heard, and the outcome was fair.  We did follow the correct process as far as notification, documentation and communication.  Nancy discussed the option to set a performance bond for the applicant, as this was suggested by our Township attorney.
  3. Review of Recreation Plan for updates.   The plan is very good as it is and no major changes are needed.
    1. Change 1:  Donna suggested that we remove the proposed plan for a kayak launch at the property on Witz Rd since it is a non-viable project.  Everyone agreed.
    1. Change 2:  The Recreation Committee needs to write up what was done in 2024 and 2025 so it can be included in the plan.  Jay Fish is going to talk with Scott Lloyd about this and will get back to us.
  4. Plan PC education for October meeting.  It was decided that each member will read Part 7 of the green book in preparation for the October meeting.  This includes pages 201 through 249.

Topics for Next Meeting:

  1. PC Education discussion on Part 7
  2. Review Zoning Ordinance
  3. Set 2026 meeting dates

Upcoming meetings:

  • October 9, 2025

Adjourn:    7:15 PM

Information from Zoning Administrator July 7, 2025:

Zoning Report

A25-001  Lee Luft   Off St.Cyr rd.      22X30 cabin

A25-002  Mark Buzenski   Lakewood Dr.    32 X84 Home

A25-003  Sue Hoban Pt. Abbaye Rd.   16 X 14 cabin

A25-004  Ted Bocek   Liimatainen Rd.  20 X 20 cabin

A25-005  Lee Prost   Witz rd.  34X 49 garage   ( ZBA Ruling)

A25-006  Dave Goodreau   Bayview Dr.   16 X24  Sauna/ storage

A25-007  Brian Rule   Pine Beach Dr.     14 X50 cabin  ( EGLE Flood Plain ruling) 

Water Setbacks

Portage Twp:

Chassell Twp:

Eagle Harbor Township:

Powell Township:

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