ARVON TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION QUARTERLY MEETING OCTOBER 9, 2019
CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL AND RECOGNITION OF VISITORS: Bette Gabe, Chairman; Dorothy Nankervis, Trustee; Mary Deline, Trustee; Joe Bollech, Trustee; Keith Erickson, Township Board Representative; Linnea Barron, Secretary. Absent: Jay Loman, Trustee; and Ken Anderson, Zoning Administrator. Visitors: Irene Fisher, Wayne Abba, Karena Schmidt.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Bette suggested that we begin our meetings with the pledge of allegiance at each meeting, beginning tonight. We all agreed and the pledge done.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mary made a motion to accept the agenda, seconded by Dorothy. All approved, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Keith made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Mary. All approved, motion carried.
SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Wayne Abba mentioned that L’Anse Township is having their public hearing on their master plan around December 5th. He also informed us that the HILPA (Huron Island Lighthouse Preservation Association) elected new officials with Burt Mason, president; Joe Bollech, vice president and treasurer; Nancy Bernard, secretary; Jeffery Loma and Wayne Abba trustees. This group will work parallel to the Friends of the Huron Mountains group. They plan projects in the spring which include repair of the lighthouse.
Irene Fisher felt that we were doing a good job. She brought up dust control which was discussed at the Township Board meeting and its financing, millage increase, township contribution, etc.
Karena Schmidt is from the Department of Natural Resources and we welcomed her to our meeting.
Wayne mentioned that L’Anse is trying to get a blight ordinance that would be administered by one person responsible for all of Baraga County including all the townships.
OTHER MATTERS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION: None.
OLD BUSINESS
- Damaged buildings, timeline for removal and clean-up: We discussed to have a 12 month limit for this. Joe Bollech will check with Hannila Insurance Company on what kind of time frame the insurance company would have.
- Status of proposed utility WECS amendments: We feel we are at an impasse on this as we do not propose to make any changes in the amendments we presented to the Board. Bette presented a copy from Eagle Harbor who have set a height limit of 300 feet for the utility wind turbines. Bette even spoke with a representative from there and they are not concerned with being sued over this. We discussed proposing a moratorium to the Township Board on accepting any applications/permits being for utility wind turbines until the amendments are agreed upon. Mary made a motion to request the Township Board to set a moratorium on accepting any applications/permits from any utility wind energy conversion system until the issue with our amendments is resolved. Dorothy seconded the amendment, all agreed, and motion carried.
OPEN DISCUSSION FOR ISSUES NOT ON THE AGENDA:
- Correspondence received: Bette received a picture of a wind turbine that Marcy Cella sent her that read; Thank you for not folding…signed Marcy and future generations.
- Planning commission members concerns, if any: Bette is concerned what happens to our proposed amendments now that we are at an impasse with the Township Board. She will check with the MTA website for help on this, or other websites.
- Members of the audience concerns: A mutual concern for being at a standstill on our amendments.
REPORT OF TOWNSHIP BOARD REPRESENTATIVE, Keith Erickson: None.
REPORT OF ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS REPRESENTATIVE, Jay Loman: None as he was absent.
REPORT OF PLANNING CONSULTANT: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Zoning text correction: It was brought to our attention that we need to clarify on the amendments that the distance of one mile between wind energy systems be changed to state that each wind turbine be one mile apart from one another as wind energy systems could mean multiple turbines. Keith made a motion that on our amendment on the spacing of utility wind energy systems be changed to read; utility wind energy turbines shall be spaced a minimum of one (1) mile apart from one another. Mary seconded the motion, all agreed, and motion carried. Another correction was brought up by Linnea and it concerns page 80 in our ordinance: Nonconforming Use of Land and/or Structures, letter a; Nonconforming use of land shall be enlarged or increased nor extended to occupy a greater area of land than was occupied at the effective date. It should read; Nonconforming use of land shall not be enlarged or increased nor extended to occupy a greater area of land than was occupied at the effective date. The word ‘not’ was omitted and needs to be in there. Keith made a motion to accept this change, seconded by Joe, all agreed and motion carried.
- Any other new business: None.
- Setting public hearing dates, if needed: None.
DISCRETIONARY PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING DATE – January 8, 2020, 6 p.m., at Fire Hall
ADJOURNMENT: Dorothy made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mary, all agreed, adjournment at 7:20 p.m.
Submitted by Linnea Barron, Secretary