Minutes From Hamlin Township Plannng Commission Meeting 1/8/97 ...Public Hearing On Proposed Zoning Changes UNofficial web page

The Wednesday, January 8, 1997 Organizational meeting, Public Hearing and regular meeting of the Hamlin Township Planning Commission was called to order at 7:05 PM by Chairperson M. McCarthy who then led the pledge to the flag.

Roll Call:
Members Present: M. McCarthy, B. Matthews, C. Miller, M. Rodriguez, J. Voelker Members Absent: W. Abrahamson, R.A. Petersen
Others Present: Twenty Four community members including: S. Armstrong, R. Rodriguez, B. Amsterburg, N. Banniga, J. Krone, E. Chmielewski, H. Fugere, D. Peterson, M. Peterson, D. McConnell, K. Lemke, Mr. Raymond, E. Weigus, A. Weigus, P. Desmond, C. Williams, Mr. & Mrs.Koikas, P. Wolf
Organizational Meeting:
Chairperson Mary McCarthy called for nominations for the office of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary of the Planning Commission. B. Matthews motioned that the current slate be retained I.e. Mary McCarthy, Chairperson; C. Miller, Vice-Chairperson; and Warren Abrahamson, Secretary. It was supported by J. Voelker. The vote was unanimous, motion carried.
Public Hearing
The Public Notices were published Monday, December 9, 1996 and Tuesday December 31, 1996 in the Ludington Daily News. The Public Hearing proceeded with the reading aloud of each of the following changes. Public comments are included on the cassette tape of the meeting, available at the Hamlin Townhall.
Include the attached list as Article 16 - Mobile Home Overlay District. The entire Article 16 was read. Comments. The change was recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

Delete, under Article 3 - Definitions, page 3-1, #3.05 - Boarding or Lodging House, the section following the comma, "which are considered home occupations", and replace comma with period. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County

Include, under Article 5 - Zoning Districts, page 5-2, at the end of reference note number 5, "excluding multilevel homes which must have a minimum combined floor area of 1,300 square feet". There were no comments. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

Include the attached list of thirteen (13) recommendations regarding the new Geographic Information System (GIS) provided by Progressive Architectural Engineering Design, Inc. These were read in their entirety. There were no comments. The changes are recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

Change the definition of farming under Article 3 - Definitions, page 3-3, #3.17 - Farming by moving the word "but" on the sixth line down to the seventh line and placing it before "game fish hatcheries". Section #3.17 was read in its entirety. M. McCarthy clarified that the purpose was to include fur bearing animals as farm animals. Comments. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

Delete, under Article 7 - "A" Agricultural, Rural and Open Space District, page 7-1, 7.03 - Special Land Uses, "B. Nurseries and greenhouses". M. McCarthy clarified that nurseries and greenhouses do not require special land use in the agricultural district. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

Include the attached list as Article 15 - Adult Businesses and include the following list of definitions regarding adult businesses as #15.05. This article was not read aloud. All attendees were given copies to read before the discussion. SYNOPSIS: There was a great outpouring of opposition to this article and its inclusion of 3,500 acres of agricultural land as a location for any business, let alone an adult business. The minutes go on for about 15 pages with some of the dialog. A complete copy is available upon request form the Township or by sending an E-mail to this site. There are also audio tapes of this entire meeting available from the Township. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County

Note: For reference, refer to the zoning map to see the various districts.

Include, under Article 7 -. "A" Agricultural, Rural and Open Space District, page 7-1, #7.02 Permitted Uses, "H. Adult Businesses" and "I. Mobile Home Overlay District". There were no comments. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

Include, under Article 13 - "I" Industrial District, page 13-1, #13.02 Permitted Uses, "H. Adult Businesses" and "I. Mobile Home Overlay District". There were no comments. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

All definitions will be placed in ABC order with all definitions being renumbered accordingly, with the exception of Article - 15 definitions which will be listed only in Article 15 #15.05. There were no comments. The change is recommended and will be forwarded to Mason County.

This concludes the Public Hearing.

Correspondence:
Telephone calls were received opposing Article 15, locating Adult Businesses in the Agricultural District from:Milly David, Howard and Alice Fugere and Barb Neilsen. Letters objecting to the same were received from: Barbara Forgue, Mary Genson, Christine & Lynn Thompson and Charles & Helen Williams. Copies are attached to the minutes.
Regular Meeting
The minutes of the December 4, 1996 Planning Commission Meeting were approved with the correction in paragraph 4 of Old Business #7.02 Permitted uses to include "H. Adult Businesses and I. Mobile Home Overlay District". All members were in favor. Motion carried.
Correspondence: None
Old Business:
Mr. Raymond - Hamlin Lake Shores review. Board reviewed the maps. Question from the audience Mr. & Mrs. Koikas are concerned about the connection to Hamlin Lake and the effect on the water. They live there. There is no sea wall on the dead end channel. They are concerned that the additional traffic will harm the shore.

New Business:None

The next meeting of the Hamlin Township Planning Commission will be held on February 5, 1997 at 7:30 PM.

There being no further business at hand, M. Rodriguez motioned to adjourn, supported by C. Miller. All members were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:19PM.

return to meeting archive

return to sitemap