VERGENNES TOWNSHIP
Regular Meeting Minutes
June 17, 2002
The regular meeting of
the Vergennes Township Board was called to order by Tim Wittenbach at 7:00 p.m.
in the Vergennes Township Hall.
Members Present: Tim Wittenbach - Supervisor
Jean Hoffman - Treasurer
Mari Stone - Clerk
Al
Baird - Trustee
Vern Nauta - Trustee
Motion by Nauta, seconded by Baird to accept the agenda as written. Motion carried. The minutes of the May 20, 2002 regular meeting were approved as presented. Treasurer’s Report accepted as read. Baird, seconded by Hoffman, made a motion to approve bills as read. Motion approved.
Guest: Robert Eleveld, Candidate for 86th District
State Representative. Lived in the district his whole life. Very active in the community, Republican
Party and professional organizations.
His campaign has three messages:
(1) improve public education, (2) integrity & honesty, and (3) will
not accept any money from special-interest groups or political action
committees. Favors pro choice; does not
favor gun control. Believes in less
government – more local control.
New Business:
1.
Rezoning Request – Pete Faber, Lincoln Lake R-2 to
Industrial.
Twelve + acres on Lincoln Lake – originally planned a residential
development but borders industrial zoned land.
Rezoning from R-2 to Industrial follows Master Plan, and was
recommended for approval by the Planning Commission. Motion by Nauta,
seconded by Baird, to grant the rezoning request of Pete Faber for the property
located adjacent to 629 Lincoln Lake from R-2 to Industrial. Roll Call Vote: Stone, Hoffman, Nauta, Wittenbach, Baird – Yes. Ordinance 2002-8 approved.
2.
Request for Special Use Permit – Kent County Road
Commission, Jerry Byrne. Gravel pit on Burroughs contains sand and
gravel. Road Commission will use the
sand it needs this summer for construction of Burroughs roadbed from this
pit. Plans long term gravel extraction
– approx. 180,000 ton/20 years off and on.
Commission will continue to restore and grade towards river as
gravel/stone removed from area. Would
like to produce 40,000 cubic yards to store on the site for future use. Not planning to get to gravel production
this year. Discussion regarding the
road project and gravel extraction, and how it would affect the residents in
the area. Motion by Stone, seconded by
Nauta, to grant Kent County Road Commission’s request for special use permit
for the gravel pit located on Burroughs Road as long as following seven
requirements are met: (1) excavation and
further clearing no closer than 150’ from property line; (2) Create two foot
berm containing 5 foot trees planted along the Meier’s property line; (3) production on this application limited
to 40,000 cubic yards of gravel; (4) removal of 5,000 cubic yards of sand
allowed this project only – for the purpose of building Burroughs Road; (5)
sand mining approved on Saturdays for the 2-3 weeks during construction
project, with no gravel production on Saturdays; (6) 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
work days; and (7) Notice to Township when gravel production is to begin so
Township can notify residents. Motion
approved unanimously.
Jerry
Byrne will fax information to Stone regarding work planned to be done on
Lincoln Lake Road and an approximate start date for Burroughs.
3.
Proposed Sign Ordinance Amendments. Adoption
recommended by Planning Commission. Motion by Nauta, seconded by
Stone, to approve Sign Ordinance Amendments as written. Roll Call Vote: Stone, Hoffman, Nauta, Wittenbach, Baird – Yes. Ordinance 2002-9 approved.
4.
Proposed Commercial Rear Setback Amendment. Adoption
recommended by Planning Commission.
Baird made a motion, seconded by Nauta, to approve commercial rear
setback amendment as written. Roll Call Vote:
Stone, Hoffman, Nauta, Wittenbach, Baird – Yes. Ordinance 2002-10 approved.
5.
Planning Commission Vacancy. Tom Read has resigned from
Planning Commission. Wittenbach
recommended Chris Kropf, who had submitted an application. Motion by Wittenbach, seconded by Nauta,
to appoint Chris Kropf to serve out the remainder of Tom Read’s term of
office. Motion approved.
6.
Historical Commission vacancy. Vacancy
advertised the week of June 17, 2002.
Appointment to take place at July regular township meeting.
7. Stone presented article regarding application of sewage on land in Spencer Township; suggested Township require special land use approval before any applications of sewage. The board would like to review Spencer Township ordinance on this issue.
8. Wittenbach received letter from Michigan Railroad Association requesting Township Board adopt ordinance amendment which would keep developments from building within the railroad right of way. Township chose to ignore request at this time.
9. Stone presented a memo from Jeanne Vandersloot bringing the Township Board procedure of granting special use permits to the Board’s attention. Not all special use permits need to go before the Planning Commission- can go directly to Board. Could eliminate extra step in the procedure and save time by noticing the public hearing for the same night as a regular board meeting. It was agreed that Stone ask Vandersloot to segregate and give some examples of special use permit requests which would in the future go directly to the Board and bypass the Planning Commission. To be discussed further at the July regular meeting of the Board.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Mari Stone, Clerk