Village of Alanson
Planning Commision Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date: January 16, 2007
Members Present: John Sirvaitis-Chairman Dutch Lichius
Monique Kilmer-Secretary Don McPhee
Dick Weidenhamer-Village Council Rep Dave Stepanovich
Guests: None
I. Call to order and attendance — 7:00 p.m.
II. Review and approval of October 17, 2006 and December 19, 2006 minutes — Minutes were approved
III. Zoning Administrator Report
a. LaMar called Verizon Wireless to inform them of our concern over being close to the school could invite possible temptation with their Tower being erected a while ago but still lacking a security fence. No calls were returned. Dick saw some activity in the area and thought they might be installing the fence. It was decided to wait until next meeting to take further action.
Don brought up what he and others think is an issue over the height of the Tower and thus the need for a light on the Tower. The Board is aware the need for a light if the Tower reached a height of 200’ which the Tower is just short of reaching. He is going to talk to the FAA in Indian River and bring back his discussion to the Board at next months meeting.
b. Dorothy Sherwood is continuing in her suspected conversion of her garage into an apartment by installing gas lines. LaMar is going to inform Dick Crawford of this activity and that it is taking place without permits.
IV. Old Business — None
V. New Business — None
VI. Planning Commission Administration
a. Rudolf Burgherr – property split – Alanson Village Council decision — Dick informed the Board that yesterday the Village Council approved the property split with conditions. This led to an open discussion over issues the Board thinks are counterproductive to its role in the Zoning process:
· The Village Councils approval of the split without mitigation of the three Zoning non-conformances that were identified and created by the property split and led to the unanimous denial by the Zoning Board.
· The presentation of conditions by the property split Owner that was accepted by Village Council that were never presented to or reviewed by the Zoning Board.
· The acceptance by the Village Council of unique conditions without mitigation of the three Zoning non-conformances gives the perception of preferential treatment.
· The lack of recognition and support of the Zoning Boards research, investigation and eventual recommendations.
· The continued lack of enforcement of zoning ordinances by the Village Council leaves the Board thinking its efforts are not taken seriously by the Village Council and eventually the Community at large.
The discussion ended in a somber atmosphere because no real understanding of the concerns of the Board was reached and the entire Board feeling some disrespect of their efforts.
John and LaMar individually spoke about how they couldn’t continue to effectively participate in an environment where decisions, actions and or lack thereof by the Village Council lead to an ineffective Zoning Board. John will resign from the Board and Chairman’s position effective for the March 20, 2007 meeting and LaMar would continue the duties as Zoning Administrator until the February 20, 2007 meeting.
b. Planning & Zoning application form — was not discussed
c. Sign Ordinance — was not discussed
VII. Public Comment — None
VIII. Adjournment — 8:25