Minutes of Helena Township Planning Commission
May 2, 2019
Meeting called to order by Gurr at 3:02 p.m.
Opened with Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call:
Present: Jim Gurr Laura Westerman
Joe Bassil Mike Robinson (3:21 pm)
Bonnie Robbins
Absent: Gordy Schafer
Township officials present: Bob Logee
Approval of Agenda: Motion: Bassil, 2nd Westerman. Carried
Statement of Conflict of Interest: None
Approval of Minutes: December 6, 2018 As presented. Motion: Westerman, 2nd Bassil. Carried
January 3, 2019 As presented. Motion: Bassil, 2nd Robbins. Carried
No meeting in February due to weather.
March 7, 2019 As presented. Motion: Bassil, 2nd Westerman. Carried
No quorum for April meeting.
Public Comment: None
Communications: Gurr discussed legislation pending on short-term rental and call to action from the Michigan Township Association to write representatives concerning this. MTA is not in favor of this legislation restricting township’s ability to regulate short-term rentals.
New Business: April 2019: LU 6 ; FC 4 ; AC 0 ; PC 6 ; ZV 0
Old Business: Signs Westerman offered information to address sign language in the ordinance. Discussion has been to clarify types of signs. Illuminated, Electronic, and Digital.
Bassil asked for clarification on difference between electronic and digital signs. Discussion that illuminated signs would be stationary signs with a spot light providing the illumination. Electronic would be signs such as the ‘
open’ signs, where the message is not programmable with changing wording. The electronic sign may have features that allow for borders and the message may flash. Digital signs would refer to signs that have capability of being programmed with changing messages and graphics. No decision on definition language.
Sec. 5.06.04.G (pg 55) Consensus to strike bullet G. Remaining bullets will be renumbered.
Motion: Westerman, 2nd Bassil. Carried
Sec. 5.09.03.C.2 (pg 72) Strike the word Electronic.
Motion: Robbins, 2nd Westerman. Carried
Sec. 5.09.04.C.1 (pg 73) Strike the word Digital.
Motion: Robbins, 2nd Westerman. Carried
Sec. 5.09.05.E (pg 75) Strike the word Electronic.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Westerman. Carried
Sec. 5.09.06.A (pg 75) Bullet will read as follows:
May be illuminated unless otherwise indicated in this Chapter.
Motion: Robbins, 2nd Bassil. Carried
Sec. 5.09.06.C (pg 75) Strike the word Electronic.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Westerman. Carried
Sec. 5.09.06.D.4 (pg 76) Change 50 square feet to 32 square feet.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Robbins. Carried
Discussion of requiring signs to be turned off when business is seasonal or not open during winter months. Digital signs require Special Use and conditions addressing this concern can be addressed during application process.
Use of the word TEMPORARY in the ordinance.
Discussion of time limit for areas addressing ‘temporary use’. Bassil suggests using 120 days as maximum time for temporary use. Commissioners reviewed use of the term within the ordinance and recommend the following changes.
Sec. 1.03 (pg 10) Remove the word temporary from Tent definition.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Robinson. Carried
Sec. 5.01.01.D (pg 45) Strike the word temporary in four places.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Robbins. Carried
Sec. 5.01.05.A-E (pg 46) Add definition for Temporary for this section as follows:
Temporary means a period of time, in any consecutive 12-month period, not to exceed 6-months unless otherwise stipulated in the ordinance.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Robbins. Carried
Sec. 5.09.03.A.1-3 (pg 72) Strike the word temporary in five places.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Westerman. Carried
Sec. 5.09.04.C.2 (pg 73) First line will read as follows:
Construction site signs are subject to the following restrictions:
Motion: Westerman, 2nd Bassil. Carried
Sec. 5.09.04.C.6 (pg 73) Strike the word temporary.
Motion: Bassil, 2nd Westerman. Carried
Public Comment: None
Adjourn: 5:42 p.m. Motion: Bassil, 2nd Robbins. Carried
Respectfully Submitted,
Bonnie Robbins
Helena Township Planning Commission Recording Secretary