Friendship Township Planning Commission
Minutes February 28, 2005, 7:00 PM

Donahey T Franklin J Gelb Kurburski D Simon F Troup B Trufant
Present x x x x x x
Absent x



I. Call to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice Chair Bo Trufant
II. Roll call and recognition of visitors: Dale Scott, Gerry Chamberlin
III. Minutes of 01/24/05 approved as written
IV. New Business:
A. Discussed possible dates to meet with county planners. Topics for this meeting: our concerns on new projects and the flow of same; RR-2 to FF-2 request; enforcement of current/past projects (Suarez, Cottrill, True North, Traverse Trails, etc.). Dale will call Max and try and keep this moving. It was felt it would be best as a public meeting of both the twp board and the planning commission, so that all could come and get the information directly.
B. Gerry Chamberlin representing Brian McKenzie of 4968 Lower Shore Drive came to get a preliminary response to adding a second story to a portion of this house and adding a garage. The house is currently in the side set back. So the 2nd story addition would need a variance as it would also be in the set back. The garage is proposed to be 2 feet from the lot line. The lot runs from LSD to the water and is only 67 feet wide, as are almost all these lots in Seven Mile Point Shores a platted community. The Commission gave him several items that should be investigated: the plat’s rules and regulations, informal talks with neighbors as to their concerns, the actual status of the building site (a portion of the lot appears to be in RR-2 and a portion in SR-2) which would affect the required set backs. This seems to be a non-conforming use and we need to do more homework on understanding how these are treated. The Commission was very appreciative of Mr. Chamberlin coming to us before the drawings and plans were set formally down on paper. We felt we could work with him, but there were still a lot of unknowns in the equation.
V. Other Matters
A. Planning Commission educational requirements tabled
B. Review of pros and cons of Township zoning tabled until after meeting with county planners
VII. Open Discussion for issues not on the Agenda
The commission really needs representation from the east or central part of the township. Members mentioned people they had asked, who declined. No new names were put forth.
Dale Scott announced that the county is intending to re-do their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (a master plan for the county) and want cooperation and input from the townships. They are also revising the Comprehensive Rec. Plan and again request cooperation and input.
VIII. Adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Next meeting: March 28, 2005

Cynthia Donahey