Little Traverse Township Zoning Board
Joint meeting with Township Board and Zoning Board of Appeals
February 6, 2006 7:00 P.M.
Little Traverse Township Township Hall


Chairman Joe Chattaway called the meeting to order.

Roll call:
Jean Beckley, absent Joe Chattaway, present John Johnson, present
Ed Shepherd, present Marty Van Berlo, present
Also present were Randy Frykberg, Bill Dohm, Jane Taylor, Randy Crim, Ron Foeller, Roger Beckley and Kirsten Frederickson.

Minutes:
A motion by Van Berlo and supported by Johnson to approve the minutes with one correction, that being page 1, second paragraph under Case#B-12-2005 to read --, Tom Behan ( corrected from Tm Behan). Approved by voice vote.

Approve agenda:
There was no objection to following the agenda as presented.

Case#B-1-2006
Request by Griffin Arena to extend their operating hours from 12:00 midnight to 1:30 A.M.
Randy Frykberg reviewed the case explaining the original Griffin Arena was a bubble type building and did not contain the noise as well as the new solid structure does. He noted the original operating hours of 5 A.M. to 12:30 A.M. were hours suggested by John Hess, planner for the Township at that time. He explained that with the Polar Bear Ice and Fitness Center closed. Now this rink was having a difficult time trying to facilitate the current ice needs of the community. The demands on community services will not change. He also noted there have been no complaints of noise since the new building has been in service.
John Johnson thought the idea of parking area security might be a good idea to keep the noise down if noise becomes a problem.
John Johnson motioned to approve the request by Griffin Arena ( WGK,LLC) at 3450 M-119 to extend the hours of operation as requested. Hours to be 5A.M. to 1:30 A.M. Ed Shepherd supported the motion. Roll call vote: Beckley, absent: Shepherd, yes; Johnson, yes; Van Berlo, yes; Chattaway, yes. Motion carried.

Case#B2-2006
Sign plan review for Northern Lakes Recreation to expand their sign from 49 sq. feet to 59 sq. ft.
Randy Frykberg reviewed the case saying Northern Lights Recreation Center has requested permission to add a 5’x2’ sign below their existing sign. The existing freestanding sign is 7’x7’ and is 20’tall. The Sign section of the Zoning Ordinance, Section 1308 (i), allows the Zoning Board to” modify the area of sign permitted for reasons of unusual building size or bulk, large site area and/or deep building setback, or where in unusual circumstances no good or practical purpose would be served by strict compliance with requirements of the section.” This building is set back 890’ from M-119 and is a very large building.
Randy Crim, an owner, said this would be a changeable banner type sign. The sign sits far enough back from the road so that this new addition would not block traffic vision and it will be high enough, about 8 feet high, that vehicle drivers will be able to see under it.
John Johnson motioned to approve the request by Northern Lights Recreation at 8865 M-119, parcel # 24-08-16-15-400-011, to expand their freestanding sign at the driveway entrance from 49 square feet to 59 square feet as presented. Ed Shepherd supported the motion. Roll call vote: Johnson, yes; Shepherd, yes; Van Berlo, yes; Chattaway, yes; Beckley, absent. Motion carried.

Case#B3-2006
Sign plan review for an area modified sign for Little Traverse Industrial Park.
Randy Frykberg reviewed the case saying the request is for one sign at 64 square feet for the entire Industrial Park. The proposed sign would be on the west side of Moeller Drive with the existing sign on the east side of the road to be removed.
Ron Foeller, representative, told the Board they preferred to have all the members of the Industrial Park on one sign. He said the 4 destination businesses in the Park need the sign as a directional one. The sign will be owned by Preston Feather Building Center and they will be the dominating user. He was aware of the light pollution and said for the time being this sign would not be a lighted one. Landscaping is intended to be around the new sign.
Marty Van Berlo noted the style of the new sign is similar to the sign in front of the Preston Feather building.
Bill Dohm informed the Board that the first sign that Preston Feather submitted was 50 square feet for that business. It was sent back to them with the idea of incorporating the entire Park into one sign.
Mr. Dohm questioned Preston Feather being the dominating user. He felt it needed to be clear that a larger sign won’t be coming to the Zoning Board.
Ron Foeller felt the sign at 64 square feet would be adequate for the entire park as there are only 4 destination businesses at the present time but there was room on the sign for others as they have a need for signage.
John Johnson motioned to approve the request for a 64 square foot sign on parcel # 24-08-16-14-301-001, Moeller Drive, as requested by Preston Feather. There is to be no other free standing sign (existing Industrial Park sign to be removed). Lighting will have to come back to the Zoning Board for approval and there will be landscaping around the new sign. Motion support came from Van Berlo. Roll call vote: Johnson, yes; Shepherd, yes; Van Berlo, yes; Chattaway, yes; Beckley, absent. Motion carried.


Join Township Board and ZBA in joint meeting to discuss planning and zoning issues and recreation planning.

The Township Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals entered the meeting. Those present were Bill Dohm, Connie O’Neill, Lynda Arman, Joe Leach, Ken Garver, Wayne Allerding. Absent Matt Duran.

Presentation by Tom Bailey on recreation initiative on County property.
Tom Bailey presented a preliminary plan for the recreation development on the County property on M-119.

Supervisor Dohm presented plaques on behalf of the Township Board and Citizens of Little Traverse Township to Ed Shepherd for his long time service on the Zoning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, and to John Johnson for his long service on the Zoning Board and the Harbor Springs Area Sewer Authority Board.
No action was taken by the Township Board or the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Open discussion for issues not on the agenda
a. Correspondence received
Noted a Thank you from Tom Behan.
b. Zoning Board Members
The Zoning Board discussed opening the Master Plan and the sign portion of the
Zoning Ordinance that needs to be clarified, along with some definitions.
c. Members of the audience
There was no discussion from audience.

Report of Zoning Board of Appeals representative
Joe Chattaway and Bill Dohm briefed the Boards on the 2 appeals in Circuit Court
regarding the Harbor Park Market sign. The cases were dropped without prejudice
with 15 minute time changes allowed by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Dohm
stated how important it is for the Zoning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals to get
standards set regarding scrolling and intermittent signs.
Adjourn
Van Berlo motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 P.M. and was supported by Shepherd. Approved by voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,



Jane Taylor, Admin. Assistant