MINUTES – SPECIAL JOINT MEETING

Of the

FREMONT CITY COUNCIL

& FREMONT PLANNING COMMISSION

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 – 3:15 PM

Mayor James Rynberg called the Special City Council meeting to order at 3:15 PM and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.

Present at Roll Call: Mayor James Rynberg and Councilmembers James Breinling and Richard Conley.  Councilmember Jane Drake arrived at 3:20 PM.  Councilmember Larry Breuker was absent.

Planning Commission Present: Dale Hansen, Mike DeKuiper, Peg May, Sherri Anderson-Patterson, Jack Butterick, Charles Whitman and Keith Burd.  Commissioners Lon Vredeveld and Robert Goscicki was absent.

Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk Todd Blake, NED Director Michele Ribant and Zoning Administrator Richard Rought

Public Present: Michelle Burt, Joe VanderMeulen and Harry Burkholder

Approval of the Planning Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 9/27/05

The Planning Commission approved minutes of their Regular Meeting held September 27, 2005.

Youth Recreation Center

Michelle Burt, owner of Spanky’s Pizza requested permission to establish a youth recreation center as part of her operation on W. Main Street.  The center would most likely qualify as an arcade.  Under the current Zoning Ordinance, no arcade may be located within 1,000 feet of residentially-zoned property.

Zoning Administrator Rought noted the closest residential property to the proposed location is approximately 400 feet.  He also reported that any variance from the Zoning Code would need approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Following discussion, the Planning Commission voted to approve her request and recommend like approval to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Review of the Newaygo County Comprehensive Development Land Use Plan Survey

The Planning Commission briefly discussed the draft of the responses to the Newaygo County Land Use Survey, which the Commission discussed at the previous meeting.  After making several minor changes, the Commission approved the draft for submittal to Newaygo County.

Fremont Area Joint Planning Project

Joe VanderMeulen, Ex. Director of the Land Information Access Association (LIAA) summarized the Partnerships for Change project and its mission.  He noted the project falls within the Joint Municipal Planning Act and asked if Fremont is willing to fully engage in joint municipal planning with the surrounding townships and fully participate in zoning code enforcement.  Mr. VanderMeulen noted a formal agreement must be created between the participating jurisdictions to establish a joint planning commission and its makeup.

Mayor Rynberg left the meeting at 3:55 PM.  Commissioner Whitman arrived at 4:14 PM and Commissioner Butterick left at 4:15 PM.

There was further discussion on commission representation and overcoming common fears such as jurisdictional take over, relinquishing authority of decision making and what areas are to be covered under a joint agreement.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM.

                                                                                      ___________________________________

                                                                                      James M. Rynberg, Mayor

                                                                                      ___________________________________

                                                                                      Todd M. Blake, City Clerk