MINUTES

CITY OF FREMONT

FREMONT , MICHIGAN

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING  

Tuesday, January 25, 2005  

Call to Order.  A regular meeting of the City of Fremont Planning Commission was held in City Hall on Tuesday, January 25, 2005.  The meeting was called to order at 3:35 P.M.  

Present:  Chairman Dale Hansen

    Jack Butterick

    David Byrne

    Mike DeKuiper

    Charles Whitman

    Lon Vredeveld  

Absent:  John Frens

               Robert Goscicki  

City Officials Present:  Richard Rought, Zoning Administrator

                                        Chris Yonker, City Manager

    Michele Ribant, Director of Neighborhood and Economic Development    

First Order of Business:  The first order of business was to approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on October 26, 2004.  The minutes were approved as submitted.  

Introductions:  Dick Rought, the City’s Zoning Administrator, introduced Michele Ribant, the City’s new Director of Neighborhood and Economic Development.  Michele informed the Commission about her educational background and work experience.  

Zoning Ordinance Comprehensive Amendment  – Request for Proposals:  Ribant briefly reviewed the Request for Proposal.  She explained that the City plans to perform a comprehensive amendment to its Zoning Ordinance and update its Zoning Map accordingly and that many of the Smart Growth principles (e.g., pedestrian friendly downtown) will be incorporated into the new Ordinance.  Rought also added that the City will be updating its Subdivision Code concurrently as part of the project.  

Ribant went on to say that the proposals received from consultants will be provided to the Commission at its next meeting to obtain their feedback.  She also indicated that two or three planning consulting firms will be identified for interviews and that the interviews will be conducted by a Selection Committee on Wednesday, March 15.  She asked for representatives from the Commission to serve on the Selection Committee.  Chairman Dale Hansen and Commissioners Charles Whitman and Lon Vredeveld volunteered to serve.  

Transportation Forum:  Rought reminded the Commission that there will be a Transportation Forum held on Monday, January 21, 2005 in the Community Room at the Fremont Area District Library from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  The Committee was informed that the Transportation Forum is intended to present the results and recommendations of the Origin & Destination Study but also to discuss other ways to address Fremont ’s transportation challenges.   The Commission had a short discussion on the alignment of the proposed south side truck route.  

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.