MINUTES
CITY OF FREMONT
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
The regular meeting of the Fremont Planning Commission was held at City Hall in the Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 3:16 PM.
Present: Dale Hansen, Chair
Sherri Anderson-Patterson
Keith Burd
Jack Butterick
Mike DeKuiper
Robert Goscicki
Peg May
Lon Vredeveld
Charles Whitman
Others Present: Jane Drake, Fremont City Councilmember
Richard Rought, Fremont Zoning Administrator
Michele Ribant, Fremont Director of Neighborhood & Economic Development
Chair Hansen opened the meeting by welcoming the new members, which included Keith Burd, Peg May and Sherri Anderson-Patterson.
The minutes of the July 26, 2005 Planning Commission meeting were approved as presented.
The Chair outlined that Mr. Ken Weddell, owner of Fremont Dental Associates, located at 111 W. Dayton Street wants to construct an addition to the rear of his building so that another dentist can join his practice. Mr. Rought reported that the property is currently zoned Business-Highway, which is an appropriate zoning classification for a dentist office. However, the building as it currently exists is grandfathered relative to the current zoning requirements, which it does not meet. Mr. Rought explained that the building does not meet lot size, side-yard setback, front-yard setback and parking requirements.
Ken and Pam Weddell were present to answer questions. Mr. Weddell explained that they considered moving portions of the administrative area to the basement, which would alleviate the need for an expansion; however, he felt that the basement is not an ideal work space, so they opted for an addition. He stated that employees would park in the rear of the building and that patrons would continue to park in the on-street parking in front of his building. One of the Commissioners pointed out that if the addition were not built and the new administrative area was put in the basement, there would still be the same parking demand, yet approval would not be needed. Ken Weddell explained that the houses adjacent to his office have not come up for sale in the 11 years he has worked out of his current office, so there has been no opportunity to purchase additional property for parking. Pam Weddell explained that her husband’s staff is loyal and that the average staff person has worked there for 8 years. She indicated his staff will work with her husband to coordinate the parking arrangements. She also indicated that it is likely that the doctors’ hours will be staggered, which would eliminate some of the parking demand.
Jack Butterick made a motion to recommend approval of the proposed building expansion subject to approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the necessary variances to the lot size, side-yard setback, front-yard setback and parking requirements; Sherri Anderson-Patterson seconded the motion, and the motion carried.
Ryan Coffey, Land Use Coordinator for the MSU Extension Office explained to the Commission that the Newaygo County Planning/Zoning Commission was in the process of updating its Comprehensive Development Land Use Plan and is seeking the opinions and ideas of each municipality within the County. He explained he desired the Commission to review the questions outlined in the survey titled “Newaygo County Comprehensive Development Land Use Plan Survey” that was provided to them. The Commission took time to answer each question as a group. Michele Ribant was asked to compile the Commission’s responses to the survey and to provide the Commission with a final version of the survey responses at the October Planning Commission meeting for the Commission’s final review before the completed survey is provided to the MSU Extension Office.
Mike DeKuiper left the meeting at 4:40 PM.
Michele Ribant explained that the Ordinance outlining rules pertaining to the City Planning Commission was created because the City Code was silent on many issues that needed to be addressed regarding the Commission. She explained that the Ordinance would be voted on for adoption by the City Council in November. She pointed out that within the proposed rules there were education requirements that the Commission would have to adhere to and that there would be term limits. She asked for feedback from the Commission.
Jack Butterick indicated that the new rules would call for more administrative work. He asked if City staff was prepared to handle the work. Ms. Ribant indicated that she recognized that some administrative work (e.g., sending appointment letters) would be necessary from a staff level but that most of the added work would happen once a year and could be handled quite easily.
Michele Ribant indicated that the City wants to make sure the Commission is apprised of various projects that could impact them. She said that the Fremont Area Joint Planning Committee (FAJPC) has recently been expanded to include representatives from Sherman Township as well as representatives from Sheridan Charter and Dayton Townships and the City of Fremont.
Ms. Ribant informed the Commission that in July, 2005 the FAJPC was awarded a grant through the Partnerships for Change program administered by the Land Information Access Association (LIAA). She said the grant project will involve LIAA working with the FAJPC to create a multi-jurisdictional joint planning agreement that will be consistent with the new Municipal Joint Planning Act. She explained that the FAJPC is currently a committee but that after the grant project is completed the group will most likely be organized as a commission with binding authority over issues under its purview. She said the FAJPC must work together to decide what types of issues will fall under its purview and exactly which territory over which the FAJPC will have jurisdiction. She indicated that it is conceivable that the Fremont Planning Commission could be disbanded, and the FAJPC could take over its role but that in order for that to happen there are numerous issues that need to be worked through. Ms. Ribant asked if there were questions; there were none.
Ms. Ribant announced that at the October Planning Commission meeting, a representative from LIAA will be present to explain in detail the purpose and goals of the joint planning project. She indicated that the City Council and members of the public are invited to the meeting.
Michele Ribant reported that Steve Langworthy of LSL Planning, Inc. will also attend the October Planning Commission meeting to update the City on the progress on the new zoning ordinance. She said he will present a draft of our new zoning districts, which were largely designed based on input from the citizens at the June workshop.
Michele Ribant informed the Commission that the Fremont DDA recommended that a Downtown Fremont Design Plan be created. The project will include the four-block commercial core on Main Street between Merchant and Mechanic Avenues and a permanent farmers market pavilion will most likely be part of the plan.
Ms. Ribant also announced that the City on behalf of the Museum Committee and the DDA is planning to hire a museum consultant to conduct a Fremont Local History Museum Economic Feasibility Study. The study will aid the community in determining its collective vision regarding a museum and how much it will cost to build and operate a museum.
Richard Rought provided the Commission with a handout titled “Recommendations of the Fremont Public School Citizen Advisory Committee”. Lon Vredeveld explained that the recommendation of the FPS Advisory Committee was that a new high school in Fremont is needed and that it should be expanded at its current Downtown location. He summarized some of the other recommendations that call for the oldest section of the high school to the north be demolished, that a new educational wing attached to the southwest side be constructed and that the existing cafeteria, offices and gymnasium be maintained.
The meeting adjourned at 5:18 PM.