001ship offices here at 1440 Rochester Road to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Now roll >> Here >> for the agenda to approve the agenda. >> How many did we have? >> Everybody. Okay. So, who will we be putting down as the official? Who is the quickest? >> Ellard. >> I think it was really close, but we'll go. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion on the agenda? >> Not hearing any call. >> K. Yes. Frost. >> Yes. Jenny H. >> Yes. Yes. Mike McDonald. Yes. Yes. Supervisor. >> Yes. Okay. Item number one is the uh planner services interview. Hello. >> Good afternoon. >> Yes. Can you
002just tell us uh Well, first of all, we're looking for a planner. >> Okay. You got the gist of that. >> You do. Yes. >> We appreciate you coming. Um, Pauline does a lot of our our clerk does a lot of our planning and so she's the one that probably is the one that is the most important to satisfy. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um, I mean the rest of the sto >> Okay. So, but anyways, if you just uh give us a little rendition um I know you're wave trim and um and and give us a little rendition of what you have to offer and what we're looking for hopefully and what you have to offer. I >> sure will appreciate it. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today. We've had
003the opportunity to meet Pauline and chat with her on a number of occasions. It's been a pleasure to work with her. Um we do understand you're looking for a new planner um through our conversations with her. appreciate that opportunity to come before I even interview. Um, so at Waiter, we do have a long history of serving small and rural communities. Um, I like to say that this is kind of our specialty. um by evidence of the services map that Adam distributed to you. Um you can look through this the communities that we serve and see that um many of them are uh similar in nature to to Addison Township and um so we definitely have experience in that regard. Um my name is Jason Smith. I'm a vice president professional planner at We Trim. I've
004been at WRIM for slightly over 20 years now and I've had the opportunity to work with the gentleman sitting here next to me uh for my entire career who's been at Wavim for 26 years. So both of us bring uh a long history of experience. I think 46 years plus combined um all at the same company. So a lot of consistency between Adam and I. We've worked in the same office that entire time and we work side by side. Uh so uh Adam is going to be your main point of contact with project manager and I will be his backup. So two experienced planners to have your back and and consult and advise along the way. You know with weight you obviously as I mentioned we gain experienced planners who I'd like to think were
005responsible reliable responsive uh is important that consistency is important. uh we work closely together with you and your staff to make sure we bring practical guidance and and advice and provide you with expertise along the way. Work with your team. I understand that uh we have a uh attorney that works closely with the township, you know, working closely with the attorney and with Pauline and her team to ensure that we're providing clear communication and follow through and abiding by your ordinances and master plan. Um, you know, what's important is that we're abiding by those legal documents and providing guidance to the staff to to ensure that those are implemented accordingly. We're excited to learn more about your needs and and what you're looking for in a planner. Happy to answer any questions at the end,
006but right now I'd like to turn it over to Adam uh who as your project manager will be providing with a little more detail about what we have to offer and of course answer any questions that you have. >> Thank you. Welcome, Adam. >> Yeah, thank you. Great spot, though. >> All right. Very good. Well, it's great to meet you all. Uh, my name is Adam Young. I am a senior project manager at W Trim. As Jason said, we've both been with the company for some time. I've been at WIR my entire professional career. So, my first job out of college, my first professional job was at Waitri in the vase office where I'm from originally. uh moved to the Taylor office uh early in my career and then our entire planning team is now
007we're actually based in in Detroit. I live in southeast Michigan here as well. I I have been uh you know what do I enjoy about doing planning work uh for communities. So I've always enjoyed um geography, people, places. Uh, I've always enjoyed just working with people uh to uh and to be able to explore new communities, to be able to help people along along the way. I come from a family of teachers and educators. My mom and my dad, my brother, my sister-in-law, and I married a teacher as well. My wife is a a second grade teacher. Uh, and even though I don't I'm not officially a teacher as a planner. As a planner, I I didn't realize how much teaching we actually do, but I really enjoy that part about my job. So, I
008really enjoy walking alongside my clients um helping them help they help me learn about their community. I help them learn about planning and zoning and how we can collectively work together to protect the interests of your community. So, that's a little part of my my background. I represent a number of communities like Addison Township in a similar capacity where I am the point person. I am regularly working through email phone calls or meetings with uh usually it's a point person to that community. Maybe it's the zoning administrator, maybe it's the clerk, maybe it's someone else. Uh helping them uh with questions that they might have, applications that come through, nuances in their zoning and planning that we need to talk about. uh I in those communities I'm regularly attending their planning commission meetings, monthly meetings
009and uh reviewing development projects, presenting those in front of the planning commission. One of the things that I this part is part of my teaching background. I do really enjoy uh helping the planning commission do well at public meetings, help the citizens understand what might be proposed, help the applicants understand uh how to get through uh how to work through the system, how it works to make sure that we're uh outlining, you know, here are the steps so that they can, you know, come to at the very beginning they know what to expect throughout the process. But for the benefit of the folks in the audience to be able to clearly outline this is what's being requested tonight. This is the authority that the planning commission maybe in that case has. This is the decision
010that ultimately they're going to be working to make. Uh here's your role in the process as a citizen, things of that nature. And of course, it's really important that I provide good uh information to the planning commission so that they can make a good decision, stay out of trouble. Uh I regularly work with uh organizations like the Michigan Association of Planning to do training uh sessions. I regularly through them do the planning zoning 101 training in March. I'm working with them. I'm going to be doing the advanced zoning board appeals training for the MAP. So if you're interested, uh Ed, sounds like that's you. A little plug for that. I believe that's an online uh class. No, no, actually no. That that was going to be an inerson uh class. So that's something that you
011can sign up for as well. >> So that's the second time then we've already gone to one already. >> Okay. Very good. Very good. >> Look forward to it. >> Yeah. The other communities that I represent are largely rural communities. The the largest community that I do represent is Harrison Township in Mcome County. They're a bedroom community. Uh they're a waterfront community. I work with probably the closest to you is Atlas Township in Jennese County, southern souththeastern Jennese County. I sense based on my review of your master plan and your zoning ordinance that um you have shared characteristics and values. I work with both townships and uh cities and villages, small cities and villages. I work and represent the city of Lynon. after after this afternoon's meeting, I'm heading to the city of Duran for
012a planning commission meeting this evening. So, that's just background about myself. I will say that, you know, I know that in talking with Pauline, it's very important that you know who you'd be working with. Um, and you know, Jason has expressed that as well. He will be my backup in the sense he'll be a second point of contact if there's ever if I'm unavailable, on vacation, something like that. um so that he would be your secondary contact, but you'd be working with me. You'd be seeing me at the plant commission meetings. And um we're proud of the service that we provide to our clients. So I would encourage you um we've got a list of clients that we represent u or if you'd like me to share with you uh client names and contacts that
013you could reach out to them, for example, the supervisor at the fellowship or whoever you'd like to talk to. Um, we're more than happy that you would do that and they could uh testify to the quality of our services that we provide. >> Well, I just have a a few things I I would like just let you know about our community here. First of all, we have a lot of history here. A lot of history. We have one of the oldest cemeteries in Michigan. Okay. 1843. We have a Revolutionary War veteran was our first person buried there. They have the oldest commercial building in Oakland County which is our cemetery auxiliary restore. We also have um the mill here which is been restored by a private person. We also have another mill up in Leonard.
014Uh we have the oldest one room schoolhouse uh restored in Oakland County. I'll tell you that was 1856. Um so we have a lot of history here. We're not like the rest of Oakland County, okay? Even though we're in Oakland County, we're up in the northeast section, okay? We have a little different attitude as to what we want from this community. And uh we like slow growth. Um we like our horse country. We love our lakes and we love our wide open uh spaces and our our homes with a little more property around. That's why people moved to Addison Township. Um we don't have a main thoroughfare like Van Dyke or like M24 but we do have Rochester Road and it is used uh heavily now but it's always going beyond us. So what I'm
015trying to say is that we're unique here and we're trying to keep that uniqueness a little bit. We have a quaint little town here. Um I don't think we're looking for any box stores or anything like that. This is uh we always tell people that uh you can go into the city and work and then you come home to heaven every night out and yet we're so close that you can be in Auburn Hills whatever within a short drive. So um if you see our uniqueness here and what we're trying to preserve. Okay. Um, so everyone I know our neighbors, a lot of them would like to expand because they do have a major thorough affairs and they're looking for restaurants and um, box stores and all kinds of uh, subdivisions. Um, we don't have
016any water and sewer here. >> Sure. >> I don't know if that's by design, but it also keeps us um, from having all of this heavy industry or whatever, but we don't have that here. So, we're we are a bedroom uh community and we'd like to our vision is to keep it that way. Okay. And let the um the big stuff go over to Oxford, which is a short drive for us, or over to Romeo or whatever, just so you understand a little bit about our community and that we have a lot of pride in our history here. We're the only ones I think in Oakland County that are saved in the historical mills and u we have a cemetery that is dedicated by uh the daughters of American Revolution and um and it's also
017historic place. So if you understand where what we're saying is everybody else is building up around us and um this is we're unique very unique here. >> I appreciate that. I was reading through your master plan even a little bit about the history of of your community and I think it said in there that the surveyors kind of commented this is not the greatest land because you've got too much wetlands and it's kind of swamps and whatnot but actually that could be for your purposes and what you care about a significant locationational advantage. Yes, you're in Oakland County, you have the proximity to southeast Michigan. Um, but you're right, you don't have the major roads that come through and maybe you're a forgotten town in that sense and maybe that works out exactly to your
018advantage. So, we're here to protect your interests as you've expressed and I think very clearly in your master plan uh as well. And so, um, you know, I I that's one of the reasons why I enjoy working with different communities. >> I would like to add that the property has become very valuable out here and everybody in the city, they know it. Everybody is coming out this way and everybody wants to bring their cityhood or whatever out here and and um >> sidewalks. >> Yes. >> And yes, and everybody is complaining about our gravel roads, but um what I'm saying is that we're going to be under pressure. Yes. in the future because the land out here has become very valuable and everybody now um from Rochester, even Oakland Township, everybody Shelby Township, they've all
019got us on on their map now that they're all moving out here, especially because of the lake. I mean, the lake is a a beautiful asset to this township and uh so we just we will be under pressure. We do all that and but we'd like to keep our acquaintance. >> Excellent. >> Okay, I'll open it up to anybody. Anybody have any questions? >> Oh, the township welcomes large lots and by that I'm saying two through 10 acres. Um, and it's for indiv individuality purpose, green space, farms, and to protect the environment overall. Large lot is not always the best practice when you go to planning or zoning administration. Are you comfortable with meeting those objectives? >> Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it could be argued and there's different perspectives on how is the best regulatory way
020to protect rural character and and some people would say, well, you need to allow smaller lots and cluster them so that you can allow bigger lot, you know, the the parent parcels to remain large. And that's one argument. Uh I certainly understand that. But another one is to in, you know, require the larger lots. At a township is a great example. uh they they have had that debate in their community uh consistently uh since I've worked with them and even prior and um we just most recently uh updated their master plan in 2024 and then last year we helped them with their zoning ordinance and so they they went for an increase in lot size in their rural estates district from 2 acres to 3 acres. uh we set that in motion in the master
021plan because we heard that from the community and we were able to implement that through zoning ordinances later. So they're an example of where they actually went up because they recognize and we help them through that process and I uh I bought into it as well that uh for them larger lots does make sense and is a way to protect their rural environment. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Hi, Adam. Uh, we got about four questions. One's going to lead right into the other one if you don't mind. >> Are you familiar or will you become familiar with our ordinances as they're written? >> Sure. Yes. And in fact, I've got your zoning ordinance here and I've been over the, you know, last couple of weeks since we've been talking with Pauline, I've been looking
022through and trying to better understand your community and how you what you have in place. So I'll visit way trim next week and give you a test >> and you got to answer all those questions. >> No, the next question I need to ask you as a ZBA. >> Yeah, >> you work for us, not the applicant. >> Okay, that's very important to as a ZBA member probably planning but ZBA you answer to the ZBA the board. >> Yes. If there is an application to fill out and do this, you fill up for the board. >> Correct. >> Don't tell the applicant, here is the uh motion to approve your application because you fit everything. >> There might be something in there that makes them not fit. We don't want to go to court just
023because you said you fit. >> Yeah. >> Okay. It's very important. >> Okay. >> And I see you've got a lot of places to go to. You're leaving here to go somewhere else? >> That's right. >> Look at the old trains, but that's okay. >> It's a neat community. >> Um, will you have time to add Addison Township into your schedule? >> Yes. So, we take this very seriously. We do not want to add a client to anyone's mix. And we also uh the company I feel does a very good job of of respecting our work life balance as well. Uh so when uh Jason and I talked about this, we made sure um that we will be carving out uh enough time for me to support you. So um once you've got me, you've
024got me and you are my client. Um so yes, we've made that decision. We've looked at that. We've checked out my schedule to make sure that it works. So the second Tuesday of the month is your planning commission meeting is correct. Uh that works in my schedule and I'm prepared to serve you uh in that manner. And one last question and it's good to give us a direction. >> Okay. But not a solution. Does that make a sense to you? >> Yeah. >> It's the direction is this fits does not fit. Is this does that does this does that? Check it off as we're >> as we're reviewing we can do our own checklist. >> Yes. And then if you see that it's perfect and you suggest to the board, this is my suggestion, not
025the answer, that's very that's good to know, but we need to know as a checklist as you go down. Did it meet this requirement? Did it meet the setback? Did it meet this? And so it just we've experienced a planner that worked with the applicant as much as they worked with us. It was very difficult to get anything done. >> Yeah. I think my teacher mentality is about leading you to the right decision by providing uh facts that are based on the standards that you have. >> That's exactly all I need. >> And in fact, in our in our we provide as part of a a reszoning review or special language review or a variance review, a checklist and where we provide we outline the standards that you that you need to make your decision
026based on. We provide some of our own findings of fact or findings to help you, but we have a blank spot in that checklist for zoning board appeals comments. >> Yeah. >> And so that we're trying to lead you and prompt you to come up with your own findings and and lead you in that regard. >> That's your job. Thank you very much. That answered exactly. >> Yeah. Now, I will say, of course, that it is important also to provide the information to the applicant so that they're aware of the process and things of that nature. But you're right. It's not my job. >> It's not your job to to get them a Yes. Yes, >> it would be the CPA chairman or Pauline. But to give the applicant information, I think it should go
027to the through the township. >> Very good. >> So before we switch gears to the PC, I there is one more CBA question. Um the township CBA only grants nonuse dimensional variances. If the application is proposed use, that's not allowed in that zoning district or in the ordinance at all, >> no matter what they say. Maybe they'll say it's 20 ft from the sideyard. What's going to be your appropriate response for a use variance request? >> Yeah, in that case, I would recommend uh to you or whoever's taking in that application. Hopefully, we have that dialogue before you accept the fees because I would suggest that you don't even accept the application. the ZBA does not have the authority to grant the use variance in that case, >> which typically we do, but sometimes they
028want to hear it from the planner. So, I just wanted to hear if you were able to say no. >> Yeah. You know, I'm a I'm a believer in uh trying to head things off before they become a bigger problem and doing it up front and being open and saying, "Look, don't even accept that application or don't send that application on to the planning commission because it's not administratively complete." Uh or in that case, the ZBA doesn't even have the power to grant that. So, don't even mess with it. Don't even let them go. It's set two. >> And that goes back to what Ed was saying to interpret the ordinance as written because we've had planners that try to make the application fit. So, it's not a nonuse when it's like no, that's not
029what it says. Okay. So, thank you. >> Anybody else have some questions? I do. Okay. Go ahead. Um, I I'd like hearing that you've already taken a look at our master plan and our ordinance. Too often that isn't done and you're it you're trying to sell your community site unseen your services. >> Sure. >> That speaks highly of of you. Um, Township loves planners. We love good planners. and Bruce Fine and I have been working the last couple weeks trying to defeat the state's legislative attempt to take zoning out away from communities serve communities now, but it's the tip of the iceberg. If if they break that wall, it'll it'll continue. So, we're fighting hard and that's why we ask very pointed questions. >> Yeah. >> And you've responded well. um the um the I
030guess it's been touched on but the uniformity of application of our ordinances and plants master plan are primary to our existence and our maintenance of our of our atmosphere >> whatever aesthetic whatever you want to call it. Um, did you see anything yet that raises any alarms with you about whether we're doing I mean I know it's early on but we are interested in knowing if if our ordinances support our master plan and vice versa. >> So as you deal with us >> we need that objectivity and warning if you would that well maybe we need to look at something if we want really want to go in some direction. >> Sure. So that would be my question and comment. >> Absolutely. Uh in looking at your plan and zoning ordinance, I did no red
031flags, nothing, no major issues at all. And I certainly haven't gone line by line or word for word to to get you that. Although I love to do it. I do kind of geek out when it comes to zoning and all of that. It's kind of fun. Um, I did notice maybe that in your zoning orders, I think it was maybe eight or nine different residential zoning districts that you have and I didn't see that same number that kind of comparable number in your master plan. So, I wonder just without digging into it that maybe there could be some consolidation or something like that. Um, it, you know, your zoning uh your master plan, future land use map and your zoning map are fairly consistent from what I could tell. uh maybe just some nuance
032differences here here and there. Um I think you could it could be more user friendly. Uh maybe could help uh your your internal administration if you had tools like a use matrix that would outline all of the allowable uses with you know in one place with all of your different zoning districts. I think that would be helpful. maybe a schedule of regulations that outlines all of the yard areas, setbacks, heights, and whatnot across all the zoning districts as opposed to kind of one within each in here. So, at least that's the MUN code version of your of your zoning ordinance there. But I didn't see anything um offand I would, you know, flag necessarily at this point. >> So, I'm going to go out after Mike because you brought up the master plan. Yeah, >>
033we do definitely need this master plan updated, but then when um we share the price of a master plan, it's like, oh goodness gracious. Could you please tell the board what the importance of the master plan is for the community along with how important it is following or implementing that master plan? >> Yeah. Um because it does take time, effort, money. Um, I would say make sure that, you know, don't even do a master plan if you're not if you're you have it resolved that you're going to implement it through uh zoning changes, administration, and enforcement of your ordinance because your zoning ordinance is the main tool for your master plan. But what's the benefit of the master plan other than the state requires you to do it if you have a zone if you
034have a zoning ordinance? Um, I think it's always an opportunity and your plan is is quite old, right? early 2000s and other than just you know it could bring kind of bring it up to date into contemporary language and and to um bring it in line in that respect it's another opportunity for you to take a step back often I think boards and commissions get kind of bogged down in the day-to-day you know what are we going to do about this particular project and oh my goodness this has taken you know we look back at what we accomplished in 2025 and it was you know just busy work the whole time I do appreciate the opportunity that a master plan brings for a community to uh come together, boards and commissions to work together, to
035meet together, and to engage members of the community in the process and celebrate what we've done, right? You know, celebrate what we care about and work together to kind of figure out what are the tools and resources that we need to put into place. I like your master plan. I think there's a lot of good things in there and from my perspective it very clearly um captures or outlines the type of community that you want to be. So I do definitely see that and based on kind of your comments and our discussion I don't see that the the values of the community have changed. uh certainly not, but I think you can certainly bring it into line uh with, you know, state law and put yourself in the right position uh to make sure that
036you can accomplish your growth management, accomplish your values, and making sure that the zoning ordinance is aligned with your plan. >> Okay. Anybody else? >> I do. So, Adam, have you had experience in um updating other master plans? Can you give us a little elaboration on what you've done? >> Sure. Um, since we we love to work with clients for an extended period of time, we really do appreciate building that long-term relationship. So, for most of the clients that I've listed, Atlas Township and Lynden and Durand and Harrison Township, I've been with them for uh some of them uh 10, 15 years even. And so I've had the opportunity to work with them on different iterations of their master plan. Um most recently Atlas Township. If you'd like to take a look at the Atlas
037Township master plan, head on their website. I think you'll see some of the same things that maybe you'd like to accomplish in your community and some unique aspects that we implemented in our master plan. even talking about gravel roads and why they are important to the community and if you want to protect and preserve rural character and from their perspective why as you said infrastructure improvements are not uh are not what we want to do and that would kind of run counter to our other goals that we have uh but yes I managed many different master planning projects I really enjoy doing that as a professional and of course it gets the opportunity uh to um for our team to get to know a community much better as well >> and then you would be
038able to because I too have read the master plan and saw some of the um the wide range of lot sizes and property sizes that that we offer. Um how do how would you develop a plan to bring that into the more rural perspective that we have? >> Um well, I think the the starting point in the master plan is figuring out what do you have in place today? Um, now that we have tools such as GIS and parcel mapping in Atlas Township, for example, when we were talking seriously about do we want to increase lot size from 2 acre to 3 acre in this particular district, uh, we were able to say definitively, you have 2,789 parcels that are zoned this district and 82% of them are already over 3 acres in size. And
039so as we think about things like what's the impact of increasing from two acres to three acres, you aren't going to be creating additional non-conforming use or there won't be or non-performing lots will generally not be created. So since we have the tools in place that helps us to do that. So that's part of the background information analysis, understanding what you have today, looking at your existing zone, looking at even things like lot sizes. Then of course it's reaching out to the community whether it's through you know a workshop or a survey or a combination of things to hear and confirm that yes uh you know it is it can rural character preservation continues to be the number one and you know natural resource conservation is the number two in our community and that sets
040the direction for okay now let's put the strategies and tools in place to help us uh accomplish those goals. Anybody else? I have something. Um, Adam, what we're looking for is to have a >> Yes. >> A plan. Okay. Um, we we don't want where >> somebody comes in and says, "I'm your planner." And then all a sudden, two months later, it's been shuffled down to the brand new person that just got hired. And and now we're dealing with somebody completely different. We feel very comfortable with the person that we are hiring now. >> Yes. >> And we would like to keep that person. Yes. Okay. If you understand um because we get a relationship and we hope that um you understand what we're looking for. So, what I'm trying to say is we've been
041around the block where we hired somebody and a year later we're dealing with somebody brand new and they don't have the they weren't at the interview and they don't have the same idea and we're having to train them on what we originally hired somebody for and so I think you understand exactly what we're looking for. Um, Atlas Township is a little closer to what we are and the ran maybe a little bit more also as long as you get out of the city there. But, um, you understand our uniqueness here. Absolutely. And I mean, you know, I know that when people move out here, the land values have really have gone way up, but I think people are coming out because we have something unique to offer and they want to be part of it.
042And that's why I think that people are coming out and looking for the larger lots, the bigger homes. And um and as long as we keep doing that, I don't think we'll have the uh you know, the uh subdivisions as such. Okay. You know, um so anyways, I think you understand completely what we're looking for. Y >> okay. Feel comfortable with that. >> Yeah. As I said, you know, I've been at Waitro for 26 years and Jason is an example, you know, similar longevity. It's because we enjoy the work, we enjoy the team, uh, and we really enjoy working for our company. It's a great culture that we have. Um, and you know, it's just one of those things where it helps to helps us to to remain um with a client for an extended
043period of time. Uh most of my clients that I've worked with I can't of the ones where I do regular planning commission meeting attendance uh I think the most recent would be uh Duran but our company has been with Duran for some time a long time planner who retired and then transitioned over to to me not that long ago. Uh but in Ash Township in Monroe County was one of my clients. I've been working with them since 2006. So that's probably my earliest client where I was given, you know, the responsibility as their planner of record. >> Is there anything you would like to ask us? Okay. Or are you comfortable with us? >> Yeah. Um, I'm I' I've done a lot of research and I think, you know, in talking with Pauline and in
044looking at your master plan, I do believe that uh we would be a great fit for your community and I do really um it's exciting about the opportunity to partner with with you in that regard. So, I've heard a little bit about what you'd like to see in a planner and you've talked about some of the things that you uh care about the most. Of course, one of the things you mentioned and maybe this will be your answer um uh is about the state law and the changes that they're looking to make that might strict local control from you. Um, but if there was for us, if there was one thing that you would ask of your planner that after the three-year period, let's let's say after that period that if we didn't help you
045accomplish this goal, it would have been a miss or we that would mean that we in one sense might have regretted hiring you in the first place. What is that maybe one thing that three years from now we can look back on and say absolutely we accomplished that over that three year period and you helped us to do that. >> Maintain large lots. >> Okay. And I'm ready to help you with that. And when we send something to you in a timely fashion, get it back to us. Okay. >> Um >> the building department is over in my area. We get a lot of people that come in and can I do this? Can I do that? And we don't want to advise them because then they take it for gospel, you know, we always
046say we'll send that to the planner and then and we would just like it back at a reasonable time. So that's >> there's time frames now in the agreement. >> Good. Okay. >> And TV's been happy with those time frames. >> Well, I I agree, but um we've had time frames before and they didn't adhere to them. I'm just saying to be polite to our residents, we try to get back. We don't want them left hanging for 6 weeks. Something which in the past we have. Okay. >> Certainly. I appreciate your timelines, but that's part of our culture and part of our promise to our clients is to be responsive. >> Good. I wanted to tell the board that I did call Harrison Township. Both I talked to both staff and also the supervisor. rave
047reviews about Wait, ra reviews about Adam, and I point blank asked the question, "How often does Adam pass you off?" Oh, he's always here. I mean, it was very assuring to hear um the supervisor say that Adam doesn't do that. So, um I was very glad and very good reports. Um I did promise him only 30 minutes. I'm ready to go to number two if you >> Okay. Yeah, number two. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Very good. Thank you so much. You have my contact information. Jason contact. >> Oh, Mark is our check. >> Our CVM planning board there. Do you have any questions, Mark? >> I I have a couple. If I could take just a couple minutes. >> I'm okay with that. Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Um I read this morning
048the Land Division Act has been amended to allow more lots when developers ask for splits. >> Yes. Um, is that going to be forced upon us in your opinion or can we continue to maintain large lot sizes and not be in violation of statute? >> Yep. From everything that I've read, I was a little somewhat dismayed when I first heard about the the proposed language and now that it's become law, but I was encouraged um in reading through that specific act that it does not say anything about taking away local control. So, a lot split may be allowed by the state, but it still needs to meet local zoning regulations. >> Okay. Thank you. AI, how is it changing your world? What is the cultural either acceptance or resistance to it in wage trim? M
049well we're trying to make sure that we stay on top of things cuz we do we do believe that as a company um we do we would kind of be left behind if we don't if we're not aware of it acknowledge it and where appropriate use it in our um practices. I guess a couple things. First, I do see that citizens are taking advantage of that and almost doing the kind of gotcha thing like I'm going to Google or I'm going to AI something and it's going to tell me the answer about Addison Township. But what they didn't realize is they they found the answer from you know Addison Township Indiana or something like that and it doesn't apply. Um but from our perspective AI will not never take away the job of a planner.
050um we think that it takes >> thought process you know there the decisions that we make bring in so many different factors to consider and I know AI purports to do the same thing but I don't think it it it's not a substitute for having that relationship with the client and helping the client make re make good decisions wise decisions >> anything else sir that's all thank you Okay. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Have a great afternoon. >> Pleasure meeting you >> as well. >> And I want to say well prepared as well because I had this whole list of of questions and when you spoke you addressed I just started checking them off. So thank you. >> Very good. Glad you did that. >> Safe travels. >> Yeah. Don't go on the
051gravel roads just >> Yeah. >> Not a great idea. We did see you have a car wash at the entrance to your township. So that makes >> Okay. Item number two, discussion or action on the planner services. >> Yes. First I I was thoroughly pleased with what I heard today. He answered every question and as a matter of fact he answered more than what we were asking for because we're doing a checklist and check check for one line. So I'm very pleased with what I heard today. >> Anybody else? >> You think he hit the nail on the head with just maintaining I think the biggest goal is maintaining that relationship with them. So I mean sounds like that's what he wants to do. I don't mean you can never guarantee it, but >> guarantee
052it, but he does seem like he wants to go forward with what we want, >> right? >> With the planners. >> I thought he was very professional and obviously an expert in what he does. So, >> if we get Adam, I feel very comfortable with Adam. I think that he's somebody that we could um you know grow into our family here because he knows very personable um and I think he understands where where we're coming from here. I don't think this he understands we're not looking to uh you know to bring in all kinds of subdivisions and box stores and stuff like that. We we want to be a rural oasis. Um, I I feel comfortable with them. So, yes, I'm prepared to make a motion if you want to. >> Yes, if you would
053like to. >> I'd like to make a motion to accept we shrimp as our planners, including the fees and with the name planners as indicated in the February 18th, 2026 proposal contingent on the township's attorney review and approval of the amendments to the agreement. The RFP is submitted of the required documents from wage room. >> I'll support. >> Okay, we have a motion in support. Do we have any discussion? >> I just want to say that um just so the board's aware that there are two provisions in our agreement that we trim um want to change and then also there's a portion in the RFP that I'm suggesting to change. So um we will have to Those three items, >> do you think they're deal breakers or are they major? >> One of them was
054just like a minor tweak in our agreement. So, no. The second one has to do with insurance. Um, they really are uh how would you say redlining that provision that is to in our typical agreements. Um, so I leave that up to Bob as far as okay, if we take this out, are we going to be protected or is Bob going to come up with something else? I don't know. And then the provision in the RFP um it was more or less some planners um would some planners would let Bob review be as a draft before they issue. And I wanted that to be included that if I wanted legal to review it before it's issued um they would have to do so. Um I think Jason is is open to that. He's he doesn't
055care just like Justin, they welcomed it. So, yes, by all means, we're a legal review before we release. So, they like the extra eyes on it. So, that's the provision in the RFP that I suggested to change. >> So, what's the insurance for that? They want >> the liability insurance. >> Okay. Are they changing the amounts or just >> We're probably on the low side as far as the amount. We should probably consider increasing it, but no, we always have in our agreement something to might be here. Something to the effect that if the company does something like totally crazy, they have to leave them. >> Is that going to be lame? >> Yes, they want that removed. So, I have to leave that up to Bob as far as is he going to I
056don't know what he's going to do. >> There's always something you can modify there. >> That's what I figured. So, I'll just leave it to >> to them to >> So, that's good to know. That's good to know. >> Okay. So, we do have a motion. We do have a second and we'll have the our attorney review the documents. Uh any other questions? Not hearing any. Um this one I'd like roll call on please. >> Mary Frost, >> yes. >> Karen Gel, yes. Jenny Eller, yes. >> Breakville, yes. Mike McDonald, >> definitely. Yes. >> Bennett, yes. Supervisor K, >> yes. >> Okay, we'll open this up now for public forum. Anyone in the public? Mark, >> today. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Okay. Nobody in the public who would like to speak. Well then
057I would like to entertain a motion for adjournment. >> Second. >> And we have a second. Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> Anyone opposed say nay. We are adjourned. Okay. Thank