001I pledge algiance 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. Thank you. Could we have a roll call? I'm going to go ahead and do it today. I can't hear you. With your permission, I'll do the roll call this evening. Oh, okay. Okay. Thank you. Mark Smith present. Joe King, Jenny Eller here, Linda Garrick here. Secretary Lundy, Vice Chair Ben here. Please note the three that are absent to call and ask to be excused. I didn't hear what she said. Okay. Uh any announcements for correspondence? None. None. Uh, approval of the minutes agenda, excuse me. I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as presented. I'll second. Good. That's P. Everybody in favor? I I
002That's passed. How about the approval of the January 14th minutes? Anybody have opinion? I read them over. I didn't find anything jumping out at me. Anybody else? I'll make a motion. It's hard for you to make that motion, right? Um I'll make a motion to approve the minutes uh January 14, 2025 as presented. I'll second that. Okay. Anybody in favor say just I I. Anybody opposed? No. Okay. So that brings us to the uh update and the reviews of the articles that uh we have on our agenda. And at this point, I'm assuming I can turn it over and let you explain what is updated and what is reviewed and what needs our opinion. Sure. Uh good evening everybody. uh apologize for not being with you under the circumstances this evening, but I'm happy to
003be with you as it stands. Um so we have four amendments uh changes for you to look at this evening that we would uh like to get your blessing uh to set a public hearing for your next meeting and which of these amendments would be put forward to the public and then uh beyond that with your recommendation to to the township board for adoption. Uh the first is is a change uh in the open space preservation uh section and and we worked with the uh the attorney on this one to to make uh some pretty simple changes uh or at least to simplify the ordinance from what it was. And basically what we're saying is again this option allows uh for the same number of dwelling units under an open space act on a smaller
004portion of land that otherwise specified in the zoning ordinance but not more than 50% and that it's uh under the option that it's restricted uh a percentage of the land but not less than 50% shall remain perpetually in an undeveloped condition and that the availability of the option is not available to land that has already exercised this option. If this option is used, the land shall be resed accordingly. So, we've we we've really simplified this section. U it is under the zoning enabling act as a tool uh to allow for open space preservation for a tighter uh development option. Uh but but thought it was fit to simplify it. And and so again, this is uh the the version you're looking at here, section 449, open space preservation, and your packet that has 2A at
005the top has been uh reviewed and uh blessed by Attorney Davis. Okay. So, if you have any questions, we're happy to answer some of those questions. If not, we would we would look for a uh opportunity to set up for public hearing uh the proposed change here. Okay. No questions. Nope. I I do have a question. Um, it may be assumed, but under paragraph three where it says restricted land, um, I wondered if the language shouldn't be added at the end that it says it shall be approved by the township attorney and recorded to the parcel chain of title with the county clerk, register of deeds, or etc. And again that may be um assumed and as soon as you create the conservation easement plat dedication restrictive covenant or other legal mechanism they are always
006recorded but I didn't know if it should be spelled out in the ordinance. I think that's a good question. Um, we could either we could either add in language that says um, you know, shall shall be recorded as required uh by by each jurisdiction or we could ask Bob, Attorney Davis, if he has some specific language that he would like to have added there or if he's comfortable with it as it is like you said as it being assumed. So, we we can figure that out. Um, and if if that's language uh that you wanted added or if he agreed with then we would have that added by the time it was up for public hearing. Okay. Any other questions? No. I make a motion that we move forward and publish this for a public
007hearing after township legal council has reviewed it and added any language that would require the recording of the restrictive mechanism or legal document. I'll second that. May I please make a comment? I can't hear you. May I make a comment? Yes. only advertises once a week. Based on that motion, we will not make the cut off for the public hearing for next month. If the motion is revised that somehow we go ahead and move forward with a public hearing and authorize the planner to check with legal and then bring that back next month, then it is possible. So, how do you want us to I'm just showing throwing it out there. If you want this for public hearing next month, it won't make it. Okay. My motion doesn't assume or require that it come back
008to us after that language is added. If the attorney for a public hearing, it's going to come back to you anyways. Okay? So, next month it's automatically going to come back to you and it will give the attorney to respond to your request. So the earliest this can be is Mayet [Applause] I don't think Justin Justin uh okay Paul had her correct Justin they can um take that under consideration at the public hearing to add those words. Yes. Oh really? So the document doesn't have to be there would be no reason to hold the the draft back from public hearing because as Paul noted the draft or the public hearing notice has to be published uh I believe tomorrow uh or Thursday. So we could we could still move it forward as it is for
009public hearing and if Bob says that the language doesn't need to be added then we're good. if he says it does need to be added, then we'll just add that sentence uh for the public hearing version. Uh but but there would be no reason to wait to hold the public hearing uh for an answer from the attorney. It's such a small piece of this. If we were looking at removing all of section two and three rewriting, then we'd say no, it needs to come before you again before setting a public hearing. Not in this case. I'm happy to have the motion amended so that we can consider it the next meeting at a public hearing. That's fine. Feel free to make your amended. So I don't know what I said that needs to be changed
010quite frankly. So maybe do we just publish this as it stands as a draft for the public hearing next month? No. The revise might be added. Suggest that you determine whether or not you would like this to go for public hearing. And I'll maybe maybe state it in a manner that says that you're moving this uh to authorized public hearing, including any minor revisions from the attorney uh to be considered at that public hearing. I would like what you want him to consider included, please. So, I would revise my motion that we move this forward for public hearing and that we uh do so understanding after legal council review of added language regarding recording of the legal mechanism that we can take that up at the next meeting. I'll second that. I think Carol second.
011Did you want to any discussion on that? And then did you second it the first time? Yeah. Yeah. Then you have to second his motion. Would you make a roll call? How would you like Oh, I thought we all voted. Okay, let's vote on that by uh do we need roll call? You want me to? Yes. So, okay, Vice events. I'm not I Yes. I'm not hearing you. Oh, yes. Jenny, yes. Mark Smith. Yes. Okay. Passed. That brings us to 2B. Item item 2B. This is um for a complete repeal without replace of the beauty chapter uh which which uh the township doesn't doesn't believe that it needs at this point uh to to have the PU mechanism in place uh for for development uh given the fact that you allow for traditional development under
012traditional circumstances and you have an open space provision uh The PUD chapter is solely an option that is provided to municipalities under the zoning enabling act not a requirement. So again this this uh would be to set a public hearing to repeal without replace of the PUB chapter. Okay. I was just in my hearing so I could hear you better. Uh, so at that point, would anybody like to make a motion on this one to be deleted as is? I would make a motion to delete or I'm sorry, motion to set the public hearing. I just forgot that part. Yes. Set the public hearing to uh delete article 25 PUD and not replace as it was written, I guess. Yes, I'll second that. Anybody need any questions on this one? Can we bring it to
013a vote? Yep. Okay. So, let's do roll call again on deleting Mark Smith. Yes. Jenny, yes. Linda, yes. Yes. So that'll be in the public hearing which brings us to to C the waste management under item 2 C. This is a a ordinance addition to article 4 regarding well water uh water well subject and wastewater systems and what we are stating here is that private wells and certain subject systems shall be permitted in the township but it also finds that community sewer systems shall be prohibited including the expansion of any existing community sewer system. Uh so what we're saying is that for residential property there will be a single family homes developed on-site septic and on-site water wells are permitted provided those systems comply with all applicable codes and ordinances of the township and are
014reviewed and approved by Oakland County Health Department uh as as as and the approvals are provided in writing to the township. What we're prohibiting here are considered to be considered community wastewater utility systems of any type in all zoning categories. And for the purpose of this uh we are saying that a community wastewater utility system is a privately owned system that is designed, constructed, operated, maintained, transport, collect, process and treat sanitary sewage from a combination of more than one parcel. Uh the prohibition is not subject to any form of review of relief by the township zoning board of appeals. The expansion, enlargement, or increase of flow to any existing community wastewater utility system in the township is prohibited and not subject to any form of review by the CDA as well. Um just again to
015clarify this, there are a few different types of systems like this. Uh the easiest way for us to say it is for any system that serves more than one development parcel. Uh meaning two homes uh in a condo development or more homes in a condo development couldn't have a singular community wastewater system. They would have to be connected to either their onsite own on-site septic percel or they would have to be connected to a community sewer system uh that is maintained and operated by the township which which are are limited and area. So these uh these these systems are are difficult to maintain because it requires uh joint maintenance through homeowners and homeowners don't always do so well. Uh so it's easier for us to just say no altogether. If if you're a single residential
016site and you meet the requirements and get approved uh for single site well and subject then you're good to go. Otherwise we are not doing community systems. That seems very Any discussion? That seems very clear. Yeah. Is the word community synonymous with the word public in this case? No. This does not affect the village of Leonard then. No. No. because we define it in under the prohibited systems as community wastewater utility system is a privatelyowned uh otherwise I understand what you're saying there that there could be some inference that community means public uh but but not in this case because we specifically wrote there that it is a privately owned I make a motion that we uh move this for public hearing uh and have it scheduled for whenever. I second it. Okay. Any Are
017we ready to vote on it? Let's do roll call again. Yes. Yes. Mark Smith. Yes. Vice. Yes. All there. That brings us to uh 2D the regulations. update to the schedule of regulations as a result of amendment 2C that we just discussed. And you'll see starting on page two uh that that we strike the word urban and change that to public. Meaning a minimum lot area lot width and all zoning district supplies only when full public infrastructure services are provided such as public sanitary service, public water service, paved roads when required by the zoning ordinance and storm drain systems and to set forth an article for water well subject and wastewater systems. Um we this was another uh area that and based on the community previous question about community that we wanted to reinforce the
018difference between public infrastructure systems versus private. Um, moving on to page four of that amendment as well as page five, we we've added in some additional language again clarifying that uh of what is considered public infrastructure. here. Basically, you're seeing the red line of the footnotes above that were changed. So, you can see anywhere in red, we've added that language to refer back to article for the waste for water well subject wastewater systems as well as deleted some some wording that previously didn't uh align or or express the intent. So, very minor changes, but nonetheless, changes that needed to be made as a result of the new language for these systems. Any questions? Anybody have any questions? No, I do. I'm sorry. It's not related to the wastewater. Um, sub paragraph A says that the
019maximum height of nonresidential farm buildings may be 50 ft. That's five stories. That seems quite high in a farm setting to me. And not I don't want to delay this because of it, but I wonder if anybody has any background or understanding of why that height. I wonder. I first thought I would be an old barn. Those big old ones that you don't see barns that are five stories high. Even at the No, aren't they measured at the midpoint of the roof, which would be the peak, but No, it would be the top of the wall and the from the grade to from the top of the wall, the gable halfway in between is usually the midpoint. My old barn is one of the tallest ones around on the corner of Lakeville and Lakeville. I
020like George big red barn. I wonder how high that is. I don't know. Just that's about the highest one around. Five stories is really high. It is. But if you have a hay barn and you have uh you know hoft I I I I'm not sure that that's a question that maybe we should look into. Definitely. I don't know. And a lot of the a lot of the old bars were of the style of the you know the arched or the pinched rip. That's what that is. And and so a lot of those old barns uh could potentially reach that height by the time they had, you know, the hoft as well as uh any anything else in there for equipment. A lot of the new barns for for uh agriculture probably not going to
021get that high. More of the new the new barns are probably going to be closer to 40 45 feet. Uh but nonetheless, you know, when you're standing at the top of the combine, and this is just from experience, my I helped my cousins farm, but when you're at the top of the combine, you're a good 18 feet off the ground, and most combines generally need somewhere between 22 and 28t of clearance for for putting within the barn. So it just it it it depends. Um but yes, I I could I could see the old old style wooden barns uh you know probably at the time this language was drafted uh when those barns were still kind of uh you know popular or still sort of in their in their sun setting days uh from from
022switching over to the newer style barns. I don't think it would be uncommon for a 50 foot barn. Carol, you have to measure your barn. I know. I'm just sitting here thinking even my new one. I know it's 15 feet up past the doors and then I've got the the I'll bet you it's close. The old ones they were big. Yeah. And then I'm thinking of all the bigger old ones on Oakwood Road. Ask the building official if that's unusual or if it's coming. Not at this point. I'm going to do a little I'm going to go visit Sherry and do some research on my own. So, and I want to labor this discussion. So, I'll make a motion that we move this uh to public hearing. Okay. I think I second it. I'll second
023it. Okay. Do roll call. Jenny, yes. Mark Smith. Yes. Linda, yes. Yep. Okay, let's those four will be moved on to the public hearing. Now we have the discussion information that we don't have anything. No. So, what what my intent was for this evening was to do sort of a workshop with you, okay? To get your I was going to bring my my big white boards and markers and walk through some alternatives with you. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do that this evening. So, I will have a draft uh form for you for next month uh to to uh in fact I'm I'm hoping I'm going over it with my staff tomorrow. Uh I'm hoping to have it to you uh by by middle of next week so you have some time to look through
024it as well and make your uh your your comments for what we are considering smallcale uh solar which is that solar we brought up or discussed briefly at your last planning commission meeting that applies only to utility that serves the site that the principal So that would be residential. So uh solar, commercial and industrial solar as as far as roof roof mounted um is not being sold to the larger utility system. It's only for the purposes of offsetting energy needs for the principal site. Um so I will be going over that draft with my uh staff tomorrow and and we'll be getting that out to you. But again, I wanted my intent was to do a little bit of a workshop with you this evening to walk through some examples of yard placement, setbacks, height,
025uh you know, distance from uh you know, the principal structure or that would be good. Yeah. So, that that'll be that'll be into your next meeting and and you'll have a draft in front of you to look at and and we'll be able to walk through that exercise. I just unfortunately given the circumstances this evening I'm not able to do that with you. Okay. I can make a motion that we table item 2e support. Okay. I think we just do voice here. I I I pass no naz. That brings us to the pocket parks. This is under review uh still um as well as any potential changes to to the private road article. Um we are we are working on a few additional items with this with the township attorney on on a few things
026and so I wanted to keep you updated. We're still moving on it and uh we should uh be close to being done with our review on this and getting it in front of you uh to to make changes to or to support uh and authorized for public hearing. So there's really nothing I think we have to do on that one. So I think we're all caught up with you. I believe so. So, thank you for your calling in on this. I know this is a bad time for you. You know what? It's a good break of of the day for everything else that's going on today. So, I appreciate you uh allowing me to do this and I'm happy to be here. Thank you. Thank you, Justin. You're welcome. Thank you. Okay. Well, there is
027no public forum. Good night. U commissioner's report done. We have that either unless Linda from trustees but so that means motion to adjurnn. I'll second that one. Anybody uh object? We all say I. All are okay.