Sumpter Planners delay construction of FMAR kennels; grant at risk

Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue were planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September to celebrate the addition of 22 new kennels so the no-kill rescue group could double its capacity and save more dogs.
Petco had approved a $56,000 grant that would pay for half of the project.
Pete LaFramboise said that the space would be very welcome, since Sumpter Township wants FMAR to be its holding facility to house strays for the seven days required by law. LaFramboise said FMAR would probably retain the township’s dogs that could be adopted rather than giving them back to the police for euthanization.
But at its regular meeting on Aug. 11, the Sumpter Township Planning Commission refused to consider final site plan approval for the 10’x120’ addition to the back of the kennel and tabled discussion.
Commission chairwoman Jane Stalmack told LaFramboise the commission needed a list of things before they could move forward. The list was prepared by planning consultant Matthew Lonnerstater of Carlisle Wortman Associates of Ann Arbor, who is the township’s zoning administrator.
Stalmack said they need building setbacks, new lighting information, and a professionally prepared building site plan, among other things, before they can move forward.
“I’ll have to have all of this before we can proceed,” Stalmack stated to LaFramboise. And, the three parcels in his six acres would have to be combined.
“At the time, they told me the hand-drawn would be fine,” LaFramboise said of the information he had submitted.
“Who said that?” challenged Lonnerstater and LaFramboise replied, “Everyone in the building department. I guess they want me to build more kennels.”
He said he cut out 10’ from his building plan to deal with the setback Lonnerstater said he needed and the planner said he would have to go to the planning commission for the small addition to his dog kennel.
LaFramboise said FMAR has a grant for the project and, “If I don’t start building, we’ll lose it.”
After Stalmack gave him the list of things they had to have, saying, “I’ll have to have all this,” the usually affable LaFramboise left the meeting in angry frustration, replying, “I’ll have to see if I can proceed.”
“It’s obvious he’s not happy,” said Trustee Matt Oddy, who sits on the planning commission. When Lonnerstater said LaFramboise needed to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for his setback, Oddy reminded him LaFramboise had cut back his plans to satisfy that and eliminate a trip to the ZBA.
“The water line is just a line,” said chairwoman Stalmack in criticism of the site plan presented.
Oddy suggested cutting the project into two phases, since a project up to 900 square feet can be approved administratively under the zoning ordinance.
“If you want to beat around the bush a little,” Lonnerstater said, later saying that wouldn’t work under the ordinance.
“All you need is one sheet from an engineer,” Lonnerstater said.
“I’d like to see us talk to him,” Oddy said, saying he thought it was a dollar grant and could have two phases.
Lonnerstater said since it was extending a principle structure you can’t do phases.
“We have specific standards for kennels,” Lonnerstater said. “I’m not recommending denying, but postponing until the specifications can be met. I can’t
give a recommendation for approval.
“I’ll follow up with him,” Lonnerstater said.
When the Independent suggested the commission could be more helpful to a resident, Oddy said, “We can’t ignore what the text says.”
“He doesn’t have footage between buildings,” Stalmack said, still criticizing the site plan.
“He doesn’t want to spend the money,” Oddy said, referring to a professional site plan. “It may be an honorable use, but the proper information has not been provided.”
Toby Leis talked to the Independent the next day saying six weeks earlier he and LaFramboise met with township Supervisor John Morgan telling them of the plan and asking for help. Leis plans to do the plumbing for the project and has done other FMAR projects in the past, such as the cat building, which was brought to the township building department with a hand-drawn site plan.
Leis said they told Supervisor Morgan that they wanted to follow all the rules and have this be a safe project, but they asked him if he could help them move it forward as quickly as possible. Other communities put certain projects on a fast track, Leis said.
He said Supervisor Morgan told them he has no control over the planning commission.
Leis, too, is frustrated. He said he thinks Lonnerstater is delaying their project because he feels FMAR tried to go over his head.
Leis said he tried to get permits to start the project, but was told the township can’t issue permits until this is resolved. He said 99.9% of the project is underground plumbing for drains and vents.
Then, Leis said LaFramboise told him last week the township said he could do anything he wanted inside his building, so Leis could have started some of the work weeks earlier.
FMAR is working to get a professionally designed site plan.
In other business at the Aug. 11 meeting, the planning commission:
• Held a public hearing on proposed text amendments to the Medical Marijuana zoning ordinance relating to caregiver facilities within Agricultural, Residential, and Industrial zoning districts. Changes were suggested and so the amendments were tabled until the next meeting for consideration; and
• Discussed Lonnerstater’s proposed zoning text amendments to allow portable storage containers temporarily, one to a parcel. The commission wanted him to add provisions for permanent storage containers. Robert Vredenburg said people are buying rail containers and five freight boxes are “sitting back there on Willis Road.” The item was tabled for Lonnerstater to make changes. “This could open Pandora’s Box,” said Commissioner Borden.
Present at the Aug. 11 meeting were Commissioners: Bardell, Borden, Belinski, Cichewicz, Stalmack, Oddy, and Pokerwinski. Absent were Commissioners Clark and Sherwood.