VBT Planners will hold public walk-through on new Lake Ordinance

The Van Buren Township Planning Commission is planning a walk-through, informal public hearing with lots of graphics, aerial photos, and presentations on the 23 pages of proposed amendments to the lake ordinance.
The date for such a meeting was not immediately set.
At the commission’s regular meeting Sept. 23, planning consultant Sally Hodges of McKenna Associates, said the ordinance changes do need a formal public hearing before sending it on to the township board for action.
But, before a formal hearing that often becomes confrontational, she recommends a presentation so people can ask questions about their personal property and get answers they need. She said that way more people will understand what they are trying to do.
“What she’s suggesting, our department is behind,” said Matthew Best, deputy director of the department of planning and economic development. He suggested multiple days to educate the public.
“It will improve the chances of success,” Hodges said.
The township has been working on a lake ordinance for at least five years after a court directed the township to have consistent and clear standards for township approvals.
Also the township has to comply with requirements of VBT’s license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate the French Landing Dam.
The rules in the new ordinance are only for township-owned lake property – the township owned lake and the “gap land” shoreline between the lake and private property.
Commissioner Joan Franzoi said they have to make sure the people in the city of Belleville, who have property on the lake, are aware this impacts them.
Commissioner Bob McKenna said the township has been meeting with the BYC, elected officials of Belleville, and John Juriga (who lives in Belleville and pays VBT taxes).
He said Mayor Kerreen Conley said she felt confident she could sell the ordinance to Belleville residents.
McKenna said BYC is “a big shaker on the lake” and the township will invite specific people to explain what we’re trying to do.
Best said they should contact people on the lake and township Treasurer Sharry Budd, who sits on the planning commission, said they have a way of getting all the addresses on the lake to send them notices.
Hodges said everyone will be sent a notice for the formal public hearing, but there is no need to send individual notices for a walk through.
She asked Best to come up with some proposed dates for such a session. McKenna said he’d like to see it all done by Christmas.
The commissioners went over the most recent updates to the draft ordinance, asking questions and making comments.
In other business at the Sept. 223 meeting, the planning commission:
• Voted unanimously to recommend to the township board the rezoning of two parcels at the northeast corner of Quirk Road and the North I-94 Service Drive from R-1B to C-2 (extensive highway business) with conditions, subject to a review of the township attorney. When the commission had concerns about a drive from the site onto the residential Quirk Road, Remy Hanna made the request for a conditional rezoning with the agreement that, after construction, there will be no entrance/exit onto Quirk Road without coming back to the township for approval or denial. In exchange the township allows Hanna to add an additional 5 feet to his hotel to allow him to build with a peaked roof. The township ordinance limits the height to 40 feet and this will be 45 feet;
• Approved the proposed amendment to neighboring Canton Township’s master plan changing the use of two areas that do not abut VBT. The Michigan Planning Enabling Act requires that a proposed master plan amendment be distributed to the planning commission of an adjacent municipality.