At its regular meeting on Jan. 12 the Belleville Planning Commission approved, by a 6-1 vote, some changes to the city’s zoning ordinance dealing with storage of recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers on private property within the city.
Commissioner Michael Hawkins voted no to the changes, while John Juriga, Jesse Marcotte, Jason Rodriguez, Matt Wagner, Mike Renaud, and Steve Jones voted in favor.
Hawkins, who personally had prior issues with the city regarding storage, brought up concerns during the ordinance review process. He did not say whether his concerns have been completely resolved.
The commission addressed the concerns the city had with the ordinance that limits the proportions of these vehicles and trailers and where on the property that they can be stored in relation to front and backyard setbacks. New language along with better new screening definitions have also been added
Under the changes recommended by the planning commission, no longer would an applicant need to come before the commission for special-use approval before taking the planning commission’s decision to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals. Special approvals will remain as a requirement but they would solely go to the ZBA.
A recreational vehicle may be stored as a variance from the ZBA, subject to satisfying certain conditions.
Using permanent or temporary privacy fencing language was removed. Screening shall now include natural materials along with evergreen trees and bushes.
Neighbors on parcels adjacent to an applicant shall be notified and given opportunity to appear at the ZBA variance hearing. Old language provided notice that an applicant was to appear before the planning commission first.
Steve Jakubik, who spoke during the public comment portion of the agenda, said the ordinance doesn’t work and believes the commission should re-write it.
A High Street resident with the lake as his back yard, Jakubik still has storage issues on his property and was advised to meet with City DPS Director Keith Boc and get something in writing to address them. Jakubik’s boat on its trailer exceeds the length permitted by ordinance by just a few feet.
The proposed ordinance change now will be sent to the Belleville City Council for consideration.
In other business, the commission received a copy of the city’s proposed new sign ordinance, prepared by a committee of three over an 18-month span and presented to the city council in November. The council sent it on to the planning commission for review.
Commission members will study the language prior to their next meeting on Feb. 9.
The commission also was to ask the Belleville Downtown Development Authority to help form a subcommittee to outline a course of action for the city to take in revising the general ordinance for signage.
The city and the planning commission years ago put together a list of non-conforming signs within the city and letters were sent to notify the property owners. The letters were an attempt to take a step in ordinance enforcement.