Saline Township Planning Commission
Working Meeting, July 28, 2006

Members Present:
Richard Zahn, Neil Bohnett, Trudy Feldkamp, Keith Girbach, Laurie Leinbach, Denny Zink

Members Absent:
Chuck Rankin

Others Present:
Don Pennington, Rodney Nanney, Dan Cabage, Alan Block, approximately 6 others

Meeting was called to order by Chairman Zahn at 7:35 pm.

Roll was taken; six members present; quorum established.

Introduction by Don Pennington, General Land Use Plan ("Plan") update process

Positive aspects of Saline Township include:

rural	low traffic
viable farming community	quality schools
low density of population	close to urban areas
wildlife	economic/regional growth
quiet	rural residential
space	families in township long time
lower cost acreage	history
scenic	natural features
scenic vistas

Threats:

loss of quiet atmosphere	increased development
available land for development	increased taxes
losing quality of river/wetlands	possible annexation
increased traffic from neighboring areas	loss of quality schools
loss of rural character	increase need of public services
growth too fast

Don will take these and categorize them with text. He will also compile a list of major issues to be dealt with.

According to state statute, the Plan needs to be updated every five years. We need to send a letter of intent to surrounding municipalities and townships. The Board also needs to authorize sending revisions, comments received, etc., from surrounding areas, then, conduct a public hearing. If the Board wants to approve the Plan, they need to pass a resolution to take this authority. Then the Planning Commission submits a recommendation to the Board for approval


Presentation by Rodney Nanney.
Distribution of various documents.

Zoning Ordinance Information document. Includes key updates with new act. Recommend adding graphics where needed/useful. Make ordinance user-friendly. On page 2, sample table. Recommendations to strengthen A-1 zoning, and other suggestions.

Page 4, item 6 - item for discussion.

Page 6 - items of policy that need to be discussed. Will look at updating PUD section. Sign ordinance to be up to date and strengthened.

Page 8 - Adult Entertainment needs to be added.

Other items to consider will also be presented. Water/drainage needs to be considered/added. Also, dumping.

For next meeting, Don will have a preliminary document. Intent is to update. Will be electronically. York Township will soon have a sewer ordinance that we can review.

Schedule:
Township Board meets August 14, 7:30 pm
Planning Commission meets August 16, 7:30 pm
Workshop meeting, August 24, 7:30 pm.

Presentation by Dan Cabage, gravel pits.
There is some crossover with engineering. Discussion about including township standards in ordinance.

Adjourned, 8:40 pm.

Trudy Feldkamp
Saline Township Planning Commission, Secretary