Minutes of the work session of the Georgetown Township Planning Commission held Wednesday, December 1, 2004

 

The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Jansma at 7:30 p.m.

 

Present:            Jansma, South, DeGood, Huizinga, Stasiak, Poskey

Absent: Honderd

 

The work session, which formulated the agenda for December 15, 2004, included the following items to be placed on the agenda, discussion, and action:

 

I.                    Approval of agenda

 

II.                 Approval of minutes of the November 17, 2004 regular meeting and the December 1, 2004 work session meeting

 

III.               Unfinished Business

 

A.     Preliminary Plat of Cedar Lake Estates No. 11

 

No new information was available and no one was present to represent the applicant.  The request was left tabled.

 

IV.       New Business

A.                 Site Plans-none

a.         (ST0410) Hudsonville Public School-3909 Baldwin

 

Schools are under the jurisdiction of the State Superintendent of Public Schools.  However, Hudsonville Public School has asked for a courtesy review for the new proposed elementary school proposed to be located at the site of the Hudsonville Middle School.

 

B.         Public Hearings

1.                  Special Use Permits-none

 

                              2.         Rezonings-none

 

3.         Plats-none

 

4          PUD’s-none

 

5.         Ordinance Amendments

 

The following proposed ordinance changes were discussed.  The proposals for the sign ordinance include bringing the ordinance into compliance with the extra distances required for setbacks on the streets listed in Chapter 24, footnote b.

 

The Township Supervisor, Bill Holland, addressed the Planning Commission and asked the members to consider reviewing a new sign ordinance that he would like to see adopted.  He said that the ordinance that was created required that a sign permit be obtained for signs such as for garage sales, however, a majority of the people does not get permits and those that respect property do pick up their signs.  He said that he would like to see the ordinance changed with the idea that instead of requiring a permit with a fee, a date would be put on the sign and a citation be issued if the sign is not picked up within 7 to 10 days.  He said that it would provide a control that would penalize those who leave the signs and there would be no problem with those that pick up their signs.  He said that Allendale adopted a similar ordinance.  He said that while he was campaigning he found out that this is a controversial issue and that a large percentage of the residents would like to see this issue corrected by pinpointing the violators.  He said that no signs could be placed on utility poles.  He said that a quarterly newsletter could be published with information regarding signs and he could go on WCET explaining the issues that signs could not be placed on utility poles and not in road right-of-way.  He said that people would have to get permission from a property owner prior to placing a sign in someone else’s yard.  He said that by handling signs this way, the 99% would be let alone and we could get the 1% who leaves their signs.

 

There was discussion regarding controlling the number of signs, whether this would cut down on signs and that a date and address should be put on the signs.  It was noted that the Code Enforcement Officer would pick up those signs in the road right-of-way, on utility poles and without addresses and dates, as well as those that have expired after the date listed.

 

There was discussion about the definition of decks.  The best one appeared to be: a deck shall mean a horizontal, unenclosed platform with or without attached railings, seats, trellises, or other features, attached or functionally related to a principal use or site and at any point extending above ground level.

 

Direction was given that ordinances from other communities are investigated and a report be given to the Planning Commissioners at the next meeting.

 

Sec. 25.6       SIGNS PERMITTED. 

Signs are permitted according to the District in which they are located or intended to be located.  Certain types of signs are permitted in certain Districts according to the following regulations:

(A)       Residential Districts. The following types of signs are permitted:

            (1)        IDENTIFICATION SIGN, one per dwelling unit not exceeding two (2) square feet in area.

            (2)        TEMPORARY SIGN, one (1) per lot. A temporary sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area; shall be set back from any right-of-way or distance as required in Chapter 24(b) at least fifteen (15) feet; and shall be removed from view during periods when the use or activity to which it relates is no longer operating or in season.

            (3)        INSTITUTIONAL BULLETIN BOARD, one per public or semi-public institution site, located on-site, not exceeding seventy-five (75) square feet in area per side (revised 6-25-2001) and set back at least twenty-five (25) feet from all property and right-of-way (revised 1-24-2000) lines or distance as required in Chapter 24(b).  The sign shall be mounted directly on the ground and its height shall not exceed six (6) feet above mean grade.

            (4)        ON-SITE SIGN, for principal uses other than dwellings, not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area.  Such sign may be a wall sign or a freestanding sign, not located nearer to the front lot line than one-half (1/2) the required front yard setback nor located in the required side yard.  No freestanding sign shall exceed a height of twenty-five (25) feet nor have a clear space of less than eight (8) feet from the ground to the bottom of the sign.  (revised 7/25/95)

            (5)        PLAT ENTRY SIGNS, two per road entrance to a subdivision, mobile home park, or multiple-family development, continuously and properly maintained; not exceeding a total of sixty-four (64) square feet in area nor three (3) feet in height and set back at least ten (10) feet from any property line or right-of-way line or distance as required in Chapter 24(b).

(6)        PORTABLE SIGN, one (1) portable sign per parcel, not exceeding thirty-

two (32) square feet in area per sign and set back at least ten (10) feet from

the road right-of-way line or distance as required in Chapter 24(b).  No

electrical cord attached to the sign shall extend more than six (6) feet from

the power source to the sign.  Such sign shall not be displayed for more than

seven (7) consecutive days and shall not be permitted more than six (6) such

display periods during the calendar year.  A separate permit and fee shall be

required for each display period and the permit sticker shall be affixed to the

sign for the entire display period.

            (7)        CONSTRUCTION SIGN, one per site, not larger than 32 square feet in area

per side, and to not exceed eight (8) feet in height, and set back at least 15 feet from the road right of way or the additional distances from which a setback is determined as listed in Chapter 24 footnote (b).  Such sign shall not be erected until a building permit has been issued for the project which is the subject of the proposed sign and construction activity has begun.  The sign shall be removed immediately upon the issuance of an Occupancy Permit for the building or structure which is the subject of the construction sign. (revised 6-25-2001)

(B)       Neighborhood, Community and Office Service Districts. The following types of signs are permitted:

            (1)        Same as for Single and Two Family Districts, except as other­wise stated in this Section, excluding on-site signs.

            (2)        FREESTANDING SIGN, one (1) freestanding sign per business or business center, as applicable.  Such sign if mounted on a pole shall not extend over the road right-of-way nor shall it extend over the distance from which a required setback shall be measured as required in Chapter 24(b) from a point 50 feet from the centerline of the street if the street is listed in Sec. 24(b)i or a point 60 feet from the centerline of the street if the street is listed in Sec. 24(b)ii, and shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in height nor seventy-five (75) square feet in area per side, provided a business center sign may be permitted up to one hundred (100) square feet in area per side.  Such sign shall have a clear space of at least eight (8) feet from the ground to the bottom of the sign.  If mounted on the ground, such sign shall not exceed four (4) feet in height as measured from the mean grade nor fifty (50) square feet per side, provided that such sign shall be set back from the road right-of-way and the distance from which a required setback shall be measured as required in Chapter 24(b) from a point 50 feet from the centerline of the street if the street is listed in Sec. 24(b)i or a point 60 feet from the centerline of the street if the street is listed in Sec. 24(b)ii a minimum distance of fifteen (15) feet  and shall not, as determined by the Zoning Administra­tor, obstruct the view of traffic entering or traveling upon the street. (revised 7/25/95) (revised 5-29-01)

            (3)        WALL SIGN, one (1) wall sign per business subject to the following restric­tions:

                        a.         The sign shall be placed flat against the building and shall front on the principal street.

                        b.         Such sign shall not exceed one and one-half (1-1/2) square feet for each one (1) lineal foot of wall frontage on which the sign is to be placed or two hundred (200) square feet whichever is less.

                        c.         Businesses which have wall frontage on more than one (1) street shall be permitted to have one (1) wall sign per street frontage, subject to the size limita­tion contained in paragraph b, above.

(C)       Highway Service and Industrial Districts. No signs shall be located nearer the front lot line or side lot line than one-half (1/2) times the required yard setback.  The following types of signs are permitted:

            (1)        Same as for Neighborhood or Community Service Districts.

            (2)        BILLBOARDS, where the erection or maintenance of the same will not unreasonably affect the proper use of adjoining property, billboards will be allowed in (HS) Highway Service and (I) Industrial Zones.  They shall be located at least 200 feet from a freeway right-of-way line or distance as required in Chapter 24(b), and 100 feet from any other street or railroad right-of-way line.  A billboard shall not be located closer than one mile (5,280 feet) from another billboard on either side of a public right-of-way.  This spacing standard shall be applicable regardless of what governmental jurisdiction other billboards may be located in.

                        a.         Billboards­­ shall not be located closer than 500 feet from a parcel or lot zoned for residential purposes.

                        b.         Billboards shall not be located closer than 30 feet to any building.

                        c.         Billboards shall not be located closer than 100 feet from any other freestanding sign.

                        d.         Billboards shall not be erected directly above any building.

                        e.         More than one billboard at one location shall not be permitted.

                        f.          Billboards shall use only one pole for support.

                        g.         Billboards shall not exceed 300 square feet in size, and shall not exceed a height of 35 feet.

                        h.         Billboards shall be finished on both sides, but sign content shall only be permitted on the side of the sign which faces oncoming traffic on the closest traffic lane.

                        i.          Billboards shall not be illuminated.

                        j.          Billboard displays using movable parts or having the appearance of movement shall be prohibited.

 

(o)        Projections Into Yards. Architectural features, as defined, not including vertical projections, may extend or project into a required side yard not more than two (2) inches for each one (1) foot of width of such side yard and may extend or project into a required front yard or rear yard not more than three (3) feet. An open porch, paved patio, deck or terrace may project into a required front or rear yard for a distance not to exceed twelve (12) feet.

 

3.4(E)(7)          The maximum floor area of all accessory buildings, excluding attached

garages, for non-residential uses in the following districts shall be one thousand two hundred (1200) square feet for two (2) to five (5) acre parcels and one thousand five hundred (1500) for more than five (5) acres.

a.                   LDR

b.                  LMR

c.                   MDR

d.                  MHR

 

The planner noted that Sec. 3.4(E)(2) should be amended to reflect the change in Sec. 3.4(E)(7).

 

Direction was given that staff reviews the ordinance amendments and compare other municipalities and return with a report.

 

V.                 Other Business

 

VI.       Commissioner Comments

VII.      Staff Comments

VIII.         Adjourn

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.