Minutes of the Georgetown Township Board/Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals Joint Planning Meeting held Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

1. Call to order by Supervisor Bill Holland

2. Introductions

3. Roundtable discussion consisted of the following questions and answers facilitated by Planning Commission Chairman Greg Honderd:

a. What is the vision for the future of the Township?

Quality of life, healthy, safe, controlled growth, continuing to grow, dreaming of future, lighthouse Township, stay Township, controlled planned development, consistency, orderly growth, well-thought out growth, proactive-not reactive, pursue goals that are reachable, continue to be a good place to live, keep ordinances and plan concise and clear, more landscaping, safety issues-snowmobiles and ATV’s, pedestrian areas, maintain and advance standard of quality of life, promote good things, family community, building elements that are good for families-churches, schools, ice arena, communicate to new people-ordinances, future generation come in, not home-grown, maintain standards, learn from neighboring areas, need to take care of aspects of area, learn from mistakes, road system to get in and out of Township, responsive to people and environment, keep taxes low, provide best services possible, beautification program, clean, working together, work on parks, develop park by river, additional bike paths that go someplace, not increase taxes,

b. What are the community needs?

Sidewalks on mile roads wider than in subdivision, get quality meal, alcohol by glass, more pedestrian walks, environment people want to come to and is safe, strength of school system, natural features inventory, identify environmental strengths, preserve natural features, traffic improvements, decel lanes, recreational areas, ways to get in and out of Township, asphalt for bike paths, alcohol by the glass causes problems, schools-competition, schools work together, good schools and low taxes bring people in, maintenance-free landscaping, struggle to work around trees, amenities not taken care of, sports fields-get clubs to care for them, safety and welfare of citizens, police and fire needs, library, water/sewer, manager/superintendent for community for point of stability and continuity, wholesome environment, focus on business community, lack of town center, not pretty entrances to community, make Township a destination.

c. What are the main goals of the Township government? What are the main goals and responsibilities of the Planning Commission? of the Board? of the ZBA?

ZBA-abide ordinance but have flexibility to see human side, maintain continuity, PC-ensure orderly development, tweaking rules when needed, PC-consistent with ordinances, ZBA-tied to standards, make exceptions based on standards, control and guide growth, consistent and fair, know laws, work together, Board-continue to keep decisions in the best interest of the whole Township, PC-in Master Plan, have seminar or training session, overview of PC-planning standpoint, consistent with Master Plan, Board different views or political, ZBA good job-provide relief, PC-good job businesses look, needs to address older businesses, no flashing lights, address existing when come in for site plan review, ZBA-consistent philosophy, apply precedents, continuity, maintain same people, previous knowledge, continue to be well prepared, communicate role to public, confined by ordinances, define community, Boards have ways to implement to address needs of community, seek goals, respond and implement, informed board members, presentation to community about ordinance, bring different backgrounds, keep boards diverse, PC look at private street ordinance and sidewalks, ZBA if vote no and think not right-send to board, mechanism to communicate, change ordinance to be receptive,

d. How can each work towards achieving these goals? How can each work towards helping the other boards and commission reach their goals?

Classes, meetings, representatives from each Board meet, put up stated goals at meetings, let everyone who wants to come be there, good for everyone to meet, work together better if get to know others, efficient if fewer people, ZBA would like to know Master Plan, smaller group come up with goals to bring to whole group, beginning beneficial for whole group to meet.

e. What are the major existing problems? What ways can communication be improved?

Communication, understanding roles, traffic, enforcement issues, enforcement issues are by complaints only, do not actively look for violations, older part-maintenance,

f. What can be done to address these problems? What can be done to prevent undesirable conditions from developing? Additional questions or comments.

Keep communicating, listen to citizens, inform residents, open communication and respect for different views, enforcement of ordinances, sensitivity, identify creative solutions, educating community, education, prevention, proactive, undesirable conditions taken care of by PC chairman, give greeting groups Township booklet, internet, strict to save trees and flexible with regulations, PUD’s

5. Summarization

6. Adjournment by 9:00 p.m.