A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 23rd day of January, 2012 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Julie Haar, Russ Niskanen, Larry Steidl and Lyle Hammerschmidt. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Niskanen at 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Steidl, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to approve the agenda with the additions of the daycare sign update and discussion of the fish house definition under Old Business. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Hammerschmidt, seconded by Haar, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 11/28/2011 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator’s Report: Zoning Administrator Oleson provided an update.
New Business: none
Old Business: Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that the town board had discussed the daycare sign issue at their last meeting and decided to allow it for the time being. Their decision was based upon two criteria: 1) the ground is frozen and therefore impractical to remove the sign; and 2) both the county and the township will be updating their sign ordinances in the near future and once that is accomplished, the sign may not be in violation.
Oleson presented a draft ordinance entitled “V. Keeping of Animals”. This ordinance amendment regulates small animals not otherwise regulated under the current ordinance as livestock or by the township’s small animal ordinance no. 117.
Under V.2. “Definitions”, the words “computing intensity” in the last line are to be rephrased. The commission also asked Oleson to determine whether the definition of “livestock” would include miniature horses, pygmy goats, potbelly pigs, etc.
Under V. 3(b), “Regulations”, the first line is to include language regarding a fenced area of up to 36 square feet that is attached to an accessory building. The commission also decided to exempt bees from this amendment and to create a separate ordinance for beekeeping. Oleson distributed copies of sample beekeeping ordinances for their review.
Under Section VII, “Definitions”, they requested that the words “intended for slaughter” be removed from the “Livestock” definition.
The definition for “Fish House and/or Dark House” was re-vamped at the November 28th meeting. Commissioner Hammerschmidt requested that it be clarified before final review.
Vice-Chairman Niskanen stated that he resigned from the planning commission due to his appointment to the town board. A new vice-chair will need to be voted upon at the next meeting.
Adjournment: Being no further business Steidl, seconded by Hammerschmidt, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2012
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Russell Niskanen, Vice-Chairman