Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Revision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission reviews McKenna zoning outline, focuses on definitions, setbacks and site‑plan contingencies
Summary
The commission reviewed McKenna Planning Group LLC's Task 2 analysis and annotated outline Oct. 3, pressing for clearer definitions (adult care, funeral uses), sign dimensions, storage rules, and proposed setback recommendations; attorney located a Michigan Supreme Court ruling supporting a proposed prohibitory statement for the ordinance.
The Village of Stockbridge Planning Commission spent much of its Oct. 3 meeting reviewing Task 2 of McKenna Planning Group LLC's zoning analysis and annotated outline, focusing on language, definitions and review responsibilities rather than voting on ordinance changes.
Maya Baker, the McKenna consultant, said she would next provide a side‑by‑side draft showing the current zoning text next to proposed replacement language. Commissioners pressed for clearer definitions distinguishing uses such as adult care versus foster care and funeral home versus funeral establishment; Maya said she would provide proposed definitions.
Commissioner Daryl Anderson asked that the ordinance include explicit prohibitory language — "If it's not permitted it is prohibited" — and Attorney John Gormley said he had located a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that supports that approach. Anderson also suggested recommended setback dimensions (30 feet front, 5 feet side, 15 feet rear) to help address buildability on small lots; Maya asked for a formal recommendation on setbacks that she could incorporate into the draft.
The commission discussed enforcement and the ability to condition site‑plan approval on engineering approvals. Attorney Gormley and Ms. Baker said site‑plan approvals can be conditioned on village engineer signoff of sanitary sewer and water distribution systems; staff proposed splitting approval responsibilities among the zoning administrator, engineering and building departments and the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Daryl Anderson flagged missing sign dimension language (Article 6-234) and a storage facility section (Article 7, sec. 6-158) that need clarification. Commissioners agreed to review draft ordinance changes section‑by‑section and scheduled a joint meeting with the Village Council for Oct. 28, 2024, noting the six‑year capital outlay plan discussed by the auditor was not started at this meeting. Anderson also said a site‑plan review for Dogs Help LLC will be on a future agenda.
No ordinance changes or formal votes were taken at the Oct. 3 meeting; the discussion was preparatory, with McKenna directed to supply revisions and definitions for further review.
