Present:  Laurence Harvilchuck, Jen Gregory, Tom Swan, Jon Norton, Peg Miller, Steve Whitmore, Tony Trecoske, Brian Gardner, Jerry Derham, Sandy Payne, Kate Bouman, Francis Fruehan.
Absent:  Bryan Young, Bud Sodon, Terry Dugan

The Silver Lake Township Planning Commission and Ad Hoc Committee met for a work session on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at the Silver Lake Township Building.  Laurence Harvilchuck called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.

Mr. Harvilchuck had emailed out land use survey to members of the committee and would compile the results and file them at the township office in the event any resident would like to take a look at the results.  The results will also be posted on the website. 

At the last meeting there were comments that it may be more fitting to have several ordinances covering various aspects within the township instead of a zoning ordinance.  These ordinances would still need to be enforced and it would need to be decided who is going to police these ordinances.  Everyone has a right to enjoy their property to the point that it doesn’t infringe on their neighbors rights to enjoy their property as well.  Zoning and the Sub-division and Land Development Ordinance work together.  Zoning is the only source that would give restrictions on use.  One advantage to zoning with the NTC is that you have to allow all uses somewhere within the co-op and not in each member township.  It was pointed out that if all the other membership townships approve the proposed zoning ordinance and Silver Lake does not then all the uses that cannot go in other areas can come into Silver Lake.  There will be no way to stop anything.  No other ordinance can specify what kind of business can or cannot come into the township. 

There was discussion that the gas wells will bring a lot of change to the township.  

The Sub-division and Land Development Ordinance will be carefully looked and necessary changes made so see what can’t this ordinance do that zoning or some other type of ordinance can.   

Zoning definitions were reviewed.  It was pointed out that there is no definition for “nursing homes” in the current proposed ordinance.   

For next meeting, Mr. Harvilchuck would like everyone to come with a list of potential ordinances based on the land-use survey.

There is a big concern regarding the length of an ordinance.  Mr. Harvilchuck recommended putting together the anatomy of an ordinance.  There are certain items that are required to go into every ordinance.  Title, a statement saying why the ordinance is being passed, how it applies to the area, effectiveness, definitions, how it will be enforced.

It was pointed out that if the majority of the NTC members do not adopt zoning then other avenues will need to be researched.

A few changes were made to the proposed zoning ordinance.

Homework for the next meeting is to read Chapter  IV (District Regulations).  This section will probably require 3 or 4 meetings.