VILLAGE OF NASHVILLE, MICHIGAN

      THE FRIENDLY VILLAGE 

est. 1869

Zoning Board and Planning Commission minutes are posted after they are approved by the council at the following meeting.

Only the current month will be posted here. For a copy of any past minutes please contact the Village office.

Nashville Zoning Board of Appeals

July 17, 2008 

Call to order at 7:05 PM.  Meeting called to order by Chairman, Ben Page.

Members in attendance:  Ben Page, Sue Aiken, , Ron Bracy

Absent:  Ron Ohler and Wayne Moore. There are two vacancies.

No audience in attendance.  There was not a quorum.

Without a quorum, no business could be conducted, so the minutes from the previous  meeting were not reviewed or reviewed and there was no agenda for approval.

Member Discussion:  Discussion about various topics related to the board and its members.  Discussion centered around fences and the results of the recent court action with regard to a recent citation.

There was also discussion about parking regulations and sidewalks and considerable discussion about various plants.

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 by the chairman and without a vote since there was no quorum.

Prepared and submitted by R. Bracy on 7-18-08.

Nashville Planning Commission

July 1, 2008

PUBLIC HEARING – No Hearing scheduled for this date.

ROLL CALL                   Ben Page _A_, Melissa Strotheide _A_, Orvin Moore _P_, Ron Ohler _A_, Patricia Branham _P_, Jim Dunham _A_, Ron Bracy _P__

Three present, four absent.  There is no quorum and no actions may be taken this evening.  This is an informational meeting only.

MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS  Review minutes from 6-3-08.  Minutes were reviewed but no action was taken because of a lack of a quorum.

COMMUNICATIONS  Responses to the village request for proposals for bids for a new Zoning Ordinance were received.  The proposal were opened and Mr. McManus is scheduled to discuss the Barry County Zoning Ordinance at this meeting.

BUSINESS

Review of plans for holding informational meeting for input into plans for new Zoning Ordinance vs. changing to Barry County ordinance.  Include information on requested proposals for Nashville’s Zoning Ordinance, responding to RFP.

This would entail eliminating Nashville’s ZBA and making Nashville’s Planning Commission an advisory commission for the Barry County Planning Commission.  There was considerable discussion with Mr. McManus.  He indicated that if Nashville is included within the Barry County ordinance, there would be a special Nashville Overlay Section that would allow for special considerations for the village and would allow the village to determine in advance which parts of the village would be placed under which zoning districts and regulations.  He anticipated up to nine months would be needed to complete the section for Nashville and to complete an Intergovernmental agreement if a favorable decision was made.

There was discussion of the legislation for zoning and the need to keep the zoning ordinance as simple as possible and still have it tight and legal enough to withstand challenges from outside influences.  The county has a more developed regulatory system with regard to zoning.

We, the village, would keep a local advisory Planning Commission to make recommendations for changes, if needed, with assistance from local citizens.  The local Planning Commission might meet only on a quarterly basis.  The Village of Nashville would not have it’s own Zoning Administrator or Zoning Board of Appeals, these functions would be handled by the county planning office.

There were proposals to provide service to complete a Local Zoning Ordinance from Nikki Lennox, Vilican & Lehman, McKenna and Williams & Works.  McKenna was the company that assisted with the recent Village of Nashville Master Plan.

No decisions were made about directions but it is anticipated that the next few meetings, and perhaps special meetings, will involve the citizens to assist in determining direction for the village regarding a Zoning Ordinance.

D.D.A. information update.  Presented by Orvin Moore.   Need to have private donations from persons in the village to show interest by the village since the Village of Nashville, as a governmental unit, cannot provide the money to show such interest.  Some money has been placed in an account ($100 -$200) by interested individuals and people can add to account.  Records will be kept by receipt, with the village office, so if DDA is not approved or "goes through" the money can be returned to the appropriate donors.  There is money available from the county, as a loan to the DDA, if there is village interest.  DDA information needs to be dispersed regarding the ‘fund' and that $1,000. is required from the village in order to show/prove commitment.  Village will have to hold hearings and determine the area of the DDA.   After Village commits, then Barry County donates up to $5,000.  Then RCD (Resource and Conservation Development) will donate to match village.

Volunteer Association to assist the village in the maintenance of property (both village and private) within the village.  Discuss parameters of such an association and plan for hearings for village input.  Discuss of actions, to date, with Volunteers for the Lakeview Cemetery.  The Cemetery Board would like to have us volunteer to help maintain cemetery.  Brooms, rakes, weed eaters perhaps have leadership groups from school, youth groups, volunteers in general.  Come to Village office to volunteer.  Organizations and churches can volunteer, as a group.

Presented by Ron Bracy.

Patti Branham asked some specifics about fences.  The Assembly of God has some issues with neighbors and will need to place a boundary fence between them.  This was discussed by Mr. Bracy and others.   What are the particulars with a Garage/vs. Shed.?  They have a shed that needs to be removed, repaired  or replaced.  Permit needed to build or remove a building, the question in this case is one of stability.   There was some discussion about handicap ramps.

INPUT   No further input.  There was a “Thank You” expressed to Mr. McManus for his input this evening.

ADJOURNMENT     There was not an official meeting for any action this evening.  The Informational Discussion was ended at 9:00 PM by the Chairman of the Planning Commission.

Presented by Ron Bracy and Patti Branham  06-09-08

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Last modified: 06/05/08