Bridgeport Township Planning Commission Meeting June 27th, 2019

I did not attend this meeting but felt there was information in the meeting minutes that would be of interest to Bridgeport Township residents.

The meeting minutes:

I. Call to Order & Pledge to the U.S. Flag
Chairman Tate called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and lead the Pledge to the U.S. Flag.

II. Roll Call and Recognition of Visitors
Planning & Zoning Administrator Sedlar took roll call.

Present: DeSander, Moore, Hurd, Placher, Thayer, Tate.

Absent: Culpepper, Smith, Williams.

Also present: Planning & Zoning Administrator Sedlar and 5 people in the audience. 

III. Approval of Proposed Agenda
Motion by DeSander, supported by Placher, to approve the agenda as presented.

6- yes 0-no 3- absent
MOTION CARRIED. 

IV. Approval of Minutes- April 25, 2019 Regular Meeting
Motion by Thayer, supported by Hurd, to approve the minutes from the April 25, 2019 Regular Meeting as presented.

6- yes 0-no 3- absent
MOTION CARRIED.

V. Special Orders & Scheduled Public Hearing
a. Rezone Request RZ19-02: Junction Road, Parcel #09-11-5-25-1002-003 & 09-11-5-25-1002-001. Request rezoning on both parcels from RA- Residential Agriculture to C-2 Community Center District.

Motion by DeSander, supported by Moore, to open the public hearing at 6:04pm.

Chairman Tate asked if there was anyone that wished to speak regarding the request. 

Bruce Caliman- 6505 Junction Road: stated that he isn’t aware of what the request is all about. The farmer that owns property next to him is against it. He is concerned with traffic and if the use will require more policing. He is worried about the safety of kids if speeding becomes an issue.

Motion by DeSander, supported by Hurd, to close the public hearing at 6:09pm. 

VI. Public Comments- NONE 

VII. Correspondence & Communications 

VIII. New Business
a. Small Wireless Communications Facilities Deployment Act- Summary
Planning & Zoning Administrator Sedlar said that there is a new act on the books that is something that the township would like to be proactive and ready for and she has contacted Doug Piggott from Rowe Professional Services to help explain and draft an ordinance for it. She asked Mr. Piggott to give a brief overview of the act and its intent.

Mr. Piggott said that about 2/3 of the act doesn’t pertain to Bridgeport Township. He explained that a lot of the act will deal with the County Road Commission as the majority of things will occur in the road right of way. However, there is a portion that could fall on individuals’ properties, in which a zoning ordinance would probably need to be in place. Potentially, there is the possibility that Bridgeport would have two separate ordinances- a police power ordinance and a zoning ordinance. 

IX. Committee Reports- NONE 

X. Old Business 

a. Rezone Request RZ19-02: Junction Road, Parcel #09-11-5-25-1002-003 & 09-11-5-25-1002-001.

Planning & Zoning Administrator Sedlar read her staff report.

Moore inquired about parking. Planning & Zoning Administrator Sedlar said that a parking area could be requested at Planning Commission but as of now, the building shares a parking lot with the church. She also mentioned that anything that goes into that building will have to come before the Planning Commission for a Site Plan Review.

Discussion was held.

Motion by Moore, supported by DeSander, to approve rezone request RZ19-02 from RAResidential Agriculture to C-2 Community Center District. 

Roll call vote was taken.

Placher- yes; Culpepper- absent; Smith- absent; DeSander- yes; Moore- yes; Thayer- yes; Williams- absent; Hurd- yes; Tate- yes.

6- yes 0-no 3- absent
MOTION CARRIED. 

b. Alternative Energy Ordinance (Wind & Solar)
Mr. Piggott said he received both the former wind energy ordinance and the proposed solar energy ordinance from Planning & Zoning Administrator Sedlar and reviewed them. He went through some of the things that needed updating due to new laws and technology that may not have been in place when they were both written. He went through each section, making suggestions of items for Bridgeport Township. 

c. Small Wireless Communications Facilities Deployment Act Ordinance
Mr. Piggott explained more about the new act, and went through a number of items that should be mentioned in the ordinance. He asked Planning & Zoning Administrator Sedlar if the township will request both types of ordinance. She said yes, but would double check with management. After discussion, Mr. Piggott said he would draft an ordinance for each type. 

XI. Comments
a. Planning Commissioners
b. Township Board Representative
c. Planning & Zoning Staff 

XII. Adjournment
Motion by Moore, supported by Placher, to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 pm.

6- yes 0-no 3- absent
MOTION CARRIED.

Respectfully submitted: June 28, 2019

Jamie Sedlar - Recording Secretary
Paul DeSander, Secretary

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The rezoning request is for two parcels on Junction Road that are owned by Harold Wininger.  They are located next to the Cornerstone  Assembly Of God church, and one of the parcels contains the big pole barn type building. The two parcels look to be a little over 17 acres total.  They will be rezoned from RA- Residential Agriculture to C-2 Community Center District. I have no idea what future plans Mr. Wininger has for this property and there is no indication in the minutes as to his intention.

The C-2 district description is:

"This district is designed to provide and encourage the use of land for office uses and business uses that may serve  the  needs  of  this  commercial  area,  as  well  as provide space for larger commercial developments that serve the needs of the Township as a   whole.   This   may   include   limited   and   properly designed  higher  density  residential  uses  and  higher intensity commercial uses" 

The other item that caught my attention is the "Small Wireless Communications Facilities Deployment Act Ordinance".  I had no idea what that was so I went searching.  Quick summary is this is about small cell towers and 5G networks.  

Here are 2 articles about the act that was passed by the Michigan legislature and signed by Governor Snyder in December 2018.

Townships Got Run Over By Wireless Providers: Small Cell Towers Are Coming to Townships

Michigan Small Wireless Communications Facilities Deployment Act Signed Into Law and FCC Small Cell Order Becomes Effective Soon

Bridgeport Planning Commission Meeting July 28th, 2014

There were only several items discussed at this months meeting, but it is still a very informative meeting.  I learn something new every time I attend most of our township meetings.  I wish more residents would attend these meetings.
Under New Business:
1.  Parking lot time extension request for Abundance Grace Ministries starts at 3:20 in the video.
2.  Site Plan Review for Dixieland Properties, AKA Bridgeport Mini Storage, starts at 20:50 in the video.
Under Old Business:
1.  Master Plan Update discussion starts at 40:05 in the video.
You can view the Master Plan on the Bridgeport Township website - Bridgeport Township Master Plan Draft 2014


The next Planning commission Meeting will be held October 27th, 2014 at 7pm

Bridgeport Planning Commission Meeting April 28th, 2014

This was my first time attending a planning commission meeting and I really had no idea of what to expect.  I had no idea what they involve or who the members are, but I was impressed with what I saw, impressed with the members; especially Mrs. Culpepper - You Go Girl!

The main focus of this meeting was to listen to Mr. Bewley and his ideas for development of his 60 acres of property here in our downtown area, his property is the former Bridgeport Country Club and Golf Course.

We could use some bigger development to keep this community alive and growing.  A Cabela's store right alongside I-75 would be very nice, but again I don't want to ever see us turn into another Birch Run with their traffic and crime.  The Dixie Highway from I-75 to Junction Rd. would be a good place for this kind of development that could also capitalize on our proximity to Frankenmuth.  The problem is these are hard times and the future is uncertain.  We are dealing with a declining population in our township, declining incomes.  I can understand Mr. Bewley wanting to development his property but since I live just down the road from this property, I would be very wary of what kind of development goes on this property. Something does need to be done with the property, it needs to be cleaned up.  The downtown area of Bridgeport is a nice residential area and a nice quaint small town and  I would like to see it stay this way.

There are two things that were mentioned at this meeting by Mr. Bewley that don't sit well with me.
The first is the future of our  Bridgeport High School.  There are decisions that need to be made at some point in the future as to the Bridgeport High School property and the future of our school system.  I hope those decisions will be based on what is best for our students and our school system, and not on the fact that the high school is setting on "prime" real estate and any dreams of future development.  Part of my concern involving the high school is also any future development of Mr. Bewleys property that is right by the high school.  Is that kind of development and the traffic it would bring a good idea to have that close to the school.  We have all the school buses that come and go from this area, the student drivers, students that walk to and from school, and also all the after school events like football games, track events, etc..   Development and the traffic it would bring could be a major headache and possibly dangerous to have that close to the school.
The second item Mr. Bewley discussed that bothers me is his hopes to bring a Cabela's store here to Bridgeport.  I agree having a Cabela's store by I-75 would be nice, but it is the selling point that Mr. Bewley is using to try and sell the Bridgeport location to Cabela's headquarters.  That point is that locating a store here would "destroy" Jay's Sporting Goods located in Clare.  Bringing in a nationwide chain so they can destroy a small family based Michigan business is not the kind of values that I share.  Nationwide chains come and go, they base their decisions on what is good for their profit, not the communities that they locate into.  They come in like a tornado and go out like one, they leave empty buildings in their wake.  Just take a look at Saginaw Township to see how these nationwide companies come and go.  Nationwide chains will never give you the kind of customer service that a company like Jay's will.  Jay's Sporting Goods started in 1971 and I hope they will be here for many more years.
I will have faith that Bridgeport Township will never base their development plans on the kind of values that would destroy a local business just to bring in profits and tax revenue.