ANN ARBOR CHARTER TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2001
6:00 P.M.

A special meeting of the Ann Arbor Township Planning Commission was called to order by
Vice Chair Norma Marshall at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Hall, 3792 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 at 6:00 p.m.

Present: Vice Chair Marshall, Secretary Jane Zimmerman, Commissioners Michael Moran, James Snyder, Dianne O'Connell. Also Supervisor Elizabeth Langford, Attorneys Sandra Sorini and Kurt Brauer. Absent: Chairman Herbert Sloan and Commissioner Kristine Olsson.

The special meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of action on the Wetland Use Permit, Natural Features Permit, Preliminary Site Plan and Conditional Use Permit for the Ave Maria International Golf Course.

Citizen Participation. K. Srinivasan spoke briefly on behalf of himself and his wife stating that they have demonstrated a significant basis for intervening in the applicant's conditional use permit application for the Ave Maria International Golf Course evaluation process as set forth in Sec. 5(1) of the Michigan Environmental Protection Act. He stated that he requested citizen participation time at the September 10, 2001 special commission meeting and there were four documents submitted by the applicant for the meeting that he did not have a chance to see. He stated that he submitted more than 40 letters to the Planning Commission, the Trustees and Gary Dresselhouse since February 7, 2001, and requested that all those letters be part of the record for the decision tonight and become part of the permanent record of the Township.

He referred to letters enclosed in the packages for the commission today and faxes to the Township's Attorney Kurt Brauer from his legal counsel Olson and Bzdak which he wanted to be a part of the record of the meeting and be reflected in the minutes. He also stated that hole No. 3 is not a totally defined and acceptable solution described and documented by the Planning Commission. In addition he stated that the final relocation of Hole No. 8 is illegal. He also referred to the copy of a letter dated June 27, 1990 from his attorney Jacob Fahrner which was submitted to the Planning Commission and also tabs S through X,Y,Z submitted by the applicants. He stated that the Planning Commission has not really satisfied the duties under the Michigan Environmental Protection Act.

Marshall stated that the business before the Commission is the continuation of the previous meeting held September 10, 2001 and asked the Commissioners how they would like to proceed. Moran stated that for those who did not receive the most recent set of conditions by e-mail, the changes appear in several places: it adds as a condition that incorporates Board approval of the Permits and the Preliminary Site Plan in three places. Brauer added that the water quality monitoring language was changed but there was no change in substance.

Zimmerman asked for clarification of the Condition D, on page 6, regarding the environmental stewardship program, e.g., who is to appoint the monitoring consultants and at whose expense.
Brauer responded that someone with professional qualifications must be responsible for looking at reports that will be generated by the advisory committee. Snyder stated he believed the reports would be submitted to the Natural Features Committee and that it would appoint whatever other members would be appropriate to aid in reviewing the reports. He did not think the applicant should be defining the advisory committee. O'Connell asked what the role of the consultants would be, who should select them and who will pay them. The Natural Features Committee is not qualified to judge turf grass management.

Marshall asked if Conditions A, B and C were acceptable since the discussion began with Condition D. (No immediate response) Moran went to Page 6, Condition P and stated that the intention was that there be no other residential use on the golf course other than the two houses at 4921 and 4951 Dixboro Road and that 4901 Dixboro Road is slated for demolition. He also pointed out that he does not believe there is an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Signature Program Bronze Level membership as listed in D. 1. Signature Program, Bronze Level is what it should read and what they have agreed to do is to become a part of the Sanctuary Program, which is a post construction program.

Hank Byma, representing the applicant, reviewed his list of conditions (which is appended to these minutes) as it compares to the Planning Commission draft with the applicant's suggested language changes in bold as follows:
1) Agree with Condition A with proposed language revision
2) Agree with Condition B with proposed language revision
3) Agree with Condition C with proposed revision
4) Applicant does not agree with Condition D as written
5) Agree with Condition E with proposed language revision
6) Agree with Condition F
7) Agree with Condition G
8) Agree with Condition H
9) Agree with Condition I
10) Agree with Condition J
11) Agree with condition K
12) Agree in principle with Condition L with proposed revision
13) Agree with condition M with proposed language revision
14) Agree with Condition N with proposed language revision
15) Agree with Condition O
16) Applicant disagrees with Condition P , finding it unnecessary
17) Agree in principle to Condition Q with proposed language revision
18) Agree in principle to Condition R with proposed language revision

Moran pointed out that it has been suggested by the applicant that several of the changes are final site plan issues and stated that there are reasons to consider them as a preliminary site plan issue.

The Board will be reviewing the Conditional Use Permit with the preliminary site plan in mind and there are not that many changes. Holes 6,10,14 by way of pre treatment basins and the landscape plan to hole 3, which is one of the most serious drawbacks of the site plan before the commission. The Township has a resident who is being surrounded by the golf course. He went on to say that in his view, the Board is unlikely to make a decision without knowing what is being done to screen the residence but if the intent is to make a recommendation tonight then the landscaping issue belongs on the preliminary site plan before it goes to board for their decision. It was also the intention of the Commission that the Turfgrass Management Plan will be approved by the outside consultants, not simply reviewed.

The Commission discussed the conditions in Section IV as follows:
A. stays the same
B and C changes will be incorporated into the preliminary site plan before Board submittal
D. will read as set forth in the attached Resolution
E. stays the same
F. stays the same
G. stays the same
H. stays the same
J. stays the same
I. stays the same
J. stays the same
K. stays the same
L. Seating capacity shall be limited to 150 or lesser number approved by Fire Chief
M. stays the same except defines local for golf course membership as 60 miles
N. Golf club may host up to two non-member sponsored tournaments per calendar year.
O. stays the same
P. Residential use is limited to the existing houses at 4930 Joy Road, 4951 Dixboro Road and 4931 Dixboro Road
Q. work stoppage is only in the area of endangered species
R. Add - consistent with MEDQ regulations.

Snyder moved to approve the modified resolution of conditions for approval of the Preliminary Site Plan and the Natural Features Permit and to recommend the approval of the Wetland Use Permit and the Conditional Use Permit. Zimmerman supported. The motion passed 4-1 with Moran opposed. The modified Resolution is attached to these minutes.

Public Comment. K. Srinivasan referred to his letter of September 17, 2001 with demand of a binding contract with the Township to a set of conditions as listed in one of three letter dated September 17, 2001 and entered into the Township file.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Elizabeth Langford
Recorded from Tape

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