***TOWN OF MENASHA***

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2006 at 5:00 PM

MUNICIPAL COMPLEX - 2000 MUNICIPAL DRIVE

 

CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Bellmer called the Planning Commission Meeting of November 15, 2006 to order at 5:00 PM.

 

PRESENT:       Chairperson:                 Alvin Bellmer

Commissioners:            Dennis Jochman            Aaron Sabel                 Kris Koeppe
Terry Buck                   Michelle Schaetz           Michael Van Dyke

Staff:                            George Dearborn, Community Development Director

Mark Mommaerts, Associate Planner

 

EXCUSED:      None

 

ABSENT:        None

 

ALSO PRESENT:       Wayne VanHandel                   Kelly Claflin                  Alan Pheifer

                                    Stan Garratt                              Richard Deiment           Tom Duffy

                                    Bob Goldman                           Charles Ball                  Cathy Ball

                                    Shirley Oppeneer

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 18, 2006

The minutes of October were reviewed.  Motion by Chairperson Bellmer, seconded by Commissioner Sabel to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2006 meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS


The cost-benefit table for October shows that there is a positive cost-benefit for the month and year.

 

NEW ITEMS OF BUSINESS:

  1. Variance – Wayne VanHandel – 1190 Kluck Street – 008-0541-03-03

Department of Community Development Director George Dearborn introduced the item.

 

Commissioner Jochman stated that the house was moved to the lot and that the homes in the area face Kluck Street and turning the home to face Kuehn Court does not fit the neighborhood.

 

MOTION:  Commissioner Jochman, seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke to approve the Variance.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Certified Survey Map – National Survey & Engineering – Portside Builders – 980 American Drive – 08-4812-02

Department of Community Development Director George Dearborn introduced the item.

 

MOTION:  Chairperson Bellmer, seconded by Commissioner Jochman to approve the Certified Survey Map with the following conditions:

    • All taxes and assessments shall be paid prior to the Town affixing signatures on the Certified Survey Map.
    • A deed restriction shall be placed upon Lot 1 that states that the Lot shall only be used for storm water detention.

Motion carried unanimously.

 

 

OLD ITEMS OF BUSINESS:

  1. Conditional Use Permit – Kelly Rousseau – Soul Purpose Ministry – 2235 Northern Road – 008-0101-03

Department of Community Development Director George Dearborn introduced the item.

 

MOTION:  Commissioner Schaetz, seconded by Chairperson Bellmer to delay for 60-days the Conditional Use Permit. 

 

Commissioner Jochman stated that if the Plan Commission denied the CUP, the applicant could resubmit and pay a new fee and that at the first meeting back in July, the Plan Commission only approved the wind turbine portion of the project.

 

Tom Duffy, of Tannenbaum Trail, asked if there was a rendering of what this would look like and why new plans haven’t been submitted.

 

Chairperson Bellmer responded that the Plan Commission cannot deny a project based on looks, but could deny it for lack of engineering information.

 

Commissioner Schaetz stated that this type of project is something new to the area, and the engineering for it takes time.

 

Charles Ball, of Sunrise Drive, asked for the purpose of the wind farm.

 

Chairperson Bellmer responded that it is for the demonstration and education of renewable energies for their applications throughout the world.

 

Mr. Ball stated that this would set a precedent for other to put up wind turbines.

 

Chairperson Bellmer stated that the CUP is for the utility tie-in that the applicant is seeking and if it wasn’t for that, a CUP would not be necessary.

 

Stan Garratt, of Northern Road, stated that the Midwest Renewable Energy Association in Custer, WI has some demonstrations.  He also stated that engineering plans should be reviewed and that another delay because of a switch in engineering firms is unnecessary.

 

Mr. Duffy asked if this would be a tax generating property and how will they continue to pay taxes if they won’t be selling electricity for a couple of years.

 

Chairperson Bellmer replied yes.

 

Director Dearborn stated that the Town cannot use taxes as a criterion for denial.

 

Commissioner Jochman stated that the applicant mentioned that ServPro will continue to operate and own the property.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

  1. Development Report – No report at this time.
  2. Building Permit Report

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

None for this meeting.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

MOTION:  Chairperson Bellmer, seconded by Commissioner Schaetz to adjourn the meeting of November 15, 2006 at 6:00 PM.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

Mark J. Mommaerts

Recording Secretary