HOLLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION 

Regular Meeting 

February 1, 2011 

The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chrmn/Secretary VanderMeulen at 7:00 p.m. 

Present:           Vice-Chrmn/Secretary Jack VanderMeulen and Members Arlan Hossink, LaVerne Johnson and Ken Bosma.  Also present were Zoning Administrator Jon Mersman, Assistant Zoning Administrator Meghann Reynolds and Recording Secretary Susan Working. 

Absent:            Chairman Marion Hoeve and Members Dennis Gebben and Willis Driesenga. 

The minutes of the meeting of January 4, 2011 were approved as printed. 

Mr. VanderMeulen explained the meeting and hearing procedures for the assembled audience. 

Mr. VanderMeulen opened the public hearing to consider a request to rezone property generally located at 644 E. Lakewood Boulevard from I-2 Industrial to C-2 Commercial.  Present for this hearing was Jonathan Flight, Vice-President of Facilities for Spectrum Health. 

Mr. Flight explained that they are considering construction of a medical facility on the property located to the west of this parcel.  This facility will combine five separate locations into one facility and this parcel is needed for parking area. 

Mr. Mersman noted that this request complies with the master plan. 

There was no one present to object or ask questions. 

It was moved by Mr. Bosma and supported by Mr. Johnson to close the public hearing.  Motion carried. 

It was moved by Mr. Bosma and supported by Mr. Hossink to recommend to the Township Board that approval be given to the request to rezone property generally located at 644 E. Lakewood Boulevard from I-2 Industrial to C-2 Commercial.  Motion carried. 

Commission Members next reviewed a proposed changed to the site plan for the Holland Harbor Dredge Storage Site PUD. 

Mr. Mersman explained that the change will provide better access to the greenway area and move the driveway away from the railroad crossing.  At this time the drive and parking area is proposed to be of a crushed concrete or crushed bituminous surface. 

It was moved by Mr. Bosma and supported by Mr. Johnson to approve the site plan change as presented, with the recommendation that crushed concrete be used for the drive and parking area and with the stipulation that the area be reviewed in three years for consideration of hard surface paving.  Motion carried. 

Mr. Mersman presented and gave an overview of draft 4 of the proposed ordinance to regulate and license medical marijuana.  He also noted that there will be a separate text amendment to add two sections to the general ordinance provisions prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries and to deal with unclassified uses. 

Commission Members also reviewed communications received from the Ottawa Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, attorney Thomas Lavigne and Amy Gasaway regarding the proposed medical marijuana ordinance. 

Monica Baker from PSolutions spoke on her view that medical marijuana dispensaries provide a necessary and legal service. 

Ms. Reynolds reviewed the master plan update status with the Commission. 

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Working
Recording Secretary