Changes to the township zoning fee schedule and the Master Plan review process, and a brainstorming session, were some of the topics covered at a joint meeting Thursday, Oct. 11, of the Leelanau Township Planning Commission and Township Board.

Prior to the joint meeting, the commission held a public hearing on a request from Carla Hammersley to rezone a 10-acre parcel she owns on E. Woolsey Lake Road from Agricultural to Residential Conservation. Zoning Administrator Deborah Serwin said this week in a phone report that the commission unanimously recommended approval of the request. Under Residential Conservation zoning, Hammersley would be able to put up one more house but would need to go through the Planned Site Option process that requires a site plan review by the zoning administrator or Planning Commission.

“The property didn’t meet all of the Ag requirements and Res/Con offers the property owner a little more flexibility in what they can do,” Serwin said. The rezoning will also bring the property in line with the township Master Plan. The request will now be reviewed by the county Planning Commission and should go before the Township Board for its November meeting.

The commission and board members also discussed various zoning and planning issues. Serwin said the Planning Commission is revising the township zoning fee schedule to update definitions of some of the terms. One of the more important updates concerns escrow accounts and when the commission would require a developer or property owner to establish one.

“The commission is looking at developing some sort of sliding scale,” she said.

The Planning Commission has a subcommittee reviewing the existing township Master Plan. Serwin said the committee has a list of points to address in the plan update and will forward ideas to contract planner Nick Lomako of Wade-Trim, Inc., of Traverse City.

The rest of the evening was spent “brainstorming,” according to Serwin. One idea both parties discussed was pending legislation in the state House that would require township planning commissions to have some input into new capital improvement projects for the township. Serwin said the legislation would involve planning commissions weighing in on projects like road improvements or where a new park may go.

“Overall it was good discussion between the planning commission and township board. This is something our consultant planners have suggested we do, but with Timber Shores we just hadn’t had any time,” Serwin said.