A regular meeting of the Charter Township of Oxford Zoning Board of Appeals Monday, April 10, 2006, at the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center.

 

Members Present:         Bellairs, Butler, Dywasuk, Myrick, O’Connor, Reynolds, Roesner

Members Absent:         None.

Also Present:    Zoning Administrator Darling, Zoning Coordinator Walkaus, Recording Secretary Harrison, CATV cameraman, and 3 visitors

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson O’Connor at 7:30 pm

 

RESPECTS TO THE FLAG

 

NOTING OF ROLL

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Dywasuk moved, Bellairs seconded to approve the April 10, 2006 Regular Meeting Agenda as presented.

Ayes:    7          Nays:   0          Absent:  0         Motion Carried (7-0-0)

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Zoning Board of Appeals Regular Meeting – November 14, 2005

Dywasuk moved, Bellairs seconded to approve the Zoning Board of Appeals Regular Meeting Minutes of November 14, 2005 as presented

Ayes:    7          Nays:   0          Absent:  0         Motion carried (7-0-0)

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

No public comments on items not on the Agenda were given.

 

REGULAR BUSINESS

Election of Officers

By unanimous consent:

Dywasuk moved, Roesner seconded to nominate the existing Officers be re-elected (O’Connor – Chairperson, Myrick – Vice-Chairman, Butler – Secretary)

Ayes:    7          Nays:   0          Absent:  0         Motion carried (7-0-0)

 

ZBA001.06, Martin Collier  – Parcels # 04-28-303-008 (vacant) and 04-28-303-009 (vacant)

The subject property is located on the west side of Maloney Street at the point between Squaw Lake and Clear Lake in the R-1 (Single Family Residential) zoning district within the Township of Oxford.  Applicant proposes to extend a private driveway for access to vacant property to construct a residence. Approval of this Application, as submitted, would require one (1) variance from the Charter Township of Oxford Zoning Ordinance #67, as follows:

ARTICLE XXII, SECTION 2207, FRONTAGE … dwelling or principal building shall be located on a lot or parcel which fronts upon a public road, or upon an approved private road which meets all requirements of Section 2217 …

 

ARTICLE XXII, SECTION 2217. PRIVATE ROADS, SECTION M. ROADWAYS NOT MEETING STANDARDS OF ORDINANCE – … which private roadway does not meet the standards …  where extreme hardship or practical difficulties make this unfeasible …

 

Martin Collier, the applicant, stated that he and his wife are seeking to purchase these two parcels to build a ranch style home.  He is seeking direction from the Board on how to proceed.

 

Open Public Hearing

Larry Dudley, 520 Maloney, commented that he is not opposed to Mr. Collier’s request but had a couple of concerns/questions.  The Notice states “private driveway”, Mr. Dudley explained that the parcels are located on a lake access and that the two homes on that access are the result of a Grandfather clause.  He also wants to know the size of the home they are proposing and where their driveway would be coming from, he did not believe it would be Maloney Street as noted.

 

Close Public Hearing

 

Zoning Administrator Darling agreed that Lot 371 (as shown on packet information) is used as a lake access but has no documentation to that affect and noted the plat dates back to 1920.  He commented that the two parcels in question are still owned by Vilma Romanski who now lives in California.  She at one time tried to combine the lots but the attorneys advised that if that took place, they must front on a public or private road or state in the Deed Restriction that it is an un-buildable lot.  Due to the size of the easement, there is no room to put in an approved private drive to be in compliance for the construction of a home.  The variance request is to allow them to construct a home that doesn’t have frontage on an approved private road.

 

Board Member Questions and Comments

The Committee Members discussed at length who owns Lot 371 (the lake access/roadway), who pays the taxes, and if its private or public.  Board Member Myrick referenced Section 2207 where it states “…fronts upon a public road or approved private road …, in which case if this access/roadway is public, the applicant would not need a variance.  He clarified the Ordinance did not state “approved public road”.

Board Member Roesner also questioned if the properties complied with another portion of the Ordinance, Article 22 – Section 2211, subsections B (1) and B (2) and asked about water and sewer availability.  Zoning Administrator Darling stated that there is no water but sewer is available.  She noted that although there is sewer, there may not be an REU allocated for it.

Board Member Bellairs commented she did some research awhile ago and back when this area was platted, lake accesses were given Lot numbers but belong to the subdivision and no one person owns them.  She also noted that taxes on these accesses are included in the property taxes of the people who live in these neighborhoods.  Zoning Coordinator Walkaus had documentation she obtained from Oakland County used to notify residents of this meeting that list the sidwell numbers for Lot 371 and Maloney Street as “roadway” with no billable address.  This information verifies that Lot 371 is a roadway.

It was the unanimous decision of the Board Members to postpone this request giving the applicant a chance to submit documentation showing sufficient proof that Lot 371 is a public road and would therefore not need to come back before the ZBA.  He can do this by acquiring a Cursory Title Search.  If information is deemed non-sufficient, he would need to return for an approved private road variance with verification that the property owner is aware of his intent.  Mr. Darling can make the determination if the documentation is sufficient or not-sufficient administratively.

 

Roesner moved, Dywasuk seconded, to recommend to the Township Board that if applicant does not need to come back to the ZBA for a private road variance, he be refunded his payment for this meeting, April 10, 2006.

 

Ayes:    7          Nays:   0          Absent:  0         Motion carried (7-0-0)

 

Board Member Dywasuk expressed concern about who can use this road, if just anybody has access to it.  Board Member Bellairs commented she would get the paperwork from the Clerk’s office that she saw when she did the  research mentioned previously, and bring it to the next meeting and  they can then proceed from there.

 

Mr. Dudley (a visitor present) stated that he had documentation from Oakland County that Lot 371 is actually deemed a “highway”.

 

BOARD MEMBER’S COMMENTS

Board Member Myrick asked about the new Ordinance and the ZBA Findings of Fact that was included in the packet.  Ms. Walkaus explained that this is the current documentation to be used and it has been approved by the Township Board (the copy is marked “Draft” but it is the one the Township adopted and Barb will get that date).

 

ADJOURNMENT

Bellairs moved, Dywasuk seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 pm.

Ayes:    7          Nays:  0          Absent:  0         Motion Carried (7-0-0)

 

 

 

__________________________________                            ______________________________

Tammy O’Connor, Chairperson                                                James P. Butler, Secretary

 

 

 

 

Date approved:  05/15/2006    

lmh