Familiarity and presence in a community is important when making planning decisions for a municipality.
The Village of the City of Clarkston City Council recognized this by voting 6-0 in favor of hiring Carlisle/Wortman Associates Inc. to update its master plan.
‘I like what Carlisle has done with Independence Township,? said Mayor Sharron Catallo. ‘It’ll make things simpler because of proximity and they know the community and surrounding areas. It becomes more cost effective because they know what’s going on in the area.?
Under the agreement, Carlisle/Wortman will work to update the village’s master plan in no more than two years from the date of the agreement, unless both parties mutually extend the time period.
‘We’re delighted. I have a lot of affection for Clarkston from the many years of working in Independence Township. I know a lot of people residing in Clarkston and am glad we can provide service to them,? said Dick Carlisle, President of Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc.
City Manager Art Pappas said the updated master plan is necessary because the state requires municipalities to revisit the plan every five years. According to Pappas, the plan was updated last in Aug. 1997 with McKenna and Associates who worked with the village for approximately 10 years.
‘There shouldn’t be too much except for adjusting to state laws that have changed. We don’t have that much for us to change, but you have to go through all the steps to revisit the plan through public hearings and other things,? said Pappas.
Work on the master plan will not exceed $11,940 according to the agreement. Pappas said those fees would be paid through the general fund. Both Carlisle/Wortman and Clarkston may terminate the agreement individually or jointly within 30 days of the written notice.
‘McKenna and Associates did a good job, but we’ll be better served by someone in the community,? said Catallo.
‘They do have an understanding of our community because of their work in Independence Township. And there’s personnel on staff with a background in historic districts and that’s important to Clarkston,? said Council Member Dave Savage.
At the meeting several council members expressed a desire to have the work completed at a figure closer to $8,500 than the $11,940 price maximum in the contract.
‘I think he’s aware we have limited funds,? said Council Member Steven Wylie.
‘They seemed interested in being flexible and working with us. We’re small and don’t need the type of planning a larger community might need,? added Savage.
‘I think it was time for a change, it’s been discussed in the past. We’ve had some issues along the way and it was time to make a decision and this was the way to go,? said Savage.
Council Member Scott Meyland was not present for the vote.
In other news, on advice from City Attorney Tom Ryan, the council decided that Rob Bondy of S. Main Street must follow the ordinance regarding yard sales. Ryan said the ordinance could be changed, but advised against making exceptions to the existing ordinance.
Bondy asked the council at the Sept. 12 meeting if he could sell pumpkins and cornstalks out of his yard during October weekends. According to the ordinance, which allows sales for only two of the requested weekends, ‘Two occasional sales may be conducted from any lot occupied for residential purposes within a calender year with no sale to last more than four consecutive days in duration.?
Clarkston voters wishing to vote in the Nov. 8 election must be registered by Oct. 7. To register, visit any Secretary of State branch office, the County Clerk’s office or the City offices, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. ? 5 p.m.