The public will have a chance to comment on Independence Township’s Master Plan, July 10.
The Township Board voted unanimously May 13 to set the public hearing.
‘The substance of the plan has not changed significantly,? said Richard Carlisle, township planning consultant. ‘There has been some tweaking here and there, there has been some fine tuning where the commission has found some things that need to be addressed.?
Goals, objectives, and policies in the plan remain consistent with previous plans, Carlisle said.
A few changes were made, including plan format, combining strategic plan and master plan into one document, and updates to goals and objectives. Future land use was ‘largely unchanged? other than updating maps for development since 1999, he said.
So far, Carlisle said the township Planning Commission received four extensive written comments by individuals and other parties.
‘We addressed each one very specifically,? he said. ‘We didn’t necessarily agree with all of them, but we certainly discussed them and addressed them among the commission.?
Trustee Larry Rosso, who is also on the commission, said they had been working on the master plan for the past two years.
‘I think the positive thing that I’ve drawn from this whole process is that when we came to these revisions, we had a consensus and eventual unanimity of agreement,? Rosso said. ‘We thoroughly aired the citizens who proposed revisions and changes. Some of which we concurred with and others not so. I think that shows the commitment of the planning commission to take the time to go through this and find the grounds of commonality to make this proposal before you (the board).?
Rosso did not give a recommendation as to what he thought the board should do, but said he would be ‘comfortable either way.?
‘I think as a board we’ve been elected to pass on these types of things and I think we need to assert our right to approve or reject this plan ultimately,? said Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen.
‘We should proceed like we normally do in any situation where it goes to the planning commission; they get their recommendation and send it up to us.?
Supervisor Dave Wagner agreed.
‘We were elected and that’s what we’re supposed to do,? he said. ‘The planning commission makes recommendations to us all the time, for us to shuck that duty would be a shame.?