Resolution to Repeal the 1989 Ordinance Establishing the Planning Commission

At a regular meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, held at the Fillmore Complex in the Township of Olive, Michigan on October 27, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. local time.

PRESENT: Francisco Garcia, Joseph Baumann, Douglas Zylstra, Allen Dannenberg, Randall Meppelink, Kyle Terpstra, James Holtvluwer, Gregory DeJong, Philip Kuyers, Roger Bergman

It was moved by Commissioner Gregory DeJong and supported that the following Resolution be adopted:

WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Planning Commission was created in 1989 to coordinate the economic, social, and physical development of the county with local units of government; and

WHEREAS, all twenty-four local units of government within Ottawa County maintain zoning jurisdiction and administer separate zoning ordinances; and

WHEREAS, the state-enabled advisory duties of the Ottawa County Planning Commission can be performed by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and professional county planning staff; and

WHEREAS, the dissolution of committees and commissions deemed unnecessary or redundant are part of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners’ goal of continually improving the county’s organization and services; and

WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and professional county planning staff will continue collaborating with local units of government on addressing regional land use challenges such as housing, groundwater, agriculture, brownfield redevelopment, broadband, transportation, and other items as needed; and

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED, that the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners hereby repeals the 1989 Ordinance creating the Ottawa County Planning Commission, including its 2017 Amendment, being Act 400.4.1 of the Ottawa County Code; and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 41 of the Michigan Planning Enabling Act of 2008, as amended, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners will directly receive proposed master plans from local units of government for review and comment; and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 361 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994, as amended, a memorandum of understanding will be drafted with the West Michigan Regional Planning Agency for the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners to receive applications for the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program for review and comment; and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 307 of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006, as amended, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners waives its right to review proposed ordinances and amendments of local units of government, although professional county planning staff will continue reviewing ordinances and amendments of local units of government as requested; and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall have immediate effect; and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that any and all previously adopted resolutions, policies, or programs of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners that are inconsistent with this Resolution are hereby terminated.

Yeas: Douglas Zylstra, Gregory DeJong, Francisco Garcia, Allen Dannenberg, Randall Meppelink, Kyle Terpstra, Matthew Fenske, Joseph Baumann, Philip Kuyers, James Holtvluwer, Roger Bergman.
Nays: None