Draft Minutes

Planning Board, Village of Forest Hills

The Planning Board of the Village of Forest Hills met on Monday, July 21, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jackson County Recreation Park building in Cullowhee.  Those present were Gene Tweedy, Joe Roman, Herman Lieberman, and Ruth Shuler.  Mike Germanno was ill and David Shapiro was out of town.  Vice Chairman Gene Tweedy presided.

Minutes of the June meeting were reviewed and approved.

There was a discussion about the frequency of meetings and the continuing need for people to serve on the Planning Board.  Members of the Planning Board need to be involved in village activities and talk with neighbors about happenings in the village.

Pet Regulations

Gene Tweedy distributed copies of a document entitled Pet Regulations which the Council wishes to add to the zoning ordinance.  Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded  that Sections 901 and 902 of the document should be revised to reflect that dogs are already licensed by the county.  Further, regarding Section 903, the Planning Board needs time to study and gain citizen input on this issue and is not in a position to make a recommendation at this time. The motion passed unanimously.

Noise Regulation

Gene Tweedy distributed copies of a draft document entitled Article 800 Noise Regulation which Council has asked the Planning Board to review.  Two general observations were made:  there is no provision for gun control in the document, an item which members of the Planning Board feel is essential.  Also, the sound levels mentioned are too specific and there were questions as to how such levels would be enforced.

Following an extensive discussion of the document and the various sections listed within it, a motion was made that the Planning Board recommend to Council adoption of Sections 801, 802, 803, and 805; also, the Planning Board feels it is most important that a section on discharge of firearms should take a place prominent in the noise prohibitions; further, the Planning Board would like time to study Section 804, Permit to Exceed, in that it may be (Joe Roman, will you supply the rest of this wording - something about jurisdiction.  It’s been too long since I wrote shorthand!) 

A motion was made, seconded, and passed that Section 211, Litter Control, be adopted.

In discussion of Article 900, Leases, Section 901, a motion was made and seconded that the second and third sentences be deleted.  To incorporate these provision would require personnel and office space that the Village does not have.  The motion passed. Section 902 was supported in theory.

Section 302 needs further study because of discussions with the Department of Transportation regarding parking on North Country Club Drive.

Section 706, the Planning Board recommends that item B read as follows:  Unless specified otherwise, the penalties for noncompliance with Section 207, 302, and 303 shall be up to a maximum of $100 per day for First Citation, $125 per day for Second Citation, $150 per day for Third Citation, $200 per day for Additional Citations, and that the actual penalty shall be left to Council’s discretion.

Vision Statement

Because of time limitations the draft vision statement revisions will be held until the next meeting.  Joe Roman commented on a conference he had attended regarding small municipality planning.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Ruth Shuler

Secretary Pro Tem