MINUTES OF THE
MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,
WHICH TOOK PLACE
ON TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2000, 7:00 P.M.,
COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
1. Roll Call.
PRESENT: Commission members - Baker, Geisler, McCann, Lind, Rapanos, Sasaki, Slicker,
Wieland
ABSENT: Senesac
OTHERS PRESENT: James Schroeder, Secretary;
Mark Ostgarden, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Administrative Assistant, and 35
others
2. Approval of the minutes of
the meeting of April 25, 2000.
It was moved by McCann,
seconded by Geisler, to approve the minutes of the meeting of April 25, 2000,
noting a correction in the transcript of the public hearing on Zoning Petition
No. 457, thanking Mr. Asch for his comments.
Motion carried.
3. Public
hearings:
It was noted that the petitioner had
requested action at this meeting, but that no staff report had been
prepared. Chairman Wieland indicated it
may be taken up under New Business later in the meeting.
b. Proposed changes to the
City’s Master Plan (Land Use Plan) as follows:
Area 1 –
Lands both north and south of the intersection of Joseph Drive and Jefferson
Avenue from Low-density Residential to Office-Service; lands on the south side
of Joseph Drive east of Jefferson Avenue from Low-density Residential to
High-density Residential; lands on the north side of Joseph Drive east of
Jefferson Avenue from Low-density Residential to Medium-density Residential.
Area 2 –
Lands north of Letts Road between Sturgeon Avenue and Perrine Road, from
Low-density Residential to Medium-density Residential.
Area 3 – Lands between West Wackerly Street and US-10
immediately west of Dublin Avenue, from Low-density Residential to
Medium-density Residential.
Area 4 – A triangular area
between Waldo Avenue on the west and US-10 on the east, south of the Waldo
Avenue interchange, from Medium-density Residential to High-density
Residential.
Area 5 – Lands north and west of
the intersection of Bay City Road and Waldo Avenue adjacent to Yale Street from
General Commercial to High-density Residential.
Area 6 – Lands on the
northwesterly side of Jerome Street, from Office-Service to General Commercial.
(See transcript.)
Chairman Wieland indicated that the matter would be discussed by the Commission at its meeting on May 23.
4. Public
Comments.
There were no public
comments.
PLANNING
COMMISSION MINUTES
May
9, 2000
5. Old Business.
1) 6.1 acres on the southeast corner of Joseph Drive and Jefferson Avenue to Office-Service 2.
2) 4.55 acres on the northeast corner of Joseph Drive and Jefferson Avenue to Office-Service 2.
3)
17.84 acres on the south side of Joseph Drive east of Jefferson Avenue
to Residential B.
4)
11.71 acres on the north side of Joseph Drive east of Jefferson Avenue
to Residential B.
Chairman Wieland opened the subject by noting that action on the zoning may be premature, inasmuch as the Commission is considering Land Use Plan changes in the area, and the appropriate process would be to not consider the matter until the Land Use Plan is settled.
It was moved by Lind, seconded by Slicker, to defer action on Zoning Petition No. 456. The consensus of the Commission was that action should be deferred until the changes in the Master Plan were to be considered. Motion carried.
The Planning Director reviewed information provided in the staff report and noted that information had been provided by the petitioner showing the location of existing gas stations in the community. It was noted that the petition is not in conformance with the Master Plan.
Mr. John Rapanos, petitioner, spoke in favor of his petition, noting
the deficiency of a gas station in this area, and the unlikelihood of the
property being developed for Residential B uses. Mr. Pat Pnacek spoke, noting that the request
is not in accord with the Land Use Plan, and asked for consistency in the
decision-making process.
Commissioner Rapanos requested permission to abstain from discussion
and voting, inasmuch as the petitioner is his father. It was moved by McCann, seconded by Sasaki,
to grand permission for Commissioner Rapanos’ abstention. Motion carried.
Commissioner McCann indicated support for the petition, noting that in
the long term, commercial development very likely would occur. Commissioner Geisler noted the petition is
not in accord with the Land Use Plan, and suggested that the Commission may
want to consider adding gas stations and similar convenience commercial to the
Business A classification. Commissioners
Wieland, Sasaki, and Baker noted that the petition is not in accord with the
Land Use Plan. Commissioner Slicker
indicated that in the short term, this rezoning would not be beneficial. Commissioner Lind indicated support for the
rezoning, noting the unlikelihood of Residential B occurring at this location.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 9, 2000
Page 3
It was moved by McCann, seconded by Lind, to recommend to City Council
approval of Zoning Petition No. 457.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Lind, McCann
NAYS: Baker, Geisler, Sasaki, Slicker, Wieland
ABSENT: Senesac
ABSTENTION: Rapanos
It was noted by the Planning Director that a motion in the affirmative should be sent to the City Council. It was then moved by Sasaki, seconded by Baker, to recommend to City Council denial of Zoning Petition No. 457.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Geisler, Sasaki, Slicker, Wieland
NAYS: Lind, McCann
ABSENT: Senesac
ABSTENTION: Rapanos
It was noted that the recommendation will be sent to the City Council, with a public hearing occurring on June 12.
It was moved by McCann,
seconded by Sasaki, to recommend to City Council approval of Zoning Petition
No. 458. Commissioner Geisler indicated
that the zoning should remain as is.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Lind, McCann, Rapanos, Sasaki,
Slicker, Wieland
NAYS: Geisler
ABSENT: Senesac
It was moved by McCann,
seconded by Geisler, to consider Zoning Petition No. 459.
The Planning Director noted that
a staff report had not been prepared, and that if one had been done, it would
have noted the inconsistency of the zoning in the area with adjacent
development, and further recommending that the Commission initiate action to
rezone the subject property to Residential B.
Commission discussion attempted to address the question as to why the
request was for Business B-1 versus the existing Business B-2. It was noted that during the public hearing,
the petitioner did not explain the reason for the petition. Commission discussion also identified the
inconsistency between the Land Use Plan and the zoning in this area, the former
still indicating some Commercial on the corner of Universal and Dublin adjacent
to Low-density Residential to the east, even though the land on the corner of
Universal and Dublin had been zoned as Office-Service and utilized for senior
housing.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May
9, 2000
Page
4
The vote on the motion
passed.
Commissioner Rapanos
requested permission to abstain from voting, based on the petitioner being his
brother. It was moved by McCann,
seconded by Geisler, to grant permission for the abstention. Motion carried.
It was moved by McCann,
seconded by Slicker, to table action on Zoning Petition No. 459. Motion carried.
6. New Business.
There was
no new business.
It was moved by Geisler, seconded by McCann,
to adjourn. Motion carried, and the
meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
Respectfully,
James H. Schroeder
Secretary
JHS:cjr