MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION,
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, JULY
11, 2000, 7:00 P.M.,
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL,
MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
1. Roll Call.
PRESENT: Commission members –
Baker, Garner, Geisler, Lind, Rapanos, Slicker, Wieland, Young
ABSENT: None
OTHERS
PRESENT: James Schroeder, Secretary; Mark Ostgarden, City Planner, and
24 others
2.
Election of Officers for 2000-2001.
Chairman
Wieland indicated that the election of officers would proceed, and that the
first part would be handled by the Secretary, Mr. Schroeder. The Secretary called for a report from the Nominating
Committee, and Commissioner Slicker presented the name of Wieland for the
position of Chairman. This action was
seconded by Baker. After receiving no
additional nominations, a motion was made by Senesac, seconded by Slicker, to
approve the election of Wieland as Chairman by affirmation. Motion carried.
Chairman
Wieland asked for nominations for the office of Vice Chairman. Commissioner Slicker presented into
nomination Jim Geisler. The motion was
seconded by Senesac. After requesting
and receiving no additional nominations, it was moved by Senesac, seconded by
Slicker, to elect Geisler as Vice-Chairman by affirmation. Motion carried.
3. Approval of the minutes of the meeting of
June 27, 2000.
It was moved by Geisler, seconded by Senesac, to approve the
minutes of the meeting of June 27, 2000.
Motion carried.
4. Public hearings:
a. Zoning Petition No. 463 – initiated by the Planning
Commission, to rezone property within the block bounded by Eastman Avenue,
Larkin Street and Ripley Street from Office-Service 2 to Business B-2 (see
transcript).
b. Zoning Petition No. 464 – initiated by the Planning
Commission, to rezone property on the north side of West Wackerly Street west
of Dublin Avenue from Residential A-1 to Residential A-4 (see transcript).
c. Zoning Petition No. 465 – initiated by the Planning
Commission, to zone property on the northeast corner of Perrine Road and Letts
Street to a Residential A-4 zoning classification (see transcript).
PLANNING
COMMISSION MINUTES
July 11, 2000
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Chairman Wieland indicated that a
request to withdraw Zoning Petition No. 467 had been received, and the matter
would not be heard.
Chairman Wieland indicated that
these matters would be taken up for consideration at the meeting of July 25.
5. Public Comments.
There were no public comments.
6. Old Business.
Consideration
of Zoning Petition No. 462 – the request of Thomas Shearer, on behalf of Midland
Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc., to rezone Lots 2 – 6 of Reinhart’s Addition (the
southeast corner of Washington Street and Eastlawn Drive) from Office-Service 2
to Business B-2.
The Planning Director reviewed the
request and presented information concerning a court decision in 1983 governing
the use of the property for parking purposes.
It was noted that rezoning the property to Business was not recommended,
but that a Special Use Permit process was recommended, in order to allow the
automobile agency the ability to more fully utilize the property. The Planning Director explained that the
process would consist of an amendment to the Office-Service section of the
Zoning Ordinance to allow this to occur.
Once the Ordinance was amended, the automobile agency could then apply
for a Special Use Permit, and once granted, the property could then be used for
that particular use or any other permitted uses within the existing zoning;
i.e., Office-Service 2.
After discussion, some
Commissioners supported the zoning to Business B-2, but the majority expressing
reservations of such an action and wishing to pursue the Special Use Permit
process, it was moved by Senesac, seconded by Rapanos, to table Zoning Petition
No. 462 and to request information from staff as to an appropriate zoning text
amendment for a Special Use Permit.
Motion carried.
Staff was requested to place
Zoning Petition No. 462 on the agenda for the July 25 meeting.
7. New Business.
The Planning Director reviewed the vacation action, noting
it had been referred to the Planning Commission from the City Council. This action is a part of the proposed land
exchange which will ultimately result in the City owning the two triangular
blocks now bounded by Ellsworth, Jerome, Larkin, and Ripley Streets. The ultimate goal is to construct a parking
lot within that area, and the vacation of the street is necessary to combine
the two blocks into a single large parcel.
The Director explained other changes to the street system in the area
and noted that the Commission’s recommendation should be based on a
determination of the need for this street as a part of the local street system.
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July
11, 2000
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It was moved by Baker, seconded by Senesac, to recommend to City Council approval of the vacation of Eastman Avenue between Larkin and Ripley Streets. Motion carried.
It
was moved by Senesac, seconded by Slicker, to adjourn. Motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned
at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully,
James H. Schroeder
Secretary
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