MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2001, 7:00 P.M.,
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
1. Roll Call.
PRESENT: Baker, Lind, Senesac, Rapanos, Wieland
ABSENT: Garner, Geisler, Kozakiewicz, Slicker (all previously arranged)
OTHERS PRESENT: Jon Lynch, Director of Planning
and Community Development; Cheri
Standfest, Administrative Assistant, and 8 others
2. Approval
of the minutes of the meeting of February 27, 2001.
It was
moved by Rapanos, seconded by Senesac, to approve the minutes of the meeting of
March 13, 2001. The minutes were
approved as presented.
3. Public
hearings:
a.
Site Plan
No. 204 – Chairman Wieland announced that the
public hearing regarding a 2,505 square foot Taco Bell restaurant to be located
on the north side of east Patrick Road east of Washington Street would be
rescheduled to April 10th.
b.
Site Plan
No. 199 – the request of Gary Bartow of
Bartow and King Engineers for review and approval of a site plan for Somerset
Pines, a residential site condominium development of 34 building sites on 47.75
acres on the east side of Dublin Road north of Airport Road [see transcript].
c.
Site Plan
No. 203 – the request of HBE Financial
Services for site plan review and approval of a three-story, 40,156 square-foot
addition to the Dow Chemical Employees Credit Union building at 600 East Lyon
Road [see transcript].
4.
Public Comments.
None.
5. Old
Business.
Site Plan No. 202 –
the request of Chuck Wellman, on behalf of Bill Daily, for site plan review and
approval of an eight-unit residential building at 4912 Meyers Street (the east
side of Meyers Street north of West Wheeler Street).
Jon Lynch provided a brief overview of the site plan presented March 13th,
noting that the project representative had expressed willingness to comply with
wishes of the Planning Commission regarding parking lot screening and placement
of a handicapped parking space.
Commissioner Rapanos noted that the Planning Commission had not reached
consensus on the value of requiring the developer to place the single
barrier-free parking space within the proposed covered parking area.
Mr. Chuck Wellman explained to the Commission that relocating the parking
space would place it quite far from the barrier-free apartment unit. The parking space has been moved toward the
front of the lot at the request of City staff, and the developer feels this is
a better location for the parking space.
The illustrated location provides for the least travel distance between
the barrier-free space and the barrier-free apartment unit.
Commissioner Rapanos inquired about the feasibility of constructing a
roof over the barrier- free parking space at the illustrated location. Mr. Wellman responded that such a structure
would appear out of place and could not reasonably be built for a single
parking space. A minimum of four spaces
would need to be covered.
Members of the Planning Commission also discussed outstanding screening
requirements for the proposed parking lot.
Mr. Wellman indicated that either screening option, fencing along the
property line or fencing along the parking lot, would be acceptable. Commissioners concluded that either option
meets screening requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and that the developer
should work with the adjacent property owner to identify the most desirable
screening method.
It was moved by Baker and seconded by Senesac to recommend approval of
Site Plan No. 202 to the City Council, contingent on outstanding conditions
specified in the March 6th staff report being addressed and the
developer working with the adjacent property owner to identify the most
desirable method of parking lot screening to fully comply with Zoning Ordinance
screening provisions.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Lind, Rapanos,
Senesac, Wieland
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Garner, Geisler,
Kozakiewicz, Slicker
6. New
Business.
None.
7.
Communications.
None.
8.
Report of
the Chairman.
No report was given.
9. Report of the Planning Director.
Jon Lynch provided the Commission with an update of City Council
activity. He also noted that on April 9th the City Council would
receive the Planning Commission recommendation on Site Plan No. 202 and would
conduct public hearings on Zoning Petitions 472, 473, and 474.
On April 10th the Planning Commission agenda will include
public hearings on Site Plan No. 204 (Taco Bell) and Site Plan No. 205 (Family
Amusement Center). Action items will
include Site Plan No. 199 (Somerset Pines) and Site Plan No. 203 (Dow Chemical
Employees’ Credit Union).
Finally, Mr. Lynch gave a brief overview of the APA National Planning
Conference and the March Michigan Society of Planning Executive Board meetings.
10. Adjourn.
Adjournment at approximately 8:03 p.m. was moved by Baker and seconded by
Senesac, and unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Lynch, AICP
Planning Commission Secretary
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