MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2001, 7:00 P.M.,
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
1. Roll Call
PRESENT: Baker, Garner, Geisler, Senesac,
Slicker, Rapanos, Wieland
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz (previously arranged), Lind
OTHERS PRESENT: Jon Lynch, Director of Planning
and Community Development; Mark
Ostgarden, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Administrative Assistant, and 10
others
2. Approval
of the minutes of the meeting of May 22, 2001
Chairman
Wieland noted that statements made by John Baer during the public hearing on
Zoning Petition No. 476 did not pertain to Siebert Elementary School and that
reference should be deleted from the minutes.
He also noted that minutes from the May 16th workshop were
included in the packet.
It was
moved by Geisler, seconded by Senesac, to approve the minutes of the meeting of
May 22, 2001. The minutes were approved
as amended.
3. Public
hearings
a.
Preliminary Plat of Hearthstone Estates No. 3 – a residential
subdivision of 16 lots on 5.19 acres on the north side of Eastlawn Drive west
of Waldo Avenue [see transcript].
b.
Zoning Petition No. 479 – the request
of John Popp to rezone property on the west side of Plumer Street between
Austin Street and Bay City Road from Business C to Industrial A [see
transcript].
c.
Site Plan No. 206 – the
request of Grainger Associates, on behalf of RPF Oil company, for site plan
review and approval of a 3,590 square foot convenience store / gas station / car
wash at 4816 Bay City Road (the southwest corner of Bay City Road and Rockwell
Drive) [see transcript].
4. Public
Comments
None.
5.
Old
Business
a.
Zoning Petition No. 477 – the
request of Jeffrey and Josephine Browne to rezone property at 3103 West Wackerly
Street (the south side of West Wackerly Street east of Sturgeon Avenue) from
Residential A-1 to Office- Service 2.
Mr. Lynch
provided a brief overview of the subject and the public hearing conducted on
May 22nd. He noted that while
the petitioner requested Office Service-2 zoning, the Planning Commission
appeared interested in an alternative zoning of Residential A-4. Having discussed the alternative with the
petitioner, the petitioner stated that he preferred the OS-2 designation but
could live with an RA-4 designation. The
packet update also included an evaluation of the RA-4 zoning designation on
this property.
Chairman
Wieland asked if there was any new information to be presented to the Planning
Commission.
Mr. Browne
explained that a doctor or dentist office at this location would not constitute
an excessive use. His back yard is
currently adjacent to six condominiums with decks, and they are occupied around
the clock. Conversely, an office is only
occupied during business hours and not usually on weekends. He concluded by stating that he is not
opposed to the RA-4 designation but that RA-1 is not appropriate, and a doctor
office would be a good neighbor.
Planning
Commissioners discussed both the Residential A-4 land uses and the Office-
Service 2 land uses. Member Slicker
noted that there is OS-2 zoning across the street and that the requested change
is appropriate. Other Commissioners felt
that the RA-4 designation would be more appropriate given that the Land Use
Plan supports it and that the permitted land uses would be more in keeping with
the character of the neighborhood.
Member
Senesac moved that the property subject to Zoning Petition No. 477 be zoned
Residential A-4. After discussing the motion
and expressing a desire to first consider the requested OS-2 classification,
this motion was withdrawn.
It was
moved by Slicker and seconded by Rapanos to recommend that Zoning Petition No.
477 be approved by changing the zoning from Residential A-1 to Office-Service
2.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Slicker
NAYS: Baker, Garner, Geisler,
Rapanos, Senesac, Wieland
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz, Lind
Noting that the motion failed, it was moved by Senesac and seconded by
Baker that the Planning Commission recommend that the property subject to
Zoning Petition No. 477 be rezoned from Residential A-1 to Residential A-4.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Garner, Geisler,
Rapanos, Senesac, Slicker, Wieland
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz, Lind
a.
Zoning Petition No. 478 – the request
of Nicolaos Rapanos to rezone property between Bay City Road and Fisher Road
west of the US-10 Expressway from Business B-2 and Agricultural to Business C
and Industrial A.
After providing a brief review of the request, Mr. Lynch noted that a section
of Rockwell Drive, approximately .2 miles long, is currently a gravel
surface. In addition, Fisher Road is
paved, but the road surface is in very poor condition. Upon discussing improvement options with the
Engineering Department, it was noted that a property owner petition for
improvement via special assessments would provide the quickest means of
improving the public roads. Planning
Commissioners discussed the fact that this particular action deals with the
property zoning and that street conditions and utilization will be discussed
during review of development plans for the site.
Commissioners discussed the zoning request and remarked that it falls
within the guidelines of the Land Use Plan.
It was moved by Garner and seconded by Geisler to recommend approval of
Zoning Petition No. 478.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Garner, Geisler,
Rapanos, Senesac, Slicker, Wieland
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz, Lind
6. New
Business
Chairman Wieland pointed out that the petitioner has requested immediate
action on the Preliminary Plat of Hearthstone Estates No. 3.
It was moved by Slicker and seconded by Garner to place the Hearthstone
Estates preliminary plat on the agenda for consideration.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Garner, Geisler,
Slicker, Wieland
NAYS: Senesac
ABSTAIN: Rapanos
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz, Lind
The Planning Commission discussed the preliminary plat and commented on
the fact that this plat represents the third of three nearly identical
components of the proposed subdivision.
It was moved by Geisler and seconded by Senesac to recommend approval of
the Preliminary Plat of Hearthstone Estates No. 3.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Garner, Geisler,
Senesac, Slicker, Wieland
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Rapanos
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz, Lind
b.
Election
of Officers
Planning Commissioners discussed the timetable for election of Planning
Commission officers in the context of Section 1.1 of the Rules of
Procedure. That provision technically
requires election of officers at the current meeting. Commissioners discussed the value of
retaining the process previously used whereby the newly seated Commission
elects officers. To allow for selection
of officers in that manner, it was moved by Slicker and seconded by Senesac to
suspend Section 1.1 of the Planning Commission Rules of Procedure until August
1, 2001.
Vote on the motion:
YEAS: Baker, Garner, Geisler,
Rapanos, Senesac, Slicker, Wieland
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz, Lind
c. Request
for Proposals
A draft copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be used to
solicit interest in the City’s Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance update project
was provided to Commissioners. This
7-page document was compared to a 2-page document and a 21-page document from
other communities. Commissioners
expressed support for the RFP, and Mr. Lynch indicated that detailed questions
or comments could be forwarded to him.
Member Senesac requested that the RFP include a request that firms
explain what they expect of the community regarding project participation.
7. Communications
The Michigan Municipal League is conducting a training session on master
plans on July 31st in Lansing between 6:00 and 9:00 PM. Any members interested in attending should
contact Jon Lynch so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
8. Report
of the Chairman
On July 25th, from 2:15 PM to 9:00 PM, the Midland County
Conservation District will conduct a countywide tour of agricultural farmland
management activities.
9. Report of the Planning Director
ACTION – JUNE 11, 2001
Ř
Accepting Warranty Deed
from Lepta Assoc. for 7’ of ROW (Forest Ridge Condos)
Ř
Annexation of property at
1983 Penrod Road
Ř
Cones Court Hearing July
9th
Ř
ZP 476 (Wolverine Bank)
July 9th
JUNE 26, 2001
TrinTel Presentation Regarding Tower Regulation – the Commission
determined that it should begin the session at 6:00 PM.
Planning
Commissioners expressed appreciation for the level of detail being provided in
staff reports pertaining to agenda items.
Commissioner Senesac requested that an explanation of “process” be
included with public hearing notices.
10. Adjourn.
Adjournment at approximately 9:00 p.m. was moved by Slicker, seconded by
Baker, and unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Lynch, AICP
Planning Commission Secretary