MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,

WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2001, 7:00 P.M.,

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

 

1.   Roll Call

PRESENT:  Baker, Dowling, Garner, Geisler, Kozakiewicz,  Senesac, Svenson, Slicker, Wieland

ABSENT:     None

OTHERS PRESENT:  Mark Ostgarden, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Administrative Assistant, and 9 others

2.   Approval of the minutes of the meeting of October 9, 2001

It was moved by Svenson, seconded by Wieland, to approve the minutes of the meeting of October 9, 2001.  All in support.

Chairman Jim Geisler introduced new member Troy Dowling.

 

3.   Public Hearings

None

 

4.   Public Comments

Sam Liberto was present and thanked the City Council for appointing him to the Planning Commission. He expressed his appreciation in being able to work with his fellow Commissioners.

 

5.      Old Business

a.      Site Plan No. 209 – the request of Asselin Associates, on behalf of Dr. Ted Knight, for site plan review and approval of a 2,972 square foot dental office on .75 acres on the southeast corner of Eastman Avenue and Dilloway Drive

The City Planner presented an overview of the project for which the public hearing was held on October 9th.  A review of the issues raised at the public hearing by the public and the Commission were discussed.  The significant issue associated with this project is to ensure proper driveway placement along Dilloway Drive.   

A representative of Asselin Associates explained that the two driveways could not be aligned.  He presented a site plan depicting the furthest possible point east that the driveway could be located.

The City Planner clarified his directive, which was to require that the petitioner identify that the dental office and the Wolverine Bank driveways line up.  If they do not, he recommended the issue be tabled to get information about how the driveways will align or why they cannot align.

There was discussion about the feasibility of allowing driveway access to Eastman Avenue.

Rod Wieland, Ray Senesac and Dan Kozakiewicz agreed that the only issue to resolve is the driveway location and that alignment would be safer.

 

 

Carol Svenson suggested tabling the issue to get more information on the driveways.

A motion was made by Ray Senesac and seconded by Carol Svenson to table a decision until the Wolverine Bank driveway is compared to the dental office driveway location.  All were in favor.  The recommendation was tabled until the November 13th meeting.  

 

b.   Discussion of Site Plan 197 – the redevelopment of Eastlawn Shopping Center (specifically the Walgreen’s Drug Store Lighting Plan).

The City Planner provided a review of the site plan, which was approved by City Council on January 29, 2001.  Following the approval, Walgreen's submitted a revised photometric plan to the developer requesting brighter lighting.  The developer requested that the Planning Commission review the plan.  Section 25.4(d)(4) of the Zoning Ordinance requires a site plan review finding that the provisions for exterior lighting are adequate for the safety of occupants or users of the site and that such provisions will not damage the value or diminish the usability of adjacent properties.  Section 30.5(g) of the Zoning Ordinance states:  "All lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking area shall be so shaded, shielded, or directed that the light intensity or brightness will not be objectionable to surrounding areas, nor shall direct rays of light impinge on adjacent residential properties.”

The Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) recommends a minimum of one foot candle (fc) lighting for parking lots.  They also recommend that "trespass" lighting shall not exceed 0.5 fc.   Staff recommended approval of the plan based on department research, conditioned upon the IESNA recommendations of "trespass" lighting not to be in excess of 0.5 fc at the property lines, and active utilized areas are to be illuminated to at least 1.0 fc.

Commissioners Wieland, Svenson and Kozakiewicz all stated they felt they should abide by staff's recommendations, based on the data from the IESNA. 

A motion was made by Ray Senesac, seconded by Joe Slicker, to approve the lighting plan, based on a minimum of 1.0 fc on the interior and a maximum of 0.5 fc "trespass" lighting off site.

Vote on the motion:

YEAS: Baker, Dowling, Garner, Geisler, Kozakiewicz, Senesac, Svenson, Slicker, Wieland

NAYS:  None

ABSENT:   None

6.  New Business

None

7.  Communications

      The new issue of Planning/Zoning News was distributed to all Commissioners.

 

8.  Report of the Chairman

      Chairman Geisler reported that he would be attending the Michigan Society of Planning Conference, held at Mackinac Island, this coming week. 

9.   Report of the Planning Director

The City Planner reported on the following matters:

*     The recommendation of a planning firm will be made to City Council at their meeting on November 12th. 

*     City Council approved the annexation of 38 acres located on Stark Road.  Several annexations have now occurred which will need City zoning applied.

*     The Michigan Society of Planning Conference will be held on October 24-27th on Mackinac Island. 

*     There will be a joint meeting of the Midland City Planning Commission and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on November 8, 2001, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.  The Commission would like staff to see if Stan Cool, the City's Traffic Engineer, could also be present at that meeting.

*     On October 29, 2001, the City Council will have a special meeting with the West Main Street Historic District Commission.

 

10.  Adjourn.

Adjournment at approximately 8:55 p.m. was moved by Rod Wieland, seconded by Ray Senesac, and unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mark Ostgarden, AICP

Acting Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION