MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,

WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2001, 7:00 P.M.,

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

 

1.   Roll Call

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

ABSENT:     Kozakiewicz (previously arranged)

OTHERS PRESENT:  Mark Ostgarden, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Administrative Assistant, Sally Sutton (ZBA member) and 3 others

2.   Approval of the minutes of the meeting of November 27, 2001

It was moved by Slicker, seconded by Baker, to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 27, 2001.  The minutes were unanimously approved.

 

3.   Public Comments

None

 

4.   Old Business

The Planning Commissioners were presented copies of a calendar outlining approval timelines for site plan review under several notification scenarios.  The City Planner provided an overview of the calendar based on additional public hearings and the impact Council dates have on this timeline.  Commissioners will review the scenarios and be prepared to discuss the timelines at their next meeting.

5.  New Business

a)  Mr. Ostgarden presented reports on five annexations of property to the City of Midland in the past year.  These properties need to have city zoning applied to them.

i)  On Dublin Road, three single-parcels containing a single-family residential structure on each parcel, were annexed to the city.  Adjacent city zoning is Residential A-1, and the area has been determined to be appropriate for low-density residential land use on the Land Use Plan map for the area.  The area is adjacent to the currently developing Somerset Pines site condominiums which was also recently annexed and zoned Residential A-1.  A Residential A-1 zoning classification is recommended for these parcels, which will be consistent with the Land Use Plan for the area.

Mr. Slicker and Mr. Wieland concurred with staff's recommendations to propose Residential A-1 for this area.  It was moved by Slicker and seconded by Wieland to advertise for a public hearing as Residential A-1.  The motion was unanimously approved.

ii)  A single lot containing a single-family residence located on Penrod Road was annexed to the city.  Adjacent zoning is Residential A-1 and the area has been determined to be appropriate for low-density residential land use on the Land Use Map.  A Residential A-1 zoning classification is recommended for this parcel that will be consistent with the Land Use Plan map for the area. 

It was moved by Garner and seconded by Slicker to advertise for a public hearing as Residential A-1.  The motion was unanimously approved.

iii)  The third annexation discussed includes two vacant parcels on the north and south side of Oakbrook Court, but excludes the Oakbrook Court street right-of-way.  Adjacent City zoning is Office Service 2 and Residential A-3 to the south.  There is Business B-2 zoning across Jefferson Avenue.  Oakbrook Court is a developing residential cul-de-sac.  Although there is adjacent office service zoning and commercial zoning across Jefferson Avenue, a Residential A-1 zoning classification is appropriate and consistent with the Master Plan.

The Planning Commissioners all agreed that a residential zoning classification would be the most appropriate for this area.  A motion was made by Baker, seconded by Slicker, to advertise for a public hearing for Residential A-1 zoning for both parcels.  The motion was unanimously approved.

iv)  The area including the intersection of Eastman Avenue, Commerce Court, and Commerce Drive has developed over the years with a variety of commercial uses.  The property currently has a Commercial B Larkin Township zoning classification, which is similar in nature to the city's Business C zoning.  Although the zoning permits a more intensive use of the annexed area, the uses that have developed are uses permitted in the city's Business B-2 classification.  The Land Use Plan identifies the area as appropriate for Light Industrial land uses.  Based on existing development a Business B-2 or Business C zoning classification would be appropriate for the area.  It was concluded during discussion on the area that many of the uses also would be permitted in an Industrial A zoning district.

Mr. Wieland feels a Business C classification is more appropriate for this area than Industrial A, based upon currently developed land uses.  A motion was made by Wieland, seconded by Garner, to ask staff to obtain input from the property owners before the Planning Commission makes a recommendation.  The motion was unanimously approved.

v)  The newly annexed area bordered by North Saginaw Road, the west side of Stark Road, and the south side of West Wackerly Street includes a mix of uses, including single-family residential along N. Saginaw Road and on Stark Road.  It also includes commercial activity, including a car dealership, storage buildings and a vacant office/manufacturing building at the corner of N. Saginaw Road and Stark Road.  There is a medical office building along W. Wackerly Street at the west end of the annexed area.  A considerable portion of the land is undeveloped and may have wetland development limitations.  The city Land Use Plan includes General Commercial on the north side of Wackerly Street and at the corner of N. Saginaw Road and Stark Road, with Office-Service along the south side of Wackerly Street and on the west side of Stark Road.  Three zoning scenarios were presented for consideration in this area.

Several of the Planning Commissioners indicated a desire to obtain input from the existing property owners before moving ahead with the zoning of this area.  A motion was made by Wieland, seconded by Svenson, to ask staff to obtain the opinions of property owners , including presenting the proposed scenarios, before the Planning Commission makes a recommendation.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

b)  The Planning Commission received a referral from City Council of a request to close Goldenwood Drive at Hedgewood Drive.  In his staff report, the Planning Director recommended that the Planning Commission conduct a public hearing on this matter to aid in the process of developing a recommendation, as this matter was reviewed administratively in 2000 and the current vacation petition includes signatures of 30 area residents. 

Mr. Wieland concurs with the Planning Director's recommendation to hold a public hearing, as well as seeking a recommendation from the City Engineering Department and the City's Traffic Engineer.  Mr. Senesac wants to make sure the residents of the two apartment complexes are notified.  Ms. Svenson would like to make sure the residents and owners  of Amberwood, Goldenwood and Hedgewood are all notified of the public hearing.  Mr. Slicker requested a traffic count at the intersection of Goldenwood Drive and Hedgewood Drive.

A motion was made by Wieland, seconded by Slicker, to advertise for a public hearing for the January 8th meeting.  The motion was unanimously approved.

6.  Communications

The November 2001 edition of the Planning and Zoning News was distributed, along with travel forms for the MSP Workshop in Mt. Pleasant on January 24, 2002.

7.  Report of the Chairman

      No report

8.   Report of the Planning Director

Mr. Ostgarden reported on the following matters:

Ø       On December 3rd, the City Council approved the service contract with McKenna Associates.

Ø       On December 3rd, the City Council set a public hearing date for Zoning Petition No. 480 on January 14th.

Ø       On January 8th, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Zoning Petition No. 481, the request of Nick Rapanos to rezone property on S. Saginaw Rd. and James Savage Road from Business-C to Industrial A.

Ø       Commissioners selected Saturday, February 2nd for their annual training session. 

Ø      Commissioners were reminded of the MDOT access management seminar put on by the Michigan Society of Planning, which will be held on January 24th in Mt. Pleasant.

 

9.  Adjourn.

Adjournment at approximately 8:30 p.m. was moved Svenson, seconded by Wieland, and unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Cheri Standfest

Acting Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION