MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,

WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2002, 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:  Jon Lynch, Director of Planning & Community Development; Mark Ostgarden, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Administrative Assistant, and 37 others

2.   Approval of the minutes of the meeting of December 11, 2001

Chairman Geisler asked for any corrections or additions to the minutes.  Commissioner Garner noted that while seconding the motion outlined in paragraph IV on page 2, she did not request notification of all property owners.  That request came from Commissioner Svenson.

It was moved by Senesac, seconded by Baker, to approve the minutes of the meeting of December 11, 2001 as corrected.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

3.   Public Hearings

a.        Public Hearing for Zoning Petition No. 481 – the request of Nicolaos Rapanos to rezone property on the southwest corner of South Saginaw Road and James Savage Road from Business C to Industrial A [see transcript].

b.        Public Hearing for the petition to vacate Goldenwood Drive at Hedgewood Drive  – the petition of residents of the Amberwood Subdivision, including Amberwood Court, Goldenwood Drive, and a portion of Hedgewood Drive, requesting vacation of a potion of public right-of-way to facilitate closure of Hedgewood Drive  [see transcript].

 

4.   Public Comments (not related to agenda items)

None.

 

5.      Old Business

a.         Staff Report:  Zoning of Recently Annexed Territory – Mark Ostgarden presented the Planning Commission with an overview of potential zoning scenarios in the area of Commerce Court / Commerce Drive.  It was noted that there is a diverse range of businesses in this area and that the Future Land Use Plan calls for the area to be developed for light industrial purposes.  Area property owners have expressed interest in the Business B-2 and Business C zoning classifications.

Commissioners discussed evolving uses in this geographic area, the capacity of existing streets in the area, potential for future infrastructure development, and the character of existing land uses.  Ultimately the Commission determined that generally the west ½ of the subject area should be zoned Business B-2 while the east ½ should be zoned Business C.  Staff will engage in the formal hearing process based on this determination.

 

At approximately 9:20 p.m. Mr. Lynch noted that the Planning Commission was approaching the 9:30 p.m. meeting conclusion time established under its rules of procedure.  It was moved by Wieland and seconded by Slicker to continue the meeting until all agenda items had been addressed.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

Next, Mr. Ostgarden provided an overview of land uses in the recently annexed area west of Stark Road and North of North Saginaw Road.  It was noted that the Future Land Use Plan calls for a mixture of office, low-density residential, and commercial uses in the subject area.  Property owners in the area have expressed their interests as follow:  Marlin Management, Office Service 2; McPhillips, Business B-2; Mitchell, Residential A-1 on North Saginaw Road and Office Service 2 on Stark Road.  Planning Commissioners felt that these interests closely followed the Future Land Use Map as well as existing land uses.  Staff will engage in the formal hearing process based on this determination. 

 

b.      Discussion of Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance Project – Jon Lynch informed Commissioners that he had visited the offices of McKenna Associates, Inc. for the purpose of discussing a tentative project timetable.  The first order of business is to select a date for the project kickoff meeting.  Commissioners noted that the initial date of January 22nd is going to be a busy regular meeting.  They determined that a special meeting date should be committed to this project.

 

Staff was directed to attempt to schedule the initial meeting with McKenna Associates for February 5th.  Barring the 5th we will work toward January 29th or February 6th.  Mr. Lynch will follow up with Commissioners to confirm the meeting date.

6.  New Business

None

7.  Communications

      None

8.  Report of the Chairman

      No Report 

9.   Report of the Planning Director

The City Planner reported on the following matters:

On January 14th the City Council will conduct a public hearing on Zoning Petition No. 480.

On January 22nd the Planning Commission will deliberate on Zoning Petition No. 481 and the Hedgewood ROW Vacation request as well as conducting public hearings on Zoning Petitions No. 482, 483, and 484.

On February 12th the Planning Commission will conduct public hearings on Zoning Petitions No. 486, 487, and 488.

Special sessions include the January 24th Access Management seminar sponsored by the Michigan Department of Transportation and the February 2nd annual training day.

 

10.  Adjourn.

Commissioner Garner quickly asked staff to provide comments regarding traffic calming measures from the municipal traffic-engineering consultant for the January 22nd meeting.

Adjournment at approximately 10:05 p.m. was moved by Rod Wieland, seconded by Carol Svenson and unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Jon Lynch, AICP

Planning Commission Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION