MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,

WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2002, 7:00 P.M.,

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

 

1.   Roll Call

PRESENT:  Dowling, Geisler, Max, Senesac, Slicker, Svenson, and Wieland

ABSENT:     Baker, Kozakiewicz (both excused)

OTHERS PRESENT:  Mark Ostgarden, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Administrative Assistant, and 10 others.

2.   Approval of the minutes of the meeting of November 5, 2002

Ray Senasac moved approval of the minutes of the meeting of November 5, 2002, with Joe Slicker supporting the motion.  All in support.

 

3.      Public Hearings

 

a.        Site Plan No. 220 – request of WT Development on behalf of 1826 South Saginaw Road LLC for site plan approval of a 2,900 square foot fast food restaurant with a drive thru located east of Dunham’s Sports.  WITHDRAWN

b.        Site Plan No. 221 – request of Wolgast Corp. for site plan approval of a 54,825 square foot warehouse located at 2520 Schuette Road. [See Transcript]

4.   Public Comments (not related to agenda items)

 

There were no public comments.

 

Old Business

 

a.        Site Plan No. 219 - request of Arthur J. Fisher for site plan approval of Alpine Estates - Phase II, a manufactured home community of 120 sites on 35.42 acres east of Perrine Road and south of Letts Street.

The City Planner reviewed the details of the site plan and the recommended conditions of approval.  He reminded the Commission about the Mobile Home Park Commission (MHC) Regulations, which limits local units of government from requiring changes be made on the interior of a mobile home park if a development meets the MHC Regulations.  The Commission had concerns about on-street parking and fire vehicle (emergency vehicle) access, pedestrian circulation and trash pickup, also there was a public concern raised at the public hearing about the traffic being generated by the development and the streets being able to handle the traffic.  City Traffic Consultant, Stan Cool, had reviewed the development and thinks the existing road network will accommodate the additional traffic being generated.
Richard Fosgitt addressed the on-street parking and trash pick up.  He stated that the owner was not willing to widen the streets to accommodate on-street parking.  He displayed diagrams of typical sites, which illustrated how each site will provide three off-street parking spaces.  When asked about large gatherings, which would generate a lot of cars, Mr. Fosgitt stated that the community building would need to be used.   The owner is willing to install a 3’ sidewalk at the edge of the pavement and will have two dumpsters, which will be screened by berms located at the entrance/exits to the park.

Mr. Max stated that since the road network can handle the additional traffic he has no problems with the facility. 

Rod Wieland motioned and Pat Max seconded the approval of Site Plan 219 with the three contingencies in the staff report. 

The vote proceeded as follows:

YEA:  Geisler, Max, Senesac, Slicker, Svenson, and Wieland

NAY:  Dowling

Absent:  Baker, Kozakiewicz

Zoning Petition No. 497 – initiated by the Planning Commission to zone property east of Jefferson Avenue, north and east of Oakbrook Court and south of Julie Ann Drive from township zoning to the City of Midland Residential A-1 Zone.

The City Planner reviewed the location, zoning, and land uses associated with this zoning.  He referred to a copy of a section of the Larkin Township Zoning Ordinance, which addressed the question about Larkin Township lot sizes raised by Pat Max at the public hearing.  The minimum lot size in a platted subdivision is 25,000 s.f. and in an unplatted area it’s one acre.

A motion was made by Rod Wieland and seconded by Ray Senesac to approve Zoning Petition 497. 

Carol Swenson said she would have preferred the ability to have larger lots for the area. 

Pat Max thought the zoning was acceptable.  He wants to consider larger lots for future annexations.

The vote proceeded as follows:

YEA:   Dowling, Geisler, Max, Senesac, Slicker, Svenson, and Wieland

NAY:  None

ABSENT:  Baker, Kozakiewicz

Zoning Petition No. 498 – initiated by the Planning Commission to zone property west of Perrine Road, north of Airport Road, and south of Letts Road from township zoning to the City of Midland Residential A-1 Zone.

The City Planner reviewed the location, zoning, and land uses associated with this zoning.  There were no issues raised at the public hearing.

A motion was made by Carol Swenson and seconded by Pat Max to recommend approval of Zoning Petition 498.

Pat Max stated the request was straightforward.

YEA:  Dowling, Geisler, Max, Senesac, Slicker, Svenson, and Wieland

NAY:  None

ABSENT:  Baker, Kozakiewicz

b.        Zoning Petition No. 499 – initiated by Shiloh Land Development, LLC to zone property west of Abbott Road, north of Betsey Drive, and south of Alta Court from Residential A-2 to Residential A-4. 

The City Planner described the rezoning request.  The history of the zoning and abandonment of Airfield Lane were reviewed.  It was explained that the site plan prepared for the site has the zoning line running through the structures and approximately 5’ of the structure would be in a different zoning classification.  Therefore, the zoning line is proposed to be moved 5’ to the north to allow the structure to be in one zoning classification. 

A letter received by the Planning Department on November 25, 2002 was distributed.  Thomas Peterson, 2310 Alta Court, stated that rezoning would negatively impact the neighborhood.

The Chairman and the Commission were not comfortable in amending the petition and inquired what was on the application.  The current proposal is what is on the application.

Maria Sylva Coletta and Linda Donner, both Alta Court residents spoke in opposition to the request.  Ms. Coletta presented a petition signed by adjacent property owners in opposition to the rezoning.

A motion was made by Ray Senesac and seconded by Wieland to recommend approval of Zoning Petition 499.

There was discussion about the history of this situation.  The consensus of the Commission is that the proposed rezoning should have been done when the property was rezoned in 1982.  Then when Airfield Road was vacated this rezoning would not have been needed.  The Commission felt this was a housing-keeping procedure and some thought this is correcting a mistake.

YEA:  Geisler, Senesac, Svenson, and Wieland

NAY:  Dowling, Max, Slicker

ABSENT:  Baker, Kozakiewicz

5.   New Business

Rod Wieland will not be at the December meeting.

 

6.      Communications

John Rapanos submitted a letter and a request to consider changes to the zoning and land use on the west side of the city.  Jon Lynch had responded to his request.  Chairman Geisler asked for an explanation of the maps since the maps were in black and white. The City Planner suggested that a report could be provided at the December 10th meeting with color maps.  The Planning Commission requested that this occur at that meeting.

Jim Shiler submitted a letter to the County Road Commission requesting paved shoulders on the improved Jefferson Avenue, which is expected to occur in 2003.  Ray Senesac asked whose project the improvements will be.  The City Planner did not know and said he had not talked to the Community Development Director or the City Engineer about the letter. 

Ray Senesac thought this was a good request, as did several other commissioners.  He asked about the best way to respond.  The City Planner requested an opportunity to talk to the Community Development Director and the City Engineer.  A response on how best to respond can be provided at the December 10th. meeting.  The Planning Commission would like a report at that meeting.

A letter was sent to the Midland Home Builders Association regarding the Zoning Ordinance/Subdivision Review process.

8.  Report of the Chairman

      None

Report of the Planning Director

The City Planner reported on the following matters:

 

CITY COUNCIL

 

November 25th

Public Hearing on Zoning Petition No. 495 by Midland Ford.  City Council approved the request by a 3-2 vote.

 

December 9th

            Site Plan No. 219 – Alpine Mobile Home Village (action)

                        Zoning Petition   No. 497 – N and E of Oakbrook Estates (set hearing)            

                       Zoning Petition   No. 498 – W of Perrine Road, N. of Airport Road (set hearing)

                        Zoning Petition   No.  499 – W of Abbott, N of Betsey (set hearing)

PLANNING COMMISSION

 

December 10

Planned Unit Development No. 15 – Shiloh Homes; Carolina Cove: W of Abbott, N of Betsey

            Report on John Rapanos zoning and land use issues

            Report on a response to the letter from Jim Shiler regarding bicycle lanes.

 

January 14th

            Planned Unit Development No. 15 (action)

 

There will be a Planning Commission meeting with McKenna Associates on December 3rd.  The Chairman determined that the review of the draft should be divided among the members.  Carol Svenson volunteered to review Sections 12-16; Troy Dowling, 17and 18; Joe Slicker, 20; Ray Senesac, 21; Rod Wieland, 22 and 23; Russ Baker, 24 Dan Kozakiewicz, 25; and Pat Max 26 and 27.

                                                               

10.  Adjourn.

Adjournment at approximately 9:00 PM was moved by Senesac, seconded by Wieland, and was unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mark Ostgarden, AICP, CFM

Acting Planning Commission Secretary

 

MINUTES ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION