MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2004, 7:00 P.M.,
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL,
1. Roll Call
PRESENT: Baker, Dowling, Geisler, Max, Mead, Senesac, Svenson and Wieland
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz (excused)
OTHERS PRESENT: Jon
Lynch, Assistant City Manager; Mark Ostgarden, City Planner; Cheri Standfest,
Administrative Assistant; Sally Sutton, Zoning Board of Appeals and 16 others
2. Approval
of Minutes
Regular Meeting of
It was moved by Geisler and supported by Dowling to approve the minutes
of December 9 with corrections. On page
one the work “obtain” is changed to “abstain” and on page two the word “crease”
is changed to “approve”. The minutes were
unanimously approved as corrected.
3. Public
Hearings
a.
Zoning Petition No. 505 - Consideration of a zoning change requested by Family and Children’s
Service of Midland to zone property at 1610 Bookness Street from Residential
A-4 to Office Service 2. [see transcript]
b.
Site Plan No. 235
- Consideration of site plan approval requested by Arthur J. Fisher to revise
an approved site plan (#219) for a residential mobile home park with 137 sites
on approximately 35 acres located east of Perrine Road and south of Letts Road.
[see transcript]
4. Public
Comments (not related to agenda items)
None
5.
Old
Business
a. Zoning Petition No. 504 - Consideration
of a zoning change requested by Midland
Soccer Club to zone approximately 35 acres south of Joseph Drive and north of
Diamond Drive, east of Midfield Lane from Limited Commercial, Manufacturing and
Research to Community. Mr. Lynch
provided a summary of the request and the public hearing conducted on December
9th. Mr. Richard Fosgitt of
Bartow and King Engineers, speaking on behalf of the Midland Soccer Club,
reviewed development plans for the subject site.
Commissioner Geisler stated that this is a nice plan and will provide a
good addition to the community.
Commissioners Mead and Wieland also spoke in support of the zoning
petition.
Commissioner Max stated that the existing soccer complex is certainly
utilized and the proposed expansion is probably already 6 or 7 fields short.
Chairman Senesac also noted that by virtue of its willingness to part
with this parcel, Dow has limited need for the property in the future.
It was moved by Svenson and
seconded by Wieland to recommend approval of Rezoning Petition No. 504.
The vote proceeded as follows:
YEA: Baker, Dowling, Geisler, Max, Mead,
Senesac, Svenson, Wieland
NAY: None
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz
b. Site Plan No. 234 - Consideration
of site plan approval requested by F/A
Pnacek Ltd. to create an 18 lot site condominium on approximately 4.4 acres
located north of Joseph Drive and west of Midfield Lane. Mr. Lynch reviewed the site plan, Site Plan
No. 226, and the public hearing of December 9th. Mr. Jerry Schaefer, speaking on behalf of F/A
Pnacek Ltd., indicated that all contingencies specified in the staff report
would be accepted and complied with.
Commissioner Svenson stated that this plan is not much different than the
previous plan and that the three proposed private streets present a safety
hazard.
Commissioner Mead discussed the setback differences between the original
site plan and the current plan.
Commissioner Wieland indicated that he would prefer to see a service
drive providing access to the interior lots but has concluded that the proposed
plan meets the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. There are elements of the plan that he does
not care for but he will support the plan.
Commissioner Max stated that the design is not grossly different from the
initial plan but it does meet the setback requirements. He feels that there may be problems with
residents of the City living along the rear lot line of residents of Larkin
Township since township citizens can do things such as burn yard waste and
create large compost piles.
Commissioner Mead stated that this is a different plan which meets the
criteria of the ordinance and that the Planning Commission needs to be open to
the revisions. Personal feelings should
not enter into the evaluation and buyers and the market will dictate the
success of the project.
Commissioner Svenson brought up screening along the north property line
of the subject site. Commissioners
generally felt that the 40’ long fences at the street terminations was a start
toward stopping lights from cars, more screening along the property line would
be beneficial.
Commissioner Baker advised the Planning Commission not to wander into
areas of new concern as the Commission had previously acted on a site plan for
this project and the developers addressed the concerns raised at that time.
Chairman Senesac stated that screening along the north property line is a
good idea and that he reluctantly supports the plan.
It was moved by Geisler and seconded
by Mead to recommend approval of Site Plan No. 234 with the following
contingencies:
1.
Following construction utility easements and a detention pond location
easement shall be provided.
2.
Site lighting will not cast illumination off site.
3.
Storm water retention plans shall be reviewed and approved by the City of
Midland Engineering Department.
4.
Sidewalk will be constructed through the private street intersections.
5.
Access capable of supporting a 60,000 lb. vehicle will be provided prior
to construction on any of the proposed “lots”.
6.
On street parking will be placed opposite the fire hydrants.
7.
Hammerhead dimensions will be increased to 30’ by 60’.
8.
A six foot tall opaque screen will be installed along the north property
line of the subject parcel.
The vote proceeded as follows:
YEA: Baker, Dowling, Geisler, Mead,
Senesac, Wieland
NAY: Max, Svenson
ABSENT: Kozakiewicz
c.
City
of Midland Zoning Ordinance – Consideration of a
new zoning ordinance, including a zoning district map, regulating the
development and use of land within the City of Midland. Mr. Lynch reviewed comments offered to the
Planning Commission during the December 9th public hearing. Mr. John Muste and Mr. Charles Batcke
presented additional comments to the Commission. Chairman Senesac determined that the
Commissioners would discuss each outstanding item individually and the
discussion proceeded as follows:
(i)
Recreation
Vehicle Parking – Commissioners discussed the relative
merit of imposing more significant restrictions on parking and storage of
recreational vehicles in residential zones.
The Commission directed staff to revise the draft text by incorporating
language from the current zoning ordinance.
In addition, staff is to provide information regarding parking and
storage of recreational vehicles within front yard and side street yard
setbacks.
(ii)
Traffic
Impact Analysis – After discussing how traffic impact
assessments would be utilized and analyzed the Commission determined that this
provision should be deleted from the draft ordinance.
At 9:32 PM it was moved by
Geisler and seconded by Wieland to extend the meeting until 10:00 PM. This motion was unanimously approved.
(iii)
Mobile
Home Parks – Noting that the Michigan Mobile Home
Commission regulates mobile home park design, and that the MMHC can authorize
local rules that are more restrictive than State rules, the Commission
recommended that Article 16 of the draft ordinance be submitted to MMHC for
comment.
(iv)
Fence
Regulations – Public comment regarding the value of
regulating the “finished” side of fences has been evenly divided. Planning Commissioners discussed this
provision and, by a slim majority, decided to retain the draft language.
(v)
Office
Service District – Commissioners reviewed public comments
and determined that single family, two family, and multiple family dwellings
should be permitted by conditional use permit in the Office Service Zone.
Staff will prepare updated
language for consideration by the Commission on January 27th. An additional public hearing on the draft
ordinance will be scheduled for a future date, likely February 24th.
6. New
Business
Request to consider approval of
Site Plan No. 235 – Commissioners discussed the petitioner’s request to act on
this revised site plan immediately. Commissioner
Mead noted that there were too many issues that need to be addressed for the
Planning Commission to deal with it tonight.
Commissioners elected not to take action on the plan that evening.
7. Communications
Letter from Wade Trim, Inc. regarding efforts by Larkin Charter Township
to update its master plan. This notice
to adjoining jurisdictions is required by the Michigan Coordinated Planning
Act.
8. Report
of the Chairman
Chairman
Senesac reported that he and Mr. Ostgarden attended a STARPAC meeting in
December. This group is organized for
the purpose of advancing bicycle and pedestrian transportation networks
throughout the community.
9. Report of the Planning Director
The
Director reported on the following matters:
CITY COUNCIL
January
26th
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Set
date for Zoning Petition No. 504 – Midland Soccer Club
ACTION ITEMS
Site Plan No. 234 – Courts
at Joseph’s Run
PLANNING COMMISSION
January
27th
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
ACTION ITEMS
Zoning Petition No. 505 – 1610 Bookness (RA-4 to OS-2)
Site Plan No. 235 – Alpine
Estates (if action not taken 1/13)
10. Adjourn.
Adjournment at approximately 9:50 PM was moved by Wieland, seconded by
Geisler, and unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Lynch, AICP
Planning Commission Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION