MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,

WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2006, 7:00 P.M.,

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

 

1.   Roll Call

PRESENT:  Eyre, Gaynor, Jocks, Mead, Senesac and Svenson

ABSENT:     Kozakiewicz and Rapanos

OTHERS PRESENT:  Jon Lynch, Assistant City Manager; Debbie Marquardt, Technical Secretary and 5 others.

 

2.   Approval of Minutes

Regular Meeting of February 28, 2006

It was moved by Mead and supported by Eyre to approve the minutes of February 28th.  The minutes were unanimously approved. 

 

3.      Public Hearing

 

      Zoning Petition No. 528 – Consideration of a petition initiated by Michael Rapanos

      to rezone approximately 11 acres located at 4124 Waldo Avenue from Residential A-4

      zoning to Residential B zoning.

 

Mr. Lynch stated that the subject property fronted Waldo Road.  The petition requested that the subject property be rezoned from Residential A-4 to Residential B.  Residential A-4 is a one and two family zoning classification.  The petitioner requests it be rezoned to Residential B, which is a multiple family zoning.  The subject property is currently undeveloped.  The aerial view shows property to the east that is owed by the city for future land fill.  The petitioner has expressed his intent to construct a senior citizens housing facility on the subject property.  In Section 5.1 (c) of the former zoning ordinance permitted the use via special approval.  The current zoning ordinance has moved such uses to the Residential B Zone and they are permitted with special standards.  The Residential A-4 zoning classification primarily is one family and two family dwellings and parks and fire stations.  Residential B district is a multiple family district at a higher density, senior apartments and orphanages. 

 

A public hearing will consider if this is consistent with the city’s master plan.  Is it in accord with the Zoning Ordinance?  The most recent land developed in this area is Alterra in 1998.  It is consistent with the surrounding property.  The land use provisions are not consistent.  When a zoning petition is processed, the zoning classification would allow for a full use of zoning uses.  Staff recommends this not be approved because it is incompatible with the city master plan. 

 

Scott Gaynor asked about a piece of property that is an island that is not located in the city.

 

The city doesn’t solicit for annexations.  As land is annexed they end up with small pieces of property.

 

When the land use map and the master plan were created, the existing ordinance was not created. 

 

Roger Mead asked about properties to the north and south and if they are primarily single family homes.

 

Immediately to the north there are single family dwellings.  To the south there is established senior housing and then a small area of undeveloped property that separates the parcel and then the subject parcel.

 

Bill Eyre asked about the senior housing center and that the current zoning would not allow that.

 

Michael Rapanos, Julie Ann in Midland.  He added a couple of things.  The parcel to the south is an old Dow Chemical brine site.  There are three houses to the north and then one is putting a barn on the south edge that will be adjacent.  Directly north has a barn and they do work on automobiles.  There are a lot of things that make it unique.  There is an assisted living home adjacent and in the township they were allowed to put that there.  The property is irregular in shape.  The area is undeveloped because of the interchange and to the south is the city property.  It is not desirable to do single family housing next to the expressway and the landfill.  This property lends itself to a multiple use property or assisted living. 

 

Bill Eyre asked if the parcel comes out to Waldo.

 

There is a 30 foot easement to the brine well so the can access it.  When Alterra went it the easement was moved to the north.

 

No one to speak in favor.

 

Michael DeFrancesco, 3315 Mark Twain Drive, has a few concerns.  The biggest concern is it could be assisted living for seniors but it is open to a multi level apartment with several people living there.  He asked what height level the building would be looking out his back yard.  There would be more traffic and noise.  If it was senior living it would not be a problem.  A prospective buyer could change his mind and build apartments.  Another concern is a road could be looped in from the apartment type property in that area.  He is concerned about numerous trees that are along the highway as a sound barrier to residents on Mark Twain Drive.

 

The land to the south along the highway, Mike Rapanos believes it is owned by Dow Chemical.  He stated that there isn’t enough room to build a street through there.  He also stated that who is to say what they will build but they still would have to go through site plan review.  The height issue would be 30 feet.  The higher you go the more parking and it is limited by the size.  It is a very irregular shaped property in a unique spot.

 

4.   Public Comments (not related to agenda items)

 

      None

 

5.   Old Business

 

      None

     

6.  New Business

    

     None

  

7.  Communications

 

     Presented with a Planning & Zoning News.

 

8.  Report of the Chairman

 

    None

 

9.  Report of the Planning Director

 

            CITY COUNCIL                                                                                                                 

 

March 6th

                                PUBLIC HEARINGS

§         Rezoning, Zoning Petition No. 527 – Public hearing for consideration of a petition initiated by Midland County to rezone approximately 30 acres located at 4600 Bay City Road from Agriculture to Community zoning. (approved)

 

                                ACTION ITEMS

§         Site Plan No. 250 – Consideration of site plan approval for a 3,500 seat baseball stadium located at 825 East Main Street, submitted by the Michigan Baseball Foundation. (approved)

 

March 20th

                                PUBLIC HEARINGS

§         Receive proposals for reuse and / or redevelopment of the Midland Civic Arena.

 

                                ACTION ITEMS

None

PLANNING COMMISSION

               

March 28th

                                PUBLIC HEARINGS

None

 

                                ACTION ITEMS

Rezoning, Zoning Petition No. 528 – Public hearing for consideration of a petition initiated by Michael Rapanos to rezone approximately 11 acres located at 4124 Waldo Avenue from Residential A-4 to Residential B zoning.

 

April 11th

                                PUBLIC HEARINGS

Site Plan No. 251 – Public hearing for consideration of a petition initiated by Ledy Design Group for approval of a site plan including a Bed, Bath 7 Beyond retail store on 1.77 acres located at 1118 Joe Mann Boulevard.

 

                                ACTION ITEMS

None

 

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

 

March 21st

 

Cancelled

       

PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN REVIEWS

 

None

 

 

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

 

§         Town hall Meetings in a Box take place at City Hall on March 22 and 23 at 7:00 PM.

§         47 Meetings in a Box have taken place or are scheduled as of March 14th.

§         Scheduling of April training session.

§          

10.  Adjourn

Adjournment at approximately 7:35 PM and unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Jon Lynch

Assistant City Manager

 

MINUTES ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION