MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MIDLAND CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY,

JANUARY 22, 2013, 7:00 P.M.,

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

1. Roll Call

PRESENT: Hanna, Heying, McLaughlin, Mead, Senesac, Stewart and Young

ABSENT: Pnacek and Tanzini

OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Kaye, Director of Planning and Community Development, Cindy Winland, Consulting Planner, Jeff Burdick, Community Development Planner and two others.

Moved by Senesac, seconded by Hanna to accept the amended agenda with the addition of item 4b Adoption of Updates to City of Midland Master Plan. Motion passed unanimously.

2. Approval of Minutes

Moved by Young, seconded by Heying to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 8, 2013. Motion passed unanimously.

3. Public Hearings

None

4. Old Business

a. 2013 Zoning Text Amendments

Ms. Winland reviewed the list of previously proposed amendments and summarized those that are being withdrawn by staff or were removed at the direction of the Planning Commission. The amendments removed or withdrawn included Article 7 (page 7-3), item 7.02.G.1 as the amendment is not necessary, retaining multiple family dwellings in the Office Service district as a conditional use, and the revisions to Article 27 dealing with Administrative Site Plan reviews, that will be brought back as part of an overall package for updating the site plan review process.

Ms. Winland called attention to the employee parking standards of Article 5 as still requiring discussion by and direction from the Planning Commission. The staff suggestion is to remove specific requirements for employee parking. This change is part of an overall response to what are considered excessive parking requirements in the Zoning Ordinance.

After significant discussion about eliminating the employee parking provisions of the zoning ordinance, the Planning Commission decided to remove this from the zoning text amendments at this time. Further review should take place in context of an overall review of the parking standards.

The Planning Commission then tabled a vote on the zoning text amendments until a clean packet of all the zoning text amendments with the removed items can be brought forward to the Planning Commission.

Mr. Senesac raised the issue of access management and requested a future discussion on the topic. Planning staff will bring ideas to initiate the discussion at a future Planning Commission meeting.

b. Adoption of Updates to City of Midland Master Plan

Mr. Kaye noted that City Council had no comments concerning the updates to the Master Plan. No additional public comments have been received and Planning Staff have no further revisions. He stated that the Planning Commission is the approving body to make these updates. Commissioners noted that the draft Master Plan has been fully discussed and is in the same form as previously recommended to City Council.

Motion by Young, seconded by McLaughlin to adopt the updates to the City of Midland Master Plan.

Vote:

YEAS: Hanna, Heying, McLaughlin, Mead, Senesac, Stewart, and Young

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Pnacek, and Tanzini

Motion passed 7-0.

5. Public Comments

None

6. New Business

a. Attendance Policy Review

Chairman Mead reviewed the attendance policy.

7. Communications

None

8. Report of the Chairperson

None

9. Report of the Planning Director

Mr. Kaye advised that Council members Brooks and Brown had commended the Planning Commission on the work put forth in the updates to the Master Plan.

10. Items for Next Agenda – February 12, 2013

a. Site Plan No. 314 – Twilight Motel

b. 2013 Zoning Text Amendments

11. Adjourn

Motion by Senesac seconded by Heying to adjourn at 8:00 pm. .

Respectfully submitted,

C. Bradley Kaye, AICP

Director of Planning and Community Development

MINUTES ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION