Flushing City Council

Minutes

October 11, 2004

 

 

A Regular Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called to order on Monday, October 11, 2004, at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Janice L. Gensel, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and invocation.

 

Present:                                  Richard L. Bade

                                                John C. Gault

                                                Janice L. Gensel

                                                Jay E. Johnson

                                                Raymond Peck

                                                Teresa K. Salem

                                                Michael T. Szukhent

 

Absent:                                   None

 

Others Present:                      Dennis J. Bow, City Manager

                                                Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer

                                                Edward G. Henneke, City Attorney

 

Approval of Agenda – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to approve the October 11, 2004 agenda.

 

            Yea:     Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel

            Nay:     None

            Motion Carried.

 

MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:

 

The following individuals addressed City Council on various issues:

 

Elva Cook                               Ron Graves                            Jane Forbes           

            1459 Flushing Rd.     467 N. Elms Rd.                     608 Hut West      

 

            Elizabeth Cuevas

            439 Riverwoods

 

CONSENT AGENDA – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to remove City Council Minutes (September 13, 2004 Regular Meeting, September 13, 2004 Closed Meeting and September 29, 2004 Special Meeting) from the agenda.

 

            Yea:     Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel

            Nay:     None

            Motion Carried.

 

 

 

 

Flushing City Council

Minutes

October 11, 2004

 

Page Two

 

 

Consent Agenda – Motion by Gault, seconded by Salem, to approve City Council Minutes (September 13, 2004 Regular Meeting), City Council Minutes (September 13, 2004 Closed Meeting) and City Council Minutes (September 29, 2004 Special Meeting).

 

            Yea:     Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Gensel

            Abstain:            Szukhent

            Nay:     None

            Motion Carried.

 

Consent Agenda – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to approve the September 27, 2004 Council Bills List and the October 11, 2004 Council Bills List.

 

            Yea:     Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel

            Nay:     None

            Motion Carried.

 

PUBLIC HEARING:

 

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), in conjunction with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, provides grant funding, for certain housing needs, to individuals that meet certain eligibility and program requirements. 

 

MSHDA has announced funding available through two (2) time windows, first of which is October 11th through October 15th, 2004, and the second beginning January 31st through February 4th, 2005.  Funding is available for those governmental entities that choose Community Development Block Grant for housing funds for those communities that are not included in County allocations.  The Office of Community Development targets expenditures in order to maximize the benefit to the community for the physical improvement of housing. 

 

In order to submit an application to obtain these funds, a Public Hearing is required to identify properties requiring assistance under the guidelines of this program.  Administration has identified two (2) separate properties, within the City of Flushing, that have requested support for home improvements.  The properties eligible must meet certain inspection guidelines, as determined by the Michigan Building Code working with a qualified building inspector.  The City of Flushing Building Inspector has inspected homes requesting the use of these funds, and a conservative estimate of the costs for two (2) homes within the City is $50,000.00.

 

 

 

Flushing City Council

Minutes

October 11, 2004

 

Page Three

 

 

A formal application will be submitted by October 15th in order to accommodate those two homes, with a requested federal funding match of $40,000.00.  The estimated portion of the funds that will be provided by the homeowners will not exceed $10,000.00.  Improvements to the homes must be made by qualified contractors, and those contractors will be required to meet certain minimum contractual standards, as defined by MSHDA.  As these are the first projects that the City of Flushing has attempted through this program, this grant request is likely to be funded during the 2005 fiscal year.

 

The Mayor opened the public hearing to the public.

           

            Elva Cook, 1459 Flushing Road, questioned several aspects of the program and was concerned that residents would have to pay the local match.

 

            The Mayor closed the public hearing.

 

REPORTS:

 

Tentative Preliminary Plat – 449 Elms Road (Park Place) - The Tentative Preliminary Plat for Park Place Subdivision is proposed for a 17-lot subdivision located west of Elms Road north of Pierson Road.  The property is zoned R-1, Single-Family Residential.  The tentative Preliminary Plat was approved on September 7, 2004, subject to obtaining approvals from the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Genesee County Drain Commissioner’s office.

 

With the resubmission of the proposed plat, the developer has addressed all concerns previously included in the review by Rowe Incorporated.  One additional issue is recommended to be addressed prior to the Preliminary Plat Approval.  That issue involves site drainage, which at this time has not been adequately addressed with the submittal.  Although site drainage is required prior to the approval of the Preliminary Plat, I would point out that the developer will need to obtain easement, both from the City and from the development of Woodland Ponds, in order to release storm water from this site.  The condition of the City’s storm water line, within Eastview Veterans’ Memorial Park, is not adequate to accommodate additional flows.

 

Tentative Preliminary Plat – 449 Elms Road (Park Place) – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to approve the tentative preliminary plat of Park Place Subdivision, as revised and approved by Rowe Incorporated, and subject to obtaining proper easement for storm water relief from the site.

 

            Yea:     Bade, Gault, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel

            Nay:     Peck

            Motion Carried.

Flushing City Council

Minutes

October 11, 2004

 

Page Four

 

 

ORDINANCES:

 

Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Single-Family Residences in the B-1 Zoning District - This amendment represents a proposal allowing Single-Family dwelling units to be permitted, by Special Use Permit, in the B-1 district.

 

On Monday, October 4, 2004, the Planning Commission reviewed this amendment and recommended approval in order to allow persons with an existing family residence, as of the date of adoption of the Zoning Ordinance, to be permitted to continue in the event of fire or destruction.  Dwelling units must meet the setback requirements of the R-1 zoning district, unless a variance is granted, and off-street parking must be provided, as required by the Zoning Ordinance. 

 

This change also modifies the Schedule of Uses, as listed on page 3-8 of the Ordinance, and indicates that Single-Family dwelling units are permitted in the B-1 district subject to a Special Use Permit, and subject to the Standards section, which will be entitled “AZ.” 

 

Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Single-Family Residences in the B-1 Zoning District – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to move to first reading an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance modifying the allowable uses of the B-1 district.

 

            Yea:     Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel

            Nay:     None

            Motion Carried.

 

Adjournment – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to adjourn.

 

            Yea:     Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel

            Nay:     None

            Motion Carried.

 

Adjourn:                      8:25 p.m.

 

 

 

_____________________________                         ______________________________

Janice L. Gensel, Mayor                                              Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer