FLUSHING PLANNING COMMISSION

 

MINUTES

 

JULY 5, 2005

 

A Regular Meeting of the Flushing Planning Commission was called to order by Vice Chairperson Ron Johnson on July 5, 2005 at 7:30 P.M. at City Hall.

 

Present:          Dennis Bueche

                        John Gault

                        Ron Johnson

                        Dan Borgerding

                        C Neil Blackmore

                       

Absent:           Robert Matsko

                        Jack Owens

                        John Olson

 

 

Also Present: Dennis Bow, City Manager

                        Marlene C. Stone, Deputy Clerk

                       

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

 

Motion to excuse:

 

            Motion by Gault, supported by Blackmore, to excuse Robert Matsko, Jack Owens and

                        John Olson from the July 5, 2005 meeting.

 

             Yea: 5

             Nay: 0

             Motion carried.

 

Approval of Minutes:            June 6, 2005 (Regular meeting)                   

 

            MOTION by Bueche, supported by Gault, to approve the minutes of June 6, 2005 as written.

           

            Yea: 4

            Nay: 0

            Abstain: 1

            Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

FLUSHING PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES

JULY 5, 2005

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Meeting open for public comments:

 

            Dale Black

            (President of Fairways East Condominium Association)

            1447 Fairways East

            Flushing MI  48433

 

Meeting closed for public comments:

 

New Business:           SITE PLAN – 505 COUTANT ST

                                                                        55-26-504-034

 

            Motion by Gault, supported by Bueche, to approve the Site Plan for

                        505 Coutant Street and waive the requirements (A-U) noted on the

                        memorandum dated 6/28/05.

            Yea: 5

            Nay: 0

            Motion carried.

 

Discussion:

·        The applicant is requesting construction of a 10’ x 20’ showroom on the front of the existing Flushing Florist building located at 505 Coutant Street.  Because the property abuts a residential district the ordinance requires a review by the Planning Commission even though the addition is under the 750 square foot that requires a review.

·        Craig Krueger, owner of Flushing Florist, and Mr. Chris Wenzlick, owner of Wenzlick Patio, spoke to the Commission regarding this request and stated:

1.      They are looking to improve the curb appeal of this business.

2.      The structure will follow the existing roofline.

3.      The “Michigan Room” structure will be fully insulated.

4.      The addition will be used for presentation of flowers and miscellaneous items.

5.      The front will be mostly glass with the greenhouse feel.

6.      The addition will not extend out past the other adjacent buildings.

7.      The sign will stay at the existing location.

 

·        The Commission discussed the memorandum items A thru U regarding requirements not shown on the applicants site plan and will waive these items when making their motion for approval.

 

 

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MINUTES

JULY 5, 2005

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New Business:           ZONING ORDINANCE REVISIONS (Discussion only)

 

Discussion:

·        Mr. Doug Piggott, Rowe Incorporated, provided a draft of Ordinance changes and spoke to the Commission regarding the following recommended changes:

1.      Map amendments.

2.      Overlay zoning district (R-3A-0 – red areas on the revised map)

3.      Mixed-use district along Seymour Road.

·        The purpose of the R-3A-0 district is to gradually move the Industrial uses to a residential use. (In the R-3A-0 district if you use a property as residential you could not change it back to an Industrial use.)

·        Some tracking needs to be done with this type of zoning in that there is a need to document use changes.

·        Mr. Johnson stated he believes the Planning Commission would like time to evaluate the concepts of the different zoning classification possibilities.

·        Mr. Piggott stated that any existing legal non-conforming use would continue until such time as it changed to a conforming use.  They would not be able to switch it back to the non-conforming use.

 

New Business:           PRIVATE ROADS

 

            Motion by Gault, supported by Blackmore, to put the Private Roads/Fairways East

                        item back on the table.

            Yea: 5

            Nay: 0

            Motion carried.

 

            Motion by Gault, supported by Bueche, that based on the review dated 7/1/05 we are

forwarding this item (To incorporate Fairways East road into the public street system.) to city council for approval.

 

            Yea: 5

            Nay: 0

            Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MINUTES

JULY 5, 2005

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Discussion:

·        Mr. Bow reviewed the eight items noted in the memorandum to City Council (dated 7/1/05) with the Commission:

1.      Road surface (Thickness of the road tested at 4.5” standard calls for 6” gravel and 3” bituminous surface.) City engineer provided a report indicating that this road was adequately constructed based on our standards.

2.      Curb return  (Is not extended out to Flushing Road.)

3.      Street lighting (Streets are lighted with a private gaslight.)

4.      Storm sewer (The storm sewer is owned by the association and can remain as private ownership.)

5.      Cul-de-sac (For possible future bus access) (Property has an existing hammer head turnaround.)

6.      Cul-de-sac (For possible future garbage truck access.)

7.      Sidewalks (Not installed as originally recommended.)

8.      Public road easement (Is 47’ versus a typical 60’easement)

 

·        Mr. Gault advised the Commission that he will support the Fairways East request however he believes the Commission should look very carefully at any request for new condominium or other developments requesting deviations from our ordinances.  We do not want to have the residents return years later and ask the City to accept something that is not in compliance with all city standards.  He will also convey this concern to the City Council.

 

New Business:           OUTLOT ISSUES

 

Discussion:

·        Mr. Bow discussed the memorandum dated 6/28/05, regarding outlots, with the Commission:

1.      There are some City owned and some privately owned outlots in the City.

2.      These lots would not have sufficient width in our existing ordinance.

3.      Administration is looking for some direction on how to address these outlots.

 

General Discussion:

 

            The Commission discussed the use of Special Use Permits in the Zoning Ordinance.

 

 

 

 

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MINUTES

JULY 5, 2005

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Adjournment:

 

            MOTION by Gault, supported by Bueche, to adjourn.

 

            Yea: 5

            Nay: 0

            Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

 

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