1. Chair Holtrop called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

2. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Kape.

 

3. Roll Call:

Members Present: Betsy Artz, John Helder, Dan Holtrop, Ed Kape, Laurie Sheldon,  Ed Swanson, Frank Vander Hoff,  Don Yokom and Johngerlyn Young
Members Absent: Johngerlyn Young (arrived late)
Others Present:  Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, Staff Secretary Monique Collier, the applicant and 2 residents.
 
Motion by Commissioner Sheldon, supported by Commissioner VanderHoff, to excuse Commissioner Young from the meeting.
           

• Motion Carried (8-0) –
• Young absent -

 

4. Approval of the Minutes and Findings of Fact

 
Minutes of March 27, 2012 and the Findings of Fact for:  Case #3-12- Fox Hyundai/Kia- Major Change to An Approved PUD Site Plan located at 4101 28^th Street SE were approved as drafted with one change to the minutes of March 27, 2012 (Letter A.) Holtrop was absent.
 

5. Approval of the Agenda

 
Motion by Commissioner Sheldon, supported by Commissioner Kape, to approve the agenda for the April 10, 2012 meeting.
 

• Motion Carried (9-0) –

 

6. Acknowledge visitors wishing to speak to non-agenda items.

 
There was no public comment.
 

7. Old Business

 
There was no Old Business
 

8. Public Hearing

 
Case #2-12 – Marriott Residence Inn – Special Land Use and Site Plan Review for a Hotel Located at 4441 28^th Street
 
Planner Golder stated the request is for Special Land Use and Site Plan Review for a hotel in a Commercial zone. Golder stated this is a proposed 4 story hotel with 100 units.  Golder stated in this Commercial zone 45 feet is generally the maximum height; however there is a 30 foot height restriction for sites immediately adjacent to residential. Therefore the proposed building height is going through zoning board of appeals. She stated Zoning Board tabled the issue to the April 16, 2012 meeting and will be deciding whether or not grant the variance for the height.  Golder stated the Zoning board suggested to the applicant to work out the issue with the neighbors because they had concerns about the height and screening.  Golder stated the applicant worked out the issues with the neighbors that satisfied them with respect to the screening and height. 
 
Golder stated there is a 30 foot height restriction for buildings when adjacent to residential, but the buildings can also be placed within 50 feet of a residential district. Golder stated the proposed building is 200 feet away with the conditions and what was offered by the applicant they are agreeing that there will be no development within 100 feet of the residential lot line and will be kept natural.
 
Golder stated she believes the request meets the special land use standards. She stated she feels this is appropriate for the area. This is a commercial zone, impact from glare, noise and with the distance that is from the adjacent residential with conditions that have been assigned have been met.  Golder stated there are also special land use standards in 15.03.O and it meets those standards that have to do with green space in the front, buffer zones and the size of the property in relation to how many units.
 
Regarding the site plan Golder stated the issues have been addressed and she is recommending conditional approval of the special land use and site plan as stated in her memo dated 3/27/12.
 
Golder stated the portrayal of how the access easement crosses the Quality Inn is awkward and she indicated the applicant should redesign the access to and through the Quality Inn parking area. She stated any necessary parking for Quality Inn has to be replaced and the design has to be approved, but that is something that can be done on a staff level.
 
Mast displayed  a revision  of the traffic flow that cleaned up the flow to the  Quality Inn south east corner and they are still working with the Roaring 20’s Plaza to see if they can move the driveway further east. He stated that would cross Quality Inn grassy area and leave their parking lot alone. He stated they have a 20 year old cross access easement with Quality Inn but they are trying to come up with something where they all agree.
 
Regarding the adjacency to the condos to the northwest Golder stated Mast has offered 35 trees that are 8-9 feet in height in front of the condominiums so the hotel is not visible from their units. That was a commitment made by the applicant in writing. 
 
Chair Holtrop opened the public hearing.
 
William Aarons, Forest Meadow association member was present.  He stated they appreciate the commitment from Bill Mast.  He stated an issue he had was the dumpsters and wanted clarification why they were placed where they are and also wanted to make sure light trespass is kept to a minimum.
 
Victor Wung, 4508 Woodcreek Dr, was concerned about the hotel being visible from his backyard and wanted some trees to screen his property.
 
Motion by Commissioner VanderHoff, supported by Commissioner Young, to close the public hearing.

• Motion Carried (9-0) -

 
Holtop asked the applicant to address the dumpster issue. Mast stated typically dumpsters aren’t on the entry to projects. Golder stated dumpsters aren’t permitted in the entry.  Mast stated they had to get a straight run for trucks.
 
Holtrop stated the lights point downward and the light spillage to the neighbor will be limited.  Mast stated their photometric light plans are all zeros at the perimeter lot lines common to the residences which indicate the impact of the light that far out is zero. The lights are all shielded.  They are 20 foot high feet fixtures on the north potion of the site.
 
Holtorp asked if he could address the tree issue that Mr. Wung spoke about regarding his property. Mast stated he will agree to plant 1-2 trees in Mr. Wungs yard if it helps.  Discussion ensued.
 
Helder asked about signage.  Mast stated he will be back to the zoning board of appeals because it is going to require a variance because their site has no frontage on 28^th Street. Discussion ensued.
 
Yokom asked whether this hotel would occupy any of the site where Menards would have gone.  Mast stated recent discussion with Menards has been nonexistent but the proposed Menards site is intact.  Discussion ensued regarding future uses on the property near the proposed hotel.
 
Motion by Commissioner Artz, supported by Commissioner Sheldon, to grant conditional approval of the Marriott Residence Inn Special Land Use Hotel as described in Case No. 2-12. Approved is conditioned on conditions 1-3 and basis points 1-4 as described in Golder’s memo dated 3-27-12 adding to condition 2 that 1-2 trees be planted on Mr. Wung’s property.
 

• Motion Carried (9-0) –

 
Motion by Commissioner Artz, supported by Commissioner Sheldon, to grant conditional approval of the Site Plan dated February 16, 2012 for Marriott Residence Inn as described in Case No. 2-12. Approval is conditioned on conditions 1-7 and basis points 1-6 as described in Golder’s memo dated 3-27-12.
 

• Motion Carried (9-0) –

 
Case #4-12 Structures and Improvements Plan (SIP)
 
 
Golder stated this is a 6 year plan that lays out the cities capital improvements that will be made in three categories: Buildings and Structures, Parks and Streets, Trails Sidewalks etc. starting in 2012 - 2013.
 
Chair Holtop opened the public hearing.
 
There was no public comment.
 
Motion by Commissioner VanderHoff, supported by Commissioner Young, to close the public hearing.
 

• Motion Carried (9-0) –

 
VanderHoff questioned  the $310,000 project to put irrigation on 44^th Street and wondered what happens if you keep the medians natural and they get natural rainfall instead of all the additional expense.  Schweitzer stated currently these projects are unscheduled because we do not have funding. Discussion ensued.
 
Holtrop asked about the Forest Hill Trail connection. Schweitzer stated we didn’t have the money set aside to have the trail cross the bridge. He stated the structure itself is not wide enough to incorporate at non-motorized trail within it. We have been talking to the State about rebuilding the bridge.  Schweitzer stated we feel it will be more cost effective to provide the non-motorized crossing with a reconstruction of the bridge. Discussion ensued regarding the opportunity to come up with other sources of money to reconstruct the bridge by the year 2016.
 
Motion by Commissioner Sheldon, supported by Commissioner VanderHoff, to recommend to the City Commission Case#4-12 Structures and Improvements Plan (SIP) 2012-2018

• Motion Carried (9-0) –

 

1. Work Session

 
There were no Work Sessions.
 

10. New Business

 
Motion by Commissioner Sheldon, supported by Commissioner VanderHoff, to set a public hearing date of May 8, 2012 for Case #5-12 - Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments- relating to Open Air Business, Industrial Use Allowances, Elimination of Use Variances, Accessory Building Requirements and Use Allowances in Regional Commercial Zone
 

• Motion Carried (9-0) -

11. Other Business

 

1. Commissioners’ Comments

 
            Young stated the Community Foundation approved a grant for the Library on Kalamazoo            in terms of a potential Health Clinic.
           

2. Staff’s Comments

 
Golder stated there will be a open house April 25^th  5-8pm at the Kenwood Library regarding the Master Plan.
 
Golder stated there will be a Business Forum May 11 8-10:30 am.  Registration is through the Wyoming/Kentwood Chamber of Commerce.
                                               

12. Adjournment  

 
 
Meeting adjourned at 8:20p.m.
 
 
                                                            Respectfully submitted,
 
                                                            Don Yokom, Secretary