APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE KENTWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 23, 2011, 7:30 P.M.
COMMISSION CHAMBERS
A. Chair Holtrop called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
B. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Helder.
C. Roll Call:
Members Present: Maurice Groce, John Helder, Dan Holtrop, Laurie Sheldon, Ed Swanson, Don Yokom and Johngerlyn Young
Members Absent: Ed Kape and Frank Vander Hoff (with notification)
Others Present: Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, Planner Joe Pung, Staff Secretary Monique Collier, and the applicant.
Motion by Commissioner Swanson, supported by Commissioner Yokom, to excuse Commissioners Kape and VanderHoff from the meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) –
- Kape and VanderHoff absent -
D. Approval of the Minutes and Findings of Fact
Motion by Commissioner Swanson, supported by Commissioner Groce, to approve the Minutes of August 9, 2011 and the Findings of Fact for: Case #9-11 - Midwest Geothermal - Special Land Use and Site Plan Review for a Contractor’s Yard- Located at 4546 Roger B Chaffee SE
- Motion Carried (7-0) –
- Kape and VanderHoff absent -
E. Approval of the Agenda
Motion by Commissioner Helder, supported by Commissioner Groce, to approve the agenda for the August 23, 2011 meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) –
- Kape and VanderHoff absent -
F. Acknowledge visitors wishing to speak to non-agenda items.
There was no public comment.
G. Old Business
There was no Old Business.
H. Public Hearing
Case #10-11 – Scotties Espresso Drive-Thru- Special Land use and Site Plan Review for a Drive Thru Facility – Located at 2850 Shaffer Ave.
Planner Pung introduced the request. He stated the request is a special land use and site plan review for a drive through facility located at 2850 Shaffer Avenue on the east side of Shaffer between 28th Street and 29th Street. Pung stated the site is currently .69 acres resulting from a lot split combination approved earlier this year involving 4 properties. Pung stated prior to the lot split combination the building was located on a .29 acre parcel. Pung stated the site currently contains a vacant building which was constructed in 1978 as an ambulance sub-station. He stated the site appears to have been vacant since at least 2004.
Pung stated there are currently 2 curb cuts onto Shaffer and the northern most curb cut is what provides access to the existing overheard doors for the building and the southern curb cut is access to the rest of the site for parking and also provides access to the adjacent properties to the east.
Pung stated one of the conditions to the lot/split combination was for a cross access easement. Pung stated the building is setback 45 feet from the Shaffer Avenue right-of-way and setback 35 feet from the east, rear lot line. He stated the special land use standards for a drive through facility require a minimum setback of 50 feet on all sides. The applicant went to the zoning board of appeals and was granted the variances on August 15, 2011.
Pung stated some of the issues discussed at the work session were the external refuse container. The applicant indicated their intent is to use a residential style container which would be kept inside the building. He stated one of the conditions of approval is if an external dumpster or refuse container is added in the future, they will have to meet all the conditions of the zoning ordinance.
Pung stated there was also extensive discussion in regard to access and circulation around the building. He stated the applicant created a horseshoe circulation around the building. He stated this will move the drive thru window to the front of the building closing off one of the overhead doors. Pung stated they are intending to maintain the second door to the south for future access if they want to store some of their materials and for deliveries. Pung stated this will result in the closing of one of the curb cuts onto Shaffer Avenue. He stated this will go from two curb cuts to just the one and this will provide circulation around the building.
Pung stated the other issue is part of the the lot split combination where the cross access easement was supposed to be recorded. He stated one of the conditions is verification that the cross access has been recorded and if it’s not then such cross access easement will have to be recorded prior to issuance of the building permit.
Pung stated there were a couple changes to the staff recommendations recommended by the city attorney, including a special land use condition requiring a date stamp on the business description submitted by the applicant of August 23rd as well as a site plan condition specifying that the resolution of the ingress, egress easement prior to issuance of a building permit.
Pung stated he is recommending conditional approval of the special land use and site plan review as stated in his memo with the City Attorney notes.
Chair Holtrop opened the public hearing.
Bob Tiemersma, 5977 Fesno Circle was present. He stated he is in favor of the project.
Motion by Commissioner Swanson, supported by Commissioner Yokom, to close the public hearing.
- Motion Carried (7-0) –
- Kape and VanderHoff absent -
The Commissioners were in favor of the project and offered no additional comments. Helder added this is a good use to the property and should be a good asset to the area.
Motion by Commissioner Sheldon, supported by Commissioner Helder, to grant conditional approval of Special Land Use Drive Through Facility as descried in Case #10-11 Scotties Espresso. Approval is conditioned on conditions 1-3 and basis points 1-4 as described in Pung’s memo dated 8/23/11.
- Motion Carried (7-0) –
- Kape and VanderHoff absent –
Motion by Commissioner Sheldon, supported by Commissioner Helder, to grant conditional approval of the site plan dated August 11, 2011 as described in Case #10-11 Scotties Espresso. Approval is conditioned on conditions 1-7 and basis points 1-6 as described in Pung’s memo dated 8-23-11.
- Motion Carried (7-0) –
- Kape and VanderHoff absent –
I. Work Session
There were no Work Sessions
J. New Business
There is no New Business
K. Other Business
1. Master Plan Discussion
Planner Golder discussed Sub area 6, 28th – 29th Street Corridor. There was extensive discussion regarding Woodland Mall and CenterPointe Mall.
2. Commissioners’ Comments
Commissioner Helder stated there was recently extensive discussion by the City Commission on the Walma/Breton intersection. He stated he would like a report on what the City Commissioners expect relative to the intersection and its future. Swanson stated he feels the City Commissioners are mixed. Swanson stated at the presentation it was reported 5% of the people approve of the roundabout when you first put them in and 55% of the people like the roundabout after it is done.
Schweitzer stated the Service Committee recommendation was to fund the simulation of the roundabout to give people a better sense of how it operates. He stated the city commission wants to come back to the planning commission when the simulation is received and get their perspective. Schweitzer stated the Service Committee recommendation will go to the city commission for approval in September. If they give that approval URS will develop the simulation and the city commission will seek an updated planning commission recommendation.
Schweitzer stated at the work session they broke it into two parts. First whether to go from 4 lanes to 3 lanes and then the other was to go to with a roundabout or a traffic signal. The consultant recommendation was regardless if you go with a traffic signal or a roundabout he feels that going from a 4 to a 3 lane and allowing those median refuge areas is a way to go.
Swanson stated one thing they were hung up on were handicap being able to cross the roundabout versus having a traffic signal. Swanson stated the simulation is not going to answer that. He stated he thinks the best answer is to get the handicap communities opinion. Schweitzer stated that we will be approaching the Disability Advocates of Kent County to get their perspective.
Helder stated he wanted to make sure the commission has a copy from the URS of their Project Memorandum. Discussion ensued.
3. Staff’s Comments
Staff offered no additional comments.
L. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:20p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Yokom, Secretary