City of Kentwood - Kentwood, Michigan

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE KENTWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION

JANUARY 26, 2010, 7:30 P.M.

A. Secretary Yokom called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

B. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Yokom.

C. Roll Call:

Members Present: Betsy Artz, Maurice Groce, Dan Holtrop, Laurie Sheldon (arrived late), Frank Vander Hoff, Don Yokom and Johngerlyn Young
Members Absent: Ed Swanson and Chris Winczewski.
Others Present: Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, Planner Joe Pung, Staff Secretary Monique Collier, the press, the applicant and 6 citizens.

Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner Artz, to excuse Commissioners Swanson and Winczewski from the meeting.

- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Swanson and Winczewski absent -

D. Approval of the Minutes and Findings of Fact

Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner VanderHoff, to approve the Minutes of December 8, 2009.

- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Swanson and Winczewski absent -

E. Approval of the Agenda

Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner VanderHoff, to approve the agenda for the January 26, 2010 meeting.

- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Swanson and Winczeski absent -

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

There was no public comment.

G. Old Business

H. Case #10-09 ? Consideration of a Street Tree Regulatory Ordinance.

Director Schweitzer introduced the request. He stated over the past several months staff has been working on the review of our current street tree policy with the intent to devise a street tree ordinance. He stated the reason the issue is back up in 2010 is because the Emerald Ash Boer has affected many of the street trees within the public right-of-way. He stated there are 1,700 Ash trees within the community and all of them are likely to die off barring any preventative treatment.

Schweitzer stated as staff looked at the inventory of street trees within the community it became apparent we were going to lose most of them. He stated the question arose whether or not replacement trees could be put back in the current location given the staff policy that was passed in December of 2006. He stated over the past couple of months staff took a look at an inventory that was conducted by engineering interns that went to all 1700 trees within the community. He stated they did an assessment on the relative health of each of the trees, and plotted out with a global positioning mechanism where they are located within the public right-of-way within the community. He stated staff has assessed those trees relative to our current December 2006 policy.

Schweitzer stated staff has also been contacting other agencies to see how they address the street trees. He stated staff is looking at literature in the traffic engineering field to see how they address the prospect of street trees. He stated the reason staff is looking at this is because from a traffic engineering standpoint and our police department, they view trees in the public-right-of-way not as an aesthetic asset. He stated the police department views street trees as a potential immovable object, if someone in a motor vehicle or on foot or on a bicycle should encounter these trees, the injury to life and limb as well as personal property damage should be considerations.

Schweitzer stated staff wants to assess and see if the policies that are in place are reasonable and balance between the traffic safety considerations and the aesthetic considerations. He stated there are also a number of people in the planning and engineering field that feel there may be another value associated with trees in terms of traffic calming. He stated given the street as you drive down the relative location of sidewalk, of trees, and the number of lanes; would have a bearing on how comfortable one would feel driving down that street in terms of whether or not they observed the posted speed limit or they feel more comfortable driving at a faster speed regardless of that posted speed limit. Schweitzer presented a chart with what staff has come up with, the revised guidelines and presented examples/comparisons of different streets and cities with traffic safety aesthetics and the value that the trees may represent to the comfort a person driving down the street.

Schweitzer stated staff feels like they have gotten the requested information that the planning commission has asked for and feels the policy as reflected in table 3 has a great deal of merit in terms of balancing the various interests. He stated he would like the commission to think it over to see if they are ready to set a public hearing date of February 23, 2010 to hear the request and have a work session on February 9. He stated if they feel it still needs more work we can delay on setting the public hearing date and try to gather more information.

Commissioner Holtrop clarified that the mapping depicts only the street trees that are the Ash variety. Schweitzer stated the trees that the non-Ash street trees would continue to remain in their current location until they would die off or get knocked over by a car. Schweitzer stated the ones that have been mapped out will be gone. Schweitzer stated MSU Extension services has been working with the City to look at some experimental treatments and the treatments have been successful. Schweitzer stated under this experiment it does require some proactive treatment and the city is not in a position to treat all the trees within the public right-of-way. At the present time staff is looking at a policy where if a property owner wants to pursue treating a tree they would give them an opportunity to do up until a point where if the tree continues to digress in terms of its health, at some point the city will come in and cut it down.

Commissioner Holtrop stated on Forest Hills there has been talk of new or extended sidewalk. He questioned whether this would impede the proposed street tree setbacks. Schweitzer stated Forest Hill Avenue from Burton to the north city limits is scheduled in the fiscal year 2011 to be reconstructed to a two lane roadway with curb and gutter and there will be some stretches where they go to a three lane cross section for bypass lanes such as at the elementary school on the northern end. Schweitzer stated we are also looking for a 10ft wide non motorized trail on the east side of the roadway, the west side of the roadway will not have sidewalk. Schweitzer stated a number of the trees through there could be retained or replacements may be setback further. Discussion Ensued.

CommissionerYokom asked about the areas where they are doing the trees on the north end are they relying on some of the homeowners to pick up some of the cost. Schweitzer stated that is the intent; it would be the property owners investment in terms of time and expense to undergo the treatment. MSU is trying to find an effective as well as cost effective methods of treatment.

Commissioner VanderHoff stated he likes what staff has done and he would be in favor of moving forward.

The commissioners agreed to set the public hearing.

I. Public Hearing

There were no public hearings.

J. Work Session

Case #1-10 ? Madison Avenue Missionary Baptist Church- Site Plan Review for a Church Expansion located at 5757 Madison Avenue SE

Planner Pung introduced the request. He stated the request is for a site plan review of a major change to an approved site plan. He stated the church would like to construct a 1,600 square foot addition along with a future 3,600 square foot addition. He stated the addition represent an increase of more than 20% to the existing building and therefore considered a major change requiring planning commission approval.

Pung stated the church was constructed in 1970. He stated the property was zoned R-3 and churches were a permitted use, but the property is currently zoned R1-D Single Family Residential and churches are a special land use.

Pung stated there are 3 issues with the parking. He stated additional parking will require additional landscaping including canopy trees and a hedgerow or berm. He stated an external lighting plan would need to be reviewed by staff for external parking. He also stated the zoning ordinance requires a 45-foot parking setback with a 20-foot buffer zone and 6-foot high screen from adjacent residential property to the north. He stated if they want the parking the way it is currently designed they can go for a variance or combine the parcels, on which the church and parsonage are currently located that way the property line will then be moved further to the north.

Commissioner Holtrop asked how many spaces would be lost in the 65 feet. Pung stated they would probably lose a few but they have more there than what the ordinance would require.

Planner Pung stated there is currently no sidewalk along either street frontage. City Resolution No. 133-78 requires construction of sidewalk along Madison Avenue as part of any development or new construction. Pung stated if they choose not to have the sidewalk the only way they can get relief from that would be go to the service committee.

Dave Wright, Pastor of Madison Avenue Church, was there to represent the request. He stated one of the things they are planning is taking the parsonage parcel and combining it with the parcel on which the church is located into one lot. He stated as far as adding more landscaping and lightning that is in their plan as well. He stated they want to continue on with what they already have existing and continue along the side of Madison. He stated it would be the same kind of berm they had set up before. He stated as far as the sidewalk is concerned it is up to the commission. He stated there is no sidewalk on that side of the road to the north and south of this site.

Commissioner Holtop asked if there are church members nearby that might walk on the sidewalk. Pastor Dave stated not at this time, some do walk but it?s not a problem for them.

Commissioner VanderHoff asked if there was anything the commission can do requiring a sidewalk. Schweitzer stated the planning commission does not have the authority to approve or deny the requirement. Schweitzer stated if the applicant wished to seek relief they would have to go to the Service Committee. If the planning commission had some perspective regarding the sidewalk they would be given the opportunity to share that with the service committee. Schweitzer stated when taking action on the site plan, if the commissioners are compelled to offer a position to the service committee specifically to the sidewalk under a separate motion they can express their interest either for or against it. VanderHoff stated he thinks it would be ridiculous to require them to put a sidewalk there. Schweitzer stated suggested as we go from the work session and the public hearing on February 9 Pung will provide some graphics that would show where the existing sidewalk is in the area so they have a clear indication if anybody has questions.

K. New Business

Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner VanderHoff, to set the public hearing date of February 9 for Case #1-10 ? Madison Avenue Missionary Baptist Church- Site Plan Review for a Church Expansion located at 5757 Madison Avenue SE
- Motion Carried (7-0)-
- Swanson and Winczewski absent -

Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner VanderHoff, to set the public hearing date of February 23, Case #10-09 ? Consideration of a Street Tree Regulatory Ordinance.

- Motion Carried (7-0)-
- Swanson and Winczewski -
L. Other Business

Kendall Klingelsmith with the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department gave a Parks & Recreation Master Plan update to the commissioners. He stated the master plan is completed and they will be getting a presentation as to where they are with it, the outcome of the surveys, the properties etc. He stated that formal adoption of the plan won?t go any further until after May. Klingelsmith stated the city now owns North Stanaback Park. He stated we are also approved for the installation of a splash pad at Pinewood Park. Klingelsmith stated there is an upcoming conference; the Michigan Recreation of Park Association in conjunction with the Michigan Local Government Association, it will be a four day conference. He stated on Thursday February 4 there will be a crossover day and they will be doing joint sessions with the Management group and would like for the commissioners to attend that day.

1. Master Plan

Golder spoke about Greenways Networks, Traffic/Trails/Transportation/Transit, Place Strengthening, Sustainability and Commercial development /Redevelopment as it applied to the intersection of 44th Street and Breton Avenue. She requested that the commissioners come prepared to the February 9 meeting to discuss and formulate methods to implement the principles.

Commissioner Sheldon suggested that a Farmer?s Market be considered on the City Hall campus rather than within the 44th Street and Breton area.

2. Election of Officers

Commissioner Artz, nominated Holtrop, for Chair. There were no other nominations.

Motion by Commissioner Artz, supported Commissioner Yokom to elect Commissioner Holtrop, as Chair.

- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Swanson and Winczewski absent -

Commissioner Artz, nominated Sheldon, for Vice-Chair. There were no other nominations.

Motion by Commissioner VanderHoff, supported by Commissioner Artz, to elect Sheldon as Vice-Chair.

- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Swanson and Winczewski absent -

Commissioner Artz, nominated Yokom, for Secretary. There were no other nominations.

Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported Commissioner Artz, to elect Commissioner Yokom as Secretary.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Swanson and Winczeski absent -

3. Commissioners? Comments

Commissioners expressed the desire to change their meeting time back to 7:30p.m.

VanderHoff stated he will be gone the month of February.

Sheldon stated she will be gone the month of March.

4. Staff?s Comments

There were no staff comments.

M. Adjournment

Motion by Commissioner VanderHoff, supported by Commissioner Artz, to adjourn the meeting.

- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Swanson and Winczewski absent -

Meeting adjourned at 8:35p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Don Yokom, Secretary

Kentwood Summer Concert Series | 5/23/2013

The 2013 Kentwood Summer Concert Series at the Kentwood Library Amphitheatre
sponsored by DTE Energy will feature five talented acts

Thanks Meadow Brook Elementary! | 5/22/2013

Thanks to Meadow Brook Elementary for their hospitality in hosting our City Commission Meeting this week. It was great to engage our northeast citizens as well as get to know Principal Shaw and and his staff. Such great things happening at Meadow Brook Elementary!

--- Mayor Clanton

May 21st City Commission Meeting | 5/17/2013

The Kentwood City Commission will hold its May 21^st 7p meeting at Meadow Brook Elementary at 1450 Forest Hills SE. We are excited to “take our show on the road” and engage our northerly residents!

--- Mayor Clanton

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Planning Commission

28th Street Construction
Resurfacing M-11 from Breton Avenue east to Patterson Avenue, and reconstructing M-11 from Patterson Avenue east to I-96 will take place from March through November of 2013. Work also includes the addition of a right-turn lane, new sidewalk with ramp upgrades compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, municipal lighting and traffic signal upgrades.

Full Story »
Kentwood Summer Concert Series
The 2013 Kentwood Summer Concert Series at the Kentwood Library Amphitheatre
sponsored by DTE Energy will feature five talented acts

Full Story »