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Minutes for 02/10/2009APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE KENTWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 10, 2009, 7:30 P.M.
COMMISSION CHAMBERS
A. Chair Winczewski 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: Maurice Groce, Dan Holtrop, Abed Itani, Laurie Sheldon, Don Yokom, Johngerlyn Young and Chris Winczewski.
Members Absent: Betsy Artz and Frank Vander Hoff,
Others Present: City Attorney Jeff Sluggett, Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Planner Joe Pung, Staff Secretary Monique Collier and the applicant.
Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner Sheldon, to excuse Commissioners Artz and VanderHoff from the meeting.
- Motion Carried (6-0) ?
- Artz and VanderHoff absent -
D. Approval of the Minutes and Findings of Fact
Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner Sheldon, to approve the Minutes of January 27, 2008 and the Findings of Fact for: Case #17-07 ? Menard?s-Special Land Use Open Air Business Garden Center/Outside Yard Area and Site Plan Review located north of 28th Street, midway between East Paris Avenue and Patterson Avenue
- Motion Carried (6-0) ?
- Artz and VanderHoff absent -
E. Approval of the Agenda
Motion by Commissioner Holtrop, supported by Commissioner Young, to approve the agenda for the February 10, 2009 meeting.
- Motion Carried (6-0) ?
- Artz 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
There were no public hearings
I. Work Session
Case #2-09 Heritage Pointe Ventures ? Major Change to Site Plan located at 2060 East Paris SE
Planner Pung introduced the request. He stated the applicant is asking to have a sign located at their entrance off of Burton Street, this would represent the third sign on the site. He stated the sign would be similar to the one located at the East Paris entrance. Pung stated the zoning ordinance allows for two freestanding monuments signs one for each drive. He stated in order to grant the waiver there must be (1) evidence of extraordinary or exceptional circumstances or conditions applying to the property.(2) The waiver or alteration will not be detrimental to adjacent property and the surrounding neighborhood. (3) The granting of the waiver or alteration will better serve to achieve the intent and purpose of the PUD as described in Section 12.01.
Craig Baker with First Companies was there to represent the request. He stated their concern is from a visibility standpoint; it is difficult to see the Burton Street driveway based on the topography and the neighbors landscaping and when approaching the property you are on the drive before you see it. He stated their request is to allow them to put a sign up on their entrance off of Burton. He stated the total square footage of the signs will be less than the ordinance would allow for two.
Chair Winczewski gave a brief history of the project. He stated the cross hatched drive depicted on the plan was originally what was proposed, it was a right in right out only. He stated the planning commission had always wished the drive lined up with MVP, but it wasn?t possible until the adjacent property was purchased. He stated part of the new driveway and expanded lot size was the planning commissions request.
Planner Pung stated since this is a PUD the zoning ordinance allows the planning and city commissions to grant a waiver.
Vice-Chair Sheldon stated she thinks the sign will be good.
Chair Winczewski asked about the terms of the conditions that must be met in order to comply. Pung stated (a) you can talk about the difficulty of seeing the drive due to the development of the adjacent property and the vegetation. (b) Pung stated he doesn?t think it will be detrimental to the adjacent property owners; it will be a benefit by making the drive more visible so people aren?t driving by it and paying less attention to the road. (c) Pung stated the design of the sign will match with the existing building; it does improve the safety of the site and that makes it meet the intent and purpose of the planned unit development.
Holtrop asked if any of the individual occupant?s names will be on any of the signs. Craig Baker stated that the sign will only identify Heritage Pointe, with no identification of individual tenants.
J. New Business
There is no New Business
K. Other Business
1. Commissioners? Comments
Holtrop asked staff to take a look at Encore Motor Sales on Broadmoor, illegal parking on landscaped area.
Sheldon asked staff to take a look at Thompsons Auto, cars are parked all over the site.
Sheldon stated the State of City will be February 25, 2009 @ 11:30a.m at Carraba.
Winczewski removed the Sidewalk Committee because it has been inactive and made these changes?..
Land Use and Zoning (LUZ)
Chair Sheldon, Holtrop and Groce
Open Space Committee
Chair VanderHoff, Sheldon, and (NEW COMMISSIONER)
Zoning Ordinance Sub Committee
Chair Young, Artz and Yokom
Division Avenue Sub Committee
Chair Yokom, Young and (NEW COMMISSIONER)
Conservation Oriented Development
Chair Artz, Sheldon, and Holtrop
Structures and Improvements (SIP)
Chair Holtrop, Yokom and Groce
Winczewski stated there will be a Wind Energy Siting and Policies Issues Workshop for Michigan in the Lansing area April 1, 2009. Also, a Michigan Land Use and Leadership Academy February 20 and 21st. He stated would like to have representation from Kentwood there if possible.
Winczewski asked the commission to read over the 2008 year end report to see if there was something missing. He stated another part of the Enabling Act rules are not only is the commission supposed to submit a year end report, but also submit what they want to do in the upcoming year. He stated he will send an email out with some questions about what the commission wants to do in 2009. Sluggett cautioned the commissioners to reserve the discussion of ideas to the next Planning Commission meeting.
Winczewski stated there was a zoning ordinance sub committee meeting. He stated it is down to two options; one being to wait for the second federal study which is due December 2009, or have CBS to accept in short term regulations in line with the digital sign ordinance as it is now. He stated there will be another sub-committee meeting in 2 weeks.
2. Staff?s Comments
Schweitzer stated on February 24, 2009 the CIP committee will meet.
Schweitzer stated the State Zoning Enabling Act requires cities to review their Master Plan every five years. He stated we will be looking at jointly updating the master plan in the upcoming year with the parks and recreation commission. He stated we will be sending out an email as to the approach to take for the update. Discussion ensued regarding an operating budget and hiring an outside consultant for the master plan.
L. Adjournment
Winczewski adjourned the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Yokom, Secretary
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