Kentwood Committees & Boards
Planning Commission (Back to index)
Minutes for 05/26/2009APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE KENTWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
MAY 26, 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 VanderHoff.
C. Roll Call:
Members Present: Dan Holtrop, Chris Winczewski, Ed Swanson, Frank Vander Hoff, Don Yokom, Maurice Groce and Johngerlyn Young.
Members Absent: Betsy Artz, and Laurie Sheldon (with notification)
Others Present: Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder and Planner Joe Pung.
Motion by Commissioner Swanson, supported by Commissioner Holtrop, to excuse Artz and Sheldon from the May 26, 2009 meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent -
D. Approval of the Minutes and Findings of Fact
Motion by Commissioner VanderHoff, supported by Commissioner Young, to approve the Minutes of April 28, 2009 and the Findings of Fact for: Case #5-09 ? Holland Home Breton Manor Extended Care-Final Site Plan Review located N. side of 44th Street, East of Breton Avenue; Section 22.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent -
E. Approval of the Agenda
Motion by Commissioner VanderHoff, supported by Commissioner Holtrop, to approve the agenda for the May 26, 2009 meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent -
F. Acknowledge visitors wishing to speak to non-agenda items.
None
G. Old Business
There was no old business.
H. Public Hearing
There were no public hearings.
I. Work Session
There were no work sessions.
J. New Business
There was no new business
K. Other Business
1. Master Plan
Director Schweitzer indicated that Golder was going to be the project manager for the Master Plan project. Golder proceeded to lead the discussion concerning commissioner impressions from the bus tour of the City conducted on May 12. There was speculation that Menard?s may have an interest in the Patterson Farm property on the west side of Patterson south of 28th Street if the project proposed in section 12 (the former water park site) does not materialize. It was noted that a number of years ago an institutional use had expressed interest in the Patterson Farm.
Swanson noted the Division Avenue Charrette that was undertaken in October of 2008. He inquired whether the defeat of the Silver Line millage would affect the City?s consideration of the charrette concepts. Schweitzer pointed out that the federal and state funding for the bus rapid transit has not been pulled off the table. It is possible for the ITP to submit the millage proposal for reconsideration next year. There will be careful research and inquiry concerning the reasons the millage was defeated before another attempt would be made.
There was an inquiry whether the City had investigated the acquisition of the property on Breton adjacent to the trail connection coming out of Stanaback Park. Schweitzer indicated that he was not aware of any recent efforts to pursue the acquisition of this property.
Swanson indicated that he was not previously aware of the existence of the City?s acquisition of property in section 26 for the Fisheries Park. Schweitzer indicated that there are two properties that separate the Fisheries park site from the former landfill adjacent to the City Hall campus. The property immediately east of the landfill was at one time proposed for a condominium development and the developer had expressed an intention to dedicate land through floodplain area to allow for the development of an east-west trail. That would leave only one other property that likewise had the potential to afford a floodplain trail interconnection.
The commissioners indicated that they had not been aware of the financial difficulties of the developer of the last phase of Bailey?s Grove.
Golder indicated that there is a possibility that a commercial rehabilitation district could be established for the area south and east of the intersection of 52nd Street and Eastern Avenue. The EDC is considering this concept in an effort to encourage the redevelopment of this neighborhood commercial center. City Commission approval would be required to make it happen.
Golder proceeded to review a draft of the work plan devised to guide the master plan update process. She explained that the work will be undertaken with in house staff. She devised the draft work plan using the work plan employed by the planning consultant in 2003-2005 as the template. She indicated that Planning and Parks and Recreation staff would be joining forces to complete the task. The Parks and Recreation Plan needs to be adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Commission in time for the state grant applications in early 2010. The overall master plan for the City is required to be evaluated and update within calendar year 2010. Commissioner Groce suggested that the existing conditions for the City include an accounting of vacant industrial and commercial properties both in terms of vacant land and buildings.
Golder recommended that the task dealing with the overall vision for the community consist of a review and update of the vision devised in 2005 given the reduced level of development activity over the past five years.
Task 3 relating to the analysis of issues included traffic issues. Golder suggested that the consideration of traffic diets or traffic calming may be worthwhile. Schweitzer noted the restriping of Eastern Avenue from 60th Street to 68th Street and 60th Street from Division to Eastern in recent years from four vehicular lanes to three vehicular lanes with non-motorized lanes. He suggested that we evaluate these changes to determine whether similar treatments may be warranted elsewhere within the community. He cautioned that traffic counts and roadway capacities will be important in this type of evaluation. Swanson expressed interest in this pursuit while VanderHoff felt these changes are generally undesirable.
Golder made note of the desirability of having the Parks and Recreation, Planning and Engineering departments collaborate to devise a plan to establish, construct and maintain open space networks and trails. The adoption of a Grand Valley Metro Council Non-Motorized Plan would be a great tool to relate trail development in Kentwood with the regional network.
Winczewski suggested that the update of the plan seek out and incorporate regional perspectives.
Discussion ensued concerning the apparent opportunity in the coming months to be able to devote Planning Commission meetings to the various tasks associated with the plan update. It may be desirable to devote up to one and one-half hours a meeting to various master plan tasks.
2. Commissioners? Comments
Holtrop asked whether the registration information regarding the June 5 Growing Communities Conference was available. Schweitzer indicated that he would email the information to the commissioners on Wednesday and requested that any commissioner wishing to attend to notify him by Friday, May 29.
Chair Winczewski noted the upcoming Michigan Citizen Planner program on June 25. He encouraged any interested commissioners to take part in the training. He attended the program in 2008 and was very impressed with the instruction. Schweitzer acknowledged that there was money in the Planning budget set aside for commissioner training.
3. Staff?s Comments
None
L. Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner VanderHoff supported by Commissioner Groce, to adjourn the meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent-
Meeting adjourned at 9:15p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Yokom, Secretary
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