Minutes of the work session of the Georgetown Township Planning Commission held Wednesday, October 5, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Honderd at 7:30 p.m.

 

Present:            DeGood, Honderd, Pearson, Stasiak, South, Huizinga

Absent: Poskey

 

The work session, which formulated the agenda for October 19, 2005, included the following items to be placed on the agenda, discussion, and action:

 

I.                    Approval of agenda

 

II.                 Approval of minutes of the September 21, 2005 regular meeting, the September 14, 2005 joint planning meeting and the October 5, 2005 work session meeting

 

III.       Unfinished Business-none

 

IV.       New Business

A.                 Site Plans

1.         (ST0513) Advance Auto Parts-600 Baldwin St.

           

John Fergus represented the applicant and presented the request.

 

The plan includes the demolition of the existing 5th/3rd Bank building and the construction of a new 6,781 square foot building for the retail sales of auto parts.  He offered the following comments.  Some of the existing landscaping will remain and more will be added.  Adequate parking has been provided and no additional curb cuts will be made onto Baldwin.  The exit onto Baldwin would be a right out only exit and radii could be increased to help enforce the right out only turn. 

 

The planner presented the following opinions:

 

-The site must have 6 trees within the front set back area and felt that the landscaping shown on the site plan had trees that measured outside of this area, he did state however that possibly the landscape requirement is met when taking in to account the existing landscaping but this should be reviewed.

- He also stated that his opinion would be to close the right out exit on to Baldwin and possibly obtain a cross connection with the party to the east of the site or have traffic enter and exit thru the Meijer private driveway.  Elimination of the Baldwin curb cut is more in line with MDOT and access management standards.

-And thirdly obtain a review and approval from the Drain Commissioner.

 

The applicant commented on the planner’s statements and expressed that he felt that a good job was done with the landscaping and that a row of burning brush would be added to block the view from Baldwin of the cars in the parking lot.  He indicated that requesting to gain access for a shared driveway from an adjacent property owner would be difficult to do and that possibly posting additional right out only signs and the geometric of the driveway would deter traffic from turning left.  He also stated that the applicant is not requesting an additional curb cut but utilizing a driveway that is already in place and that the proposed use is less intense than the use that was previously there.

 

South commented by stating that he believes the exit onto Baldwin should remain as it is the only access to a public street the applicant has.  He asked the applicant if the right out only would coincide with the placement of the decel lane and the applicant stated yes.

 

DeGood commented that the 5/3 Bank had a right out only sign that was not successful; however, he feels that the right out only is accomplished by the radii and that closing the exit onto Baldwin would create problems rather than solve them.

 

Stasiak stated that he was glad to see someone finally do something with this site.  He believes that the right turn only is not a good idea and the driveway should be eliminated.  Customers could utilize the other access drive; however, if drive to Baldwin remained extra striping and directional signs should be displayed.

 

Huizinga feels that right out should have a distinctive curve forcing a right turn and agrees that getting Fazzoli’s to allow thru traffic probably isn’t likely.

 

Pearson felt that the landscaping plan could be revisited from a more creative approach as a lot of effort has gone into dressing up one of the main thoroughfares of Georgetown.  He expressed how great Sunset Manor’s landscaping looks.  He commented that the drive to Baldwin should be eliminated.  He read recently that a large amount of accidents are near the Baldwin/Thomas area.

 

Greg Honderd directed that a poll be taken of the planning commission members as it relates to the driveway access onto Baldwin. The following results occurred:

 

Drive Eliminated: Stasiak, Honderd, Pearson

 

Drive Stays: South, Degood, Huizenga

 

South commented that drive should be sharpened enough to force a right out and site should be signed well.

 

Greg commented that closing the drive onto Baldwin shouldn’t cause a hardship; he believes that most of the customers will enter from the west and park in the parking spots to the west.  Informed applicant that the ball was now in his court that he could either revise the site plan eliminating the driveway or leave things as they are and try again during the meeting on 10-19-05, but pointed out the opinions of the Planning Commission members seems to be split and it could end up in a tie vote again.

 

B.         Public Hearings

1.                  Special Use Permits-none

 

2.                  Rezonings-none

 

5.                  Plats-none

 

6.                  PUD’s

 

 

#051010-01 - Final Development Plan-Revision (PUD0406-4) Lowing Woods-for signs

 

Dale Kraker of Eastbrook Development represented the applicant and requested a revision to the final development plan for phase one of the Eastbrook PUD which was approved by the Planning Commission on 2-16-05, as indicated on the site plan in front of everyone.

 

The planner commented that after reviewing the site plan against Chapter 25 of the ordinance he determined that the proposed waterfall feature is a little over 12 feet high, this exceeds the 3’ height allowed by the ordinance, the sign is only 12 square feet in area which is under the 64 square foot maximum allowed by the ordinance and that set backs have been met.  He referred to and read Section 25.5 of the ordinance and felt that possibly the sign could be toned down.

 

The applicant pointed out that the height of the sign is due to the fact that this structure is tiered and sits on a 2 ˝’ wall. 

 

South asked what elevation the 12’ height was being measured from and applicant stated this was measured road elevation.

 

DeGood had no comments.

 

Stasiak thinks the sign is great and asked if it is lighted. The applicant stated it was.

 

Honderd, Huizinga and Pearson feel the sign works well.

 

Moved by South, seconded by DeGood, to approve the revised Final Development Plan, including the signs on the waterfall feature, on the basis that the proposal is consistent with Sec. 22.10.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

b.                  Preliminary (PUD0502) Youth for Christ and Georgetown Township are requesting a Planned Unit Development for commercial, park and municipal (senior center) uses, under Chapter 22, on parcels of land described as P.P.# 70-14-24-100-015 and 70-14-24-100-018, located at 7096 8th Ave.

c.                   Final Development Plan (PUD0502) Youth for Christ and Georgetown Township, 7096 8th Ave

 

The public hearing was advertised for October 19, 2005.  No revised plans have been submitted.

 

7.                  Ordinance Amendments-none

 

V.                 Other Business

 

1.         Policy and Procedures for Planning Commission applications

2.         Review initiation of Zoning Ordinance Amendments to require a pre-application             meeting

 

To be discussed at the next meeting

 

VI.       Commissioner Comments

VII.      Staff Comments

VIII.         Adjourn

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.