HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 2014-01-28MINUTES OF THE 1,049rH PUBLIC HEARINGS AND REGULAR MEETING
HELD BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, the City Planning Commission of the City of
Livonia held its 1,049" Public Hearings and Regular Meeting in the Livonia City
Hall, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, Michigan.
Mr. Lee Morrow, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members present: Scott P. Bahr R. Lee Morrow Carol A. Smiley
Ian Wilshaw
Members absent: Gerald Taylor
Mr. Mark Taormina, Planning Director, and Ms. Margie Watson, Program
Supervisor, were also present.
Chairman Morrow informed the audience that if a petition on tonight's agenda
involves a rezoning request, this Commission makes a recommendation to the
City Council who, in tum, will hold its own public hearing and make the final
determination as to whether a petition is approved or denied. The Planning
Commission holds the only public hearing on a request for preliminary plat and/or
vacating petition. The Commission's recommendation is forwarded to the City
Council for the final determination as to whether a plat is accepted or rejected. If
a petition requesting a waiver of use or site plan approval is denied tonight, the
petitioner has ten days in which to appeal the decision, in wniing, to the City
Council. Resolutions adopted by the City Planning Commission become
effective seven (7) days after the date of adoption. The Planning Commission
and the professional staff have reviewed each of these petitions upon their fling.
The staff has furnished the Commission with both approving and denying
resolutions, which the Commission may or may not use depending on the
outcome of the proceedings tonight.
ITEM #1 PETITION 2013-12-0232 TENNYSON CHEVROLET
Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the first item on the agenda, Petition
2013-12-02-32 submitted by Jay Feldman requesting waiver
use approval pursuant to Section 11.03(8) of the City of Livonia
Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, in connection with a
proposal to demolish an existing commercial building (32590
Plymouth Road) in order to expand a parking lot for the purpose
of displaying vehicles for the existing auto dealership (Tennyson
Chevrolet) at 32570 Plymouth Road, located on the north side
of Plymouth Road between Farmington Road and Hubbard
Avenue in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 27.
January 28, 2014
26223
Mr. Taormina: This is a waiver use petition to expand an existing automobile
dealership, Tennyson Chevrolet. The request would demolish
an existing commercial building and expand the vehicle storage
and display lot located at the Tennyson facility, which is on the
north side of Plymouth Road between Farmington Road and
Hubbard Avenue. The overhead shows the location of the
property in relationship to the current zoning as well as the
surrounding properties. This is a narrow parcel. It's about 0.4
acre in total area. It includes about 55 feel of frontage along
Plymouth Road and has a depth of 315 feel. The red color
represents the G2, General Business, commercial zoning
district that not only encompasses this property but also the
surrounding properties to the east and west. Lying immediately
to the north is the M-1, Light Manufacturing district.
Interestingly, Tennyson owns all the property to the east, west
and north of this particular site. This is the site of a small
commercial building that is occupied by a barbershop,
Naimola's. Located at the rear of the commercial building is a
single family residential dwelling also on the same parcel of
land. In April of Iasi year, Tennyson received site plan approval
to renovate the dealership by partially demolishing the main
structure and constructing four separate additions to the existing
dealership buildings. The plan that is before you would
demolish the barbershop building as well as the residential
structure. They would grade and level the site to correspond
with the adjacent parking lots of the dealership and then the
entire area more or less would be covered with asphalt and
stuped in order to accommodate roughly 42 vehicles that would
add display space for both the new and used vehicles. This is
the new car dealership operation of Tennyson, which is to the
east of the site in question on the right hand side. Then to the
left or immediately adjacent to this parcel on the west side is the
used car dealership operation. The area behind the properties
is used primarily by Tennyson for vehicle storage for most of
their car inventory. The plan shows that the existing driveway
off Plymouth Road would be removed and replaced with
landscaping, both within the right-of-way and slightly outside of
the right-of-way. Waiver use requirements for dealerships have
a couple special requirements. One of those is that no vehicles
can be parked within twenty feel (20') from the front lot line.
The proposed parking layout includes four spaces that run
immediately adjacent to the Plymouth Road right-of-way and
those spaces would be located about 5 feet from the actual
property line. So they are within that 20 foot setback and that is
similar to what was approved for the new car dealership
immediately to the east. There are some changes that took
place when we reviewed the site plan for the new car dealership
January 28, 2014
26224
that pulled some of the parking out of the right-of-way and
positioned those parking spaces about 5 feet along the right-of-
way of Plymouth Road with some landscaping added between
the sidewalk and the curb where those spaces are located. The
same treatment would lake place here. But it is going to require
that the City Council waive or modify that special requirement by
a separate resolution in which at least two-thirds of the majonty
of the Council concur. Other requirements are that the total
number of vehicles proposed to be displayed or stored shall be
subject to recommendation by the Planning Commission and
approved by City Council; and, any outdoor storage of disabled,
damaged or unlicensed vehicles is prohibited. Those are the
three special requirements that apply to new and used car
dealership operations. With that, Mr. Chairman, I can read out
the departmental correspondence.
Mr. Morrow: Please
Mr. Taormina: There are four items of correspondence. The first dem is from
the Engineering Division, dated January 3, 2014, which reads
as follows: "In accordance with your request, the Engineering
Division has reviewed the above -referenced planning petition.
The legal description provided with the petition appears to be
correct and is acceptable to this office. The address of 32590
Plymouth Road should be used in conjunction with the parcel.
The proposed plan indicates that project will consist of removing
the existing structures and associated paving within the site and
repaving the property to provide additional parking for the
abutting automotive dealership. We have no objections to the
proposed site renovation at this time. The owner will need to
submit plans to the City of Livonia Engineering Department, as
well as to The Michigan Department of Transportation, to obtain
permits for the proposed work. It should be noted that the
existing structures art; currently serviced by public utilities,
which will need to be terminated at the property lines during the
removal process. Also, the owner will need to provide drainage
and storm water treatment details for the proposed parking
areas prior to obtaining permits." The letter is signed by David
W. Lear, P.E., Civil Engineer 11. The second letter is from the
Livonia Fire & Rescue Division, dated January 8, 2014, which
reads as follows: "This office has reviewed the site plan
submitted in connection with a request to construct a
commercial building on property located at the above
referenced address. We have no objections to this proposal."
The letter is signed by Daniel Lee, Fire Marshal. The third letter
is from the Division of Police, dated January 3, 2014, which
reads as follows: "I have reviewed the plans in connection with
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26225
the petition. 1 have no objections to the proposal." The letter is
signed by Joseph Boilos, Sergeant, Traffic Bureau. The fourth
letter is from the Inspection Department, dated January 13,
2014, which reads as follows: "Pursuant to your request, the
above -referenced petition has been reviewed. This Department
has no objections to this Petition." The letter is signed by
Jerome Hanna, Assistant Director of Inspection. That is the
extent of the correspondence.
Mr. Morrow:
Are there any questions of the Planning Director? Seeing
none, we'll invite the petitioner to come forward.
Tom Gizoni,
Alpine Engineenng, Inc., 46892 West Road, Suite 109, Novi,
Michigan 48377. Good evening. We are the civil engineers for
the project. I really don't have much more to add. I will try to
answer any questions you may have at this time.
Mr. Morrow:
Are there any questions of the petitioner?
Mr. Wilshaw:
Its a very small detail, but looking at the plan that's on the
screen before us, there's an extra curb being shown on the area
that should be landscaped. Is thaljusl an oversight or typo?
Mr. Gizoni:
Yes, and that will be removed. That's a portion of the existing
driveway that is to be removed.
Mr. Wilshaw:
So the rest of the landscaping in that area would be extended to
be consistent with what's currently proposed and going to be
built?
Mr. Gizoni:
That's correct.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Those are all the questions I have.
Mr. Morrow:
Anyone else? Its a fairly clean request. You've done a fine job
for this particular one. I'm going to ask the audience if there is
anybody in the audience that wishes to speak for or against the
granting of this petition? Seeing no one coming forward, I will
close the public hearing and request a motion.
On a motion by Bahr, seconded by Wilshaw, and unanimously adopted, it was
#01-01-2014
RESOLVED, that pursuant to a Public Heanng having been
held by the City Planning Commission on January 28, 2014, on
Petition 2013-12-02-32 submitted by Jay Feldman requesting
waiver use approval pursuant to Section 11.03(8) of the City of
Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, in connection with
January 28, 2014
26226
a proposal to demolish an existing commercial building (32590
Plymouth Road) in order to expand a parking lot for the purpose
of displaying vehicles for the existing auto dealership (Tennyson
Chevrolet) at 32570 Plymouth Road, located on the north side
of Plymouth Road between Farmington Road and Hubbard
Avenue in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 27, which properly is
zoned G2, the Planning Commission does hereby recommend
to the City Council that Petition 2013-12-02-32 be approved
subject to the following conditions:
1. That the Site Plan marked C-1 dated December 9, 2013
prepared by Alpine Engineering, Inc., is hereby approved
and shall be adhered to;
2. That the number of vehicles to be displayed outdoors shall
be limited to a total of forty-two (42) vehicles, and that no
vehicle for sale shall be displayed closer than twenty feel
(20') from the front lot line (unless waived by the Council in
a separate resolution);
3. That except for what may be authorized under the Zoning
Ordinance as part of a temporary sales event, any type of
exlenor advertising related to the sale of the vehicles
designed to attract the attention of passing motorists, such
as promotional flags or streamers, shall be prohibited;
4. That the display of any vehicles on car lifts is strictly
prohibited;
5. That there shall be no outdoor storage of auto parts,
equipment, scrap material, waste petroleum products,
junked, unlicensed or inoperable vehicles, or other similar
items in connection with this operation;
6. That all parking spaces shall be double slnped, including
the provision of barrier free parking with proper signage,
marking and configuration, and all regular customer spaces
shall be 10 feet by 20 feet in size as required;
7. That no signs, either freestanding or wall mounted, are
approved with this petition;
8. That all light poles shall be a maximum of twenty feel (20')
high, including the base, and all light fixtures shall be
shielded to minimize glare trespassing on adjacent
properties and roadways;
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26227
9. That the specific plans referenced in this approving
resolution shall be submitted to the Inspection Department
at the time an occupancy permit is applied for.
Subject to the preceding conditions, this petition is approved for
the following reasons:
1. That the proposed use complies with all of the general
waiver use standards and requirements as set forth in
Section 19.06 of the Zoning Ordinance #543;
2. That the subject site has the capacity to accommodate the
proposed use; and
3. That the proposed use is compatible to and in harmony
with the surrounding uses in the area.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that notice of the above hearing was
given in accordance with the provisions of Section 19.05 of
Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended.
Mr. Morrow:
Is there any discussion?
Mr. Bahr:
I don't have any questions but I'll just make the comment that I
think that this change that's happening here really amounts to a
cleanup of the site. It's just really consistent with obviously the
way it's used and it's definitely an improvement for Plymouth
Road.
Mr. Morrow:
Very definitely so. Anyoneelse?
Mr. Wilshaw:
Just to say that Joni Mitchell once said that we pave paradise
and put up a parking lot, but in this case, I think theyre actually
improving the situation by putting up a parking lot. Thank you.
Mr. Morrow:
Yes, I think you're correct there also.
Mr. Morrow,
Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an
approving resolution. This concludes the public hearing portion
of the agenda. We will go on to the Miscellaneous section of
the agenda.
January 28, 2014
26228
ITEM #2 PETITION 2014-01-SN-01 PET SUPPLIES PLUS
Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next dem on the agenda, Petition
2014-01SN-01 submitted by Pet Supplies Plus requesting
approval to replace two (2) existing awning signs with two (2)
wall-mounted signs for the business located at 29493 Seven
Mile Road in the Mid-7 Shopping Center, located on the south
side of Seven Mile Road between Middlebelt Road and Melvin
Avenue in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 11.
Mr. Taormina: This is a sign petition on behalf of Pel Supplies Plus. The store
is located at the southwest corner of Seven Mile and Middlebelt
within the Mid-7 shopping center. This is the zoning map that
shows you the patchwork of zoning that exists at this shopping
center. You'll see three different classifications. The dark red is
the C-2, General Commercial zoning. G7 is located at the
south portion of the properly and building area and P stands for
the Parking classification. The building is located within the C-2
and G7 zoned areas, and the parking lot encompasses most of
eastern half of the site as you can see from this aerial
photograph. The store that we're considering this evening, Pet
Supplies Plus, is located at the north end of the complex. It's an
end cap unit. It's about 8,900 square feet in total size. From
the information that was submitted, they have roughly 100 feet
of building frontage facing Seven Mile and roughly 89 feet of
frontage facing Middlebelt Road, with the Middlebelt Road side
of the store representing the front of the store. Within the C-2
zoning classification, each business is allowed one wall sign
equal to one square feel of sign area for each one lineal fool of
frontage. Where corner units exist with exposure on two major
roads, there is an allowance for a second wall sign. The second
wall sign can be one half of the total allowable area of the first
permitted sign. When we consider the Middlebelt Road side as
the front of this unit, with 89 feel they would be entitled to 89
feel of signage facing Middlebell Road and then half of that or
44.5 feel facing Seven Mile Road along the north facade of this
unit. Back in 1993 is when the City last considered signage for
this establishment. Ultimately what was approved by the Zoning
Board of Appeals were two signs of equal area each measuring
60 square feet. These were in the form of awning signs, one
facing Seven Mile, one facing Middlebell Road. This graphic
shows you what exists as well as what is proposed. The lop
half of the drawing shows you what is there currently, these
green awnings with the identification sign. This would be the
side of the building facing Middlebell Road. So this is the front
of the building and you can see the awning and Pet Supplies
Plus, and then with the awning removed and the facade
January 28, 2014
26229
underneath. They would install a new channel sign that would
measure roughly 105 square feet in total area. If you scroll to
the next page, you'll see a very similar graphic that illustrates
what the signage would like on the north side of the building
facing Seven Mile Road. Again, you'll see the green awning on
the lop. It wraps around both sides of the building. With that
removed, you see a similar sign being placed on that side of the
building, again facing Seven Mile, equal in area, about 105
square feel. Because both sides exceed what the ordinance
allows, it would require approval by the Zoning Board of
Appeals. With that, Mr. Chairman, I can read out the
departmental correspondence.
Mr. Morrow: Very good
Mr. Taormina: There is one item of correspondence from the Inspection
Department, dated January 23, 2014, which reads as follows:
"In accordance with your request, the above referenced Petition
has been reviewed. The following is noted. A variance from the
Zoning Board of Appeals would be required for the excess
number of signs. This Department has no further objections to
this Petition." The letter is signed by Jerome Hanna, Assistant
Director of Inspection. That is the extent of the correspondence.
Mr. Morrow: Are there any questions of the Planning Director? Seeing none,
is the petitioner here this evening? Welcome.
Joe Hochendoner, Pet Supplies Plus, 17197 N. Laurel Park Drive, Suite 402,
Livonia, Michigan 48152. Just to add a few things here briefly.
One of the things we're looking to do, as you can tell from the
illustrations, is to update the rest of the building, or the fascia, if
you will, to match the rest of the building. In so doing, because
our signage is part of the awning, when that comes down we
would end up putting new signage up. Roughly the fascia that
is shown in the photograph is seven feel tall. With our corporate
headquarters located here in Livonia, it would be a good
opportunity to update our signage to our standard signage
package. So that's another important thing for us. Typically, as
a tenant, we wouldn't be renovating the exterior of the building,
but that's something we're willing to take on to update the
building to match it. I know there's been some, not necessarily
controversy, but the look of the building. There's been a lot of
discussion about bringing it up so that it matches with the entire
plaza that's there. So that's something that we're looking to do.
The other thing, depending on how things cost out, we're
looking to also update the storefront facade. The glazing has
seen its day and that's something else that we're looking to
January 28, 2014
26230
update as well with this potental renovation. That's pretty much
it. If there's any questions that the Board has, we'd be happy to
answer those.
Mr. Morrow:
Okay. Are there any questions of the petitioner?
Mr. Bahr:
This is more just a point of history for me. You said to bang it
into compliance with the rest of the building, the green awning,
that's always been unique, hasn't it?
Mr Mochentloner
That's always been unique but from my understanding, as you
move south, you have Dollar Tree and you have the other
tenants in there. From my understanding, they've eventually
renovated continually up to this point that we're sort of the only
niche that doesn't have the standard fascia with the siding
colors.
Mr. Bahr:
Okay. I was just trying to make sure my memory served me
correctly. Thanks.
Ms. Smiley:
Were you aware of what the City allows in the way of signage?
Mr Mochentloner
Yes, we are.
Ms. Smiley:
What you're asking for is a lot.
Mr Mochentloner
Yes, and we understand that. Again, one of the things, our
customers are sort of used to this iconic green sign. The one
thing we just want to make sure is that, as we renovate this
building, that are customers know that we're still there. Of
course, signage is always important to us. I know there's
always the balance between large signs and fascias and all that,
but with having such a tall fascia, around 7 feet, we think that
the signage will still work in proportion with the building as a
whole.
Ms. Smiley:
You're not having trouble having people find you now, are you?
Mr Mochentloner
No. Not right now.
Ms. Smiley:
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Typically what's allowed, as Mr. Taormina staled, the way our
ordinance normally works is we allow, because you're a comer
lot, the sign on the frontage that's equivalent to your lineal
square feet of your building and then a sign that's half that size
on the other side. In your case, your frontage can be debatable.
January 28, 2014
26231
Obviously your door is on the Middlebell Road side, but you
have significant frontage on Seven Mile. It's rather important to
the visibility of your store as well, and I think customers use that
side as they come along Seven Mile to find your store. I do
think that side is also important. One thing that we discussed at
our study meeting was the possibility of allowing you to use that
linear footage along Seven Mile, which is actually a little bit
more, as a calculation point, and then lake that space and
divide it equally among the two sides so that essentially what
you'd end up having is a total of 150 square feel of signage
allowed, which if you wanted to do equal side signs, that would
be 75 square feel signs on both sides, or of course, you could
still, if you wanted to have a larger sign on Middlebell Road and
a smaller one on Seven Mile, you could do that. But that's
something that we talked about at our study meeting and I
wanted to see what your thought was about that. It's more than
what you currently have. You have 120 square feet. Its less
than what you're proposing but it's sort of a compromise in
between.
Mr Mochen ner
I mean if that's something the Board is just not going to allow us
to go forward with the 36, that's something that we would be
willing to entertain. Or even if there's a medium between that, if
even we looked at a 33 inch sign. A 33 inch sign would be 87 or
88 square feet per sign to give a little bit more of a bump. That
would be great as well. We're just trying to make sure, again,
visibility and clearance of the sign is easily legible.
Mr. Wilshaw:
And I understand that. That's definitely important. One could
certainly argue that the removal of your green awning makes
the sign a little less significant in the sense that you're green
awning across the entire length of your store is in itself an
indicator of the store.
Mr Mochen ner
And it does stand out if you're on the comer on the Sears side.
It definitely stands out compared to the rest of the building.
Mr. Wilshaw:
And I agree. I think that holding you exactly to the letter of our
ordinance may do a disservice to the store, but allowing you
something a little beyond what our ordinance would normally
allow, I think is reasonable. Is it 210 feet reasonable or is it 150
square feet reasonable, is really the question. And realize that
we're a recommending body to the Council, so whatever we
come up with, you're going to go to the Council and if you want
to try to convince them you have circumstances that are above
and beyond what we're coming up with, that's certainly your
prerogative, but I certainly would feel comfortable with 150
square feel of signage for your store. I do think that you're
January 28, 2014
26232
upgrading the appearance of it with the proposal you have
before us and I think that's an excellent thing for the community.
I think it's good for the area and I think it's great that Pel
Supplies Plus is now a Livonia based business and you're
coming to the community to invest in it being you're a corporate
citizen here as well. I appreciate that very much. Thank you.
Mr. Bahr:
I just remembered there's a question that came up Iasi week,
and I was just going to confirm for the sake of my fellow
commissioners that there are two pylon signs on this property
as well, both of which have Pel Supplies Plus on them. There's
certainly plenty of signage. I would concur with what
Commissioner Wilshaw said, but I just wanted to point that out
for everybody in case somebody was still wondering.
Mr. Morrow:
Thank you for that comment. Anyone else? I know the store
has been there for quite some time. Can you quantify the length
of lime that theyve been there?
Mr Mochen ner
Yes. We've been there since 1993. So roughly a little over 20
years.
Mr. Morrow:
So you've probably built up a pretty significant trade in that area.
Mr Hoche ner
Yes. Our customers know that we're there but we're also
always reaching out to those new customers too, which are
important to us as well.
Mr. Morrow:
I would imagine a lot of it is word-of-mouth loo. If you have
satisfied customers and they're pet lovers, I'm sure they like to
go where they're well taken care of.
Mr Mochen ner
Coved. And the quantity I can't speak to. I'm not sure what
those numbers would be.
Mr. Morrow:
I didn't want to dwell on that, but I just wanted to quantify it for
how long you've been there.
Mr Hochen ner
Sure.
Mr. Taormina:
Just a quick question because the petitioner mentioned an
alternative letter height of 33 inches. I'm just wondering why 33
as opposed to 32 inches? Are these patterns that have already
been established by the sign maker? Can you shed some light
on what options are available because I know a lot of these are
standards sizes that are used with your other stores?
January 28, 2014
26233
Mr Hochen&ner
Thats correct. We have a specific sign package or criteria that
we go to and basically, its 30, 33 and 36. The next bump down
from our typical sign would be a 33 inch sign from the 36.
Mr. Morrow:
And these are 36?
Mr Hochen ner
That's a 36, correct.
Mr. Morrow:
And the bottom is 30.
Mr Hochenroner
Cortect, 30.
Mr. Morrow:
Thankyou.
Mr. Taormina:
When you say 7 feel, how are you measuring that?
Mr Hochenroner
From the bottom of the soffit to the top of the parapet.
Mr. Taormina:
Not this back parapet?
Mr Hochentl ner
No, that back piece is actually set back further from the building.
Mr. Taormina:
So it would actually be from this point to the lop.
Mr Hochen&ner
Correct.
Mr. Morrow:
Can that be adjusted by the width or the contraction of it? Is
that how its measured?
Mr. Taormina:
I'm sorty. What do you mean?
Mr. Morrow:
I mean if you draw it out, that increases it, or you bring it in, that
decreases what we measure as a sign, nghl?
Mr. Taormina:
I'm guessing that if the depth goes down, these are all
proportional, so it probably has a slight adjustment in the overall
length.
Mr Hocken ner
That would be correct.
Mr. Taormina:
Do you know what those other dimensions are with the 33 and
the 30?
Mr Hochen&ner
So a 33 would be roughly 32 feel long.
Mr. Taormina:
And then the 30?
January 28, 2014
26234
Mr Hochen&ner
That would be roughly 30 feel long. It's about a 2 fool
difference.
Mr. Morrow:
I guess the question is, can you work with that 50 and the 100
or the 275's. Would that meet your crilena?
Mr Hochen&ner
We would work with that.
Mr. Morrow:
And still maintain one of your standard letter sizes?
Mr Hochen&ner
We could probably gel that to work out, but again, if we could
compromise and look at 33 as a middle, that's what we would
like to try to do if possible.
Mr. Morrow:
And as Mr. Bahr pointed out, you do have a couple pylon signs
which would augment the signs as far as the visibility of that.
Mr. Bahr:
A question probably for Mark. If this step mall was ever redone
on a large level, would those pylon signs come under our review
or are they pretty much grandfathered in regardless what they
do here?
Mr. Taormina:
They are always subject to discussion depending on the extent
of remodeling. They could very well be part of the discussion as
we've done on other sites.
Mr. Bahr:
Okay. Then I just want to make sure I'm clear. So this 33 inch
tall sign that you're talking about, what would the square footage
of that end up being?
Mr Hochen&ner.-
A 33 inch sign is 87.91, 88 square feet.
Mr. Bahr:
So that's what you're asking for. Do you know what the 30 inch
tall sign would be, the square footage?
Mr Hochen&ner
A 30 inch would be roughly 70.
Mr. Bahr:
Is that right at the 75?
Mr. Taormina:
Yes
Mr. Morrow:
Is that is, Mr. Taormina?
Mr. Taormina:
Yes. I'll just point out that the 87 is consistent with what the
Planning Commission approved in 1993 but it was adjusted
downward by the Zoning Board of Appeals, probably down to 60
which is representative of what you have on the awnings today.
January 28, 2014
26235
Mr. Morrow:
You said the 87 inches?
Mr. Taormina:
Our notes indicate that's what the Planning Commission
approved back in 1993.
Mr. Morrow:
Is that on both sides?
Mr. Taormina:
That was two signs at 87 square feet.
Mr. Morrow:
And that was a new store at that lime?
Mr. Taormina:
Yes. It sounds like it was.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Through the Chair to Mr. Taormina, so the yellow lettering that's
on the current sign is essentially a 30 inch high letter?
Mr. Taormina:
I don't know what the actual dimensions of that are. I don't
know if that's 30 inches or not.
Mr Mochen loner
I'm not sure to be honest with you what the existing letter size
is. I don't have any existing documents as to what that was
when it was placed.
Mr. Taormina:
Its 60 square feel. So the fad that it's 60 square feet would
probably be an indication that its even less than the 30 inches.
Its probably somewhere 26, 27 or something would be my
guess.
Mr. Wilshaw:
So 30 is probably somewhere in between those two signs that
we see in the picture.
Mr. Taormina:
Yes.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Okay.
Ms. Smiley:
I have one more question. Just for clanfcation then, they're
allowed a 60 and a 60 or 120. Right?
Mr. Taormina:
Theym allowed 89 and 44.
Ms. Smiley:
Which is 133.
Mr. Taormina:
What he's suggesting is a 33 inch sign. That's what they'd be
entitled to along the Middlebell Road side. Then on the Seven
Mile Road side, they're only allowed half of that or 44.5 square
feel.
January 28, 2014
26236
Mr. Morrow:
But we're willing to count the Seven Mile side as the front of the
store.
Mr. Taormina:
That's what we discussed at the study meeting as being a fair
compromise.
Ms. Smiley:
They allowed 133.5.
Mr. Taormina:
I think these stores when they have frontage on two roads, they
probably want signs of equal size. It's probably to their
advantage. The question is between the three different sizes, or
at lead the two, the 30 or the 33. A 30 inch tall sign brings it
right up to the dimensions we talked about at the study session.
The 33 inch tall sign brings it up a little bit more than that, equal
to what they would be allowed on at least the Middlebelt Road
side of this building. They just want to duplicate that on the
other side.
Mr. Morrow:
And that was the 89?
Mr. Taormina:
Yes. I think 87 or 88.
Mr. Morrow:
Okay. I wrote 0 down wrong.
Mr. Bahr:
I think the discussion we're having here, what's being proposed,
I can certainly understand it and I don' think its an
unreasonable request, but I also think we have a city ordinance
in place that was designed specifically for this situation and has
served us well. While I think it's a reasonable request, I think
our compromise is reasonable in light of that as well.
Mr. Morrow:
Yes, and as Mr. Wilshaw pointed out, this is a recommending
body to City Council who will ultimately make the decision. Is
there anything else of the commission? Is there anybody in the
audience that wishes to speak for or against the granting of this
petition? Seeing no one coming forward, I'll ask for a motion.
On a motion by
Wilshaw, seconded by Bahr, and unanimously adopted, it was
#01-02-2014
RESOLVED, that the City Planning Commission does hereby
recommend to the City Council that Petition 2014 -01 -SN -01
submitted by Pel Supplies Plus requesting approval to replace
two (2) existing awning signs with two (2) wall -mounted signs for
the business located at 29493 Seven Mile Road in the Mid -7
Shopping Center, located on the south side of Seven Mile Road
between Middlebelt Road and Melvin Avenue in the Northeast
January 28, 2014
26237
1/4 of Section 11, be approved subject to the following
conditions:
1. That the two (2) wall signs shall be installed in accordance
with the Sign Plan submitted by Pel Supplies Plus, as
received by the Planning Commission on January 9, 2014,
except for the fact that each sign shall not exceed 75
square feel in sign area or a total of 150 square feel for
both signs;
2. That this approval is subject to the petitioner being granted
variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals for excessive
sign area and any conditions related thereto;
3. That no LED lightband or exposed neon shall be permitted
on the building or around the windows; and,
4. That the signage shall not be illuminated beyond one (1)
hour after this business center closes.
Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carded and the foregoing
resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an
approving resolution.
ITEM #3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1,047m Public Hearings and
Regular Meeting
Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Approval
of the Minutes of the 1,047 1h Public Hearings and Regular
Meeting held on November 19, 2013.
On a motion by Smiley, seconded by Bahr, and unanimously adopted, it was
#01-03-2014 RESOLVED, that the Minutes of 1,047 1h Public Hearings and
Regular Meeting held by the Planning Commission on
November 19, 2013, are hereby approved.
A roll call vole on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following:
AYES: Smiley, Bahr, Morrow
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Wilshaw
Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted.
January 28, 2014
26238
On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 1,049'" Public
Heanngs and Regular Meeting held on January 28, 2014, was adjourned at 7:42
p.m.
CIN PLANNING COMMISSION
Carol A. Smiley, Acting Secretary
ATTEST:
R. Lee Morrow, Chairman