HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 2014-03-04MINUTES OF THE 1,051 ST PUBLIC HEARINGS AND REGULAR MEETING
HELD BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA
On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, the City Planning Commission of the City of Livonia
held its 1,051" 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 Kathleen E. McIntyre R. Lee Morrow
Carol A. Smiley Gerald Taylor Ian Wilshaw
Members absent: None
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 writing, 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. We want to welcome a new member,
Kathleen McIntyre, to the City Planning Commission. She comes to us with a
vast amount of experience involved within the City of Livonia. Her latest
assignment was to the Zoning Board of Appeals. We want to welcome you,
Kathleen.
ITEM #1 PETITION 2014-01-02-02 CVS/Pharmacy
Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the first item on the agenda, Pefition
2014-01-02-02 submitted by Woodward Detroit CVS, L.L.C.
requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Section 10.03(g) of
the City of Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, to
utilize an SOD liquor license (sale of packaged spirits over 21%
alcohol) in connection with the CVS Pharmacy at 8811
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26260
Newburgh Road in the Four Oaks Shopping Center, located on
the northwest corner of Newburgh Road and Joy Road in the
Northeast 1/4 of Section 32.
Mr. Taormina: This is a request pursuant to Section 10.03 of the Zoning
Ordinance for waiver use approval to utilize a Specially
Designated Distributors license at the CVS Pharmacy which is
located at the Four Oaks Shopping Center at the northwest
corner of Newburgh and Joy Roads. The property is zoned C-1,
Local Business. There is residential to the north as well as to
the west of this shopping center. To the east is a Walgreens
drug store. The PL zoned property denotes Public Lands
owned by Livonia Public Schools. Churchill High School is
located on the east side of Newburgh Road and the Livonia
Career Technical Center is the PL zoned land which is to the
north of the subject property. This CVS Pharmacy received
waiver use approval in 1995 to utilize an SDM, Specially
Designated Merchants license which allows for the sale of
packaged wine and beer only and does not include spirits. The
request this evening for the SDD would allow for the sale of
packaged spirit products. There are a number of special
requirements that pertain to SDD licensed businesses. The first
is that there must be a minimum 1,000 foot separation from
similar licensed businesses. Utilization of an SDD license at
this location would be in compliance with that requirement. The
nearest SDD licensed establishment is the Livonia Liquor & Fine
Wine Store located at 38675 Ann Arbor Road. That's on the
south side of Ann Arbor Road, west of Hix Road, and it's
approximately 3,900 feel away from the subject site. The
second special requirement pertaining to SDD licenses is a
minimum 400 fool separation from any church or school
building. Again, utilization of an SDD license at the CVS
Pharmacy at Joy and Newburgh Roads would be in compliance
with this provision. The distance is measured between the
actual buildings and not the property lines. The Livonia Career
Technical Center is located approximately 560 feel to the north
and west of the CVS, and Churchill High School is located
approximately 470 feet to the northeast across Newburgh Road.
Lastly, there is a special requirement that all SDD licensed
establishments whose gross receipts that are derived from the
sale of alcohol do not exceed 35 percent of the total receipts of
all sales, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, must display their
SDD products behind a counter or in a locked display case with
no direct public access. Because this CVS Pharmacy would
meet that criteria, they are required to place their products
behind a counter or in a locked display case. They have
submitted a floor plan that would appear to show all of the
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26261
products stored and displayed behind the sales counter. We
will confirm that this evening with the petitioner. So they comply
with that provision as well. This requirement, I'll note also, does
not apply to SDM products. As you look at this floor plan, you
see a couple of highlighted areas. The one on the far right is
where the liquor will be stored, and that is the point -of -sales
counter there. The other two highlighted areas are coolers and
shelving for the wine and beer products. Those are not behind
a counter or locked in a case, nor are they required to be under
the ordinance. Lastly, a note regarding SDD licenses. Stale
law limits the number of SDD licenses based on a community's
total population. For the City of Livonia, the established SDD
quota is 34. Currently, there are 32 active SDD-licensed
businesses and two inactive licenses. The two inactive
escrowed licenses include the former CVS drug store at Burton
Center Plaza on Farmington Road just north of Six Mile Road
and the former Livonia Drug Store on Five Mile just west of
Farmington. If approved, the CVS would transfer the license
that is in escrow al their former Farmington and Six Mile store to
the Newburgh and Joy Road store. With that, Mr. Chairman, I
can read out the departmental correspondence.
Mr. Morrow: Please
Mr. Taormina: There are two items of correspondence. The first item is from
the Engineering Division, dated January 28, 2014, which reads
as follows: "In accordance with your request, the Engineering
Division has reviewed the above -referenced planning petition.
We have no objections to the proposal at this time. The
proposed plan indicates that project will affect any existing
public utilities, and therefore will not require any Engineering
Division permits. The legal description provided with the petition
appears to be connect and is acceptable to this office. The
existing Four Oaks Shopping Center is assigned an address
range of 8811 to 8881 Newburgh Road. The existing store is
located on the south end of the shopping center, which
corresponds to the address of 8811 Newburgh Road." The
letter is signed by David W. Lear, P.E., Civil Engineer 11. The
second letter is from the Division of Police, dated January 27,
2014, which reads as follows: We have reviewed the plans in
connection with CVS — SDD License, located at 8811 Newburgh
Road (northwest comer of Newburgh and Joy Roads in the
northeast quarter of Section 32). After reviewing the plans with
the Chief of Police, we have no objection to the waiver being
granted, contingent that the petitioner complies with approvals
granted to other SDD licensed establishments, whereas liquor
displayed for sale must be behind a counter with no direct public
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access. The establishment would be required to supply a
qualified employee, at least 18 years of age, to distribute the
product to customers. Also, contingent that the petitioner
complies with all State Laws, City Ordinances, Stipulations and
conditions set by the Livonia Police Department Liquor,
Investigation Unit as approved by the Chief of Police, and
Stipulations and conditions set by the Traffic Bureau of the
Livonia Police Department. We are available to provide any
additional information you may desire on this subject." The
letter is signed by Jeffrey W. Ronayne, Special Services
Bureau. Thal is the extent of the correspondence.
Mr. Morrow:
Are there any questions of the Planning Director?
Mr. Bahr:
Through the Chair to Mark. Mark, do you know if the other CVS
locations in Livonia currently have SDD licenses?
Mr. Taormina:
The answer to that is, some do and some do not. I had written
those down and if you give me a moment, I can provide you with
more detail, or maybe the petitioner knows immediately where
those other locations are.
Mr. Bahr:
My main point is that this isn't a departure from the none as far
as other drugstores in the city, whether it be Walgreens, CVS,
Rite Aid. This is a pretty typical thing for them to have a license
like this.
Mr. Taormina:
We have one other CVS pharmacy that carries an SDD license
and a total of four Rile Aids.
Mr. Bahr:
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Morrow:
Is the petitioner here this evening? We will need your name and
address for the record please.
Jason Canvasser, Clark Hill P.L.C., 500 Woodward Avenue, Suite 3500, Detroit,
Michigan 48226. I'm the aflorney for CVS.
Michael Allen, Store Manager, 8811 Newburgh Road, Livonia, Michigan 48150.
Mr. Morrow:
You've heard the presentation by Mr. Taormina. Is there
anything you'd like to add to it?
Mr. Canvasser:
Just a little bit to add. I want to first thank the Planning Director
for a very thorough and accurate presentation. In regards to
CVS's with SDD licenses, I believe there is one on Middlebell
Road. It's about nine miles from this current location.
March 4, 2014
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According to my records, there are three Rite Aids with SDD
licenses and an Apex Drug Store that also has an SDD license.
There may be others, but these are the ones I'm aware of. As
the Planning Director went through, it appears that all the
requirements of Section 10.03, the waiver uses for the C-1,
Local Business district, have been complied with. I don't have
anything to add to that except for the fact that Churchill High
School, which is located more than 400 feel away but less than
500 feel away, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission did
send them a notice and provided them an opportunity to object.
As far as we are aware, they have not voiced any objection to
our licensure request. In addition to the 35 percent requirement,
this store, the year-to-date beer and wine sales are only about
6.9 percent, so it's far beneath that 35 percent. The closest
Livonia store which is located at Six Mile and Haggerty which
sells beer, wine and spirits had, I believe, a year -to -dale percent
of only 9.2 percent. So again, using the full range of SDD and
SDM licenses, we don't expect to be anywhere near the 35
percent. We expect to be sufficiently under that. As the
Planning Director also staled, this is an existing store. We are
not proposing any new construction. Because its already gone
through a planning hearing previously, I would just proffer that
we believe that our request complies with Section 19.06, the
general waiver requirements and general standards and
complies with the spirt and intent of the Zoning Ordinance for
the City of Livonia. I welcome any questions, but if you'd like,
I'd like to present a little bit about how we try to restrict the sale
of age -restricted products and specifically alcohol to minors,
how the store prevents sales to individuals who may be in an
intoxicated condition, and how a store uses their point-of-sale
equipment to also check for false identification. So if that's
okay, I'll turn it over to the store manager who can provide a
little bit of information on that.
Mr. Morrow: We would appreciate it very much
Mr. Allen: Again, thank you for the opportunity to present some of this
information. As a store manager, obviously I'm directly involved
with the personnel within the store. As a new hire comes into
our organization, they are required to attend new colleague
orientation, which is outside of the store. It's an eight hour
session which presents information on all of CVS standards, but
in addition, they have about an hour to an hour and a half
compliance specific training. That compliance training includes
alcohol, but we also sell other restricted pharmaceutical
products, so that hour and a half training is required by every
new hire within the organization. After they complete the
March 4, 2014
26264
training, they also are required to take a test and they are
required to complete that at 100 percent accuracy within the first
14 days of their hiring. So that is the start of the training
involved for compliance, especially with beer and wine and
alcohol sales. In addition to that, we have an opportunity to
require biannual training for all employees, both pharmacy and
front store, including pharmacists. That biannual training is
compliance specific. It includes all of those same items,
alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical sales restrictions. So they
are also required to go through a packet of material that is
provided to them and take another compliance test every six
months that they are required to pass at 100 percent. If they
don't within the quarter, they are actually taken off the schedule
and cannot work again until they do finish that compliance
training. It is very important training that we put a lot of
emphasis on as a company to make sure we are compliant with
all those items that we do sell. As far as our pointof-sale
equipment, let me back up one second. The biannual training
does talk about sales to minors. We have training that is
involved with selling to intoxicated persons and falsification of
identification, so if anyone presents false ids, they are trained to
use a black light to be able to validate ids as well as currency.
That is used at the point-of-sale at the register. In addition,
some of the other point-of-sale things that we put in place to
help with restricted products, we actually, the point-of-sale
system when an item that is restricted is scanned, at the point-
of-sale there is a hard stop that requests, does that customer
have identification? We have to put in the system, yes, that
they do provide us identification. At that point, it asks for their
dale of birth. We physically have to key in the dale of birth. Al
that point the product is then eligible for sale. If it is staled that
there is no id, it automatically is a hard slop sale and it does not
complete the sale. Once we do put in that they do have an id
and we put in the birth dale and it is valid, it will proceed and
allow us to finalize the transactions. So that is a hard stop that
is built into the system for that product and others that are
restricted within our company. I believe I hit on the items that I
wanted to as far as the things we do offer as far as training, but
also the hard stop that we do employ to make sure we are
compliant.
Mr. Morrow: Thank you. Are there any questions from the Commissioners?
Ms. Smiley: What are your hours of operation?
Mr. Allen: Our front store hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
everyday.
March 4, 2014
26265
Ms. Smiley:
But you close at 10:00?
Mr. Allen:
We close at 10:00, correct. The only adjustment to that is
during the holiday timeframe. We do have extended hours for
a very short duration between Thanksgiving and Christmas,
and we close at midnight during that window.
Ms. Smiley:
In the evening, how many employees would be in the store?
Mr. Allen :
There is a minimum of a manager and a cashier at all limes.
We also, until 9:00, have a pharmacist because the pharmacy is
open until 9:00 Monday through Friday. They are open until
600 on the weekends. So we have a minimum of two
employees, a manager and a cashier. During the other times,
we have the pharmacy staff that is also available.
Ms. Smiley:
How long have you been there?
Mr. Allen :
I've been there for a little over a year and a half now.
Ms. Smiley:
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Taylor:
Just curious. Other than the fact that CVS already has a license
in escrow, did you have any people asking for liquor at your
store or was there a reason why you decided to implement the
license here?
Mr. Allen :
Absolutely. We have a lot of requests from customers. They
will come in and ask, do we carry alcohol. Unfortunately, we
have to say no, and then I point them in the direction of another
location that does sell alcohol. So we do have a fairly significant
population that does utilize our store for beer and wine. Like he
mentioned before, we're approximately 6.9 percent year to dale
of our total front store sales is beer and wine. We don't expect
that to be a significantly bumped, but since we have such a
customer demand, we're looking to be able to satisfy that
customer request.
Mr. Taylor:
So it could be for the convenience of the customer is what
you're saying.
Mr. Allen :
Absolutely. Since we already have a customer base that is
coming in asking for the hard liquor, we would have that
opportunity to be able to have it in a secure location but also be
able to provide that service to them.
March 4, 2014
26266
Mr. Taylor: I think one of the selling points is that we're not adding a new
liquor license. All we're doing is moving one. Thank you.
Mr. Wilshaw: Does this location have a drive-thm?
Mr. Allen:
No.
that you see on the board in yellow that says "liquor' used to be
Mr. Wilshaw:
Okay.
That was my question.
Thank you
Mr. Taormina: Just a point of clarification going back to the question regarding
which facilities carry licenses. We have on record one active
SDD license at a CVS at Six Mile and Middlebelt. Then they
have three active SDM licensed stores and the one that's in
escrow that I mentioned. In the case of Rite Aid, there are four
active SDD licenses. Of the three major drug chains, Walgreens
does not have either, SDD or SDM. Then if I may, ask one
question of the petitioner? Could you describe where the actual
liquor will be stored? Will it be behind the cashier? It's difficult
to read on the floor plan where the product will actually be
shelved, if that's directly at the cashier or if it's adjacent to it at
another location that is secured from customers.
Mr. Allen:
It's within a secured location behind the counter. The location
that you see on the board in yellow that says "liquor' used to be
where we would develop film. We used to have a lab where we
would develop film. That process is no longer available. We've
actually gotten rid of that so it's a large area that is secured
behind a swing door. There is a cash register at that spot in the
corner just across from where the "L" is, where the swing door
is. So there is a separate register. We have three registers.
Two registers on the counter that's not in front of liquor, and
there's one that's directly in front of liquor and theyre all used
within the day. Right now, the cigarettes are actually closest to
the front door, not where the yellow is, and that's the location
where the first cashier is located, if that makes sense.
Mr. Taormina:
Does the Commission understand?
Mr. Morrow:
We can see the entryway there in the lower right hand corner.
Mr. Taormina:
I just circled where the cash registers are that he was speaking
about. Apparently, there is also one directly across.
Mr. Allen:
Its right up at the very corner where the swing door is. Do you
mind if I point? I can stand up there and point. It would be just
as easy.
March 4, 2014
26267
Mr. Wilshaw:
We've got the idea.
Mr. Allen:
It is a completely enclosed area with a swing door that gets into
that locafion.
Mr. Morrow:
I'm assuming they're not locked up. They're just on a shelf.
Mr. Allen:
Correct. Well, the proposal is that it would be just on the shelf.
Many of our locations use liquor caps, secure liquor caps so
they're not behind a glass. Obviously we want to make sure
we're compliant with every requirement.
Mr. Morrow:
You're in a protected area so that suffices.
Mr. Bahr:
Just briefly. This is going to sound really nitpicky but for the
sake of the accuracy of our minutes and to limit the confusion of
our vast television audience, the CVS that has the SDD license,
I believe is at Seven Mile and Middlebelt, not Six Mile and
Middlebelt as was indicated earlier.
Mr. Taormina:
Correct.
Mr. Bahr:
I just wanted to correct that for the record. Thanks. As
Chairman Morrow knows, I go by there all the time.
Mr. Morrow:
We rely very heavily on Mr. Bahr for everything that's happening
on Middlebelt Road.
Ms. Smiley:
We received a violation history of businesses for Woodward
Detroit CVS. Are these all that location, Mark?
Mr. Taormina:
I provided you with the history of 8811 Newburgh. This is the
store in question. That is correct.
Ms. Smiley:
Which is fourviolalions since 1999?
Mr. Taormina:
No. The one I don't quite understand. You can see the dates.
One in 1999. The second one in 2001 doesn't involve a sale to
a minor. The most recent one occurred in 2008.
Mr. Canvasser:
If I may address that quickly? I show the same thing. There was
a sale in 1999 to a minor, 2001 and 2008. The current entity,
Woodward Detroit CVS came into existence and was approved
by the Liquor Control Commission in 2009. As this entity
currently exists, there are no violations. It was the predecessor
entities that did have a few violations.
March 4, 2014
26268
Ms. Smiley:
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Morrow:
When did the check for having the birth dale in there to proceed
with a sale, how long has that been around?
Mr. Canvasser:
I'm sorry. What was that again?
Mr. Morrow:
In order to sell to someone, you had indicated they had to
provide ID and then there's a stop program at the cash register
that until they put that date of birth in, it won't go forward. How
long has that system been in existence at CVS?
Mr. Allen :
Unfortunately, it outpaces me. I've been with the company
about three years. It was in the system when I came in. I really
can't answer how long prior to that it was in existence.
Mr. Morrow:
I just thought you might know because apparently two or three
did leak by that system if it was in effect, but I'm assuming that
it's something relatively new, at least post that date.
Mr. Allen :
I do know that they've been very stringent on our training and
the necessary system requirements to make sure we are
compliant, so I would agree with your assumption that that
probably went into effect after we had had some challenges and
obviously it's something that's been very beneficial because it's
something that makes anyone who is brand new stop to follow
that process.
Mr. Morrow:
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Just one quick follow-up question. If an employee of CVS does
sell to a minor, either as part of a Liquor Control Commission
decoy operation or just sells to a minor or another coworker, or
a manager sees that happen and are able to validate that, what
happens to that employee?
Mr. Allen :
Its disciplinary action up to termination and generally any kind
of infraction of that sort leads to termination, at any level,
whether it be hourly employee or management. If you don't
comply, it's effectively termination.
Mr. Wilshaw:
That's a good answer. Thank you.
Mr. Morrow:
Is there anybody in the audience that wishes to speak for or
against the granting of this petition? Seeing no one coming
forward, a motion would be in order.
March 4, 2014
26269
On a motion by Taylor, seconded by Smiley, and unanimously adopted, it was
#03-08-2014
RESOLVED, that pursuant to a Public Hearing having been
held by the City Planning Commission on March 4, 2014, on
Petition 2014-01-02-02 submitted by Woodward Detroit CVS,
L.L.C. requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Section
10.03(8) of the City of Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as
amended, to utilize an SDD liquor license (sale of packaged
spirits over 21% alcohol) in connection with the CVS Pharmacy
at 8811 Newburgh Road in the Four Oaks Shopping Center,
located on the northwest corner of Newburgh Road and Joy
Road in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 32, which property is
zoned C-1, the Planning Commission does hereby recommend
to the City Council that Petition 2014-01-02-02 be approved
subjectto the following conditions:
1. That the proposed use of an SDD liquor license at this
location complies with all of the special and general waiver
use standards and requirements as set forth in Sections
10.03 and 19.06 of the Zoning Ordinance #543;
2. That the subject site has the capacity to accommodate the
proposed SDD liquor license;
3. That the proposed SDD liquor license is compatible to and
in harmony with the surrounding uses in the area; and
4. That the granting of this petition will not increase the
number of SDD liquor licenses in the City of Livonia.
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. Taormina:
Mr. Chair, just another point of clarification. We're going to
change that to Section 10.03 as opposed to 11:03 that's
referencing the C-2 regulations. We'll correct the record.
Mr. Morrow,
Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an
approving resolution.
March 4, 2014
26270
ITEM #2 PETMON 2014-02-02-03 VERIZON WIRELESS
Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Petition
2014-02-02-03 submitted by Verizon Wireless requesting waiver
use approval pursuant to Section 18.42A of the City of Livonia
Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, to construct a wireless
communication support structure (75 fool high monopole) and
equipment shelter within the Schoolcraft College campus at
18900 Haggerty Road, located on the east side of Haggerty
Road between Six Mile Road and Seven Mile Road in the
Northwest 1/4 of Section 7.
Mr. Taormina: This is a request to construct a wireless communication support
structure. It would be located on the grounds of Schoolcraft
College which is on the east side of Haggerty Road between Six
Mile and Seven Mile Roads. The property in question is zoned
PL, Public Lands. All of the area colored in green on the map
indicates property owned by Schoolcraft College. What is not
shown, a little bit to the south, is additional property owned by
the college that is part of College Park retail and office
development, which is combination of commeroial and office
zoning. As you look al the upper part of the drawing, the purple
colored area is also land owned by the college. It is the Seven
Mile Crossing high rise office development, which is zoned PO,
Professional Office High Rise. The area immediately adjacent
to where the tower is proposed is right-of-way owned by the
State of Michigan. Its part of the I-275/156 expressway.
Wireless communication support structures on PL -zoned land
are treated as a waiver use, and they are subject to the
standards as provided under Section 18.42A of the Zoning
Ordinance. This proposal is by Verizon. They are proposing to
construct a monopole support structure along the eastern
border of the Schoolcraft College property, adjacent to the 1-275
Expressway. The site of the tower is in an undeveloped portion
of the campus. It is just north and east of an existing stone
water detention pond. This area is at the apex of a ridge that
lies between ground that slopes down towards the highway on
one side and slopes down on the other side towards the pond.
This area would be graded. It would be covered with gravel.
The prescribed lease area is where the lower would be located.
That lease area measures about 50 feel in length by 22 feel in
width, and would be completely enclosed by a 6 fool high chain
link fence. The tower itself would be approximately 75 feel in
height. There would be an equipment shelter that would house
the Verizon equipment. The shelter would measure about 11
feel by 17 feel in size and it would be constructed of a precast
masonry on the exterior. The submitted plan does show how
March 4, 2014
26271
two additional carriers could be added at the south end of this
lease area and those would be separate leases that would be
negotiated with the owner of the property as well as with
whoever is managing this particular site, whether it's Verizon or
a third party. In terms of getting access to the site, access
would commence at Haggerty Road in the northwest corner of
College's north parking lot. That road is actually an easement
that crosses over a portion of the parking lot. It extends east,
south and then east again, and then south once more for a total
distance of roughly 1,700 feet. So a portion of the access drive
will be across the parking lot and drive aisles of the campus, but
when it exits those paved areas, then it would consist of gravel,
and would enter the wireless communication facility from the
north. The Zoning Ordinance requires that any wireless
communications support structure in a PL zone be at least 300
feet from a residence. There are no residential homes within
300 feet of this location. The Zoning Ordinance also requires
that support structures be setback from any right-of-way a
distance equal to at lead the height of the structure, which in
this case is 75 feel. This is the so-called fall -zone. The 75 fool
radius measured from the base of the structure is shown
extending only a few feel beyond the property line and into the
highway right -0f --way. However, we should mention that the
highway pavement is an additional 75 feet away from the right-
of-way, so that would put the base of the support structure
roughly 150 feel from closest traffic lane. Another special
requirement of the ordinance is that any new wireless
communication support structure be at least a half mile from any
existing structures. This proposed Venzon lower is not in
compliance with that provision; however, this requirement can
be waived by the City Council. SchoolcmR College currently
houses a wireless communication support structure that is
similarly situated along the expressway. Its about 450 feel
north of the proposed site and the existing antenna army is
concealed behind a sign that identifies the College and is visible
from the expressway. As you drive down the expressway, you
can see the SchoolcmR College sign and that actually is a
support structure for a wireless carrier. Because it is a stated
policy of the City to minimize the number of wireless
communication support structures by encouraging colocation,
the Petitioner will need to demonstrate that colocation on the
existing support structure is not feasible, taking into
consideration "reasonable' modification or replacement of the
structure. To the best of our knowledge, the structure was
designed for only one carrier, Cingular, which is now part of
AT&T Mobility. With that, Mr. Chairman, I can read out the
departmental correspondence.
March 4, 2014
26272
Mr. Morrow: Please
Mr. Taormina: There are three items of correspondence. The first dem is from
the Engineering Division, dated February 11, 2014, which reads
as follows: "In accordance with your request, the Engineering
Division has reviewed the above -referenced planning petition.
The existing address of 18900 Haggerty Road is currently
designated for the Schoolcraft College campus. We have
assigned an address of 18750 Haggerty Road for the proposed
wireless tower and structure. This address should be used in all
future conespondence regarding the proposed project. The
legal description provided with the petition matches the printed
legal description included with the plans and appears to be
correct, and should be used in conjunction with this proposal.
The petitioner does not indicate the need for any public utilities
to service the proposed structures, indicating there should be no
impact to the existing systems. Soil erosion measures are
shown on the submitted plans for protection of the existing
detention pond and private storm sewer." The letter is signed
by David W. Lear, P.E., Civil Engineer 11. The second letter is
from the Livonia Fire & Rescue Division, dated February 19,
2014, which reads as follows: "This office has reviewed the site
plan submitted in connection with a request to construct a
wireless communication support structure (75 foot high
monopole) and equipment shelter within the Schoolcraft College
campus located at the above referenced address. We have no
objections to this proposal with the following stipulations: (1)
Any curves or comer of streets shall accommodate emergency
vehicles with a turning radius of fifty-three feet wall to wall and
an inside turning radius of twenty-nine feet six inches. (2) An
approved turnaround for fire apparatus shall be provided where
access is dead -ended and is in excess of 150 feet in length.
The turnaround shall have a minimum turning radius of fifty-
three feet wall to wall and an inside turning radius of twenty-nine
feet six inches. The authority having jurisdiction shall approve
the grade, surface, and location of the fire lane.(3) These issues
and other code requirements will be addressed during the plan
review process." The letter is signed by Daniel Lee, Fire
Marshal. The third letter is from the Division of Police, dated
February 11, 2014, which reads as follows: "I have reviewed
the plans in connection with the petition. I have no objections to
the proposal." The letter is signed by Joseph Boilos, Sergeant,
Traffic Bureau. That is the extent of the correspondence.
March 4, 2014
26273
Mr. Morrow: Are there any questions of the Planning Director? Mark, what is
required to be waived by the Council?
Mr. Taormina: That would be the separation requirement between the two
towers.
Mr. Morrow: Thank you. Is the petitioner here this evening? We will need
your name and address for the record please.
Robert Labelle, 32543 Cambome, Livonia, Michigan. With me tonight is Mike
Avery, who is our RF engineer; Matt Wilson, who is the
Purchasing and Business Operations Manager at Schoolcraft
College; and John Wright, who is the Facilities Manager at
SchoolcraR College. We will be answering questions. Mark, as
always, has done his thorough job of going through our
proposal. I do want to go through a couple things that are
required under the ordinance for us to demonstrate in
connection with some of these, as well as to touch on some of
the things Mark first touched on. The first thing, one of the
things that was clear in the presentation was the fad that we
can get three colocalors onto our site. This is of course part of
the ordinance and a requirement that we try to facilitate
colocation. That is in contrast to the existing site that is actually
a sign if you go along 1-275. I'm sure everyone has seen this
thing. It has become frankly iconic in Livonia. It is being very
representative of the logo of SchoolcraR and is now emblazoned
across all our minds. Its an excellent marketing tool from their
standpoint. That particular structure was designed for a single
carrier. It goes behind the actual logo. As a result, since there
are essentially four major carriers running around right now
doing cellular service, that can handle one. We can handle the
other three. In that respect, I'd like to note that your ordinance,
when it was talking about the one-half mile separation, says that
it does not apply to a site where colocation is not feasible at
another location within that half mile location. Let me read it
directly. 'The distant requirement shall not apply to applicants
who have demonstrated that colocation is not feasible pursuant
to paragraph F2 below." Of course, that is in fad what we're
describing here. The existing structure is in fact not mlocatable.
While I agree that ultimately the decision making authority here
is at the City Council, this Commission does also have the
authority to make its recommendations in connection with that
as well pursuant to the ordinance. The next item I'd like to tryto
point out here is the fall zone that was discussed. Mark, can we
go back to the one that shows the fall zone? Thank you. One
thing I want to talk about in terms of cell lowers, while it's called
the fall zone by virtue of what the ordinance talks about, that is
March 4, 2014
26274
not really the fall zone of a monopole. Monopoles are designed
not do to this. They don't topple like trees. They break up.
They are built in three sections. In this case, it will be two
because it's smaller. It's only 75 feel. Basically, it will fall on
itself in any circumstance in which it would fall. The other thing
to note is the fad that no Verizon monopole has ever fallen
despite having been subjected to hurricanes, tornados, vehicle
hits, any number of things you can think of in terms of
catastrophes. Not one of them has ever gone down. Their
reliability and the chance of anything actually occurring is next
to zero. The other thing that is required under your ordinance is
to show our need to be able do this, our need to have to present
this. In a moment I'm going to ask Mike Avery to come up and
present to you what we call a propagation.
Mr. Morrow: Mark, could you help them set up the easel?
Mr. Taormina: It would probably be easier for you to hold it.
Mr. Morrow: We want to make sure the TV cameras can pick it up
Mr. Labelle: Obviously, anytime we're looking to put up a lower, we're doing
it for the purpose of creafing an additional cell of coverage. It's
the reason why it's called cellular coverage. Individual towers
create a cell around which there is coverage provided. The
cells are supposed to butt up against each other. One of the
reasons why we're doing this at all in this place is because this
is what we refer to as a replacement site. We are literally
moving a site from one location to another, and in this
circumstance, we are doing this additional site here. This is
actually a better coverage site, now years later after we're
producing a new one, than the original site. And to explain why
that's true ...
Michael Avery, 24242 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, Michigan. We've been
asked through Verizon Wireless to remove antennas that are
currently located on a rooftop building at this location. So the
desire is to keep coverage as close to existing coverage as
possible by building a new cell site. We are replacing a location
here, moving less than a half mile north. Our goal is to preserve
as much of the existing coverage along 1-275, especially
between Six and Seven Mile Roads where we currently have
good coverage. The fear is that by moving this any more
distance than we already are, we'd be altering customers'
experience and perhaps degrading coverage where we
currently have existing coverage. The red is the intensity of our
signal. Red is intense signal, yellow is a little less intense,
March 4, 2014
26275
green is cooling off and the purple is kind of poor coverage in
residential areas like here. Where we don't have cell sites, they
probably have poor in-building service at their homes.
Mr. Morrow:
What building is it currently on?
Mr. Avery:
Do you know what building it is?
Mr. Labelle:
To tell you the truth, I don't know what the address is.
Mr. Morrow:
Okay, I was just curious.
Mr. Avery:
It really wasn't our choice to move the site. It's just that the
landlord has told us that they would no longer renew our lease.
So we had to look for allemative properties. Fortunately,
Schoolcratt came back and said that we could look at using a
portion of their land for a new site. So we're very grateful for
that.
Mr. Morrow:
They are very cooperative over there.
Mr. Taylor:
They also have a lot of money.
Mr. Morrow:
Any questions of the gentlemen?
Mr. Taylor:
I have a couple. You talked about the monopoles not falling
over flat. That one at Schoolcmft sure doesn't look like it would
break up if it fell.
Mr. Avery:
Oh, the existing Schoolcra t sign?
Mr. Taylor:
Yes.
Mr. Avery:
I'm not sure how that would collapse.
Mr. LaBelle:
That's not a monopole.
Mr. Avery:
That's not a monopole at all. I think it has three legs on R.
Mr. Labelle:
Lel me try to answer that. The one that's over there at
Schoolcratt currently, that one is not a monopole. A monopole
is a single telephone pole looking structure. It is self-supporting.
It has a very large underground base that basically keeps it
stable.
Mr. Taylor:
And we don't know how that one got up. Nobody approved it.
March 4, 2014
26276
Mr. Labelle: Really?
Mr. Taylor: Maybe we don't have to approve them. I don't know. The next
question is, are there three locators on that?
Mr. Avery: On the existing one?
Mr. Taylor: Yes, on the existing one.
Mr. Avery: No. There is one. They exist behind that structure that's there.
The nature of any stealth tower, ones that are disguised to look
like something else, is that whatever is used to disguise it, also
takes up space that could have been used for antennas. So the
result of which is that most stealth towers cannot have as many
colocators as a standard monopole can.
Mr. Taylor:
So there can only be one on that?
Mr. Avery:
There can only be one.
Mr. Taylor:
That's why you have to go down farther. That's what I'm gelling
at.
Mr. Avery:
Absolutely. That's correct.
Mr. Taylor:
And you're planning on three locators on yours?
Mr. Avery:
Yes, correct, including us. We would be one and there's two
others available.
Mr. Taylor:
Thankyou.
Ms. Smiley:
You don't have a map on what's going to happen after you get
this proposed tower, do you?
Mr. Labelle:
That's what this is. That's what this is showing.
Ms. Smiley:
Oh, this is after with the new lower?
Mr. Labelle:
The one that is existing right now is right here. Its direction
would have been more over here. This one here in the center of
the red area is our new proposed location. This shows what the
coverage would be like after we put it up.
Mr. Avery:
It just shows the need for the tower itself. We can't lose that
coverage along this important intersection and all the residential
areas in this general vicinity.
March 4, 2014
26277
Ms. Smiley: You said 75 feel. If you went up another 10-15 feet, would you
gel those blue areas?
Mr. Avery: It would not make a significant different, 10 or 15 feet.
Ms. Smiley: Okay. And you're not proposing anything else to improve your
blue areas?
Mr. Avery: The blue areas that you see are heavily residential. There is a
lot of areas where we simply can't build structures and those are
some of the areas where structures are just not viable.
Mr. Labelle: Just to give you a little background on this thing, you can
increase the size of the lowers, and as Mike already mentioned,
R won't do that much difference at least as far as these areas
are concemed. The only way you get these areas covered is to
plunk one right there, and that's a completely residential area.
Mr. Avery: Its residenfial, but even if is blue on the map, you should still
have good outside coverage and good coverage in your car
also. Its just that when you walk in your house, you may have
areas in your home where coverage may be compromised in
those areas.
Ms. Smiley: Thankyou.
Ms. McIntyre: I have two questions. The first is, why are you losing your
lease? What's the landlord's objection to the current antennas?
Mr. Avery: Basically, we give a term to these leases that have extension
periods and we've reached the end of the extension period. On
a basis that they're willing to continue to go on, they are not
willing to do basically. Essentially what it comes down to is that
the terms of pulling up a tower and the like at this location gets
us better coverage than we have presently at a lesser price.
Ms. McIntyre: And my second question is, I'm assuming that as technology
evolves quickly, at some point large cell towers will become
obsolete. I'm not asking you to predict when they will become
obsolete, but what is the remaining footprint? Lets say in 10
years this is obsolete, what remains? How much of the current
lower are you able to lake out and restore it to a pre -lower
condition? Is there part of it that has to stay? Is it infrastructure
that can't come out? What is the scar, if you will?
March 4, 2014
26278
Mr. Avery:
Lel me answer your first comment before I answer the second
question, which I will. The first comment, is technology changing
so we won't need lowers? I will tell you that at least in the last
35 years, we haven't. The reason we're losing the lease where
we're at is because we've run out of tens, and it was a 25 year
lens. So during that time period at least, we haven't ran out of
need for cell lowers, and I don't think its going to happen
anytime soon. Basically, the way the process works, its pretty
much dependent upon lowers that are positioned in a way to be
able to broadcast over a large area. As far as the actual lower
is concerned itself, in terms of removal, your ordinance does
require that if we abandon the tower or don't use it for six
months, we have to remove it, which of course we will. When
we do remove it, we can do one of two things. We can remove
all the way to the ground leaving the foundation underground
there, which means that nothing above ground will show,
nothing at all. Literally everything will be taken out. The actual
building that we're talking about is actually carted to that
location, placed on the pad and can be literally carted away
again if it needs to be. The lower itself can be removed. We
have literally used these at other locations when we moved
them. You can literally move them. It's not a simple process
but certainly can be done and certainly we would remove it.
The other thing that we can do is remove a portion of the
underground facility too. We have a number of these lowers in
agricultural locations where somebody is a fanner of some sort.
We're often asked to remove it to basically planting depth, which
we do.
Ms. McIntyre:
Okay. Thank you very much.
Mr. Morrow:
Mr. Wilshaw, did you have a question?
Mr. Wilshaw:
Yes. I believe your current facility is probably on one of the
office buildings in the Laurel Park development. From what I've
seen, there's a number of antennas on some of those buildings.
Mr. Avery:
That's correct.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Have you looked at any of the other buildings in the Laurel Park
complex? There's a number of office buildings that are similar
height or even the Seven Mile Crossing buildings, which are
under the control of Schoolcratl College, to use as a
replacement facility as opposed to a lower?
Mr. Avery:
I know our real estate personnel looked at all the facilities and
buildings in the area. Originally, they had one candidate that
March 4, 2014
26279
was interested. It was a building across the street. I don't recall
exactly what building it was, and it looked like we were going to
go with that, but then the landlord apparently changed his mind
so we had to go searching for a new location. Some of it has to
do with height, and the height at that particular location is not as
high as we could have done in this circumstance and it's also
not as close to the freeway. Basically, this is just a better
location.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Also, this location that you're proposing is almost directly next to
the oil well that's on the site. How is this facility going to
complement or detract or conflict with the oil well and any
operations that may exist there if they need to put up a derrick
or any other facility?
Mr. Labelle:
Mark, could you gel to the site plan that we showed? The oil
well that you're talking about is actually a pump station at this
point. It's no longer anything more. It's a little armature that
goes like this. If you lake a look at what we're showing there is
bottom and lett of where we are. So it's actually offsite of that
particular site plan. The basic answer to your question, how will
we affect them, we will not affect them in any way. They existed
here before us. They have an easement for the location they're
on. We basically have to, by law, not interfere with them simply
because they're here first. We are not going to interfere with
them in any way because their facility is essentially self-
contained. It is within that one area fenced like ours will be.
Our access is partly their access. That's how they got onto this
same place, but it was a non-exclusive easement just like ours
will be so we can both use it. We'll actually improve it more
than they did, compacting on a gravel surface. In fact, if you
see that one little jog that goes around there, that's actually an
existing path that goes along there. We're going to lake what is
right now a dirt path along there and we're going to make it a
hard top. So as a result, it will be improved to some extent.
Schoolcraft asked us to do that so that we can improve the area
a little bit more, and we were happy to do so. The oil facility that
is there right now will have no impact on us. We will not have
any impact on them.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Has there been any consideration of using a stealth -type design
like the other tower for your facility?
Mr. Labelle:
Again, as I mentioned before, a stealth application as a general
matter makes it more difficult to be able to place things onto it.
The stealth application itself will lake up space that could
otherwise be used for colocators. We're only 75 feel tall here in
March 4, 2014
26280
this circumstance. To be candid, that's as low as I've ever put
up a lower ever. If you make it into a stealth or like a tree or
something, in that circumstance you're going to have to make it
a lot taller. In addition to the tree apparatus that has to be al the
lop of it, you have to also in addition place on it the individual
tree branches that will lake up the space for the colocalors and
since theyre not going to want to be below ... 55 is as low as
they're going to go. In fad, that's pretty low as it is. So we'd
have to click that up. You'd be looking at a good 110 feel tall by
that time. So a 110 fool tall mono pine will not look any better
than an existing monopole at 75 feel. To be candid, everyone
knows its not a tree.
Mr. Wilshaw:
I was just thinking if you did something that was more
complementary, say Schoolcraft wanted to put their sports logo,
the Ocelots or whatever, on another sign to complement the
existing sign or maybe the business school or some other entity
as part of their operation to promote, that would be more
complementary to the existing pole that's there.
Mr. Labelle:
That's possible but again, colocation is ended. The reason why
is because if you consider the size of those panels, we gel to
Mr. Taylors concern, which is that you end up with a tripod, and
each of those sign panels is now a great wind catch. If you had
to put one of those in front of every single antenna that's on
there, you've now created massive wind coverage and the
structural integrity of the facility is significantly compromised in
that circumstance. So basically, any other type of stealth
application, other than maybe a tree, and then it would have to
be a massive tree, would not be possible here at the size that
we're talking about and still gel in three colocalors al the site.
Mr. Avery:
And the stealth applications that we do have, we always have to
use two rad centers for antennas because of the amount of
antennas that we have. So if we went at 75 feet on a stealth,
we'd only need to be at 65 feel and somebody could be at 55
and 45, 35. Most carriers need two rad centers now, most
carriers, on a stealth application such as a flagpole.
Mr. Labelle:
Rad center refers to the center of the antenna pole.
Mr. Avery:
Your radiation center.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Actually, a flagpole might be a consideration, but the concern
that obviously some of us have, at least I do, is Schoolcraft
College went through a pretty good effort to accommodate a
cellular tower but do it in a way that was attractive and kept their
March 4, 2014
26281
facility looking nice as you drive along 1-275. A lot of people
surprisingly don't know that's a cell lower. They just think it's a
sign for SchoolcmR College. So because that effort was made
to make that a stealth lower, to now go stick one up right next to
R, that's essentially 450 feel away, sort of defeated the whole
purpose of doing a stealth one in the first place because the
cat's out of the bag now.
Mr. Labelle:
Let me ask someone from SchoolcraR to talk about this. I'm not
sure which of you would like to talk about it, but the reason why
that was placed the way it was, as I understand it, again, you
can talk to this more specifically, was not to avoid a cell tower
along that area to be candid. It was done because this
constituted a very significant opportunity for advertisement, and
it worked beautifully.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Sure.
Mr. Labelle:
So the point is, it wasn't the first time done for the purpose of
masking that there was a cell lower there. There's cell lowers
all along 1-275. You drive five miles along, you'll find a whole
bunch of them. Al any event, basically that was not what it was
trying to accomplish. In this circumstance, what it's trying to
accomplish, what we're trying to accomplish, can't be
accomplished with a stealth tower and still meet the
requirements of the Livonia code, which is to try to promote
colocalion. You mentioned a flagpole a minute ago. If you put
a flagpole up, the stacking that we're talking about gets worse.
You don't gel two red centers, you get three or even four. They
have to be stacked on lop because they're inside a tiny little
pole now. So now they have to wrap all the way down it. Now
you're talking about a pole that can't accommodate anything
more than one and even then, maybe it has to be taller than 75
feel.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Yeah, 155 or something like that.
Mr. Labelle:
Even then, you might not gel more than two on there total.
That's basically what it comes down to, but if you want to talk to
how the sign, if you'd like SchoolcraR to describe it.
Mr. Morrow:
Do you have any interest in that, Mr. Wilshaw?
Mr. Wilshaw:
No. I'm fine. I appreciate the explanation. I'm not a big fan, in
all honesty, of flagpole cell tower stealth designs because
they're really fat flagpoles and it ends up with a tiny flag on it. It
looks sort of awkward in itself. You want to put a big yellow
March 4, 2014
26282
pencil up there or something that says education center, a big
number two pencil. That makes sense. I dont know.
Mr. Labelle:
I don't know if we've ever done something like that. Again, 9
would be us and no one else.
Mr. Wilshaw:
They call it art.
Mr. Labelle:
We've done artistic ones before.
Mr. Wilshaw:
Actually, Domino Farms has one.
Mr. Labelle:
That was the one I was about to reference. That art structure
that's there, the sculpture, that's a cell lower.
Mr. Morrow:
Is that it, Mr. Wilshaw?
Mr. Wilshaw:
Yes.
Mr. Bahr:
Just very quickly so I can get a sense of scale. The current cell
tower, the Schoolcraft sign lower, how tall is that?
(inaudible response)
Mr. Bahr:
Okay. Thanks.
Mr. Morrow:
Any other questions? Is there anybody in the audience that
wishes to speak for or against the granting of this petition?
Seeing no one coming forward, a motion would be in order.
On a motion by Smiley, seconded by Bahr, and unanimously adopted, it was
#03-09-2014
RESOLVED, that pursuant to a Public Hearing having been
held by the City Planning Commission on March 4, 2014, on
Petition 2014-02-02-03 submitted by Verizon Wireless
requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Section 18.42A of
the City of Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, to
construct a wireless communication support structure (75 foot
high monopole) and equipment shelter within the Schoolcraft
College campus at 18900 Haggerty Road, located on the east
side of Haggerty Road between Six Mile Road and Seven Mile
Road in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 7, which property is zoned
PL, the Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the
City Council that Petition 2014-02-02-03 be approved subject to
the following conditions:
March 4, 2014
26283
1. That a wireless communication support structure at this
location shall be permitted only under the circumstances
that the Zoning Ordinance standard set forth in Section
18.42A(d)l.b. requiring new wireless communication
support structures to be located at least one-half ('/) mile
from any existing wireless communication support
structures is waived by the City Council;
2. That the Site Survey and Gen emI Information Plan marked
Sheet 1 of Job No. 05268-8012 prepared by Midwestern
Consulting, dated January 31, 2014, as revised, is hereby
approved and shall be adhered to;
3. That the Site Plan Detail, Pole Elevation and General
Notes Plan marked Sheet 2 of Job No. 05268-8012
prepared by Midwestern Consulting, dated January 31,
2014, as revised, is hereby approved and shall be adhered
to;
4. That the total overall height of the monopole shall not
exceed 85 feel, thereby allowing for a 10 fool vertical
extension of the pole in order to accommodate one (1)
additional carrier platform above the Verizon
antenna/platform;
5. That the monopole support structure and ground
compound area be designed and constructed so as to
accommodate a minimum of three (3) total users;
6. That no signs or advertising shall be placed on or upon any
part of the structure or facility that is visible from the
expressway; and
7. That the specific plans referenced in this approving
resolution shall be submitted to the Inspection Department
at the time the building permits are 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 special and
general waiver use standards and requirements as set
forth in Sections 18.42A and 19.06 of the Zoning
Ordinance #543.
2. That the subject site has the capacity to accommodate the
proposed use; and
March 4, 2014
26284
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 had a question. Condition #6, about no signs or advertising
being placed on it, if there was ever a situation in which they
would want to do something similar to the other lower, I was one
of the people that didn't know that was a cell lower believe it or
not, but I think the sign looks great. I think in its own small way,
it sets a place for Livonia. It sounds kind of funny but ifs nice.
So I understand the reasons why it would make sense, but I
also would love it if something similar was done at this site. So
if that ever came up, with this condition, does that require that
they would have to come before us again in order to do that? I
guess (hats a question for Mark.
Mr. Taormina:
That is correct.
Mr. Bahr:
Okay. Thanks.
Ms. Smiley:
Then I had one question. It says 85 feet. I thought we said 75
feel.
Mr. Taormina:
I just want to clarify that. We proposed that language to give the
owner of the lower some flexibility in the event that a second
carrier comes in and wants to go above this without having to
come back before this body for approval. They're not required
to build the structure at 85 feet. They can build it at 75 feel, but
if a new user wants to go up 10 feet, then it gives the flexibility
of doing that administratively without coming back.
Ms. Smiley:
Then it still allows for them to have three people on the pole?
Mr. Taormina:
Yes. It probably provides a greater degree of flexibility for a
second and third user to use that structure because one may
want to go at 65 feet or 70 feet, and the other one may want to
go at 80 or 85 feet.
Mr. Taylor:
Would that meet the requirements of the fall area there?
March 4, 2014
26285
Mr. Taormina: That would be a slight deviation from that, but I think that was
pretty well addressed.
Mr. Taylor: Okay.
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
2014-2019 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Capital
Improvements Program for the years 2014-2019.
Mr. Taormina:
As many of you know, preparation of the Capital Improvement
Plan is done under the authority of the Michigan Planning
Enabling Act (PA 33 of 2008). The Planning Commission is
required to prepare a Capital Improvements Program and
present it to the Mayor and the City Council. Attached for your
review and consideration is the preliminary Capital
Improvements Program (CIP) that incorporates the
recommendations from most of the City Departments and
outlines a schedule of public capital expenditures over a six-
year period beginning in 2014 and ending in 2019. With that Mr.
Chairman, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.
Mr. Morrow:
Are there any questions?
Mr. Bahr:
Mark, by approving this tonight, we're not approving the items in
there. We don't have any authority to do that, correct?
Mr. Taormina:
That is absolutely correct. This is merely a guide. It is
presented to the City Council. City Council, the Mayor and
other administration officials use It in the preparation of their
annual budgets.
Mr. Bahr:
So its just a matter of procedure that it comes through here?
Mr. Taormina:
That is correct.
Mr. Bahr:
Okay. Thanks.
Mr. Morrow:
I think its used as a priority tool. People have to put what they
think is the most pressing to be spent in the first year in addition
to the other years. Any other questions or comments? Mark,
the staff is recommending that the Planning Commission adopt
March 4, 2014
26286
this. Is there a Commission that would like to make that
motion?
Mr. Wilshaw: Yes. I would like to thank Mr. Taormina and his staff for
compiling that information. It's something that is done every few
years and it takes a little bit of work to coordinate with each of
the departments to get that information. I do appreciate that,
and I'm sure the rest of the Commission does.
On a motion by Wilshaw, seconded by Taylor, and unanimously approved, it was
resolved that
#03-10-2014 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Michigan Planning Enabling Act,
P.A. 33 of 2008, the City Planning Commission is responsible
for the preparation of a Capital Improvements Program for the
ensuing six years; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 — 2019 Capital Improvements Program,
prepared through a joint effort of several City departments, has
been submitted to the City Planning Commission for
consideration; and
WHEREAS, a duly -noticed City Planning Commission public
meeting was held on March 4, 2014; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Improvements Program presents a
realistic program to aid in the determination of a complete fiscal
planning strategy for the City of Livonia; and
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission stands ready to do
all things necessary to cooperate with the Mayor and City
Council in maintaining a functioning program of capital
improvements and capital budgeting for the City of Livonia;
therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the City Planning Commission hereby
adopts the 2014 — 2019 Capital Improvements Program; and
BE IT RESOLVED that the City Planning Commission
recommends the City Council adopt this Capital Improvements
Program and use it as a guide to funding priority capital projects
with the program.
Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted. It will go to City Council with an approving
recommendation.
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26287
ITEM #4 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1,050m Public Hearings and
Regular Meeting
Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next dem on the agenda, Approval
of the Minutes of the 1,050" Public Hearings and Regular
Meeting held on February 11, 2014.
On a motion by Taylor, seconded by Bahr, and unanimously adopted, it was
#03-11-2014 RESOLVED, that the Minutes of 1,050th Public Hearings and
Regular Meeting held by the Planning Commission on February
11, 2014, are hereby approved.
A roll call vole on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following
AYES:
Taylor, Bahr, Smiley, Wilshaw, Morrow
NAYS:
None
ABSENT:
None
ABSTAIN:
McIntyre
Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted.
On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 1,051" Public
Hearings and Regular Meeting held on March 4, 2014, was adjourned at 8:18
p.m.
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
Carol A. Smiley, Acting Secretary
ATTEST:
R. Lee Morrow, Chairman