HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL STUDY - 2013-08-26 CITY OF LIVONIA— CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF STUDY MEETING HELD AUGUST 26, 2013
Meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. Present: Maureen Miller Brosnan,
Brandon Kritzman, James McCann, Joe Laura, John Pastor, Thomas Robinson, and
Laura Toy. Absent: None.
Elected and appointed officials present: Kevin Maillard, Director of Public Works;
Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Don Knapp, City
Attorney; Terry Marecki, City Clerk and Jack E. Kirksey, Mayor.
President Toy wished a Happy Birthday to Councilmember Joe Laura and City Clerk
Terry Marecki.
Pastor wished a Happy Birthday to Heather Lombardini, John Walsh, and his daughter-
in-law Ashley.
Kritzman wished a Happy Birthday to his wife Rebecca and his daughters Anna and
Jackie.
Brosnan wished a Happy Birthday to her son Rory.
AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None.
NEW BUSINESS
1. REQUEST TO APPROVE AND RECOGNIZE THE CLARENCEVILLE HIGH
SCHOOL HOMECOMING PARADE TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18,
2013; REQUEST TO APPROVE THE PARADE ROUTE AND THE CLOSING OF
CERTAIN CITY STREETS; AND REQUEST TO DESIGNATE AND AUTHORIZE
SERGEANT KEITH SCHOEN TO SIGN THE WAYNE COUNTY ROAD
COMMISSION PERMIT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO CLOSE A PORTION OF
MIDDLEBELT ROAD, WITH THE CITY TO ASSUME LIABILITY FOR ANY
DAMAGE CLAIMS WHICH MAY ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE ROAD
CLOSURE: Kevin Murphy, Athletic Director, re: same.
Patricia Waeschle, 19422 Parker, representative of Clarenceville High School
presented the request to Council. This is for their Annual Homecoming Parade.
Robinson offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda.
DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT
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2. REQUEST TO WAIVE SIDEWALK REQUIREMENT: Danny Fitzgerald, Classic
Building Co., re: for the new home being constructed at 18328 Lathers.
The Petitioner was not present to answer any questions from the Council. Laura
asked that the petitioner be contacted and informed he needs to appear before
Council. McCann suggested putting it on the Regular Meeting and contacting the
petitioner and request that he or his representative attend the meeting. If he or
his representative do not show at the Regular Meeting then move it to the next
Study Meeting. Laura said he would be fine with doing that.
Laura offered the approving resolution and denying resolution for the Regular
Agenda.
DIRECTION: 1) APPROVING REGULAR
2) DENYING
3. APPOINTMENT OF GREGORY G. COPPOLA TO THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: Office of the Mayor, re: for a six-year term,
which will expire June 7, 2019.
Mayor Jack Kirksey presented the request. He said he is pleased to nominate
Gregory Coppola for the appointment.
Gregory Coppola, 17268 McNamara, said he looks forward to serving the
community through this appointment.
McCann offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda.
DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT
4. WAIVER PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2013-07-02-17
submitted by Nicole Grenon to utilize an SDM liquor license (sale of packaged
beer and wine) in connection with a specialty food and wine store (50 Sips Wine,
L.L.C.) within the retail strip center located on the north side of Ann Arbor Trail
between Newburgh Road and Horton Avenue (37522 Ann Arbor Trail) in the
Northeast 1/4 of Section 31.
Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development, presented the
request to Council. This is a request to utilize a Specialty Designated Merchants
license, or an SDM liquor license, which would allow for the sale of packaged
beer and wine products within an existing retail strip center located on the
northeast corner of Ann Arbor Trail and Horton Avenue. This is property that is
approximately 300 feet west of Newburgh Road. The current zoning of the
property is C-1, Local Business. There is a commercial retail building on the
property. It measures roughly 7,150 square feet in gross floor area and can be
divided into seven tenant spaces. Currently, there are five businesses in the strip
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center, including 50 Sips Wine. There is one vacant unit. The other tenants
include American Appliance, which occupies two of the units, Groomingdales Pet
Grooming, Thomas Labs, and Family Cuts. 50 Sips Wine is a specialty food and
wine store. It will be occupying the west endcap unit in the shopping center. The
unit measures approximately 975 square feet in area. SDM liquor licenses
require waiver use approval under Section 11.03(g) of the zoning ordinance. The
petitioner has indicated that they would like to utilize the subject SDM license in
order to sell wine and to conduct wine tasting events. As an SDM licensed
business, 50 Sips will be allowed to conduct wine tasting events on the licensed
premises under certain conditions. These are rules recently promulgated by the
Michigan Liquor Control Commission and as they relate to wine tasting events for
SDM licensed businesses. The following conditions have to be met: (1) The
customer cannot be charged for the tasting of wine; (2) Tasting samples provided
do not exceed three servings at up to two ounces of wine, and a customer shall
not be provided more than a total of three samples within a 24-hour period; (3)
The merchant must first obtain an annual wine tasting permit from the MLCC,
and the MLCC has to be notified, in writing, at least 10 working days prior to the
event. A couple of other conditions are (1) that the merchant, agent or employee
must first successfully complete a server training program, and (2) beer and wine
used for the tasting must come from the Specialty Designated Merchants
inventory. There are a couple of special provisions that apply to SDM licensed
businesses. One is that they cannot be located within 500 feet of any existing
SDM licensed establishments. There is one existing SDM-licensed business
currently in operation within this specified distance, and that's the 7-Eleven store
which is at the southwest corner of Newburgh and Ann Arbor Trail. It is located
roughly 500 feet from the proposed store. So approval of the SDM license this
evening would have to be subject to the waiving of the separation requirement by
the City Council by a supermajority vote in which two-thirds of the members
concur. The other requirement is that the proposed business cannot be located
within 400 feet of any church or school building. 50 Sips does comply with that
provision of the law. The closest existing church is Cornerstone Church which is
at the northwest corner of Newburgh and Ann Arbor Trail, and that's roughly 490
feet away; therefore, they comply with that requirement.
Nicole Grenon, 18285 Wormer, Detroit, was present to answer any questions
from the Council. President Toy asked the petitioner if she's done this type of
business before. Grenon said she recently retired with 20 years of service in the
Air Force as a mechanic and that this is a lifelong dream and passion of hers.
McCann offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda.
DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT
AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None.
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As there were no further questions or comments, President Toy adjourned the Study
Session at 8:21 p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2013.
DATED: September 5, 2013 TERRY A. MARECKI
CITY CLERK