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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 1998-04-16 MINUTES OF THE 72nd REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA The 72nd Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:36 p.m., Thursday, April 16, 1998 in the 4th Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey Mr. Mike Polsinelli Mr. Scott Grace Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Jerry Wordhouse Mr. Dennis Kujawa Mr. Stan Anderson Mr. Bill Pike Mr. Donald Gelinas Members Absent: Ms. Toni Mette (excused) Mr. Adelard Raby(excused) Mr. Marvin Walkon (excused) (11r Others Present: Mr. John Nagy, Director Mrs. Doris Urbanski, Secretary Mr. Jack Engebretson, Council President Mr. Carey Baker, Beckett and Raeder, Inc. Mr. John Iacoangeli, Beckett and Raeder, Inc. Ms. Marie Chestney, Livonia Observer Mr. Ralph Williams, Livonia resident Mr. Marco Pesce, Italian Jewelry Ms. Julie Stanley, The Purple Rose 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of April 2, 1998 Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was #98-11 RESOLVED, that the minutes of the 71st Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on April 2, 1998 are approved. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. (110 3. Comments from Chairman: Chairman Polsinelli announced that plans for a proposed Meijer's retail store would not be reviewed at tonight's meeting, as was 460 originally published in the Livonia Observer, as there was no proposal to review. Chairman Polsinelli passed the following documents to the Board for their information: Correspondence from the PRDA to Council President Engebretson and Planning Commission Chairman McCann requesting their assistance by sending a representative to the PRDA Search Committee; An opinion letter from the Law Department with respect to the validity of teleconferencing to achieve a quorum with the decision that it is legal; The DDA bond issue form noting that it is on schedule for opening bids on April 22, 1998; An article published in the Shopping Center World entitled What City Hall Will Do For Retail outlining incentives and other deals cities have been making for downtown redevelopment. 4. Building Addition to Edwards Glass Co.: Mr. Wordhouse presented conceptual plans for expansion to the Edwards Glass Company store. The expansion to the present 10,000 sq. ft. building will be an 8,600 sq. ft. addition, almost mirror image, to the east side. He had purchased property from John DelSignore (Fonte D'More) in anticipation of growth. The plan shows an additional building on property to the east side which would be developed in the future for retail or a combination office and retail. Mr. Wordhouse showed where his offices, showroom and entrances would be located. The plan also showed landscaping, signage and parking areas. Mr. Grace suggested a relocation of the front entrance to the corner of the building for better accessibility to parking and for additional landscaping. They hope to break ground about the middle of 4111001 July. Mr. Iacoangeli was asked to bring new plans for review at the next PRDA meeting. On a motion by Scott Grace, seconded by Bill Pike and unanimously approved, it was #98-12 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby support the concept of an expanded Edwards Glass Company at 32000 Plymouth Road and an additional retail/office building to the east of that property. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. Mr. Anderson complimented Mr. Wordhouse for making a commitment to the City to stay on Plymouth Road. 5. Julie Stanley, 31600 Plymouth Road: Charles Allen will have plans by the end of the week for this property. Mr. Pesce said he liked everything that has already been approved for the building for his jewelry store, but he is waiting for an appraised value of the two pieces of property(the building and the city-owned land in the rear for parking) to make an offer. 6. Reports from Committees: Public Relations Committee: Mr. Anderson said (ite they hoped they could meet the deadline of June 1 for submission of articles for the PRDA -2- Newsletter. Sue Lang has been having difficulty getting interviews with businesses in progress. Vacant Buildings Committee: Mr. Grace said he was on the mailing list to receive information from Comerica regarding the two locations being vacated-Plymouth& Middlebelt and the Securities Building between Milburn and Merriman. The Plymouth and Middlebelt site is not owned by the bank, but by the shopping center. Mr. Grace is pursuing a request to have the shopping center donate a portion of that corner for landscaping. It was suggested that the Chamber of Commerce be contacted to consider the empty Securities Building as a possible relocation site. Construction Committee: Mr. Pike reported that work is on schedule. Construction meetings are held every Monday afternoon at 2:00 at the trailer in Wonderland Center. Phase II bids will be received until May 5 and a report made to the board at the May 7 PRDA meeting. Mr. Polsinelli commented that he has received many compliments on the work being done on Plymouth Road. Carey Baker reported that the easements for Bodner and Wonderland Car Wash have still not been signed. A test wall is planned to be built in front of Auto Zone and if it is not what they want, it will be torn down. Mr. Pike suggested that that would be a good time to have a photo taken for the newsletter, perhaps with some Board members. The ground surveys should be done the week of April 20. The new aerial photos were shown to the CP, Board. A reduced set of drawings was mailed to the businesses in Phase II in preparation for requesting the easements. BRI is also ready to submit the Phase III proposal. Mr. Grace asked what would be done in the next phase and Mr. Baker replied that lights, landscaping and irrigation, street trees, lawn restoration and curbs and approaches where needed. John lacoangeli will respond to the letter received by Carol Marston-Foucher(Marston Optometry)with regard to her concerns on the parking plans and accessibility to the businesses in the Rosedale commercial area. On behalf of the PRDA, he would like to have a meeting with the Rosedale Gardens Civic Association and make an overall presentation and discuss the issues of concern. Mr. Polsinelli and Mr. Nagy will attend the meeting also if they are available. Mr. Anderson inquired about the banners for the light poles. Mr. Baker said they have a graphics program on the computer and will do some printouts for the Board. Mr. Pike inquired about light sockets on the streetlight poles, and Mr. Baker said they are situated high on the light poles. Inspection Committee: Absent. Mr. Anderson asked about the double"For Lease" signs on the Plymouth Square property, and Mr. Nagy will call it to the attention of the Inspection Department. tiv -3- co, Search Committee: Absent. Chairman Polsinelli suggested the Committee go forward with a meeting and ask the Council and Planning Commission to send a representative. 8. Update on Plymouth Road Projects: John Nagy: The Meijer's proposal is on the back burner for a while. We are looking forward to the Edwards Glass addition. The "Legacy of Livonia"restaurant plans have not been completed. Mauti's car wash petition has appealed the Planning Commission's denial and has a Council Public Hearing date of May 4. 9. Polling of Board Members: Scott Grace: Tennyson Chevrolet and Olson Oldsmobile have For Sale signs and sandwich boards in the right-of-way. Behind the businesses in the Rosedale commercial area are very inconsistent wall spaces. Mr. Grace would like to see some consistency in the wall up to Hubbard Road. He also mentioned a couple of parks on Plymouth Road that are not being used much. He would like to see them developed like Sesquinentennial Park with seating areas. Also, Mr. Grace asked if there were a way to find out what the traffic impact would be at Farmington and Plymouth Roads if Meijer's were to locate at that intersection. Mr. Nagy responded that if Meijer's were to proceed, we would expect them to do a traffic count. The City has a 1989 traffic study which could be compared to a 1998 count to see the increase. Lowell Peterson inquired as to the progress of the Lutheran Homes nursing home on Plymouth Road and if their construction would be completed before the streetscape plans. Mr. Nagy reported that their construction is well along, and they may finish before the PRDA reaches that point. There was some adjustment in the placement of the driveway. Mayor Kirksey announced a May 7 Town Hall meeting on drug awareness to bring this problem to the attention of residents and businesses and to develop strategies. The meeting will take place in the Civic Center Auditorium beginning at 6:30 PM with a display and a program beginning at 7:00. Trained police dogs will give a demonstration by locating previously hidden drugs in the auditorium. The mayor also invited everyone to the annual Mayor's Ball at Laurel Manor on May 1, 1998. Stan Anderson said he has been receiving a lot of inquiries regarding the Meijer's proposal and would like to pass on some of those comments. That area should have something that would draw people to Plymouth Road, but not be a competitor to already established businesses. For example, consider a campus-like setting with lights, walkways, seating areas and businesses that are not provided anywhere else on the corridor such as a Michael's store, kid's clothing store, a Men's Warehouse store. These would not compete and would provide a service and a product that is needed. Another suggestion was to have Meijer's consider putting their facility next to Costco on Middlebelt Road. This would have the benefit of having these large warehouse-type stores together with ample parking. Chairman Polsinelli announced that because of the 4th of July holiday,the July 2 PRDA meeting will be canceled. -4- 10. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 72nd Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on April 16, 1998 was adjourned at 5:15 PM.. The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on May 7, 1998. cee_.x_v 2tL' Dons Urbanski, Secretary (11W -5-