HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 2000-11-16 (IW MINUTES OF THE 119TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH
ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA
The 119th Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of
Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:10 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2000 in the 4th Floor
Conference Room at City Hall.
Members Present: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey
Mr. Michael Polsinelli, Chairman
Mr. Jerry Wordhouse, Vice Chairman
Mr. Stan Anderson
Mr. Rod Crider
Mr. Scott Grace
Ms. Toni Mette
Mr. Lowell Peterson
Mr. Adelard Raby
Mr. Duane Wolfgang
Members Absent: Mr. Dennis Kujawa(Excused)
Mr. Bill Pike(Excused)
Mr. Marvin Walkon(Excused)
Others Present : Mr. John Nagy, P.R.D.A. Director
Mrs. JoAnn Marshall,BRI
Mr. Scott Reinholt,BRI
Dr. Robert Auth,Rosedale Gardens Homeowners Association
Mr. Ralph Williams,Livonia Citizen
Ms. Susan Annibal, Secretary
1. Roll was called.
2. Adoption of the October 19, 2000 Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and
unanimously adopted, it was
#2000-94 RESOLVED,that the Minutes of the 118th Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road
Development Authority on October 19, 2000 are approved.
Mr. Polsinelli,Chairman,declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted.
3. Comments from Chairman: The Annual Mayor's Holiday Coffee will be held on Wednesday,
December 20, 2000 from 9:30 —11:00 a.m. in the City Hall Lobby. Lowell Peterson will act as
the Nominating Committee for 2001 Nomination of P.R.D.A. Officers. Anyone interested in
making a nomination or desirous of serving as a Board officer should contact Mr. Peterson. The
Nagy's have extended an invitation to the Board and associates to a Christmas Open House on
December 7th from 5:00—7:00 p.m. at John and Mary Nagy's home,to be followed by dinner at
cw Buca di Beppo's. (R.S.V.P.,please.)
4. BRI— Construction Update: Jo Ann Marshall reports that masonry is being done right now.
There will be a winter break in the construction project,which will pick up again after the winter
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411W weather breaks in the spring. Electrical will be done all the way through March for street lights
and signals. Brick walls are going up now. Phase IV street names are up on the mast arms.
Harrison and Deering is almost done. They'll be able to take the old signals down now. There
are some issues with Ameritech and the TV cable on the poles, which we're trying to resolve
with the City. The goal was one or two light poles at each corner. However, we have to wait
until the new poles are up and running in some areas to remove the old wood poles. Two large
wood poles will remain on each corner. Phase V is still in MDOT's hands in Lansing. Once we
have MDOT's approval, we are planning for a January bid date. With regard to Phase VI, we
have the application for ISTEA getting ready to go out. Schematic drawings were being put
together. Decorative light poles will go down to the first driveway on Middlebelt, about 150 feet
from the corner. There will be two poles at each intersection. The walls on the corner are 3 feet
high. The wall on the southeast corner will be higher on the parking lot side due to the change in
grade. On the front side it will be 3 feet, but the back side could be 5 feet. We still have to have
drainage to the roadway, and that causes the wall to be at the elevation as proposed. The fence
can slope down. The bus stop on Merriman Road at Plymouth Square is being moved from the
present corner location to a distance east in front of Plymouth Square Shopping Center. Ron
Parz, owner of the center, is aware of it.
5. Reports from Committees:
Public Relation - Stan Anderson: The Newsletter mailing went out last Saturday. The front
page feature is the Development Assistance Program through P.R.D.A. John Nagy submitted an
excellent article for the issue which covered Development Assistance very well. In addition,this
(kwissue offered information on several other items of interest. Special treatment at the major
intersections of Plymouth Road at Middlebelt, Merriman and Farmington Roads will welcome
motorists and pedestrians alike with brickpavers and low brick walls, eye-catching pillars and
lovely landscaping. Also, new mast arms holding traffic signals and street name signs for the
cross streets and extra lighting will enhance those major corners. A picture of a bus plaza with
the bench and trash receptacle to be placed at each plaza was distributed to the Board. Some
plazas would feature covered shelters,tentatively planned for Shelden Plaza at Farmington Road,
Plymouth Square at Merriman, Burger King at Wayne Road and Wonderland Mall at Middlebelt.
"Looking Back on Plymouth Road" told the story of the David Ryder family from Albany, NY
who in 1827 chose the site of what is now called the Ford Transmission Plant for their farm,
building a log cabin in 1828 just east of the present Ford Administration Building. In 1855 a
two-story frame house was built and later moved in 1951. Another bit of nostalgia told of the
old Burger Chef and Hardee's hamburger places at a site on Plymouth Road where the Legacy
Restaurant now stands. An article on the Golden Winter Wonderland Holiday Parade (held on
November 18th) was written up on the back page of the Fall Newsletter. With its positive
reception, this format will be adopted more in future publications. Many buildings are being
upgraded along Plymouth Road.
Vacant Buildings—Scott Grace: Nothing to report.
Discussion returned to progress/problems on Plymouth Road. A few easements still haven't
been resolved: Tennyson Chevrolet, 7-Eleven, Brake Center, Salem Lumber, Cardwell Florist,
Carpet World, Mobil (at Merriman). Quite a lengthy discussion followed on the easement
situation. BRI has met with several of the parties involved and particular problems in each case.
A project west of Merriman was questioned, as it interferes with the flow of traffic there and
damage has occurred to the sprinkler system. Another question was who to contact to get the
road that was dug up and just paved again back to the way it should be? It was dug up due to a
water main break. Mr.Nagy will check on this.
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Inspection — Mr. Raby: The day of the parade, a "partial inspection" will be made of the
corridor.
6. Director's Report: Mr. Nagy introduced the subject of the proposed Hooter's Restaurant to
occupy space at the Quality Inn on Plymouth Road. As the Board was aware it was initially a
restaurant, and they have just started advertising on I-275 ` "Hooter's Coming to Livonia."
When they went to get the Certificate of Occupancy Permit,they were informed of the expiration
of the Waiver of Use Permit. Hooter's will have to go through the public hearing process. The
question was asked if the P.R.D.A. wants to review this proposal? Also, there's a liquor license
involved. The hotel has a hotel license now. Hooter's wants to sell liquor by the glass. Was that
advisable? There's a public hearing before the Planning Commission on the 12th of December.
So, we still have time to bring them in before the hearing or just pass on it. Consensus was to
pass on it. The next subject discussed was the application for ISTEA funding in connection with
the Phase VI project. It will be on the City Council Consent Agenda for next Wednesday night.
The Golden Winter Wonderland Holiday Parade will start this coming Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
P.R.D.A. will be represented by Butch and Kay Raby, Mike Polsinelli and John Nagy. Board
members were encouraged to park behind K-mart for easy access afterward. With the Holidays
quickly approaching, hopefully everyone would attend the get-together at the Nagy's for
cocktails on December 7th at 5:00 p.m. (and perhaps a Christmas walk on Ellen Drive?)
followed by dinner at Buca di Beppo's.
7. Polling of Board Members:
Mr. Wordhouse: Passed.
Mr. Raby: The question was asked as to whether there was anything new on the George Burns
property. The Mayor responded that they received a D.E.Q. Permit. It has been approved by
D.E.Q. for the make-up site for the wetland mitigation and is moving ahead in sequence, since
Phoenix Land has started their project at Six Mile and Farmington Roads. The curbing is in at
the former Ward Presbyterian site, and they are hoping to get as much started as possible before
the winter sets in. The models should open up in May of next year. As for the White Castle
project formerly proposed for Farmington and Plymouth Roads at the Shelden Plaza site, they
are now looking for other sites.
Mr. Wolfgang: Kudos for a fine promotional job on the printing and editing of the P.R.D.A.
Newsletter were offered.
Mayor Kirksey: On November 17th the "Livonia Family Y" Auction will be held and starts at
5:30 p.m. with a silent auction; then at 7:00 p.m. the live auction will begin. Tickets are
available. On December 5th the City's Annual Tree Lighting event will get underway at 7:00
p.m. with cookies and hot chocolate served afterward at the Civic Center Library. As mentioned
earlier in the meeting, the Mayor hopes that everyone will be able to attend his Christmas
Holiday Coffee on the 20th. Mayor Kirksey also stated that there is a business planning to locate
and build a structure to the north of the Peregrine Building now owned by Ashley Capital.
Possibly there will be a public announcement. Also,there will be a firm moving in from Detroit
to occupy the new facility at the old Peregrine site.
Mr. Grace: Passed.
Mr. Peterson: Rod Crider is a certified Chamber of Commerce representative.
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Ms. Mette: A new asphalt cap is needed on a portion of the new Plymouth Road paving surface
east of Middlebelt Road on the north side.
8. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted,the 119th Regular
Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on November 16, 2000 was
adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on December 7,
2000 in the 4th Floor Conference Room at City Hall .
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Susan Annibal, Secretary