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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 1951-02-14 141 MINUTES OF THE THIRTEENTH SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING COlJMISSION OF THE CITY OP LIVONIA ,The thirteenth special meeting of the Planning Commission was held on the 14th day of February, 1951 at 33110 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan. The meeting was called to order at 8 :15 P .M. by the Chairman, Mr. George Bentley, and roll was called with the following result : Members present : George N. Bentley Clarence Jahn Helen F. Byers Robert Maclntyre Dallas Hay Walter Russell Members absent: Carson Johnson Harold Bower Edwin Conway Mr. Malcomb Waring, Planning Consultant, was present and Mr. Lonnie Brashear appeared in the absence of Mr. William .Brashear, City Attorney. The secretary reported the resolution recommending the City Counoil to approve the Plat of Livonia Farms Subdivision that had been omitted in typing the minutes of the 8th Regular Meet- ing and the adjourned Public Hearing, held on January 31, 19b1 as follows : "Motion by Robert MacIntyre , seconded by Dallas Hay, and carried unanimously, it was RESOLVED, to recommend that the City Council approve the Plat of Livonia Farms Subdivision as presented by Herald F. Hamil together with his letter dated January 5, 1951." The secretary reported that she had forwarded to the City Coun- cil above recommendation. Upon motion duly made , seconded and unanimously carried, it was REOLVED, to withhold approval of the minutes of the last meeting until February 28th meeting. The Chairman, Mr. George N. Bentley, reported that at the city Council meeting held on January 22, 1951 , Plat -#10 of the Sheldon Land Company had been given to him for the Planning Commission to make its recommendation with a time limitation which would necessitate cr:lling a special meeting; instead he called by phone , members of the Plat Committee , consisting of Walter Russell, Dallas Hay and Edwin Conway , also Helen Byers , Secretary, report- ing to them that Plat #10 was a continuation of Sheldon Land Com- pany building project now in progress extending over to 'arming- ': ton Road. Lots were 59 feet in width, 112 feet in depth and a right of way along Farmington Road of 75 feet. The Chairman, Mr. George Bentley , reported on the visit to Cathedral Street by the majority of the members , who were : 14 George N. Bentley ={ober t Mae Intyre Helen E. Byers Walter Russell Dallas Hay The visit was made on Sunday , Jebruary 11, 1951 at approximately 1 :15 P.M. The members drove down Cathedral Street as far as it was possible, then drove through the Bonapart Subdivision and down Melvin avenue, getting out to survey the new subdivision just north of Cathedral Street and Cathedral Street Where it has not opened, and while there , Mr. W. A. albitus, 9108 Melvin St. came over to talk with the members of the Planning Commission and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest E. Cornetet, 9107 Melvin at. , also joined our group. While Mr. Dallas Hay and Mr. albitus were walking through the new subdivision north of Cathedral St. , Mrs . Cornetet told the other members that when they found out the new subdivisioner had not given the necessary 3U feet to open Cathedral as a Street; that they would not like the idea of only 30 feet being there which would eventually be regrrded as an alley to the people buying property north of them, but did not know what to do. But one day while her husband was away, Mr. Herald Hamil called upon her and suggested that the property owners have a petition signed request- ing the City of Livonia to deed them the 30 feet abutting their property. She said she did not wait for her husband to return from his trip but started on having a petition signed immediately. Jr.I Bentley reported that none of the members had made up their minds what was best Sunday , and that something must be decided at this meeting. There followed a lengthy discussion regarding subdivision plats, streets, etc. Mr. Clarence Jahn asked who is the engineer or designer that is presenting these new subdivisions for approval without taking into consideration existing streets. The secretary reported thr t Mr. Herald Hamil's name has been on all Plats that the Planning Commission had received so far but who the owners were of the property, no one seemed to know. The tax books were brought out and it was found that the property just west of Bona- part Subdivision has been divided into eight parcels which will, at some later date , follow the pattern of the Bonapart Carden Sub- division and that the Livonia Township Plat G-uide for streets showed Cathedral to be a quarter mile section street. Mr. vyaring reported that Cathedral is a recognized street in those portions of developed areas in -ledford Township and •L)etroit. Upon a motion, duly made by •Callas Hay, seconded by Robert Maclntyre , and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that a letter be sent to the City Council stating reasons why the Planning Commission can not recommend the closing of Cathedral St. as requested in Petition f26 for the following reasons : 1. Existing subdivision conforms to the Livonia Twp . Plat Guide for streets as established jointly by the Wayne County 1{oad Commission and the former Townehip Board and officially accepted by the Township Board on January 3, 1946. 145 2. subdividers of new land should be expecte to con- tinue the established street oa_ttern to the degree that it substantially conforms to existing street I: pattern, and to donate their share of land to con- tinue or open any such streets formerly platted. 3. Consideration should be given to the future devel- opment of adjacent properties. the Chairman declared the foregoing resolution adopted. complaint was registered by all members present that tue Plan- ning Commission never know until the Minutes of the city council are published in the newspaper what final disposition they ma Ke on recommendations received from the Planning COm .ie,,ioi. Jpon motion, duly made by Clarence Jahn, seconded by liallas Hay, and unanimously carried , it was R ;SOLVE , to ask the City Council to return to the Plan- ning Commission as soon as possible their final disposi- tion on recommendations submitted to them by the Plan- ning Commission; mailingsuch communication to either the secretary or the Chairman 04' the Planning Commission; whereas the Planning Commission roust wait until the Min- utes of the City Council meetings are publishes in the newspapers . I: There followed an informal discussion as to who the Commission could obtain to take notes and type the minutes of the Public Hearing and attend the meetings since the City Clerk has been un- able to secure the service of a stenographer willing to attend meetings in the evening. Mr. Clarence Jahn suggested that each member inquire around and bring to the next meeting the name of a person or persons willing to do such work. It was his belief that there are many in the City of Livonia who would accept if more people knew about the need and suggested a flat rate of pay of 4150.00 per month. This was accepted by all present. The Chairman, Mr. George Bentley informed the assembly that the Regional Planning Commission was holding their next meeting at the Plymouth Township Hall on Tuesday, February 20, 1951 and everyone was welcome to attend but the City of Livonia ' s Planning Commission should be represented better than it had in the past. George Bentley, Clarence Jahn and Helen -3yers were appointed to attend if at all possible. Mr. Robert MacIntyre reported on his investigation regarding re- quest to close alley in Petition '24-:i and 24-3. He found that one house extended 4 feet into the alley; some subdividers had disregarded the alley, etc . He contacted many of the signers of said petitions and he thought their request was for E just cause. I: 1 147 '.'he secretary presented two bills for approval , one from Mrs. Jane Jones, stenographer, in the amount of 418. 75 and one from daring & Johnson for the month of January in the amount of 69.56. Upon a motion duly made by Clarence Jahn, seconded by Dallas Hay and 1: unanimously carried it was RESOLVED, that the statements from Mrs . Jane Jones and Waring & Johnson be hereby approved and forwarded to the City Council for payment. There followed a discussion regarding the Proposed Civic Center , sites , etc. Mr. Bentley suggested that an expression be made by the Planning Commission as a whole just the location the Commission desires most for a Civic Center. It was the consensus of opinion of all present that the most desirable land for the proposed Civic Center is that property located south of Five Mile Road and east of Farmington Road now owned by Mr. Petersine of Ohio. This land being almost in the center of the city and would oe an ideal location. Upon motion, duly made by -lobert Maclntyre , seconded by Dallas HAy and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission is in favor of the City of Livonia purchasing the whole 80 acres now owned by Mr. Petersine if possible , if not , 30 acres or at least 25 acres for a future Civic Center, and it was FURTHER RESOLVED, that a committee , consisting of the Mayor, President of the Council, Wm. Brashear , City ilttorney, Mr. Bentley, Chairman of the Planning Commission, and one other member of the Planning Commission, go as a body to Mr. Peter- sine in Ohio and work out some plan to purchase said land or part of it. Walter Russell left at 9 :45 P .M. It was discussed as to who the second party from the Planning Com- mission would be , and Mr. Hay said if the trip would be on a bat- urday, he could go. Mr. Clarence Jahn said he could go on a week day and would be willing to drive . Upon a motion duly made , seconded and unanimously carried , it was RESOLVED, that this meeting be adjourned until February 28 , 1951. The meeting, thereupon, adjourned at 10 P.M. __CfAr L./ e en E. ers.� -ecretary ATTES :D: �' eor�e N. ;entley g i hairman