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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 1951-11-28 MINUTES OF THE SIXTEENTH REGULAR 63 MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION The sixteenth regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held on Wednesday, November 28, 1951 at 33110 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan. Chairman George Bentley called the meeting to order at approximately 8 PM with the following people present: Planning Commission: Harold Bower, Walter Russell, Dallas Hay, Helen Byers, Edwin Conway, Robert Maclntyre, George Bentley School Board: Mrs. Cook, H. Johnson, W. McCain, C. Rickard M. Bowen, E. Smith Also present were Mr. Clarence Hoffman, Dept. of Parks and Recreation; Mr. Wm Brashear, City Attorney; Mr. Malcolm Waring, Planning Consultant; and Mr. Earl Demil, Attorney. Planning Commission members absent: Clarence Jahn and Carson Johnston. The Chair requested that the minutes of the public hearing and special meeting held on November 7th, be read as all members had not received their copies through the mail, and in view of the fact that so many of the Planning Commission members were not present at the Nov. 7th meeting. Upon completion of the reading of the minutes, the Chair asked if there were any corrections. Miss Byers said that the minutes should be corrected to show that Petition +41, Fred Blackwood Company, has been cancelled as this was merely correspondence for the Planning Commission's recommendation. #41 has been assigned to a new petition. The Chair announced that if there were no further corrections, the minutes were approved as read. The first old business to be taken up was Petition #35, and Helen and Richard Wisniewski and Earl Demil were present to talk about same. Miss Byers read a copy of a letter sent to Mr. E. J. Demil from the City Attorney acknowledging Mr. Demil's letter of November 9th regarding said petition requesting that an alley be vacated on Plymouth Road near Wayne Road. Mr. Wisniewski does not want the portion now occupied by the alley to be used by the utility companies; he would like easement strip moved closer to the street. Next Miss Byers read a letter from Waring & Johnson dated November 13th regarding Petition +35. After a lengthy discussion on Petition #35 and due to the fact that Mr. Demil had just been advised that Mr. Wisniewski supposedly had a copy of the deed showing dedication of property to the city, Mr. Demil asked if Petition #35 could be held up indefinitely. Upon a motion duly made by Dallas Hay, seconded by Walter Russell and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that Petition +35 be held until Messrs. Brashear and Demil are able to complete a thorough search of all the facts. The Chair announced that the School Board was meeting with the Planning Commission in order that some decisions may be reached regarding the 65 acquisition of future school sites. Mr. H. Johnson, Supt. of Schools, introduced Mr. Eberle Smith, Architect, who gave the group an idea of the proportional need for schools in a growing city. E Mr. Smith presented a poster illustrating an area of 20 acres and the need for elementary schools. Approximately 20 acres should be used for each elementary school and each section of your land that is going to be used for residential areas should have school sites set aside. It was estimated that the 20 acres previously mentioned for a school site should accommodate around 900 children in areas that are normally populated. Mr. Smith ex- plained that the school itself seldom exceeded 3 acres and the rest of the land should be used for recreational purposes. Mr. Smith said that at this time, the Planning Commission could reserve the land needed for schools and thus save the city untold thousands of dollars that would be necessary at a later date to condemn property, etc. Mr. Hoffman asked how many children are in a quarter mile section and Mr. Johnson advised that there normally were approximately 400 children. A case was cited in Inkster where it is now necessary to erect a school very near a railroad track due to the fact that there was no place to build the school as no action was taken soon enough. Mr. Smith then presented a second poster showing an area of 36 square miles and the potential need for elementary, junior high and senior high schools. When conditions become overcrowded at the high school now being used in Livonia, a secondary school will become necessary. A secondary or junior high school would take care of approximately 600 to 1200 pupils, and around 4 ware miles would fill a school of that size. A senior high school would serve 9 square miles and normally 18 to 20 thousand families would be housed in that area. Mr. Smith's entire proposed setup would result in approximately 5 times more people than we now have, or 200,000 people. The statistics and posters are set up according to the Department of Public Instructions. Mr. Hoffman presented a map or drawing showing locations where the Dept of Parks and Recreation proposed to select for recreational areas. Mr. Hoffman stated that these were pressure spots at the present time, and that something should be done about them before it is too late. Mr. Brashear said that he wanted to clarify the subject of "setting aside" land as there has been some confusion regarding this insofar as budgets are concerned. He said that the solution lies under the Municipal Planning Act. The act provides that the exact site should be zoned for the proper purpose and then the land, not being usable for anything except that, would be available when the time comes to use it for schools, parks, etc. Mr. Brashear advised that a public hearing will be held on any land that is restricted for school sites, etc. He further explained that the City Plan would be completed in parts and that one part is already completed; that is the master thorough- fare plan. The next step is the Civic Center. The next will be the Sub- division Rules and Regulations, etc. each to come before a public hearing. Mr. Bowen said that preparations of such a plan and the pooling of the thinking of the School Board a.niI Planning Commission and the Dept. of Parks and Recreation should be expedited all possible because of the rapid growth of the city and the sharply increasing costs. The growing rate of children in the schools in Livonia is one per day. The possibility of committees from each Board was discussed. Mr. Waring said that some kind of an up-to-date record should be kept by means of 6 ' pin-pointing new homes, etc. to enable more accurate studies. The school now has a similar map showing each child of school age and can enlarge upon this one. Mr. McCain suggested that the committees get together once a month to explore one section of six miles at each meeting. Mr. Waring and the School Board and the Dept. of Parks and Recreation were considered. The School Board Committee consists of Mrs. Cook, Mr. Rickard and Mr. McCain. The Department of Parks and Recreation Committee consists of Mr. Meinsinger, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Folsom. A suggestion was made that Mr. Johnson act as advisor to the group. It was decided that the final plans would be presented to the Planning Commission for approval. The Committee that had been appointed previously by the Planning Commission to meet with the School Board consisted of Clarence Jahn, Helen Byers and Robert Maclntyre. A recess was called at 9:30 PM. The meeting was again called to order by Chairman Bentley at approximately 9:40 PM. The Chairman announced that a review of petitions coming up for public hearing would be made at this time. Petition #37 requesting a change of the entire subdivision from RUFC to AG-1-C. It will be impos- sible to get a barn built on those lots as they are too small. The petition is out of order. At the public hearing the Planning Commission, in order to have this petition brought before the Zoning Board of Appeals, will deny the petition. There was a short discussion regarding the fact that petitions will, from now on, be submitted to Mr. Brashear for his scrutiny prior to the time that they are turned over to the City Council or the Planning Commission. Once a petition reaches the Planning Commission it is the petitioner's right to have the petition come up for public hearing and some have been passed on to the Planning Commission that were out of order. At 9:50 PM, Mr. Russell left the meeting. Petition 41,38, Lone Pines Tavern, 30325 Six Mile Road. Miss Byers read Mr. Waring's recommendation dated November 12th advising that it would be unwise to recommend change. Following a discussion regarding the petition, it was agreed that the location should be checked before the public hearing takes place. Checking will be done by Messrs. Hay and Conway. t .. Petition #40, Prisehksrl requesting change of zoning from R-1-C to R-3-C on West Chicago near Inkster for apartment buildings. Petition #41, Civic Center. Mr. Brashear advised that in order to save time, the City Council will meet with the Planning Commission on the same night. Mr. Bentley will preside over the meeting. Roll call will be taken, and the Council will call their roll for their minutes. The Council will take no part in the Public Hearing and as soon as the Planning Commission reaches a decision, it will be turned over to the City Council for immediate action. It was suggested that the petition on Subdivision Rules and Regu- lations be postponed for adoption until a special meeting. Mr. Waring said there were a couple of things the engineer questioned or did not agree with, and he would like to submit these to the Planning Commission before a decision is made. Next, Miss Byers read a letter from George Jerome and Company from Mr. Ryba, dated October 25th regarding Holley Subdivision, requesting that the Planning Commission reconsider their action on the plats as submitted. 69 In connection with the foregoing Mr. Brashear reported that a Mr. McGee had been sold this strip of land at the end in the Holley Subdivision. He, Mr. McGee, bought the lot for business and it is zoned for agriculture. He I[: bought it for $12,000 and paid $3,000 down and the private restrictions allow no other use than for a residence. Upon a motion duly made by Harold Bower, seconded by Edwin Conway and unani- mously carried, it was RESOLVED, that application of Mr. Ryba for reconsideration of the decision of the Planning Commission in regard to the tentative approval of Holley Subdivision be denied. Next, Miss Byers read a letter from Fred Blackwood Company dated October 22, referred to the Planning Commission by Marie Clark in letter dated October 30. Letter requested permission to construct a 9 foot road of five inch stone and five inch gravel. North boundary is Curtis Avenue in Section 9 SW 1/4. Mr. Waring's recommendation of November 12th advised that no special privileges should be granted. Upon a motion duly made by Dallas Hay, seconded by Robert MacIntyre and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, to recommend to the City Council that the plat be rejected in view of the report submitted by Mr. Waring, Planning Consultant. Miss Byers presented members with new binders for their copies of the minutes. Seven were received and two are on backorder. Upon a motion duly made by Harold Bower, seconded and unanimously carried it was RESOLVED, that this meeting be adjourned. Thereupon at approximately 11:05 PM, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is the public hearing to be held on December 5, 1951. -1-/Q,(//' ,/,0:1vi, (I(- (,CZ i',./24.- / elen E. Byers, Se ary , 5 ATTESTED: I- I . l George N. :entley, Chairman