HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 1975-04-08 5759
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MINUTES OF THE 293rd REGULAR MEETING
AND PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD BY THE CITY
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
i LIVONIA
On Tuesday, April 8, 1975 the City Planning Commission of the City of Livonia held
its 293rd Regular Meeting and Public Hearings in the Livonia City Hall , 33001 Five
Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan.
Mr. Daniel R. Andrew, Chairman, called the Public Hearings and Regular Meeting to order
at 8:00 p.m. , with approximately 30 interested persons in the audience.
Members present: Daniel R. Andrew Joseph R. Talbot Charles Pinto
Herman H. Kluver Suzanne Wisler Esther Friedrichs
Joseph J. Falk Francis M. Hand
Members absent: William Scruggs (vacation)
Messrs. John J. Nagy, Planning Director; Ralph H. Bakewell , Planner IV; H G Shane,
Planner IV; John Dufour, Superintendent of the Parks & Recreation Department; and
Robert M. Feinberg, Assistant City Attorney, were also present.
Mr. Andrew informed the audience that if a petition on tonight's agenda involves a
question of rezoning or vacating, this Commission only makes recommendations to the City
Council and the City Council , after holding a public hearing, makes the final determina-
tion as to whether a petition is approved or denied, and if a petition requesting a waiver
of use is denied, the petitioner has ten days in which to appeal the decision to the City
Council .
j Mr. Joseph J. Falk, Secretary, announced the first item on the agenda is Petition
75-2-1-7 by William Abney & Roy W. Johnston to rezone property located
on the east side of Middlebelt Road between Grove and Terrence in the
Northwest 1/4 of Section 13, from RUF to C-1 .
Mr. Nagy: There are two pieces of correspondence in the file; one from the Engineer-
ing Division indicating there are no engineering problems connected with
this petition, and one from Consumers Power Company indicating they have
no objection to the petition.
Mr. Andrew: At the the study meeting, there was discussion relative to an amendment
to reduce the area under petition to exclude that portion lying within
the flood plain.
Roy W. Johnston, 20793 Farmington Road, Farmington, Michigan, petitioner: The Architect
came up with the proper legal description which is about what is shown on
the map. I will have to get that over to the Engineering Department.
Mr. Andrew: Has the Engineering Department reviewed this legal description as it
relates to the flood plain?
Mr. Nagy: We asked the Engineering Department to furnish us with a revised legal
description covering just the buildable area. We have been furnished with
the legal description based on the site plan furnished with the petition.
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Mr. Andrew: Has any of the correspondence gone to the petitioner or his architect?
Mr. Nagy: It has not been indicated on the letters that copies were furnished to
either.
Mr. Andrew: Is there any difficulty with the legal description?
Mr. Johnston: I don' t think so. I think our architect has it just about as it is here
on this map.
Mr. Andrew: For the record, you don't have any objection to the legal description
furnished by the Engineering Department in connection with this petition?
Mr. Johnston: No, we don't.
There was no one else present wishing to be heard regarding this item and Mr. Andrew,
Chairman, declared the public hearing on Petition 75-2-1-7 closed.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Falk and seconded by Mr. Kluver, it was
#4-59-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a public hearing having been held on April 8,
1975 on Petition 75-2-1-7 as submitted by William Abney and Roy W.
Johnston to rezone property located on the east side of Middlebelt
Road between Grove and Terrence in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 13,
from RUF to C-1 , the City Planning Commission does hereby recommend
to the City Council that Petition 75-2-1-7 be approved as amended
to cover only that property legally described as follows and to ex-
clude that portion of the petition lying within the flood plain:
' That part of the East 470 feet of Lot 333, Supervisor's Livonia
Plat #5, as recorded in Liber 66, Page 32, said plat being of
part of the S. 1/2 of the N.W. 1/4 of Section 13 , T. 1 S. , R. 9 E. ,
Livonia Township (now the City of Livonia) Wayne County, Michigan,
described as measuring 110 feet along the North line of said lot
and 190 feet along the South line of said lot; and
That part of the N.W. 1/4 of Section 13, T. 1 S. , R. 9 E. , City
of Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, described as beginning at a
point on the E. line of Middlebelt Road distant S. 0°22' W. along
the W. section line 1409 feet and S. 39°02' E. 94.53 feet from the
N.W. corner of Section 13 and proceeding thence S. 0°22' W. along
said E. line 162 feet, thence S. 89°39' E. 133.04 feet; thence N.
39°02' W. 209.59 feet to the point of beginnings
for the following reasons:
(1) The proposed change of zoning represents a very minor expansion
in a C-1 zone between an area already zoned C-1 and an area
confined on the north and east by permanent open flood plain
area.
(2) The proposed change of zoning is related and and will be inte-
grated with the planned development for the commercial district
already existing to the south.
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(3) The proposed change of zoning will permit uses that will be
compatible to the surrounding uses of the area.
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(4) The proposed change of zoning will provide for the more orderly
and appropriate development of the subject area due to the
common ownership of commercial lands.
(5) The petitioner has agreed to the legal description which reduces
the land area under petition which area has been described by
the Engineering Department in a letter dated April 3, 1975.
FURTHER RESOLVED that, notice of the above Public Hearing was published
in the official newspaper, the Observer/Eccentric, under date of March 20,
1975, and a notice of such hearing was sent to the Detroit Edison Company,
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Con-
sumers Power Company and City Departments as listed in the Proof of Service.
A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following:
AYES: Kluver, Friedrichs, Pinto, Talbot, Wisler, Falk, Andrew
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Hand
ABSENT: Scruggs
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
Mr. Falk announced the next item on the agenda is Petition 75-2-1-8 by Emerson
• Building Company to rezone property located on the west side of
Alexander between Sunnydale and Broadmoor in the Southwest 1/4 of
Section 13, from RUF to R-1 .
Mr. Nagy: There is a letter in the file dated March 7, 1975 which states that the
west half of Alexander Avenue is not improved at this time and should a
building operation occur on the west side of Alexander, the Engineering
Department would require a minimum improvement of the west half of the
road. There is also a letter from Consumers Power Company stating they
have no objection and a letter from Don Carter dated March 21 , 1975 stating
that he is not opposed to the zoning change but that homes built should have
brick to the eaves on all sides of the homes and garages.
Mr. Andrew: I have a question on the letter from Engineering. What vehicle would the
Engineering Department use to implement the paving of the west side of
Alexander if Emerson Building Company came in for a building permit on
the north 170' of the east 68' of Lot 224? Would they deny the building
permit until such time as a road is put in?
Mr. Nagy: That is the way I read it. I think they are saying they do not recommend
issuance of. a permit until thebuilder._paves the street.
Mr. C. Grenader, 18250 Riverside, Birmingham, Michigan: Mr. Schwartz is the purchaser
and he is going to fill in the drainage ditch. I don't know if they intend
to pave it but they intend to put in a culvert.
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Mr. Andrew: How do you intend to build a home on the 66' x 130' lot?
to, Mr. Grenadier: By building a culvert beside the lot 246.
Mr. Andrew: Would you be kind enough to show us on the map?
Mr. Grenader so indicated on the map.
Mr. Andrew: The lot I am speaking of is 225 where you are carving out a piece.
How do you intend to gain access to that lot? Do you intend to grant
an easement?
Mr. Grenader: I think so.
Mr. Anthony Margiotta, 14489 Park, Livonia: There is a dual purpose here . . .
Mr. Andrew: I take it there is a lot split before the City Council . Will you
indicate that to the Commission?
Mr. Margiotta so indicated on the map. We had a meeting with the City Assessor and Mr.
Nagy and the question came up. It was clearly indicated that we could
use it as it is and we would not be required to pave it until we
platted.
Mr. Andrew: It was my understanding that Lot 225 has been split. If we split a
portion of Lot 225 again, is Lot 225 in violation of the Plat Act?
te Mr. Nagy: Lot 225 right now is divided into three parts. If you split it east/
west, it will make a grand total of five and would be in violation of
the Plat Act.
Mr. Margiotta: We had a meeting with Mr. Tatigian and the Assessor and it was every-
body's opinion that this proposal conformed with the Plat Act. '
Mr. Andrew: I disagree with the ruling of the City Attorney. I think you are in
violation as soon as you split the lot again.
Mr. Margiotta: Mr. Bridges called Wayne County and got a clarification on it.
Mr. Andrew: We will check into that clarification with Wayne County. You do not
intend to improve Alexander and the purchaser intends to build-five
lots.
Mr. Margiotta: That is correct.
Mr. Falk: You stated that you had a meeting with Mr. Tatigian who said something;
with Mr. Bridges who said something; and I don't think the Planning
Director has been told there is no violation . . . I wonder if we
should table this until we get further clarification so we know what
we are doing. I am not certain what we are doing is right and I think
we should have something in writing.
Mr. Andrew: Where does his lot split stand before Council ?
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Mr. Nagy: The lot split is not before the Council for the reason that it has not
come through the Planning Department yet for comment, but the request is
fp:, in the mill .
Sam Provenzola, 11805 Haller, Livonia: I own Lot 225 and I don't understand why you are
talking about splitting it.
Mr. Andrew: Lot 225 has been split into three separate parcels according to the tax
maps. If it is split again to create two more parcels, that would be in
violation of the Plat Act of the State of Michigan.
Mr. Provenzola: I see. They want to split it this way. That is all I wanted to know.
Mr. Pinto: Without getting ahead of things. . .your initial comment was that you owned
Lot 225. If you look at the map and we have the same map in front of us,
and look at the portion of Lot 225 that is within the bold, black line,
are you in agreement that what you own is outside that black line?
Mr. Provenzola: Yes. I am also uncertain why they are trying to split this.
Mr. Pinto: We are talking about the part of Lot 225 that you don' t own.
Leonard Spas, 28678 Sunnydale, Livonia: I attended a meeting about four or five years
ago with Emerson Builders who where petitioning this same land and at
that time I represented a group in our area. We were in total objec-
tion to Emerson Builders primarily because the east half of the street
was paved and the west half was not paved. There is a culvert littered
with debris. We did not approve then and are against this particular
addition unless there are sewers and paved curbs and we are concerned
1E; about the style of the homes. Ours are brick with attached garages. We
do not want any other type homes coming in to lower our values. I be-
lieve Emerson is camouflaging here by selling it to Schwartz. We want
to know what type homes they intend to build and what is their defini-
tion of a culvert.
Mr. Andrew: I think you broughtup some interesting points. This Commission must con-
cern itself with the petition which is a concern of zoning. Many ques-
tions you raised are questions of engineering which I don't care to have
the Commission address itself to this evening. I think we can be con-
cerned about the improvement of Alexander Avenue. We have no control
over the exterior appearance of structures, that is a function of the •
Building Code and I don't know if the Building Code would cover the
exterior.
Mr. Spas: Can you control what he does by your consideration regarding the zoning?
Mr. Andrew: Our difficulty is that we cannot approve zoning based on conditions.
The Engineering Division says they object to the building of homes with-
out the improvement of Alexander.
Mr. Spas: Would more representation by us have more of a clout in this way?
IL Mr. Andrew: The Commission looks at things objectively whether there are one or one
hundred people, but honestly I think it might.
Mr. Provenzola: After this meeting, how much further does this go?
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Mr. Andrew: To the City Council . They will have about three meetings where they
will vote at different levels.
, Mr. Hand: In answer to the remark that the gentleman made. . .we look at situations
like this occasionally and they represent , in my opinion, mistakes that
have been made in the past with lot splits. Many of those splits were
RUF and should have remained RUF. This is an attempt to build small
homes. At this level , a lot of people won't make a lot of difference
because we do attempt to remain somewhat aloof from the political pres-
sures of the people and make a decision as to whether or not it is best
for the interest of the people concerned. If you parade a lot of people
in front of the Council , you may get attention.
Vickie McDonald, 28940 Broadmoor, Livonia: There is a water line coming though the
property that my house and the house next door tap into. Would we be
forced to tap into the street that we are on and would we have to pay
a tap-in fee?
Mr. Andrew: In my opinion, this is a problem for the seller, buyer, Engineering Depart-
ment and City. I will assume they will not turn off your water. If I
were you I would call Mr. Dick Jones tomorrow morning and I am sure you
will find him very helpful with the information you seek.
There was no one else present wishing to be heard on this item and Mr. Andrew, Chairman,
declared the public hearing on Petition 75-2-1-8 closed.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Talbot, seconded by Mr. Falk and unanimously adopted,
it was
L #4-60-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a public hearing having been held on April 8,
1975 on Petition 75-2-1-8 as submitted by Emerson Building Company
to rezone property located on the west side of Alexander between
Sunnydale and Broadmoor in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 13, from
RUF to R-1 , the City Planning Commission does hereby determine to
table Petition 75-2-1-8 until the study meeting of April 22, 1975.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
Mr. Falk announced the next item on the agenda is Petition 75-3-1-9 by the City Plan-
ning Commission on its own motion to rezone property located on the
east side of Farmington Road between the C & 0 Railway and Capitol
Avenue in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 27, from M-2 to M-1 and M-1
to M-2.
Mr. Nagy: There is a letter in the file from Consumers Power Company stating they
have no objection to this petition.
Mr. Andrew: This is a petition by the Planning Commission on its own motion with
two basic purposes involved. One is to bring the zoning into conformity
with property lines and the second is to change zoning classifications
to more clearly associate the type of use that the property is currently
being used for.
Sam Shamie, 26400 Southfield, Lathrup Village: I own Lot #7. My tenant in the building
is Wayne Steel Company and RE-Steel Center. RE operates the steel and
Wayne the office area. Four years ago when we built the office for the
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company, it was heavy manufacturing. One of the reasons we picked that
lot was because it was heavy manufacturing and could use outside storage
in the day and park them there at night. I am concerned because to change
t it to light manufacturing would stop them from doing this and defeat the
purpose of them easing the building.
Mr. Andrew: It is my understanding that the outside storage of material is not per-
mitted in M-1 Districts. For that reason 1 can't see why it will affect
this at all .
Mr. Nagy: That kind of storage would be prohibited in M-1 . If it is steel in con-
nection with fabrication, it can't be stored.
Mr. Andrew: Are they a steel fabricator?
Ken Dudzinski , 32920 Capitol , tenant: Yes. We are a fabricator. Both companies have
the same president.
Mr. Andrew: The five-ton crane is in the building operation by RE; that is zoned M-1
and we are not talking about changing that.
Mr. Shamie: We want the heavy manufacturing to stay so we can store outside on the
M-2 property.
Mr. Andrew: You store it on the M-2 and use it in the M-1?
Mr. Dudzinski : We use it in both.
. . Mr. Andrew: Mr. Nagy, if I understand this right, we should be talking about rezoning
all of Lot #7 from M-1 to M-2.
Mr. Nagy: If RE and Wayne are steel fabricators that actually use steel fabrication
in connection with the building and have a need for outside storage and
it is not enclosed in a building, then that is an M-2 permitted use. Our
field investigation shows that the permit was based on M-1 zoning with
no outside storage and on that basis we don't see the need for M-2 zoning.
There was no evidence of outside storage yesterday and everything was
inside.
Mr. Andrew: Do you see any damage in rezoning Lot #7 in its entirety to M-2?
Mr. Nagy: I don' t see damage but our view is that this is a planned industrial park
and complies with standards of good industrial parks. I think heavy
industrial zoning is contrary to the planning of good industrial parks.
We could perhaps make an exception in that case but I don't see how we
are doing any damage to this tenant when his use can be carried on in
an M-1 zone.
Mr. Andrew: When do you store outside here? .
Mr. Dudzinski : We haven't had outside storage since August or September of last year
but until then we were storing outside on a day-to-day basis depending
on the market.
, Mr. Andrew: If the owner paves it this year, are you going to use it for storage?
Mr. Dudzinski : Yes. We intend to fence it and store on it.
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Mr. Pinto: If John and H have been listening to this gentleman, he seems to be
indicating that there has been a period when outside storage has been
discontinued. He stated it existed prior to that time and subsequent
to the repaving of the lot. Have I heard you to say that under the
existing zoning the outside storage if started up again in the future
would be in violation of the existing ordinance?
Mr. Nagy: It would be in violation of M-1 zoning.
Mr. Pinto: The property upon which these gentlemen plan to initiate open storage
for the next several months; that property which they contemplate for use
for outside storage. . . is it M-1 or M-2?
Mr. Nagy: M-2.
Mr. Pinto: So, under the present zoning the open storage which they expect to com-
mence in the future would be within the present zoning of the property
on which they plan to do the open storage.
Mr. Nagy: That is correct.
Mr. Pinto: I assume that the proposal would propose to rezone that portion to M-1
making it impossible to "store".
Mr. Nagy: The use would then become prohibited and subject to waiver use approval .
Mr. Kluver: To fully clarify the point. . .there will be outside storage.
' Mr. Dudzinski : That is correct.
Mr. Talbot: The gentleman says he was storing in the past on M-2, which is legal . At
the present time reports did not show storage but times have changed.
Back in August or the fall of last year, steel was hard to get so .you
grabbed it and stored it. Right now it is cheap and you don't have to
store it. In another six months it may get tough again and there will
be a need to store it.
Daniel Gilmartin, Industrial Development Coordinator: When the Industrial Commission
originally looked at this and forwarded a recommendation to the Planning
Commission, we looked at this end of Capitol as now being developed in
a heavy manufacturing capacity and with one exception it has not hurt
the area; that being Freedland who will make some improvements in the park-
ing. M-2 is scarce. That was the reason we recommended that this be
considered to remain M-2 whereas we didn't dispute the fact that it is
not a subdivision. It would be difficult in the future to change to
M-1 if the intent is heavy industrial . I am quite certain that if this
in its changed variation as it is now from what we first considered, I
feel if it was brought back to the Industrial Commission, they would recom-
mend leaving the entire area heavy manufacturing.
Mr. Andrew: What is your feeling regarding Lot #7 where RE Steel is?
IL, Mr. Gilmartin: I don' t see where we would have any objection to that.
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Mr. Hand: It seems this started when Livonia Stamping expanded and the whole
intent of this zoning proposition was to bring zoning into conformity
with lot lines and I realize at that time Lot #7 was, in fact, half M-2.
It seems logical to me that we might go entirely M-2 on Lot #7 and then
we have the use in conformity with the zoning and it would allow them to
do what they want to do. It seems reasonable to rezone Lot #7 entirely
M-2.
Mr. Andrew: Would there be any objection, John?
Mr. Nagy: Philosophically I have a difference of opinion because industrial parks
should not have heavy manufacturing. They have done a good job here and
I am willing to go along with this.
There was no one else present wishing to be heard regarding this item and Mr. Andrew,
Chairman, declared the public hearing on Petition 75-3-1-9 closed.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Kluver, seconded by Mr. Hand and unanimously adopted,
it was
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#4-61-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a public hearing having been held on April 8,
1975 on Petition 75-3-1-9 as submitted by the City Planning Commission
on its own motion to rezone property located on the east side of Farming-
ton Road between the C & 0 Railway and Capitol Avenue in the Southwest
1/4 of Section 27, from M-2 to M-1 and M-1 to M-2, the City Planning
Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council that Petition
75-3-1-9 be approved, as amended, and that the following legally described
property be rezoned from M-1 to M-2:
The East 190 feet of the South 458.53 feet of Lot 9, and the North 1/2
of Capitol Avenue (60 feet wide) adjacent thereto, Livonia Industrial
Park Subdivision No. 1 , as recorded in Liber 91 , Pages 20 and 21 , Wayne
County Records, said subdivision being a part of the Southwest 1/4 of
Section 27, T. 1 S. , R. 9 E. , City of Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan; and
That part of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 27, T. 1 S. R. 9 E. , City of
Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan described as beginning at a point distant
N. 00 39" E. , 1877.68 feet and S. 89° 13' 14" E. , 1320 feet from the
S.W. corner of Section 27, proceeding thence S. 89° 13' 14" E. 145.21
feet, thence N. 0° 02' 31" E. , 165 feet; thence N. 89° 13' 14" W. , 145.21
feet, thence S. 0° 02' 31" W. , 165 feet to the point of beginning.
for the following reasons:
(1) This petition is necessary to bring zoning into conformance with
property lines.
(2) The uses established on the properties involved more properly
belong in the zoning districts proposed to be established thereon.
(3) The Industrial Development Coordinator recommends approval of this
petition.
. 110
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AND THAT, the portion of Lot #7 being legally described as follows be
it' deleted from consideration for rezoning from M-2 to M-1 :
The West 54.79 feet of the East 72.29 feet of Lot 7, and the North 1/2
of Capitol Avenue (60 feet wide) adjacent thereto, Livonia Industrial
Park Subdivision No. 1 , as recorded in Liber 91 , Pages 20 and 21 , Wayne
County Records, said subdivision being a part of the Southwest 1/4 of
Section 27, T. 1 S. , R. 9 E. , City of Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan.
FURTHER RESOLVED that, notice of the above Public Hearing was published
in the official newspaper, the Livonia Observer/Eccentric, under date of
March 17, 1975, and a notice of such hearing was sent to the Detroit
Edison Company, Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, Michigan Bell Telephone
Company, Consumers Power Company and City Departments as listed in the
Proof of Service.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Talbot, seconded by Mr. Kluver and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-62-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 23.01 (b) of Ordinance #543, the
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Livonia, as amended, the City Plan-
ning Commission does hereby establish and order that a public hearing
be held to determine whether or not to rezone the west part of Lot #7
and that portion of Parcel E3a1 immediately north of and adjacent to
Lot #7, which property is located east of Farmington Road, north of
Capitol Avenue in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 27, from M-1 to M-2.
FURTHER RESOLVED that, notice of such hearing shall be given as provided
in Section 23.05 of Ordinance #543, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of
Livonia, as amended, and that thereafter there shall be a report and
recommendation submitted to the City Council .
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, delcared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
Mr. Falk, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda is Petition 75-3-2-5
by Livonia Jaycees requesting a waiver use approval to hold an Annual
Spring Carnival on the Wonderland Shopping Center property located on
the south side of Plymouth Road between Middlebelt and Merriman Roads
in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 35.
Mr. Nagy: Correspondence in the file indicates that Consumers Power Company has
no objection to this petition.
Mr. Andrew: When will this carnival be in operation? .
Petitioner: From May 21 , 1975 to June 1 , 1975.
Mr. Andrew:IL It will be in the same location as last year?
Petitioner: Yes.
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There was no one present wishing to be heard regarding this item and Mr. Andrew, Chairman,
declared the public hearing on Petition 75-3-2-5 closed.
/
On a motion duly made by Mr. Hand, seconded by Mr. Pinto and unanimously adopted,
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it was
#4-63-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a Public Hearing having been held on April 8,
1975 on Petition 75-3-2-5 as submitted by Livonia Jaycees requesting
a waiver use approval to hold an Annual Spring Carnival on the Wonderland
Shopping Center property located on the south side of Plymouth Road
between Middlebelt and Merriman Roads in the Northeast 1/4 of Section
35, the City Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City
Council that Petition 75-3-2-5 be approved for the following reasons:
(1) The Police and Fire Departments have no objections to the
. petition.
(2) The use of property for carnival purposes will not interrupt
the normal traffic flow and use of land for parking purposes.
FURTHER RESOLVED, notice of the above Public Hearing was sent to
property owners within 500 feet, petitioner and City Departments
as listed in the Proof of Service. •
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
' IL Mr. Falk, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda is Petition 75-3-3-2
by the City Planning Commission pursuant to Council Resolution
#42-75 to vacate a portion of the public walkway located on the
west side of Knolson at Mason Avenue in the South 1/2 of Section 19.
Mr. Nagy: We have a letter in the file from Castle Gardens Civic Association which
states that they are strongly opposed to the approval of this petition,
and a letter dated March 5, 1975 from the Engineering Division which
recommends that a public easement be retained over the same area to be
vacated. A letter from Consumers Power Company indicates that they have
no objection to the vacating.
Mr. Andrew: Basically, what is the width of the public right-of-way?
Mr. Nagy: The public walkway is 29.3' which was a right-of-way for the extension of
Knolson Avenue.
Mr. Dufour: The map I have indicates the public walkway fenced in is 8.7' in width.
Under no condition can we get into the existing park site with the walkway
the way it is. We have to have a minimum of 10' to get our equipment into
the park. I ask the Commission to consider the widening of the walkway to
a minimum of 10' so we can get in from the south. .
Mr. Andrew: Is the fence on both the north and south sides?
Mr. Dufour: Yes.
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Mr. Andrew: In addition to the 8' walkway, you need another 2' of paved area?
10 J
Mr. Dufour: Paved or not, we need it.
Mr. Pinto: Mr. Dufour's point is that he does not want the south 10'-11 ' vacated or
in any way distrubed. All we can do to protect it is to reserve for Parks
and Recreation more than 8' and Mr. Dufour is saying 10' .
Mr. Andrew: I think it is our prerogative to recommend to Council to suggest that the
property owner who is going to benefit be responsible for moving the fence
and paving the sidewalk.
Mr. Pinto: The fence was put in in a location where John can't get his equipment in and
if there is an error with the location of the fence, we can forget this
petition and the City will have to move the fence anyway. It seems to me
that if a mistake was made and John can't get in, I can't see why that is
the responsibility of the adjoining property owner.
Mr. Legleitner, 14129 Knolson, Livonia: I petitioned Council for the vacating of the
balance of the property between my property and the fenced-in walkway. My
purpose was to fence my property where people coming from Knolson or Mason
entering the park wouldn' t continue to go in the dirt section. I hoped,
with the acceptance of my petition that I would grass and fence that area.
I had no intention to block off access to the park. The builder who built
the property on Summers, I believe installed the walkway and fence.
Mr. Hand: Wouldn' t twelve feet be a little more reasonable width for you to have in
the event that the future might develop some larger equipment to move in
there?
Mr. Dufour: I asked the Park Superintendent and he said a minimum of 10' .
Mr. Hand: I would suggest that we talk about 12' and I have no objection to the balance
going to the petitioner. In view of the fact that you will be picking up
this additional land, Mr. Legleitner, would you relocate the fence to the
new property line?
Mr. Legleitner: That fence runs 160' . Under those conditions, I wouldn't want the land.
Mr. Hand: What kind of solution do you feel you would realize if the fence went un-
moved?
Mr. Legleitner: Status quo. The problem would not be resolved and the area would remain
infested.
Jerry French, 14163 Blue Skies, Livonia: I am the. President of Castle Gardens Civic
Association. We have 5.2 acres of park sites, and we have an active Park
Committee to try to get some additional space where our children can play.
This park was designed to be much larger but was ,cut down by the freeway.
Prior to last fall , lot 489 was vacant and any park equipment coming in
came through the vacant lot. This house being built now takes care of that.
We have no objection to giving uppart of the easement but I question the 10'
minimum. Suppose the City gets a larger mower next year. Then we will be
in trouble. Based on this, the Civic Association opposes giving up any of
5771
this access. Further, with the Freeway, we are concerned about an area that
size that is growing up because without the proper easement for getting in
and out it will become a dumping area. Fire equipment can't get in with a
smaller easement and our homes could be jeopardized.
Mr. Hand: What do you need for a fire truck?
Mr. Andrew: No more than 12' .
Mr. Pinto: I am really not clear in my mind about the opening portion and concluding
portions of your statement, Mr. French. You indicated in the opening state-
ment that you do not object to a portion of the easement being vacated and
in the conclusion you indicated an objection to vacating any portion of the
easement.
Mr. French: We want enough so a fire truck, etc. , can get in there.
Mr. Pinto: It seems to me that to balance both interests. . .John needs 10' for access
to the park. Balancing the need for access to the park with what I think
would be the blessings of the subdivision, that a property owner, the
petitioner, is willing to undertake at his own expense the cleaning up of
what you think is a messy situation.
Mr. French: It is dirt. . .not messy.
Mr. Pinto: It would seem to me that if 12-15' was left and the property owner would
clean up the rest, it should be in the best interest of the subdivision.
Mr. French: We would be limited to the 8' access.
. 110
Mr. Pinto: The petitioner and we found out tonight that the Parks Department doesn't
think the fence is in the right place. You are in agreement that a sub-
stantial portion could be vacated just so enough was retained to provide
the necessary access. Now we have to determine what is sufficient access
to retain.
Mr. Dufour: I ' ll buy 12' . That will be plenty.
There was no one else present wishing to be heard regarding this item and Mr. Andrew,
Chairman, delcared the public hearing on Petition 75-3-3-2 closed.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Hand, seconded by Mr. Kluver and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-64-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a public hearing having been held on April 8,
1975 on Petition 75-3-3-2 as submitted by the City Planning Commission
pursuant to Council Resolution #42-75 to vacate a portion of the public
walkway located on the west side of Knolson at Mason Avenue in the South
1/2 of Section 19, the City Planning Commission does hereby recommend to
the City Council that Petition 75-3-3-2 be approved, as amended, and that
only that portion of the subject area legally described as follows be'
vacated subject to retention of an easement over the area proposed to be
vacated:
5772
That part of the Mason Avenue right-of-way (60 feet wide) more
particularly described as beginning at the southeast corner of
Lot 42, Tiffany Park Subdivision, as recorded in Liber 87, Pages
58, 59 and 60, Wayne County Records, said subdivision being of
part of the South 1/2 of Section 19, T. 1 S. , R. 9 E. , City of
Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, -and proceeding thence S. 0 02' 30"
W. 12.45 feet; thence S. 83 01 ' 30" W. 32.74 feet; thence N. 89
57' 30" W. 73.50 feet; thence N. 0 02' 30" E. 16.60 feet; thence
S. 89 57' 30" E. , 106.0 feet to the point of beginning, subject
to an easement for public purposes and use over the area herein
described;
for the following reasons:
(1) The entire dedication is not needed to serve for access to the
interior park lands.
(2) The Parks and Recreation Commission recommends approval of the
vacating of the surplus right-of-way.
(3) The utility companies have no objection to the vacating of this
area provided an easement is retained.
(4) The City Engineering Division recommends approval of the vacating
of this area subject to the retention of a full width easement.
FURTHER RESOLVED that, ntoice of the above Public Hearing was published
in the official newspaper, the Livonia Observer/Eccentric, under date
of March 17, 1975 and notice of such hearing was sent to the Detroit
Edison Company, Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Chesapeake & Ohio
Railway Company, Consumers Power Company, City Departments and petitioner
as listed in the Proof of Service.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
Mrs. Wisler: Is there any problem with the utility poles or sewer being located in the
portion of the property that would be returned to the petitioner?
Mr. Andrew: We are retaining a full width easement.
Mr. Falk, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda is Petition 73-8-6-12
(rehearing) by the City Planning Commission pursuant to Council Reso-
lution #634-73 to amend Sections 18.50, 18.50A, 18.508, 18.50C, 18.50D,
18.50E and 18.50F of Article XVIII of Ordinance #543, the Zoning Ordinance
of the City of Livonia, so as to adopt new controls for the regulation
of signs.
There was no one present wishing to be heard regarding this iteM and Mr. Andrew, Chairman,
declared the public hearong on Petition 73-8-6-12 closed.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Kluver, seconded by Mr. Hand and unanimously adopted,
it was
5773
#4-65-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a public rehearing having been held on April 8,
(0 1975 on Petition 73-8-6-12 as submitted by the City Planning Commission
pursuant to Council Resolution #634-73 to amend Sections 18.50, 18.50A,
18.50B, 18.50C, 18.50D, 18.50E and 18.50F of Article XVIII of Ordinance
#543, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Livonia so as to adopt new
controls for the regulation of signs, the City Planning Commission does
hereby recommend to the City Council that Petition 73-8-6-12 be approved
for the following reason:
(1) This amendment is an essential tool that will enable the City of
Livonia to exercise maximum control over the size, placement and
nature of signs.
FURTHER RESOLVED that, notice of the above Public Hearing was published
in the official newspaper, the Livonia Observer/Eccentric, under date of
March 17, 1975 and notice of such hearing was sent to the Detroit Edison
Company, Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, Michigan Bell Telephone
Company, Consumers Power Company and City Departments as listed in the
Proof of Service.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
Mr. Falk, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda is Petition 75-2-6-1
by the City Planning Commission pursuant to Council Resolution #915-73
to amend Section 18.45 of Ordinance #543, the Zoning Ordinance of the
City of Livonia, so as to adopt new controls for the regulation of
protective walls.
There was no one present wishing to be heard regarding this item and Mr. Andrew, Chairman,
declared the public hearing on Petition 75-2-6-1 closed.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Hand, seconded by Mrs. Friedrichs and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-66-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a public hearing having been held on April 8,
1975 on Petition 75-2-6-1 as submitted by the City Planning Commission
pursuant to Council Resolution #915-73 to amend Section 18.45 of
Ordinance #543, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Livonia, so as
to adopt new controls for the regulation of protective walls, the City
Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council that
Petition 75-2-6-1 be approved for the following reason:
(1) This is an essential tool to provide added flexibility in the
use of materials for the protection of residential property
from incompatible uses.
FURTHER RESOLVED that, notice of the above Public Hearing was published
in the official newspaper, the Livonia Observer/Eccentric, under date .of
March 17, 1975 and notice of such hearing was sent to the Detroit Edison
Company, Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, Michigan Bell Telephone
Company, Consumers Power Company and City Departments as listed in the
Proof of Service.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted.
5774
Mr. Falk, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda is Petition 75-2-1-5
by the City Planning Commission on its own motion to rezone property
located on the south side of Plymouth Road, east of Eckles in the
Southwest 1/4 of Section 30, from RUF to P.
(10
On a motion duly made by. Mr. Hand and seconded by Mr. Talbot, it was
#4-67-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to a public hearing having been held on March 11 ,
1975 on Petition 75-2-1-5 as submitted by the City Planning Commission
on its own motion to rezone property located on the south side of Plymouth
Road, east of Eckles in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 30, from RUF to P, the
City Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council that
Petition 75-2-1-5 be approved for the following reasons:
(1) The proposed change of zoning is needed in that the RUF Zoning
District is unuseable due to the fact that the strip is used
principally for public utility purposes.
(2) The existing RUF Zoning Distric is incompatible for residential
purposes due to the fact that the adjacent zoning and land use is
of a commercial nature.
(3) The proposed change of zoning to the offstreet parking classifica-
tion will provide for the more appropriate development of this land
with respect to the established uses of the area as well as the fact
that the land cannot be built upon due to the underground utilities
contained within the subject area.
A roll call vote on the foregoing resoltion resulted in the following:
I
•
AYES: Friedrichs , Pinto, Talbot, Wisler, Hand, Falk, Andrew
NAYS: Kluver
ABSENT: Scruggs
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution 'adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Hand, seconded by Mr. Kluver and unanimously adopted, it was
#4-68-75 RESOLVED that, the City Planning Commission, pursuant to Act 285, the Public
Acts of Michigan, 1931 , as amended, does hereby establish and order that a
public hearing be held to determine whether or not to amend the Master Plan
of the City of Livonia so as to adopt the proposed Future Land Use Plan; and
FURTHER RESOLVED that, notice of time and place of said public hearing shall
be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Livonia
and a notice by registered United States mail shall be sent to each public
utility or railroad company owning or operating any public utility or rail-
road within the City of Livonia in accordance with the provisions of Act 285
of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1931 , as amended.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mrs. Wisler, seconded by Mr. Kluver and unanimously adopted, it wa!
to, #4-69-75 RESOLVED that, the City Planning Commission does hereby determine to
rescind its Resolution #9-201-74, adopted by the Planning Commission
at its 282nd Regular Meeting held on September 17, 1974, which reso-
lution established and ordered that a public hearing be held to deter-
5775
mine whether or not to amend the Master Plan of the City of Livonia,
so as to consider adoption of the proposed Land Use Plan-1985.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Kluver, seconded by Mrs. Friedrichs and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-70-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 18.47 of Ordinance #543, the
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Livonia, as amended by Ordinance
#990, the City Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the
City Council that Petition 75-1-8-1 as submitted by Donald J.
Summers requesting approval of all plans required by Section 18.47
in connection with a proposal to construct a medical/office building
on property located on the east side of Farmington Road between
Fargo and Norfolk in Section 3, be approved subject to the following
conditions:
(1) That the Site Plan for Livonia Professional Plaza Section Two,
prepared by D. J. Summers, dated January 20, 1975, which is
hereby approved, shall be adhered to.
(2) That Building Elevations as shown on Sheet #5, Job #72-812,
dated 6/12/72, which are hereby approved, shall be adhered to.
(3) That a detailed landscape plan shall be submitted to the Plan-
ning Commission for approval within thirty (30) days from the
• date of Site Plan approval .
(4) This Site Plan approval is conditioned upon the approval by
the City Council of the rezoning of the property to the Pro-
fessional Service classification; otherwise the approval shall
be deemed null and void.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Talbot, seconded by Mrs. Friedrichs and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-71-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 18.47 of Ordinance #543, the
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Livonia, as amended by Ordinance
#990, the City Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the
City Council that Petition 75-3-8-3 as submitted by Brody-Built
Construction Company requesting approval of all plans required by
Section 18.47 in connection with a proposal to alter the facade on
an existing building located on the south side of Seven Mile Road
between Woodring .and Loveland in. Section. 10, be approved subject
to the following conditions:
(1) That the plan showing the remodeling proposal as prepared by
Brody-Built Construction Company and dated March 19, 1975,
which is hereby approved, shall be adhered to.
5776
(2) That the parking area be hard surfaced within two years of the
j!'
date of this approval .
1110,
(3) That a row of tallhedge 3 '-4' high, 3' on center, be installed
along the west property line between the sidewalk and parking
areas adjacent to Woodring Avenue.
(4) That no parking be permitted in front of the building and the
area be restored to grass with appropriate barriers being
installed for the protection of same.
(5) That the brick on the existing building be cleaned.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Kluver, seconded by Mr. Falk and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-72-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 18.47 of Ordinance #543, the Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Livonia, as amended by Ordinance #990, the
City Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council
that Petition 75-3-8-4 as submitted by Ralph Weber for Color Tile
requesting approval of all plans required by Section 18.47 in connection
with a proposal to construct retail stores on property located on the
east side of Middlebelt Road between St. Martins and Bretton in Section 1 ,
be approved; however, the City Planning Commission further recommends that
the City Council determine the necessity for establishing a special
assessment district for the improvement of St. Martins for the length
of the properties involved on the north and south sides of the street,
250' in depth; and subject to the following conditions:
(1) That Site Plan #74-103K, Sheet 2, as prepared by T & M General
Construction Consultants , Inc. , which is hereby approved , shall
be adhered to.
(2) That the building elevations as shown on Sheet 4 of Job #74-103K,
by T & M General Construction Consultants, Inc. , which are hereby
approved, shall be adhered to.
(3) That a landscape plan showing all landscape material proposed to
be installed on the site shall be submitted to the Planning Com-
mission for approval within thirty (30) days from the date of Site
Plan approval .
(4) That a plan showing the free standing sign proposed to be located
on the site shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for
approval .
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
5777
On a motion duly made by Mr. Falk, seconded by Mrs. Friedrichs and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-73-75 RESOLVED that, the City Planning Commission does hereby approve the
Sign Design Plan submitted by Cornell Sign Company in connection
with a condition of approval of Petition 74-10-8-39 by Fre4 J. Armour
for Mario Fall-one requesting approval of all plans required by Section
18.47 of Ordinance #543, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Livonia,
as amended by Ordinance #990, in connection with a proposal to build
a one-story retail sales building with partial basement on property
located on the east side of Middlebelt Road between St. Martins and
Bretton in Section 1 , subject to the following conditions:
(1) That the Sign Design excluding the brick planter as shown on
the plan submitted by Cornell Sign Company dated April 1 , 1975,
which is hereby approved, shall be adhered to.
(2) That the approved sign shall be located on the site as shown on
the Site Plan submitted by Cornell Sign Company and dated
April 1 , 1975.
(3) That the sign installed on the site shall correspond in height
with the sign erected on the Alan Lori Carpet Company building
located on thedwest side of Middlebelt Road.
(4) That the construction material on the face of the sign shall
be Lexan.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Kluver, seconded by Mr. Hand and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-74-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 18.58 of Ordinance #543, the Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Livonia, as amended by Ordinance #988, the
City Planning Commission does hereby approve Petition 75-4-8-5P by
Albert lafrate requesting approval of all plans required by Section
18.58 submitted in connection with a proposal to construct a speculative
office building on the south side of Plymouth Road between Stark Road
and Farmington Road, subject to the following conditions:
(1) That Site Plan labeled Phase II Development, dated April 1 , 1975,
by Alvin A. Chartrand , Architect, which is hereby approved, shall
be adhered to.
(2) That the building elevations as shown on Phase II Drawing SP-3,
dated April 1 , 1975, by Alvin A. Chartrand, Architect, which are
hereby approved , shall be adhered to with the following added con-
dition: The south elevation shall be architecturally the same as
the proposed north elevation.
(3) That a detailed landscape plan showing the construction of curbed
planting areas, earth berms and the number and sizes of plants pro-
• posed to be used in both development phases shall be submitted to
5778
the Planning Department within thirty days from the date of
this approval .
(4) That any ground , wall or canopy sign design proposed for the
site shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for approval .
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
On a motion duly made by Mr. Pinto, seconded by Mrs. Wisler and unanimously adopted,
it was
#4-75-75 RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 18.58 of Ordinance #543, the Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Livonia, as amended byOrdinance #988, the
City Planning Commission does hereby approve Petition 75-4-8-6P by
Manufacturers Bank of Livonia requesting approval of all plans required
by Section 18.58 submitted in connection with a proposal to renovate
the existing building located on the south side of Plymouth Road
between Hubbell and Denne for a temporary branch bank, subject to the
following conditions:
(1) That Site Plan #75-416, prepared by Rails, Hamill , Becker & Carne,
Inc. , which is hereby approved, shall be adhered to.
(2) That the architectural remodeling as shown on the plan as pre-
pared by Rails, Hamill , Becker & Carne, Inc. , which is hereby
approved, shall be adhered to.
(3) That this approval shall be granted for a period of one year
from the date of this resolution after which time the Planning
Commission may again review the petition.
Mr. Andrew, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution -
adopted.
On a motion duly made, seconded and unaimously adopted, the 293rd Regular Meeting
and Public Hearings held by the City Planning Commission on April 8,
1975, was adjourned at approximately 10:50 p.m.
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
C J ....00.-:....011111
�
Jo eph J. �, - etary
ATTEST:
Daniel R. Andrew, Chairman
ac