HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 2018-10-16 MINUTES OF THE 1,131st PUBLIC HEARINGS AND REGULAR MEETING
HELD BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA
On Tuesday, October 16, 2018, the City Planning Commission of the City of
Livonia held its 1,131st Public Hearings and Regular Meeting in the Livonia City
Hall, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, Michigan.
Mr. Ian Wilshaw, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members present: Sam Caramagno Betsy McCue Carol Smiley
Peter Ventura Ian Wilshaw
Members absent: David Bongero, Glen Long
Mr. Mark Taormina, Planning Director, and Ms. Margie Watson, Program
Supervisor, were also present.
Chairman Wilshaw informed the audience that if a petition on tonight's agenda
involves a rezoning request, this Commission makes a recommendation to the City
Council who, in turn, will hold its own public hearing and make the final
determination as to whether a petition is approved or denied. The Planning
Commission holds the only public hearing on a request for preliminary plat and/or
vacating petition. The Commission's recommendation is forwarded to the City
Council for the final determination as to whether a plat is accepted or rejected. If a
petition requesting a waiver of use or site plan approval is denied tonight, the
petitioner has ten days in which to appeal the decision, in writing, to the City
Council. Resolutions adopted by the City Planning Commission become effective
seven (7) days after the date of adoption. The Planning Commission and the
professional staff have reviewed each of these petitions upon their filing. The staff
has furnished the Commission with both approving and denying resolutions, which
the Commission may, or may not, use depending on the outcome of the
proceedings tonight.
ITEM #1 PETITION 2018-09-01-07 LIVONIA HEALTHCARE
Mr. Caramagno, Secretary, announced the first item on the agenda, Petition 2018-
09-01-07 submitted by Livonia Healthcare Real Estate, L.L.C.
pursuant to Section 23.01 of the City of Livonia Zoning Ordinance
#543, as amended, requesting to rezone the property at 8830
Wayne Road, located on the east side of Wayne Road between
Joy Road and Ann Arbor Trail in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 33,
from R-1 (One Family Residential — 60' x 120' lots) to OS (Office
Services).
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Mr. Taormina: This is a request to rezone property that is located on the east
side of Wayne Road between Joy Road and Ann Arbor Trail from
R-1 to OS. This property is roughly 2.25 acres in area. It includes
338 feet of frontage along Wayne Road and has a parcel depth
of roughly 290 feet. This site is currently vacant. The property
adjacent to it to the south is Timothy Lutheran Church. That site
is zoned RUF, Rural Urban Farm. There is another vacant parcel
that is at the southeast corner of Ann Arbor Trail and Wayne
Roads that is zoned C-2, General Business. Immediately to the
east of the subject site are residential homes that are part of the
Arbor Parkview Subdivision and zoned R-1, One Family
Residential. Across Wayne Road are a number of commercial
uses zoned both OS, Offices Services, and C-2, General
Business. The proposed rezoning to the OS zoning classification
would allow for the future development of a nursing and
convalescent center that would be called Mission Point Livonia.
A conceptual plan was submitted with the rezoning application
that shows how the site might be developed should the rezoning
move forward. It shows a one-story skilled nursing facility that
would contain roughly 66 beds and be just under 43,000 square
feet in gross floor area. The petitioner indicated at our Study
Meeting that if the rezoning and the subsequent waiver use
request for the skilled nursing facility is approved, it is their
intention to acquire the licensed beds that are currently in
operation at St. Jude Nursing Center, which is located on the
north side of Ann Arbor Trail just east of Wayne and move those
beds to this new location. The Future Land Use Plan for this area
designates the subject property as Low Density Residential, so
the proposed change of zoning to Office would not be consistent
with the Master Plan of the City. With that, Mr. Chairman, I can
read out the departmental correspondence.
Mr. Wilshaw: Yes, please.
Mr. Taormina: There are several items of correspondence. The first item is from
the Engineering Division, dated September 19, 2018, which
reads as follows: "In accordance with your request, the
Engineering Division has reviewed the above referenced
rezoning petition. We have no objections to the proposed
rezoning at this time. The existing parcel is assigned the address
of#8830 Wayne Road. The legal description provided appears to
be correct and should be used in conjunction with his petition.
The existing parcel is currently serviced by public utilities, but the
information submitted does not show proposed connections or
calculations, so we cannot determine impacts to the existing
systems at this time. Existing utilities are located at the front of
the property along Wayne Road, and at the southeast corner of
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the property in the Dover Avenue right-of-way. Depending on the
connection points of services to the project, the owner will need
to obtain permits from either Wayne County or the City of Livonia.
It should be noted that the developer will also be required to
obtain Wayne County permits for any work within the Wayne
Road right-of-way. We will provide a detailed review once full
Engineering site plans have been submitted for approval." The
letter is signed by David W. Lear, P.E., Assistant City Engineer.
The second letter is from the Treasurer's Department, dated
September 27, 2018, which reads as follows: "In accordance with
your request, the Treasurer's Office has reviewed the address
connected with the above noted petition. At this time, there are
no outstanding amounts receivable for taxes. Therefore, I have
no objections to the proposal." The letter is signed by Lynda
Scheel, Treasurer. The third letter is from the Finance
Department, dated September 25, 2018, which reads as follows:
"I have reviewed the addresses connected with the above noted
petition. As there are no outstanding amounts receivable, general
or water and sewer, I have no objections to the proposal." The
letter is signed by Coline Coleman, Chief Accountant. The next is
an email communication from Donald Kleinknecht, dated October
11, 2018, which reads as follows: "If I resided on Laurel Street, I
would ask: Will the office space be more than one story? Will
the customer parking lot be on the west side of the complex? Will
the parking lot be lighted? Will the medical waste and/or trash
containers be visible to the residents on Laurel Street? Will Dover
Street building extended to Wayne Road? Will the employee
parking be east of the building?" That is the extent of the
correspondence.
Mr. Wilshaw: Thank you, Mr. Taormina. Do we have any questions for our
Planning Staff? Seeing none, the petitioner is here. We will need
your name and address for the record please.
Roger Mali, Livonia Healthcare Real Estate, L.L.C., 721 Elmwood, Troy, Michigan
48083. I'm here on behalf of Livonia Healthcare Real Estate.
Mr. Wilshaw: What would you like to add from what you've already heard from
our Planning Staff?
Mr. Mali: I would just like to add that our intention, as was said here, just to
correct that, is for a 64-bed facility. We may have had that
incorrect on the plan, but it is for 64 beds. What we're intending
to do here is to relocate the licensed beds from the current St.
Jude facility. We believe that this project is going to greatly
improve the living conditions of the residents there. That's the
primary focus for doing this. We are motivated from that
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perspective. This property is going to look and feel very similar to
a recent project that has been developed by this team, including
the builders here and the architect that's here in Holly, Michigan,
in northern Oakland County. I would just add to that. I do
apologize. We did fail to bring pictures of that but I will supply this
Commission with them and anybody from the audience. That
project is in the middle of a residential area. We are going to be
building this as a first class facility with first class materials, single
unit. I'm sorry, private units with private bathrooms, a very
desirable significant improvement for the residents and for the
lifestyle of the residents. To address some of the concerns which
I know will come up. From an impact and a traffic perspective
and, as you'll see on the preliminary site plan, is that all traffic will
be coming in and off of Wayne Road. It is our intention to block
and shield the residential area so that there is no impact. So
there'll be no traffic back there. Obviously, there will be the
setback area and greenspace, but there will be no common area
between the nursing facility and the residential area as we will
have activities towards the front, and that would include trash,
medical waste, everything will be coming in and off of Wayne
Road as opposed to anywhere in the residential area. Also as
part of this, there is no intention and we will not be bringing it
before this committee to extend the road or to try and provide any
access to this particular location from the residential
neighborhood so that all ingress and egress will be from Wayne
Road only and not from any of the residential area. I think that
addressed the notes. We have the builder here and architect here
and we can answer any questions or provide any additional
information.
Mr. Wilshaw: Thank you, Mr. Mali. The one thing I did neglect to point out at
the beginning is that this is the rezoning portion of the process.
We're looking at the rezoning of the land from R-1 to OS. That's
really going to be the focus of most of our conversation tonight.
The conceptual site plan helps us visualize how the property may
be used but for our audience's benefit, that's not the actual site
plan that we're looking to approve tonight. We do try to limit the
conversation to zoning, although realistically we know that it's
important to know how the property is going to get used as we
consider the zoning. With that, are there any questions for our
petitioner?
Mr. Ventura: Mr. Mali, I know you're probably not aware of other petitions
similar to this that have come to the City and what the reaction
has been, but do I understand that this conceptual site plan is
kind of a duplicate of another development you've done in
another community?
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Mr. Mali: I wouldn't say it's a duplicate, but this site plan is very similar to
the design and construction, nearly identical, to what we did in
Holly, Michigan. The actual design and footprint is a lithe bit
different. That particular one has more of a, I would say it's a full
enclosure where this kind of opens up in front. That one is sort of
closed off, but very similar but certainly the builder, the designer,
the architect, the materials are going to be nearly identical to what
we've done already.
Mr. Ventura: Okay. I mentioned another petitioner because we had a petition
come before us for another site in the City almost identical in
configuration to this site, with an initial site plan almost identical
to this. They've been at it now for about two and half months. The
resulting site plan, if it ever works on than site, isn't going to
resemble the one you have here. I can tell you that this site plan
wouldn't fly for a whole host of reasons, the least of which, or
maybe the most of which is that there is no fire circulation on the
site. So you need to put a road around the entire perimeter of this
so that fire vehicles could get there, which would totally change
the configuration of your site plan and, perhaps, the configuration
of your building. To be very honest with you, I'm not much in favor
of changing the zoning on this land to start with, but my comments
are more towards you taking another look at this and saying, if I
have to really change this site dramatically, does it still work for
me, because I can tell you it wouldn't fly anywhere close to the
way it is now. I simply offer that in an advisory way. I know you're
not aware of all the troubles that this other site plan has had in
getting approval, but it's been out there for a long time.
Mr. Mali: Sure. I guess the only thing I would add to that is we would, of
course, review with the architect. Like I said, we have completed
a similar project, of course in a difference municipality and that
will have different requirements. But I think with this development
group and if we got beyond this stage, of course, you could vet
with the Slavik Company and Slavik Building and Development,
but certainly anything we would need to do to comply with fire and
safety, we would of course have to do that.
Ms. Smiley: Through the Chair to Mark. Mr. Taormina, our Future Land Use
Plan would have this at Low Density residential and then to the
south of it Medium Density residential. Is that just confirming,
right?
Mr. Taormina: It's a two-part question. You can see here from the map, the
subject property which is shown here in yellow, that denotes the
Low Density residential classification, as with the parcel to the
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south. The parcel immediately to the north, you'll note has a
Medium Density residential under the current Future Land Use
Plan. Under the proposed Future Land Use Plan, that designation
for the land to the north would remain Medium Density residential.
It is zoned commercial but designated Medium Density
residential.
Ms. Smiley: So then right now, the whole lot is really residential and we want
to keep it residential.
Mr. Taormina: The Future Land Use Plan clearly shows that the subject property
is Low Density residential which would correspond to a density
range of between one to four dwelling units per acre.
Ms. Smiley: Okay. Thank you.
Ms. McCue: Just to clarify, again. I think we talked about this the other night,
but what is the plan for the property, the current St. Jude property
once you take these beds over? What are they going to do with
that building?
Mr. Mali: We've talked off-line with this. The plan as it is right now is once
the beds are relocated, we would demolish that building at its
existing site. The plan, again, without really having flushed it out,
would be to return it to some form of residential development.
Ms. McCue: Thank you.
Mr. Caramagno: On that St. Jude question, do you own the St. Jude property?
Mr. Mali: I do not. I manage the St. Jude property right now. I'm a related
party to the owner of the property, and we've had discussions
based on the study session that we had last week. So we're
discussing it. We heard what yourself and Ms. McCue said. So
we are talking right now about what would the use of that property
be after, and it sounds like the desire would be to return it to
residential. So we're planning on moving in this direction.
Mr. Caramagno: There's nothing solid or locked in if the rezoning were to happen,
but the discussion has begun.
Mr. Mali: Correct. I think at this stage, being approached with it last week,
but contingent on this happening, that is what we're planning to
do with the property based on the discussions we had last week.
But no, I don't have anything firmed up. But that is the direction
that we're going, to return it to a residential-type of use or
development.
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Mr. Caramagno: Okay. When we talked last week, why again was this piece of
property selected and what else have you looked at in the area?
Mr. Mali: The longer history on this is that we originally intended to do the
development at the existing St. Jude facility. It is an impossibility.
We cannot do it there based on the licensure issues with the State
of Michigan and the Certificate of Need. Therefore, we've been
forced to locate another property within a particular radius and
particular area. We have looked at a lot of different sites, a lot of
different areas. Based on the criteria through the Certificate of
Need Department with the State of Michigan, we're looking for a
site that is within a three-mile radius that's first within the planning
area, which is this Livonia area, northwestern Wayne County, and
that is within a three-mile radius, and that's how we came about
this site. We did hire brokers to look at different sites and have
come back with this from both a size, a location, and it's proximity
to St. Jude right now. That's how we selected it.
Mr. Caramagno: How does this size proposal and what you're looking at now, how
does this compare to the size of St. Jude bed-wise.?
Mr. Mail: Same. So 64 beds at St. Jude. There will be 64 beds here at this
facility.
Mr. Caramagno: How do you go about getting a bed license for a facility like this?
If you wanted to expand, if this didn't fly and you found a larger
piece of property, how do you go about getting a license?
Mr. Mali: There are really only two ways that you can get skilled nursing
beds as opposed to assisted living beds or some other type of
senior housing. For this particular use, the use that's at St. Jude
for the skilled nursing beds, you have to have a Certificate of
Need and we can obtain those through two ways. One, to buy
them from an existing facility, or the second way is to be awarded
them from the State of Michigan. So periodically, based on
population and density, the State will issue a Certificate of Need
or like an RFP for bed licenses and people can compete for those
in a particular area. Right now, I do not know that there are
licensed beds available for this particular planning area. So for us
to do this development, we are looking to buy them from the St.
Jude facility.
Mr. Caramagno: Thank you.
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Mr. Wilshaw: Are there any other questions for our petitioner? Seeing none, we
will look to see if there's anyone in the audience wishing to speak
for or against this item.
Donald Plasenia, 34579 Dover, Livonia, Michigan. I live in the neighborhood right
next to where they're planning on putting a facility. Some of the
problems I have is, well, first of all, they brought up is why are you
moving from the facility that you're at now to wanting to putting it
on a very busy intersection like Wayne and Ann Arbor Trail. Right
now, where you're at, is an absolutely beautiful wooded area.
There's a river backed up behind you, a bridge. It's all very
secluded, very quiet. So why would you want to move it over to
where you want to put it? That's one of my questions. At times,
it's very, very busy. You can't even get out of the neighborhood
right now with cars. Putting a commercial property right there is
going to make it even harder to get out and in. Trying to get in
through Wayne Road, it's backed up all the way to . . . I can't
remember the road. Right there where the river goes over. That
would be Joy Road. It's almost impossible for people to get in and
out if there were driveways put in there. There's a lot of wildlife
right there that goes through there all the time. It's going to have
to be eliminated. I just think it'd be impossible. If someone had
said about putting a driveway all the way around, there's not
enough room to do that. It's just going to be impossible for Fire to
get through, ambulances. I just don't think it's a good idea. It's
just going to change everything on that one corner to make it
worse. That's all I got.
Mr. Wilshaw: Very good. We appreciate your comments. Thank you very much.
Is there anyone else in the audience wishing to speak?
Cathy Lewis, 8913 Laurel, Livonia, Michigan. My backyard would back up to the
property, I believe, if I'm looking at the map correctly. I want to
echo what my neighbor said. It is very busy. If you try to get out
as I've tried many times to get out of the cul-de-sac that we're in
. . . in fact, I think I was the fourth house that built in that area.
So I have a long history in that area. It is impossible to make a
left. The line of cars is just long and a lot of times I go right just to
go left. And then also, another thing is that there are a lot of
accidents that happen. It's gotten a little bit better, but at that
intersection, there are accidents that happen there. I can hear
them from my bedroom and I can see the lights from the police
cars that come to assist. I can sometimes hear the crashes. It's
just a very busy intersection, and I worry about a business being
there. When we purchased, we looked to see that it was zoned
residential. Obviously, we would like it to stay residential. I just
want you to know that.
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Mr. Wilshaw: Thank you, Ms. Lewis. I appreciate that. We have one more
person from the audience coming forward.
Deborah Dani, 34647 Dover, Livonia, Michigan. Good evening. My property is the
one that would be along the whole side of where this building
would be, and it is of great concern. I believe mostly what we're
all concerned about is our property value and how our property
would be affected by a facility such as this. Right now, it's calm
and peaceful. We only have deer that travel through there. We
have people that go across the lot to go to the Seven-Eleven and
ride their bikes or walk through. That sort of thing. So we're kind
of concerned about that. You did address one thing, is that this
street, where it is a dead end, that's where I am, that it would not
continue on through. The concern is what would be there. Is that
going to be a barrier wall that's put there? We already have
fences along our properties. So that's a concern. We're
concerned about the garbage. We're concerned about the
possibility that rodents may come in. We just don't have any idea
of what that's going to be like. Then also, the traffic. The traffic is
impossible now. I've been there 18 years and we like it as it is.
Thank you.
Mr. Wilshaw: I appreciate that, Ms. Dani. Just so you know, any time the zoning
would change to a more intense use, other than residential, like
Office or Commercial, the developer would be required to put a
wall in separating their property from the residential development.
That would be part of the process.
Ms. Dani: Okay. Then the existing fences would be eliminated?
Mr. Wilshaw: That would have to be worked out in the site plan process, but
that's likely to be what would happen.
Ms. Dani: Yeah, I have a nice vinyl fence. I had to get permission from Mr.
Serno to put up there.
Mr. Wilshaw: Right. They're expensive to put up. I understand.
Julianne Strong, 8891 Laurel, Livonia, Michigan. I also would be connected to the
property. I also am a geriatric nurse and I know what nursing
homes are like. Traffic, staffing, leaving at all hours of the night,
people coming and going. There's shift changes three times a
day. Our quiet neighborhood. We're already on Wayne Road. It
is busy. We hear sirens already but that will increase it even
more. Everything else everybody else said. The traffic is heavy
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there already. We have a lot of accidents, so I just can't imagine
more traffic in that area. That's all I have to say.
Mr. Wilshaw: Thank you, Ms. Strong. Is there anyone else in the audience?
Seeing no one come forward, I'll close the public hearing. The
petitioner can come forward and if there's any comments that
were made or questions you would like to answer, you're
welcome to.
Mr. Mali: Just to respond to some of the questions. First and foremost, why
we are doing it was a question. It really is to improve the quality
of life of the residents. Where St. Jude is now, we still have, if you
can believe this, and I think the geriatric nurse will appreciate this,
three, four and five bed wards. It is necessary, and we do need
to do this development. And the reason we can't do it there is
strictly a licensing issue. It is just an impossibility and we've spent
years working on this with the State of Michigan and have been
back and forth with them. We've spent a lot of money and we just
cannot do that redevelopment at the existing site because of the
restrictions and the Certificate of Need regulations. As far as the 1
traffic and the density, I would just emphasize, we are not
increasing the density right now. The current location has exactly
64 beds. We will not be putting any additional pressure on the
road. Wayne Road is of course a busy road, but it will be the same
density and we don't have any intention on that. As far as the
other issues, we would of course address those from the barrier
separation. Of course the garbage would all have to have
enclosures. We would be conscious to protect the area and keep
it residential. Again, I neglected to bring pictures, but we have a
development right in the middle of a residential area, which is very
congruent with the area. It's very private, enclosed. Just to
emphasize again, our intention is to have no impact on the
residential neighborhood behind there. The egress would front
Wayne Road and not on the back side of the property.
Mr. Wilshaw: Thank you, sir. Mark, in our packet, we do have one rendering of
potentially what the building would look like. I don't know if you
showed that as part of your presentation.
Mr. Taormina: I do not have that on the slide show.
Mr. Wilshaw: That's fine. We do have it in our packet. It is a one-story
residential looking building.
Mr. Taormina: Correct.
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Mr. Wilshaw: Is there any other questions or comments by the Commission? If
not, a motion would be in order.
On a motion by Ventura, seconded by Smiley, and unanimously adopted, it was
#10-66-2018 RESOLVED, that pursuant to a Public Hearing having been held
by the City Planning Commission on October 16, 2018, on
Petition 2018-09-01-07 submitted by Livonia Healthcare Real
Estate, L.L.C. pursuant to Section 23.01 of the City of Livonia
Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, requesting to rezone the
property at 8830 Wayne Road, located on the east side of Wayne
Road between Joy Road and Ann Arbor Trail in the Southwest 1/4
of Section 33, from R-1 to OS, the Planning Commission does
hereby recommend to the City Council that Petition 2018-09-01-
07 be denied for the following reasons:
1. That OS, Office zoning at this location would be detrimental
to the adjoining residential land uses;
2. That the intended use of the property is not compatible with
the adjoining residential land uses;
3. That the existing residential zoning is more consistent with
the established pattern of development and character of the
area;
4. That the Petitioner has not adequately demonstrated that
other sites in close proximity to the proposed site would not
be better suited for the development of a skilled nursing
center; and
5. That the proposed zoning change is not supported by the
Future Land Use Plan, which shows this site as Low Density
Residential.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that notice of the above hearing was
given in accordance with the provisions of Section 23.05 of
Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended.
Mr. Wilshaw, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution.
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ITEM #2 PETITION 2018-09-02-19 ALDI, INC.
Mr. Caramagno, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Petition 2018-
09-02-19 submitted by ALDI, Inc. requesting waiver use approval
pursuant to Section 11.03(r) of the City of Livonia Zoning
Ordinance #543, as amended, to utilize an SDM liquor license
(sale of packaged beer and wine) in connection with the
operations of an ALDI food market at 29330 Schoolcraft Road,
located on the northeast corner of Schoolcraft and Middlebelt
Roads in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 24.
Mr. Taormina: This is a request for a liquor license in connection with the
operation of a new ALDI food market under construction currently
at the northeast corner of Schoolcraft and Middlebelt Roads.
SDM stands for Specialty Designated Merchants license which
would allow for the sale of packaged beer and wine products at
the store, which is scheduled to open later this year. The license
requires waiver use approval pursuant to Section 11.03(r) of the
Zoning Ordinance. There are a couple special requirements. The
license as proposed cannot be within 500 feet of any existing
SDM licensed establishment. The Wine Palace, which is located
across the street from ALDI, is actually 525 feet away as
measured between the buildings. The Wine Palace operates both
SDM and SDD licenses which allow for the sale of packaged
liquor products but ALDI's does comply with that requirement.
The other special provision in that section of the code deals with
separations from any churches or schools. The minimum
distance there is 400 feet. There are no churches or schools
within 400 feet of the proposed ALDI, so it complies there. Mr.
Chairman, I can read out the departmental correspondence.
Mr. Wilshaw: Yes, please.
Mr. Taormina: There are four items of correspondence. The first item is from the
Division of Police, dated September 25, 2018, which reads as
follows: "We reviewed the plans submitted by ALDI, Inc.
requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Section 11.03(r) of
the City of Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, to utilize
an SDM liquor license (sale of packaged beer and wine) in
connection with the operations of an ALDI food market at 29330
Schoolcraft Road, located on the northeast corner of Schoolcraft
and Middlebelt Roads in the Southwest % of Section 24. After
reviewing the plans with the Chief of Police, we have no
objections to the waiver being granted, contingent that the
petitioner complies with: All State Laws, City Ordinances,
Stipulations and conditions set by the Livonia Police Department,
Liquor Investigation Unit, as approved by the Chief of Police, and
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28787
Stipulations and conditions set by the Traffic Bureau of the
Livonia Police Department.' The letter is signed by Jeffrey
Ronayne, Special Services Bureau. The second letter is from the
Treasurer's Department, dated September 14, 2018, which reads
as follows: "In accordance with your request, the Treasurer's
Office has reviewed the address connected with the above noted
petition. At this time, there are no outstanding amounts receivable
for taxes. Therefore, I have no objections to the proposal." The
letter is signed by Lynda Scheel, Treasurer. The next is an email
communication from Donald Kleinknecht, received on October
11, 2018, which reads as follows: "Will the big store squash the
little store? The Wine Palace located at 13971 Middlebelt has
been recently remodeled. It has good reviews from most
individuals who stop and shop there. The addition of another
SDM so close to the Wine Castle will affect its bottom line. We
as Livonians do not need another business to close its doors
because of unnecessary competition." That is the extent of the
correspondence.
Mr. Wilshaw: Are there any questions of the Planning Director?
Ms. Smiley: Through the Chair to Mr. Taormina. They are not asking to sell
liquor. That's a separate SDD, right? They're just asking for an
SDM for beer and wine.
Mr. Taormina: They are requesting just an SDM, which is just beer and wine
products. I spoke to the owner of the Wine Palace today and he
has no objections to the proposal.
Ms. Smiley: Good. Thank you.
Mr. Wilshaw: Our petitioner is here. We will need your name and address for
the record please.
Mark Kellenberger, ALDI, 2625 N. Stockbridge Road, Webberville, Michigan
48892. Thank you for allowing us to be here. As you're all aware,
we came through with the site plan, unfamiliar with the process
for the liquor license. So we're back today requesting that.
Construction is going well. It looks like the opening date will be
pushed into December from November just based on the weather
that we recently had, but we're looking forward to a strong
opening and having beer and wine as part of that.
Mr. Wilshaw: Do we have any questions for our petitioner? Is there anybody in
the audience that wishes to speak for or against this item?
Seeing no one coming forward, I will close the public hearing and
ask for a motion.
October 16, 2018
28788
On a motion by McCue, seconded by Smiley, and unanimously adopted, it was
#10-67-2018 RESOLVED, that pursuant to a Public Hearing having been held
by the City Planning Commission on October 13, 2018, on
Petition 2018-09-02-19 submitted by ALDI, Inc. requesting waiver
use approval pursuant to Section 11.03(r) of the City of Livonia
Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, to utilize an SDM liquor
license (sale of packaged beer and wine) in connection with the
operations of an ALDI food market at 29330 Schoolcraft Road,
located on the northeast corner of Schoolcraft and Middlebelt
Roads in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 24, which property is zoned
C-2, the Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the
City Council that Petition 2018-09-02-19 be approved for the
following reasons:
1. That the proposed use of an SDM liquor license at this
location complies with all the special and general waiver use
standards and requirements as set forth in Sections 11.03
and 19.06 of the Zoning Ordinance #543; and
2. That the subject site has the capacity to accommodate the
proposed SDM liquor license.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that notice of the above hearing was
given in accordance with the provisions of Section 19.05 of
Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended.
Mr. Wilshaw, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution.
ITEM #3 PETITION 2018-09-08-08 BP GAS STATION
Mr. Caramagno, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Petition 2018-
09-08-08 submitted by Jude's Investments, Inc., requesting
approval of all plans required by Section 18.58 of the City of
Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, in connection with
a proposal to renovate the existing BP gas station, including
demolition of the existing building and construction of a new gas
station, at 33265 Schoolcraft Road, located on the southeast
corner of Schoolcraft and Farmington Roads in the Northwest %
of Section 27.
Mr. Taormina: This is a request to renovate and expand an existing gas station
property at the corner of Schoolcraft and Farmington Roads. This
site is 0.59 acres in size. It has about 210 feet of frontage on
October 16, 2018
28789
Schoolcraft and 125 feet on Farmington Road. The zoning of the
property is C-2, General Business. The existing property contains
a one-story gas station and convenience store that is little bit over
1,000 square feet in size. There are four pump islands with the
capacity to accommodate eight vehicles. There is a single
overhead canopy structure that is about 73 feet in length that
extends over the fuel pumps. Vehicles can enter and exit the site
using two drive approaches off Schoolcraft and then another
drive approach off Farmington Road. A little bit about the history.
It was 2014 when this site received approval to expand the
existing gas station building. The plan at that time was to add
about 1,300 square feet to the building in order to increase the
station's interior retail space and provide space for a future
carryout restaurant. That project never got underway and the site
plan subsequently expired. The current plan would construct a
new two-story structure that would total about 3,500 square feet.
The building would be in the same general location as was shown
in 2014 and is also in the same general location as the existing
building. It's first floor would consist of a retail display area,
including walk-in coolers. There would be restrooms, a utility
room, sales counter as well as an area devoted for carry-out food
service. The second floor consists of two mezzanine areas that
would both be used for storage purposes and an office according
to the applicant's comments at our study meeting last week. The
existing pump and pump island canopy would remain in its
current configuration. The only change there would be a
shortening of the canopy to accommodate the slightly larger
building. The exterior finishes on the building changed from what
we looked at the study meeting. The front looks very similar and
includes a combination of brick, E.I.F.S. or stucco, fiber cement
siding as well as some limestone around the base and metal
siding. The building's main entrance would face north towards
Schoolcraft Road. There would be aluminum canopies that would
overhang the main entrance as well the corner windows and the
building would have a maximum height of 30 feet.What's different
here is mainly along the rear elevation. If you recall the discussion
last week, the petitioner didn't really have a plan for that side of
the building. It was just going to be a painted block. We asked
them to look at continuing the same materials along the back of
the building, which they've done. The revised plans show a
combination of brick and E.I.F.S., both above and below the
upper part of the façade which would include fiber cement siding
to match what's being done on the front and the sides of the
building. There's one slight alteration to this plan that the
petitioner can describe, and that's the material that would be
placed on the front entry tower. On this plan, that shows as a
darker color brown brick. They'd like to change that to a lighter
October 16, 2018
28790
color tan cultured stone material. Another change from the plan
we looked at last week, they were showing a non-conforming
setback along Farmington Road. They've adjusted the location of
the building to conform with the minimum 60-foot setback
requirements. Parking is adequate. This station would require a
total of 8 parking spaces. They are showing 11 spaces including
9 along the site's east property line and then an additional two
just west of the building including a space for handicap parking.
A new trash enclosure would be provided on the east side of the
building with masonry sidewalls of a height of 6 feet. The one
change there is that the swing gates would have to be
constructed out of a solid metal or composite material as opposed
to the wood that they're showing currently. There would be no
changes to site access, the same driveways off of Schoolcraft
and Farmington would be used. The site would retain about 18
percent for landscaping which is slightly more than the minimum
that the City requires, which is 15 percent. One thing we required
and is reflected in the prepared approving resolution is the
submittal of a new landscape plan that would address replacing
all of the tired and dead, dying, diseased landscape materials
that's currently on the site with a brand new plan. That would have
to be presented to the Planning Department before any building
permits are issued for the redevelopment. The revised plans
show the pavement would be repaired and parking areas would
all be restriped as well as new LED light fixtures. These would be
16 feet in height and they would replace what used to be the lights
on this site, which are primarily along the entry points. Those
have all been removed. I believe there's detail that's included in
your plan. We have no information relative to signage, so the
prepared resolution will require adherence to the City's zoning
standards relative to both monument signage as well as wall
signage. Thank you. I can read out the correspondence at this
point, sir.
Mr. Wilshaw: Yes, please.
Mr. Taormina: There are four items of correspondence. The first item is from
the Engineering Division, dated October 3, 2018, which reads as
follows: "In accordance with your request, the Engineering
Division has reviewed the above referenced petition. We have no
objections to the proposed project at this time. The existing parcel
is assigned the address of 33265 Schoolcraft Road. The legal
description provided appears to be correct and should be used in
conjunction with his petition. The existing parcel is currently
serviced by public utilities, but the information submitted does not
show proposed connections or calculations, so we cannot
determine impacts to the existing systems at this time. Existing
October 16, 2018
28791
utilities are located along both Schoolcraft Road and Farmington
Road rights-of-way. The owner will need to comply with the
Wayne County Stormwater Ordinance for any new impervious
areas associated with the project, which will include storm water
detention. Depending on the connection points of services to the
project, the owner will need to obtain permits from either Wayne
County or the City of Livonia. As the proposed plans indicate a
carry-out restaurant is to be constructed along with the other
improvements, the owner will need to bring the new construction
in conformance with the City of Livonia's Fats, Oils and Grease
(FOG) Ordinance. Also, it should be noted that the developer will
also be required to obtain Wayne County permits for any work
within the Farmington Road right-of-way. We will provide a
detailed review once full Engineering site plans have been
submitted for approval." The letter is signed by David Lear, P.E.,
Assistant City Engineer. The second letter is from the Livonia Fire
& Rescue Division, dated October 5, 2018, which reads as
follows: "This office has reviewed the site plan submitted in
connection with a request to renovate the existing gas station,
including demolition of the existing building and construction of a
new gas station on property located at the above referenced
address. We have no objections to this proposal." The letter is
signed by Keith Bo, Fire Marshal. The third letter is from the
Division of Police, dated October 16, 2018, which reads as
follows: "I have reviewed the plans in connection with the petition.
I have no objections to the proposal." The letter is signed by Brian
Leigh, Sergeant, Traffic Bureau. The fourth letter is from the
Treasurer's Department, dated October 1, 2018, which reads as
follows: "In accordance with your request, the Treasurer's Office
has reviewed the address connected with the above noted
petition. At this time, there are no outstanding amounts receivable
for taxes. Therefore, I have no objections to the proposal." The
letter is signed by Lynda Scheel, Treasurer. The fifth letter is from
the Finance Department, dated October 1, 2018, which reads as
follows: "I have reviewed the addresses connected with the
above noted petition. As there are no outstanding amounts
receivable, general or water and sewer, I have no objections to
the proposal." The letter is signed by Coline Coleman, Chief
Accountant. That is the extent of the correspondence.
Mr. Wilshaw: Are there questions for our Planning Department? Again, I just
want to note that the plan we're looking at that the audience may
see on the screen at times is showing north to the bottom of the
screen, so it's essentially upside down. Is the petitioner here this
evening? We will need your name and address for the record
please.
1
October 16, 2018
28792
Johnny Hamade, 33265 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, Michigan 48150.
Ghasan Khalaf, 1636 N. Gulley, Dearborn, Michigan. I'm the design engineer.
Mr. Wilshaw: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Mr. Khalaf: I just want to show you the new design.
Mr. Wilshaw: The change to the entryway?
Mr. Khalaf: That's the new design that affects only the center piece. This is
the cultured stone. That's going to be a beige or grayish color.
Mr. Wilshaw: We got it. Thank you.
Mr. Hamade: I'd like to say something regarding the lights. I did send it
yesterday to Scott Miller, so I don't know if he didn't forward it
over to you regarding the BP image. I do have it in my email if
you want me to forward it to you guys to pull it up for the specs of
the sign for the BP.
Mr. Wilshaw: If it was just sent yesterday, it may not have made it into our
packets, but it will certainly make it into the record for the City
Council. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Mr. Khalaf: No. Just ready for your questions.
Mr. Wilshaw: Okay. Do we have any questions'?
Ms. Smiley: I saw you had samples. I'd like to see them.
Mr. Hamade: These are the HardiePlank fiber cement siding. We ordered the
colors, the samples. They didn't have any in stock so once the
actual grays come in, they are very similar. This is a light gray.
The one we've got is called Midnight Gray or something.
Mr. Khalaf: This is the gray brick, and this is the brownish red brick.
Mr. Wilshaw: Okay. Excellent. Mark, you can point out on the diagram where
those components are.
Mr. Taormina: Yes. I think it's somewhat self-explanatory. The cement fiber
would be the horizontal siding as illustrated here on the upper
part of the building, and then the gray brick and brown brick are
represented on the lower half of the façade. The other material
would be the color of the E.I.F.S. I don't know if you have a
sample for that.
October 16, 2018
28793
Mr. Khalaf: The E.I.F.S. is going to be very close to this color.
Mr. Wilshaw: Similar to the HardiePlank?
Mr. Taormina: Yes, and the metal siding.
Mr. Khalaf: They didn't have a sample of the metal siding so we're getting
one soon. In regard to the center piece, the middle tower, I don't
know if you can see this. This is what they're trying to mimic.
Something like this.
Mr. Wilshaw: You may have to pass that around so we can look at that.
Mr. Taormina: It's a stone material but I don't think the color is representative of
what they want to do.
Mr. Ventura: Would it be the smooth stone on here or the rough stone?
Mr. Khalaf: Smooth with a couple bands of stone. Everything is smooth, but
these bands are going to be rough.
Mr. Ventura: Split face.
Mr. Khalaf: Exactly.
Mr. Wilshaw: Okay. I think that covers the materials. Is there any other
questions?
Mr. Ventura: At the study session, we talked about a mezzanine. You
mentioned a mezzanine on the inside for storage. Are these
actually open mezzanines to the sales floor below or are they
enclosed rooms?
Mr. Khalaf: They are open so there will be a railing.
Mr. Ventura: Okay.
Mr. Khalaf: His office is going to be enclosed and the rest will be open.
Mr. Caramagno: What are the colors on the backside of the building? It looked like
a dark two-tone color. What are those colors on the backside of
the building? What is that?
Mr. Khalaf: On the back of the building, I just want to add something. This is
not going to be a red color. It's going to be gray like the sides. If
you see the side, this color here where the door is. The same
October 16, 2018
28794
thing is going to continue to the back which is the same color as
this. The same thing with the siding, with the dryvit, the stucco
material and with the metal band on top
Mr. Caramagno: Okay. And the banding on it between the two colors, is that going
to be the same as the front as well?
Mr. Khalaf: No. This one is not going to continue to the back.
Mr. Caramagno: So what is that different color between the two?
Mr. Khalaf: This is stucco material and then after that, siding.
Mr. Caramagno: Stucco. So between the two colors on the back that I'm looking
at, what is that color? Is that going to be a BP green stripe? What
is that color going to be?
Mr. Khalaf: Let's start from the bottom. It's brick, stucco, siding, stucco and
then metal band.
Mr. Caramagno: The stucco will be what color? Is it going to be a painted color?
Mr. Khalaf: Yes. It's going to be a painted color.
Mr. Caramagno: Is the painted color going to be BP green?
Mr. Khalaf: No. It's going to continue with the same theme like this.
Mr. Caramagno: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Hamade: The color of building will not represent any of the color of the logo
because if I decide to put a Marathon in the next four or five years,
I don't want to be stuck to one color. So it's going to be neutral.
Mr. Ventura: The brick samples look like thin brick. Are you using full four-inch
brick on the building?
Mr. Khalaf: Exactly. This is just for presentation purposes.
Mr. Ventura: Thank you.
Ms. McCue: Taking away from the outside, you're talking about carryout food.
Are you looking at a franchise? Are you looking at doing your
own?
Mr. Hamade: I haven't made up my mind yet. I currently have a Subway so I
don't know if it's going to be a franchise or we're going to do
October 16, 2018
28795
something on our own. As time goes on and we get like half-way
through, we'll come up with something.
Ms. McCue: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Wilshaw: Are there any questions from the Commissioners? Is there
anybody in the audience that wishes to speak for or against the
granting of this petition? Seeing no one coming forward, a motion
would be in order.
On a motion by Smiley, seconded by McCue, and unanimously adopted, it was
#10-68-2018 RESOLVED, that the City Planning Commission does hereby
recommend to the City Council that Petition 2018-09-08-08
submitted by Jude's Investments, Inc., requesting approval of all
plans required by Section 18.58 of the City of Livonia Zoning
Ordinance #543, as amended, in connection with a proposal to
renovate the existing BP gas station, including demolition of the
existing building and construction of a new gas station, at 33265
Schoolcraft Road, located on the southeast corner of Schoolcraft
and Farmington Roads in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 27, be
approved subject to the following conditions:
1. That the Existing/Demo and Proposed Site Plan marked
Sheet No. A-01, prepared by Ghassan Khalaf, Licensed
Professional Engineer, as received by the Planning
Commission on October 12, 2018 is hereby approved and
shall be adhered to;
2. That the parking lot shall be repaired, resealed and restriped
as necessary to the satisfaction of the Inspection
Department. Parking spaces shall be doubled striped at ten
feet (10') wide by twenty feet (20') in length;
3. That a fully detailed landscape plan shall be submitted for
approval to the Planning Department within sixty (60) days
following approval of this petition by the City Council;
4. That the Elevation Plan marked Sheet No. A-02, prepared
by Ghassan Khalaf, Licensed Professional Engineer, as
received by the Planning Commission on October 12, 2018
is hereby approved and shall be adhered to;
5. That the three walls of the trash dumpster area shall be
constructed out of the same brick used in the construction
of the building or in the event a poured wall is substituted,
the wall's design, texture and color shall match that of the
October 16, 2018
28796
building. The enclosure gates shall be of solid panel steel
construction or durable, long-lasting solid panel fiberglass.
The trash dumpster area shall be maintained and when not
in use closed at all times;
6. That all rooftop mechanical equipment shall be concealed
from public view on all sides by screening that shall be of a
compatible character, material and color to other exterior
materials on the building;
7. That any illumination of the pump island canopy shall be
restricted to the undercarriage, and all light fixtures shall be
recessed and made flush with the established ceiling;
provided, however, that this section shall not apply to those
specified signs which are expressly allowed by the district
regulations of the Zoning Ordinance;
8. That all light fixtures shall not exceed twenty feet (20') in
height and shall be aimed and shielded to minimize stray
light trespassing across property lines and glaring into
adjacent roadway;
9. No outside storage, placement or display of merchandise
shall be permitted at any time on this site; however, the
foregoing prohibition shall not apply to the display, on the
pump islands only, of oil based products as permitted in
Section 11.03(a)(12) of the Zoning Ordinance;
10. That free air shall be provided at all times this station is open
for business. The free air shall be dispensed at the point of
service without having to enter the station or perform any
extra action to obtain the air without charge;
11. That there shall be no vehicle vacuum equipment or outdoor
placement/storage of propane cylinder storage units on the
site;
12. That the sale of ice shall be restricted to the inside of the
building;
13. That only conforming signage is approved with this petition,
and any additional signage shall be separately submitted for
review and approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals;
14. That no part of the pump island canopy fascia, except for
signage, shall be illuminated;
October 16, 2018
28797
15. That no LED lightband or exposed neon shall be permitted
on this site including, but not limited to, the pump island
canopy, building or around the windows;
16. That unless approved by the proper local authority, any type
of exterior advertising, such as promotional flags, streamers
or sponsor vehicles designed to attract the attention of
passing motorists, shall be prohibited;
17. That the specific plans referenced in this approving
resolution shall be submitted to the Inspection Department
at the time the building permits are applied for; and,
18. Pursuant to Section 19.10 of Ordinance #543, the Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Livonia, this approval is valid for a
period of ONE YEAR ONLY from the date of approval by
City Council, and unless a building permit is obtained, this
approval shall be null and void at the expiration of said
period.
Mr. Wilshaw: Is there any discussion?
Mr. Taormina: Regarding condition #3, the submittal of a landscape plan, I know
we had talked about this at the study session and whether or not
it would go back to the Planning Commission and Council, or just
the Planning Department. The language states Planning
Commission and Council review.
Ms. Smiley: We can make it to the Planning Department. It's okay with me.
Mr. Wilshaw: The maker and seconder agree to change that to the Planning
Department review. That's the amended motion. Is there any
other comments on the motion?
Ms. Smiley: No, other than I appreciate what you did with the back of the
building because you see that a lot when you're going northbound
on Farmington.
Mr. Wilshaw, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution.
October 16, 2018
28798
ITEM #4 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1,129TH Public Hearings and
Regular Meeting
Mr. Caramagno, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Approval of the
Minutes of the 1,129th Public Hearings and Regular Meeting held on
September 18, 2018.
On a motion by Smiley, seconded by Caramagno, and unanimously adopted, it was
#10-69-2018 RESOLVED, that the Minutes of 1,129th Public Hearings and Regular
Meeting held by the Planning Commission on September 18, 2018, are
hereby approved.
A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following:
AYES: Smiley, Caramagno, McCue, Wilshaw
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Bongero
ABSTAIN: Ventura
Mr. Wilshaw, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution
adopted.
ITEM #5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1,130TH Public Hearings and
Regular Meeting
Mr. Caramagno, Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Approval of
the Minutes of the 1,130th Public Hearings and Regular Meeting
held on October 2, 2018.
Mr. Caramagno: This one is a little bit more complicated because myself, Ms.
McCue and Mr. Ventura were not there. What is your pleasure?
Mr. Wilshaw: With that, because there's only two voting members present for
this meeting, we will move this item to our next regular agenda if
there is no objection from anybody on the Commission.
On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously ado, ed, the 1,131 st Public
Hearings and Regular Meeting held on October 16, 20 was adjourned at 8:07
p.m.
CITY PL , NING COMMISSION
Sam Ca :magno, Secre ary
ATTEST: 1
Ian Wilshaw, Chairman