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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1,185 - March 22, 2022 signedMINUTES OF THE 1,185th PUBLIC HEARINGS AND REGULAR MEETING HELD BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, the City Planning Commission of the City of Livonia held its III 85th Public Hearing and Regular Meetings in the Livonia City Hall, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, Michigan. Mr. Glen Long, Acting Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Members present: Glen Long David Bongero Carol Smiley Peter Ventura Members absent: Ian Wilshaw Sam Caramagno Betsy McCue Mr. Mark Taormina, Planning Director, and Stephanie Reece, Program Supervisor, were also present. Acting Chairman Long 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 2022-02-02-02 Livonia Budget Storage Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the first item on the agenda, Petition 2022-02-02-02 submitted by Livonia Budget Storage, L.L.C. requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Section 6.58 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance to operate a truck and trailer rental business in conjunction with an existing climate -controlled, indoor self -storage facility at 29150 Seven Mile Road, located on the north side of Seven Mile Road between Middlebelt Road and Parkville Avenue in the Southwest '% of Section 1. March 22, 2022 30435 Mr. Taormina: Thank you. This is a request to operate a truck and trailer rental business as part of an existing self -storage facility. This site is the former Toys-R-Us located on the north side of Seven Mile Road just east of Middle Belt. The parcel is 4.68 acres in size with approximately 324 feet of frontage on the north side of Seven Mile Road and a depth of roughly 600 feet. As you can see on the zoning map, the property is zoned C-2, General Business. The existing storage facility is two stories in height and contains 749 storage units. Livonia Budget Storage received waiver use approval on August 5 of 2020. This petition seeks an additional waiver use under Section 6.58 to operate a U-Haul truck and trailer rental operation. The site contains two separate parking areas. One is located in front of the building along Seven Mile Road. This lot has eight (8) parking spaces including one barrier free space and is accessible 24 hours a day. The other is located on the west side of the building. This is the larger of the two parking areas. It has roughly 28 parking spaces and is gated to restrict access to employees and customers only between the hours of lam and 9pm, seven days a week. The proposal would designate two (2) spaces in the front parking lot and twenty (20) spaces in the restricted parking lot for the purpose of parking rental vehicles. The vehicles would include a mix of cargo vans, panel trucks and trailers ranging in size up to 26 feet in length. Of the 36 total parking spaces, 22 would be used for the storage and display of rental vehicles, and the remaining 14 would be available for customers and employees of both Livonia Budget Storage and U-Haul. If we use the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE) Parking Generation manual in determining the required amount of parking for the storage business, based on an average demand of 1.36 spaces per 100 units, a total of 10 parking spaces are needed for both customers and employees. This would leave 14 spaces available for customers of the U-Haul operation, assuming that the maximum 22 spaces are occupied by rental trucks and trailers. There are no other changes or improvements proposed as part of this petition. With that, Mr. Chairman, I can read out the departmental correspondence. The first item is from the Engineering Division, dated March 2, 2022, 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 waiver use at this time. The proposed project parcel is assigned the address of #29150 Seven Mile Road. The existing building is currently serviced by public water main and sanitary sewer, as well as private storm sewer. Since no changes in building services are planned, there should be no impacts to the existing facilities. It should be noted that the developer may be required to obtain a permit from the Wayne County Department of Public Service should any work occur March 22, 2022 30436 within the Seven Mile Road right-of-way." The letter is signed by David W. Lear, P.E., Assistant City Engineer. The next letter is from the Livonia Fire & Rescue Division, dated February 22, 2022, which reads as follows: "This office has reviewed the site pIan submitted in connection with a request to modify the out lot at a commercial building on property located at the above referenced address. We have no objections to this proposal, "The letter is signed by Greg Thomas, Fire Marshal. The next letter is from the Division of Police, dated February 22, 2022, which reads as follows: I have reviewed the plans in connection with the petition. 1 have no objections to the proposal."The letter is signed by Scott Sczepanski, Sergeant, Traffic Bureau. The next letter is from the Inspection Department, dated March 14, 2022, which reads as follows: " Pursuant to your request, the above referenced Petition has been reviewed. 1. The parking for this use is deficient under the new zoning ordinance. Council may modify the parking requirements based on evidence that another standard would be more reasonable per Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance 9.03 (6). This Department has no further objections to this Petition." The letter is signed by Jerome Hanna, Director of Inspection. The next letter is from the Finance Department, dated March 14, 2022, which reads as follows: "I have reviewed the address 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 Connie Kumpula, Chief Accountant. The next letter is from the Treasurer's Department, dated March 11, 2022, which reads as follows: "in accordance with your request, the Treasurer's Office has reviewed the name and addresses connected with the above noted petition. At this time there are delinquent taxes due, therefore 1 no longer have objections to the proposal. 2021 Real Property Winter Taxes were paid on 31712022 in the amount of $15,592,05 to the Wayne County Treasurer."The letter is signed by Lynda Scheel, Treasurer. Today we received an email correspondence from Sue Clinton, that reads "Hi, my name is Sue Clinton located at 19205 Parkville Street, Livonia, Michigan 48152, Unfortunately, I am unable to make the planning meeting tonight due to a family reasons. I am writing regarding petition 2022-02-02-02 in regards to the new storage facility located at 29150 Seven Mile, wanting to operate a truck and trailer rental business. 1 would prefer they did not do this as I do not want to look out my kitchen window or sit on my deck and have to view trucks sitting there by the wall. I don't believe that wall is tall enough to hide the trucks. During the time that property was vacant, there was always semis parking back there and that was not a pretty sight, let alone having to listen to the trucks running all day and night for them to have their AC or heat on. I have March 22, 2022 30437 attached a copy of the petition and two photos from my backyard. Thank you for your time and I hope this will make it on the agenda tonight. Sue Clinton 19205 Parkdale Street, Livonia, Michigan". That is the extent of correspondence. Mr. Long: Thank you, Mr. Taormina. Are there any questions for staff? Mr. Bongero? Mr. Bongero: One quick question for Mark. So, we do have sufficient parking here? Mr. Taormina: With the adoption of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance, new parking standards were established for storage facilities. The new requirement is one space for each 1,000 square feet of floor space. So, given the fact that the building is 80,000 square feet, that would require approximately 80 parking spaces, which is clearly more than what the site needs. The ordinance also provides possible relief if it is determined that the parking requirement is excessive. It states that an alternative standard can be used including the latest ITE Parking Generation Manual. That's what was referenced this evening and what we believe is the better standard to apply in this case. The evaluation shows that there would be sufficient parking for the storage operation. The unanswered question is how many customer spaces are needed for the U-Haul business? Mr. Bongero: Yeah. Mr. Taormina: The petitioner indicated at the study meeting that they would not start out with all 22 vehicles. It would be something less than this. Later, if the demand is there and U-Haul increases the number of rental vehicles, the question then becomes: how many spaces are needed for customers —people that leave their vehicles on - site while they rent the truck or the trailers, especially for day use? Mr. Bongero: Okay, so as it stands now, we're good for right now. Or. Taormina: Yes, Mr. Bongero: Okay, thank you. Or, Long: You're welcome. And are there any other questions? Okay, hearing none, will the petitioner please come to the podium here? Brandon Grysko, 4170 Six Mile, Northville, MI. I am with Fausone Bohn, LLP. Good evening, commissioners. Mr. Taormina. I'd like to start out by indicating that I'm proud to announce that Livonia Budget March 22, 2022 30438 Storage, who I represent, is here today requesting this petition in order to expand I'm sorry... so I'm proud to announce that the business is expanding. We have with us today, two generations of responsible business owners that are going to be in part operating this business. We've previously, as Mr. Taormina indicated, we've previously been before this commission and the City Council for a waiver use related to the existing indoor self - storage facility, and that sailed through Planning Commission as well as through City Council with no issue. And as far as I know, we haven't had any issues in the operation of that side of the house in the time that we've been operating. The build out itself, just to highlight some benefits that they brought to the community include some aesthetically pleasing architectural features that you don't necessarily see in every development there along Seven Mile Road. So, I think that's something that should be taken into consideration as one of the better indicators of operations and certainly future operations is, what has the past operations been like? And so, to that extent, we do think that they've been good operators and they brought some benefit, certainly aesthetically, to the community and got a vacant property up to date and back on the tax rolls and things like that. The business also recently joined the Livonia Chamber of Commerce and hosted a well -attended, by city officials and local business owners, open house and ribbon cutting. That was a massive success. And I tell you this to highlight that the business is here to be a partner with the community and has been to the planning process. We think we certainly meet the requirements of the zoning ordinance and of the waiver use. We had a spirited and lively discussion at the study meeting. And we actually have. Today, a representative from U-Haul that would be available to answer any follow-up questions that came out of that. And I'm certainly here as well, to the extent that the commissioners have any questions, we'd be happy to address and answer those. And Mr, Bongero, I think you said you weren't here for the study session. So, if there was anything I can answer for you or Jesse, from U-Haul here, please let us know. We'd be happy to take care of that tonight. Mr. Long: Any members of the Commission have questions? Mr. Ventura? Mr. Ventura: Mr. Grysko, just to kind of clarify the parking situation. At the study session, you told us that when somebody comes to rent a truck, they park their personal car in the space where the truck is stored on site. Do I have that correct? Mr. Grysko: That would be the case only if the person were leaving their vehicle. March 22, 2022 30439 Mr. Ventura: Right. Mr. Grysko: And not necessarily indicating that it would be that specific space, but certainly in an open space. Mr. Ventura: Well, it wouldn't be a customer space. What I'm trying to clarify, and what I'm uncertain about is the adequacy of parking for all of the operations at this business. So, we have people coming to the storage center and they're going to drive their car into the storage building. Is that correct? Mr. Grysko: Yes. If they're if they're unloading, yes. Mr. Ventura: Right, okay. If somebody came with them to assist them, they could either ride in their car, or they could come in a car and need a place to put it while they unloaded their truck or trailer in the storage facility. Mr. Grysko: Potentially. Mr. Ventura: Okay. So, there's a possible use of spaces and then people that were coming to rent a space in the storage facility that can't get past the gate because they don't yet have a number, they would be parking in the spaces in front. Mr. Grysko: Presumably, yes. Mr. Ventura: Okay. So with only 14 parking places on the entire site dedicated to folks that might be accompanying people using a storage facility, and potential new customers stopping into either start or stop their business with the storage facility, I'm concerned that when people come to rent trucks, I thought at the study session, you indicated that they would be putting... if they left a car, and I don't know what percentage that is, maybe somebody from U- Haul does, if they left a car, they'd be leaving it in the space where they took the truck from, which seems to make sense. Is that an accurate general description of the parking situation here and the demands? Mr. Grysko: I guess I'll defer to Jesse to answer that question. As he's very familiar with U-Haul operations. I'll only say that the plan is. Obviously, that we're going to have parking for everybody that's going to use the business based on market demands that I think Jesse is going to talk about here and not to have cars parked, you know, willy nilly around the lot, but the idea being that everybody is going to have a space as needed, but Jesse, please. March 22, 2022 30440 Jr. Ventura: I guess one other follow up question, what's the ratio of trucks versus trailers? I'm assuming you're going to have both. Mr. Grysko: Yes, There are plans to have both trucks, and trailers as well you would, please. Jesse Brown, representing U-Haul. To get with...to help you understand the parking situation, we have two different types of customers. We have customers that are doing odds and ends for their home, so they're keeping the equipment for short hours. Parking a vehicle at the location where they're renting from, renting a truck, coming back, and picking up their vehicle. We also have customers that are moving out of town. So, those customers obviously will not be leaving a car at the facility. The ratio is probably around 50%, to be honest with you, with the different types of customers that we do have. We have overcome parking situations exactly how you're describing it. If a truck is being rented that customer will park their vehicle in a designated, you know, rental location. That's worked out quite well. I don't...the question of having 20 U-Haul vehicles at a location at one time is probably to the extreme. I think our goal is they're not sitting, you know, we want them to be on the road, helping families. So, if there's, you know, a maximum amount of equipment sitting at a location then there's probably an issue. Mr. Ventura: Okay, I think that gives us a good overview of how you handle the parking there. Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Long: Thank you. Ms. Smiley? Ms. Smiley: First of all, we need your address for the record, and then secondly, did you want to go over your hours of operation in how...I mean, what if I rented the truck and you closed at six and I come back, can I have access to my car? Can I drop off the truck? I mean what happens? Mr. Brown: Yeah, so us, as it were, as a company, we have pushed to have the customer return during open hours. Ms. Smiley: Okay, Mr, Brown: And that's mainly for a customer service point of view, to be honest with you. That's to make sure that the customer didn't occur any problems with the equipment. If there is a situation where a customer can't utilize that option, and they need to return after hours we call it, there is ... there may be a possibility that a March 22, 2022 30441 truck is parked outside the secured gate area. If you parked your vehicle behind the secured area, then the location would most definitely give you an access code to get it out, from our experience. Ms. Smiley: Your hours of operation are? Mr. Brown: I don't know what they are at that location. Ms. Smiley: You have to come to a microphone. Mr. Long: And also, please provide your name and address for the record. Raquel Monti, General Manager for storage on U-Haul. Our hours will be Monday through Friday 9 to 6, Saturday 9 to 4, and Sunday 9 to 2. Ms. Smiley: So, during those hours, that's the only time they could get in and out of the secured gates? Ms. Monti: We will be providing, if absolutely necessary, a temporary code that we change frequently to customers to retrieve their vehicle so that they're not locked out of the gate if they are going to be returning within... not within our hours. So, they have 24-hours that they can access U-Haul system online, so that when they return the truck, they can check their truck in online and then they can retrieve their vehicle and we'll give them a temporary call that they can use, if it's absolutely necessary, if they can't return before we close. Ms. Smiley: Okay, and can I have your address for the record? Ms. Monti: 13120 Hall Road, Sterling Heights, Michigan 48313. Ms. Smiley: Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Long: Thank you, Ms. Smiley. Any other questions? I'm going to go to Mr. Bongero, he was a little quicker. Mr. Bongero: I just ... am I understanding that you wanted to leave a couple vehicles out in front for advertising? Mr. Brown: For advertising and more for business operations. We do offer a contactless rental system right now. With the climate and the pandemic, we're trying to ease that a bit so customers can do everything through their mobile device. With that, we would rather have vehicles not in the secured area, we would rather have them out front for access to them. March 22, 2022 30442 Mr. Bongero: Okay, does moving them behind the fence impede advertising in your view at all? Or no? Mr. Brown: Um, no. Mr. Bongero: I asked this because that fence is like... it doesn't block anything. Mr. Brown: No, Mr. Bongero: You know what I am saying? Mr. Brown: I mean, as long as the equipment behind the fence is properly staged, we're going to call it, I think the display will be perfectly fine. I think more so the equipment parked up front in those two parking spaces is going to be for the contactless pickup system. Mr. Bongero Gotcha. Yeah, I see...l don't see it...like behind the fence won't hurt advertising at all, because I was there today, and you can see everything. You know what I mean? So, if it was a privacy fence that was solid or something, I could see it, but you can. It won't impede in any way to see those vehicles. Mr. Brown: Right. No, I agree. Mr. Bongero: Okay, thank you, Mr. Long: Thank you, Mr. Bongero. Mr. Ventura? Mr. Ventura: We have a letter that Mr. Taormina referenced from a neighbor talking about trucks sitting in the in the back of the lot idling prior to the establishment of the of the storage structure there. Will there ever be a time when you have truck sitting back against that or anywhere on the lot just sitting there idling for long periods of time? Mr. Grysko: Without having that particular citizen here to address and ask exactly what she's talking about, I'm assuming that she's talking about what we've seen with say ... like the South End Walmart, where in the after-hours time, say at night, semi -trucks will pull in that have too many hours on the road. And so, under the Federal Trucking Regulations, they've got to pull off for a certain amount of time before they can resume their trip. That is something that, obviously, the City of Livonia has taken aggressive enforcement measures against down in the south end and something that may or may not have occurred. You know, when this was a vacant site, obviously, in this situation, the site is going to be restricted March 22, 2022 30443 access and so there's not going to be semi -trucks back in here idling, making any noise, giving off any fumes or anything like that. Additionally, I believe the area that the citizen is referencing is the area that's on the northeast end of the building, which would be the closest to that neighborhood. Where we're talking about parking the trucks, based on the site plan, that's up there. The orange highlighted area is going to be all the way to the west, which is literally as far away from this person's house as we can get. So, I don't necessarily see that being an issue. I hope that the commissioners take that into consideration. Mr. Ventura: I think you've characterized her concern well, in relating it to the Walmart situation at Wonderland, and I thank you for that. I think that's good. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Or. Long: Any other questions for the petitioner? I do have a question for Mr. Brown. So obviously, you know, there's a limited number of parking spaces there and you have a maximum of how many vehicles you can have there, but how does U haul determine how many U hauls to put at this location? Is there some kind of a market study? You know, what kind of demand is there? And what do you start with? You start with like four trucks and then you build it up? How does that work? Or. Brown: It is based off of the location itself, the facility itself. As a company, we have a team in place that enforces the logistics side of things. Obviously, we don't want this place to be loaded with 50 trucks. That's not our goal. So, to answer that, yes, I think the demand in that area justifies a steady flow of, you know, 10 to 15 trucks at all times. They may not be sitting there at all times. That's the goal, right? There may only be, you know, four or five trucks sitting there, but we do have data that supports that the City of Livonia, you know, justifies the rental community and the people that need to utilize these vehicles. Mr. Long: Thank you for that. I have one more follow up question, I guess. On some of your business is one-way rentals? Mr. Brown: Correct. Mr. Long: Is it prearranged, where if I'm moving to Livonia, from Florida and I don't know why I do that, but if I'm doing that, at least not in the winter. In the summer, it's a wonderful place to be, but if I'm doing that, is it prearranged that I'm dropping the U-Haul truck off at this location? Or am I able to just drop it off anywhere? What I'm worried about... what I don't want to see is a run where all of a March 22, 2022 30444 sudden you have more U-Haul trucks than parking spots and we have... Mr. Brown: If that's the case, if the location is at their max capacity, we have tools in place that would allow a customer to select another convenient location instead of the one they're initially picking. So, it's really based off of the customer. If that's where the customers moving and they have a max allotted truck sitting there, we're going to try to divert that customer to a location that is not at max capacity. AT, Long: Thank you. Any further questions? Okay, if there are no further questions, we'll hear questions from the floor. Is there anybody in the audience who is interested in speaking for against this petition? Going once, going twice, okay, no questions from the audience. So, I'm going to close the public hearing and a motion is in order. On a motion by Ventura, seconded by Bongero, and unanimously adopted, it was #03-17-2022 RESOLVED, That pursuantto a Public Hearing having been held by the City Planning Commission on March 22, 2022, on Petition 2022-02-02-02 submitted by Livonia Budget Storage, L.L.C. requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Section 6.58 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance to operate a truck and trailer rental business in conjunction with an existing climate -controlled, indoor self -storage facility at 29150 Seven Mile Road, located on the north side of Seven Mile Road between Middlebelt Road and Parkville Avenue in the Southwest'/4 of Section 1, the Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council that Petition 2022-02-02-02 be approved subject to the following conditions: 1. That the outdoor storage of U-Haul trucks, vans and trailers shall be limited to designated areas within the secured parking lot only, and no U-Haul trucks, vans or trailers shall be stored in front of the building, except for those returned after the hours the security gate is locked. 2. That no U-Haul trucks, vans or trailers shall be parked in front of the building between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., seven (7) days per week. 3. That the total number of rental trucks, vans and trailers available at this location shall not exceed twenty (20). March 22, 2022 30445 4. 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. 5. That there shall be no outdoor storage of auto parts, scrap material, waste petroleum products, junked, unlicensed or inoperable vehicles, or other similar items in connection with this operation. 6. 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; and 7. Pursuant to Section 13.13 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance, this approval is valid for a period of one year only from the date of approval by City Council, and unless an appropriate permit is obtained, this approval shall be null and void at the expiration of said period. FURTHER RESOLVED, That notice of the above hearing was given in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.13 of Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Long: Is there any discussion? Ms. Smiley: I have just one question. Is there any way we could accommodate the no contact picking up of a truck? I guess that would entail having one of the trucks outside between the hours of 10 and 9. 1 like, no contact. I like that, you know. Or. Long: There is a use for it these days, right? I will pose that to the maker of the motion. Ms. Smiley: I don't know how you do it, though. Mr. Long: Mr. Taormina, do you have any ideas? Mr. Taormina: Maybe this is a question for the Livonia Budget Storage operators, because —if I understood correctly —even after hours using the contactless system, they would provide an access code to allow the customer in the back. Ms. Smiley: Okay. Or, Taormina: I'm assuming that using the mobile app, a rental reservation is made and when the person goes to the site to pick the vehicle up, March 22, 2022 30446 the key is already in the vehicle and can be retrieved via a code to the storage compartment on the side of the truck. So, as long as they can get access to the secured parking lot via a code provided by Livonia Budget Storage, then they can still do the contactless operation. That's my understanding. Mr. Long: Miss Monti, could you please approach. So, what the motion on the table is, is an approval, however, without having the trucks out front? So, if you had a contactless pick up, would the people be able to access the gate? Are you able to provide them a code in order to get behind the security gate in order to pick up a truck? Ms. Monti: Yes, we're able to put multiple codes in the system for just for the specific use of U-Haul use. So, there's a program when they go in and retrieve their truck that they can access that code once they go through that process. They'll give them that temporary code, they can go back and get their vehicle. The key will be in a designated location and then they can dispatch the truck. Mr. Long: Great. We want to make sure that you're able to do business and so thank you Miss Monti. Ms. Smiley: I'm fine with that. I'm just not real tech. Mr. Long: So, we have a motion with the support and our question has been resolved. So good. Your petition will move on to City Council with an approving resolution. Thank you and good luck with your business. Mr. Long, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution. ITEM #2 PETITION 2022-02-02-03 Plymouth Auto Sales Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Petition 2022-02-02-03 submitted by Tiseo Architects, Inc. on behalf of Plymouth Auto Sales, requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Sections 6.05 and 6.06 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance to operate a used auto dealership with repair facilities and outdoor display of vehicles at 36534 Plymouth Road, located on the north side of Plymouth Road between Levan Road and Market Street in the Southwest % of Section 29. Mr. Taormina: This is a request to operate a used auto dealership. This site is on the north side of Plymouth Road just west of Levan Road. The property consists of a single parcel that measures 2.6 acres in March 22, 2022 30447 area with 290 feet of frontage on Plymouth Road and has a depth of 397 feet. The zoning is C-2 (General Business). The site contains a 12,095 square foot commercial building that is currently occupied by Dick Scott's Freedom Power Sports. Waiver use approval was granted to Freedom Power Sports back in 2011. The conditions of approval restricted the operation to motorcycle sales and displays only and because Plymouth Auto Sales is seeking to display and sell vehicles other than motorcycles, a new waiver is required. Bordering the site to the west is the Body Rock Fitness Center. To the east is Time Out Bar and Grill. Both are zoned C-2 (General Business). To the north are industrial properties and across Plymouth Road are a variety of commercial uses, also zoned C-2. Per the zoning ordinance there are several special requirements that apply to new and used car lots, as well as automobile and light truck repair facilities. Some of these special requirements include: 1) that no vehicle shall be parked within 20 feet from the front lot line or at the side lot line adjacent to a street; 2) the total number of vehicles proposed to be displayed or stored shall be subject to the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approval by City Council; 3) outdoor storage of disabled damaged or unlicensed vehicles is strictly prohibited; 4) all repair work must be conducted within an enclosed building; and 5) repairs shall not include bumping, painting, spraying, or rustproofing. The submitted floor plan shows how the building would be divided into the various uses. It includes the main showroom, and sales offices, as well as a service area where vehicles would be repaired which is located at the rear of the building. As noted at the study meeting, the repair operations would be open to the general public. The service area would consist of four (4) repair bays that would be accessible via two overhead doors located at the rear of the building. The upper level of the building, which totals about 1,800 square feet, would be used for additional offices, as well as storage, a conference room and a kitchen. Currently, there is parking for approximately 30 cars within a paved lot on the west side of the building. Additional vehicle storage is provided within a gravel lot that is located at the rear, or the north end of the property. Plymouth Auto Sales is proposing to expand the paving on the west side of the property for vehicle display and customer parking. The gravel lot at the rear of the property would be maintained for both employee parking, as well as vehicle storage. The expanded paved lot would contain 105 spaces, 88 of which would be used for vehicle display and the remaining 17 would be used for customers. The gravel lot on the other hand, would provide inventory storage for about 37 vehicles plus 17 spaces that would be dedicated for employee parking including the second -floor office. The gravel lot March 22, 2022 30448 would be enclosed with fencing, including a six-foot high vinyl privacy fence that would run across the front of the storage lot and chain -link fencing along the sides and the rear. Restricted access to the storage lot would be provided via a 22-foot-wide gate located in the southeast corner. Allow me to get everyone familiar with the plan here. Going back to the aerial, this view shows the existing parking area for about 30 cars. The next slide is the proposed site plan showing the expanded parking lot. Everything below this line would be paved with the capacity to accommodate approximately 105 vehicles. The areas on the plan highlighted in beige and blue would be available for customers of both the auto dealership and the repair operation. The gravel storage lot located at the rear of the property would allow for the storage of about 37 cars and another 17 spaces, shown in blue and yellow, would be assigned to employees of both the dealership and the future upper -level office. Required parking is based on both the sales and service operations. The ordinance requires one parking space for each 200 square feet for sales. For the repair, required are two spaces for each service bay plus one for each employee. Additionally, the second -floor office requires one space for each 200 square feet of floor area. In total, 42 spaces are required for the customers and employees of the businesses, including the second -floor office. The site plan assigns 34 spaces for customers and employees, resulting in a shortage of eight (8). On to the landscape plan. New landscaping is shown throughout the site, including along Plymouth Road, the front of the building, the west and north property lines, and within the parking lot. As required, all display vehicles would be set back 20 feet from the Plymouth Road right-of-way. Based on the width of the property, the front yard requires no fewer than six (6) full size trees, three (3) ornamental trees and 48 shrubs. Additionally, an area measuring at least 2,720 square feet is required for landscaping within the parking lot. And lastly, along the sides of the property, 14 trees are required. The plan meets all of these requirements with one exception. No trees are shown along the east side of the property since this area contains an asphalt drive that runs along the entire property line. No outdoor trash enclosure is shown. Instead, all refuse, including tires and auto parts, will be stored inside the building. In terms of site lighting, the site plan shows multiple pole -mounted LED fixtures that measure 20 feet in height. New data was submitted that includes a photometric plan showing the illumination levels. The average is roughly 10 foot candles throughout the display lot. Based on the fact that no residential areas would be affected by the development, the lighting plan seems reasonable and is consistent with other recently approved dealership developments. Underground stormwater detention is shown March 22, 2022 30449 beneath the gravel storage lot. In terms of the building, it currently has an asphalt -shingled mansard roof that would be removed and replaced with a vertical canopy system that would be finished with a composite wood material. Other than that, the only other major improvements would be painting the existing brick and block on the front and the sides of the building. In terms of signage, the dealership would be allowed one wall sign measuring 80 square feet in total area and one monument sign at 30 square feet in area. With that, Mr. Chairman, I can read out the departmental correspondence. Mr. Long: Yes, please. Mr. Taormina: The first item is from the Engineering Division, dated March 2, 2022, 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 waiver use at this time. The proposed project parcel is assigned the address of #36534 Plymouth Road. The existing building is currently serviced by public water main and sanitary sewer, as well as private storm sewer. According to the proposed plans, there should not be impacts to the sanitary sewer or water main. The owner does show proposed storm water detention that will be required to meet the latest version of the Wayne County Storm Water Ordinance, which we will review when Engineering drawings are submitted for permitting. It should be noted that the developer may be required to obtain a permit from the Michigan Department of Transportation should any work occur within the Plymouth Road right-of-way." The letter is signed by David W. Lear, P.E., Assistant City Engineer. The next letter is from the Livonia Fire & Rescue Division, dated February 22, 2022, which reads as follows: "This office has reviewed the site plan submitted in connection with a request to construct a commercial building on property located at the above referenced address. We have no objections to this proposal with the following stipulations: Subject building(s) are to be provided with an automatic sprinkler system, and on -site hydrants shall be located between 50 feet and 100 feet from the Fire Department connection. NFPA 14, 2019 6.4.5.4"The letter is signed by Greg Thomas, Fire Marshal. The next letter is from the Division of Police, dated February 22, 2022, which reads as follows: `9 have reviewed the plans in connection with the petition. I have no objections to the proposal." The letter is signed by Scott Sczepanski, Sergeant, Traffic Bureau. The next letter is from the Inspection Department, dated March 14, 2022, which reads as follows: " Pursuant to your request, the above referenced Petition has been reviewed. 1. The number of parking spaces is deficient due to the number of March 22, 2022 30450 display vehicles shown. Planning and/or Council may wish to address this. 2. The gravel area in the rear of the property shall be a hard surface and striped if used for parking. 3. The proposed 6' chain link fence and the 6' privacy fence would require a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. This Department has no further objections to this Petition." The letter is signed by Jerome Hanna, Director of Inspection. The next letter is from the Finance Department, dated March 8, 2022, 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 Connie Kumpula, Chief Accountant. The next letter is from the Treasurer's Department, dated March 3, 2022, which reads as follows: `in accordance with your request, the Treasurer's Office has reviewed the name and addresses connected with the above noted petition. At this time there are no taxes due, therefore l have no objections to the proposal."The letter is signed by Lynda Scheel, Treasurer. That is the extent of the correspondence. Mr. Long: Are there questions for staff? Mr. Ventura? Mr. Ventura: Mr. Taormina, on the site plan that shows the lots. Are we making a distinction between the lot to the north as we're calling that the storage lot, and the lot to the south as the display lot? Is that accurate? Mr. Taormina: That's accurate. The lot to the north would also be used for employee parking. Mr. Ventura: So, it's being referred to on these plans as storage and display? Mr. Taormina: Yes. The main display lot is paved. The gravel lot would be used foI inventory storage, as well as employee parking. So yes, the storage and display lots are separated. Mr. Ventura: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Long: Thank you, Mr. Ventura. Any other questions? Mark, I have one. I think it was the letter from Inspection...from somebody and they mentioned that the storage lot had to be a hard surface. At the study meeting, we discussed what the petitioner's plans were for that. Would what the petitioner proposed at the study meeting, would that pass that test? Or, Taormina: I believe the suggestion was to use asphalt road millings. It would be up to the Engineering Division which is responsible for March 22, 2022 30451 approving the final hard surfacing requirement. If the request is to use gravel, and Council accepts that, that too would be subject to review by the Engineering Department. Mr. Long: Okay, great. an you. Mr. Bongero? Mr. Bongero: Just a follow up to Glen's point. So, the millings, is that just for the storage area or is there going to be one consistent surface? Mr. Taormina: That would only apply to the storage area. The plans, I believe, are showing asphalt paving for the westerly lot ... for the display lot. The petitioner should verify that and have it on the record that it is going to be hard surface asphalt, but I believe that's the case. Mr. Bongero: Okay. Thank you. Mr. Long: Okay. All right. Any further questions? Hearing none, if the petitioner would please approach. State your name and address for the record. Ben Tiseo, Tiseo Architects, 19815 Farmington Road, Livonia, MI. Thank you, and thank you Mark for pointing out that they did photometrics. That was my bad. I thought when I ordered and got the cut sheets for the light poles, I ordered the photometrics, but I did not and it's probably my consultant's fault for not reading my mind. I blame it on her. The couple of questions about the gravel issue ... yes, we have the vinyl fence separating the front which is all going to be paved asphalt area and the rear will be gravel, like has been granted on other properties in Livonia. I know that there's numerous locations that do have gravel. As a matter fact, we got approved not too long ago on a storage facility off of Merriman Road that had four acres, basically gravel, part of milling and also some kind of gravel or crushed concrete as a base underneath that. So, we would prefer to do it that way. Again, the city has approved that in the past, both the Engineering Department, as well as Planning Commission and City Council. Just as a footnote, if it's approved tonight, we would ask that we get a request fora seven-day waiver, so we get on April 4tt' City Council meeting. That is if it's allowed, if staff has time to do it, all the conditions up above. So, if we could waive that seven-day waiver, we'd appreciate that. I think everything's been answered. I mean, the building is going to be enhanced. We're not changing much of the signage. Matter of fact, the ground sign is going to stay just the way it is. We're just taking the panels out and putting new panels in. The owner wanted to remove the mansard roof because he's felt it was dated and it is, and that's why we provided a new one. And one of the things that we did in the photometric March 22, 2022 30452 after we received it, was we did relocate some of the light poles. We actually added a few in the back to enhance the lighting for that area. So, we're here to answer any questions. Thank you. Mr. Long: Thank you. Are there questions for the petitioner? Ms. Smiley? Ms. Smiley: What are your hours of operation going to be? Mr. Tiseo: I'm sorry, I will let Julian come up. Mr. Long: Name and address for the record place. Julian Shahinllari, 50470 West Fellows Creek court, Plymouth, Michigan 48170. Hours of operation are 9am to 6pm, Monday through Friday and Saturday 10 to 4. Ms. Smiley: Okay, and what kind of security do you have on this particular lot? Mr. Shahinllari: Security? As. Smiley: Yeah, will they be able to have access to that backlot? Mr. Shahinllari: No, that would be locked. As. Smiley: Okay. And there's just like one -line of cars that are for customers. They're in that kind of, light beige color? Mr. Shahinllari: Yes. That's our customer parking. Ms. Smiley: Okay. Has this gone before the PRDA? Mr. Taormina: No. It has not. Ms. Smiley: Do they need to do it? Mr. Taormina: There won't be time. Ms. Smiley: Okax,. Mr. Taormina: There might be something...the prepared resolution asks that they do that following the review of the site plan. As. Smiley: Okay. Are you aware of the Plymouth Road Development Authority? Mr. Shahinllari I am not. March 22, 2022 30453 Ms, Smiley: Okay, Mr. Tiseo: I apologize. Since we're not doing any work in the right -of -away, I didn't think we needed to do that. I wasn't aware that that's a requirement. Did I misunderstand that? Mr. Taormina: It is not a requirement. We take these to the PRDA usually as a courtesy. Oftentimes, they will make recommendations. Unfortunately, we did not have time, in this case, to present this to the PRDA prior to the Planning Commission's review. Ms. Smiley: Okay, that's fine. Thank you. Mr. Long: Thank you, Ms. Smiley. Any other questions? Mr. Bongero? Mr. Bongero: Ben, so on that gravel in the back, it is going to be used for parking, right? Mr. Tiseo: Yes. Mr. Bongero: Okay. So, in Jerome Hanna's, Building officials letter, it said it had to be hard surface and striped. Are you going to stripe it? Do you stripe gravel? If it is gravel? Mr. Tiseo: Yeah, we were able to stripe. Again, the storage facility we did on Merriman Road that was just under four acres was going to be striped. Mr. Bongero: Okay, Mr. Tiseo: You can do that. It's a reoccurring event, like annually. Mr. Bongero: I can't imagine you can stripe it? Mr. Tiseo: Well, you can. But again, you're going to have to do it annually. Mr. Bongero: Okay. Because these spaces are going to have to be defined. Is that correct? I mean maybe we are making something out of nothing. I mean, it's like it's conflicting. Mr. Tiseo: The storage area for the cars that are going to be serviced, in those areas, there's no reason to really stripe that, but yes, the employee areas, yes. Mr. Bongero: Okay. Thank you. Mr. Long: Mr. Ventura? March 22, 2022 30454 Or. Ventura: Ben, at the study session, we talked about the spaces highlighted in blue, blue green behind the fence there and right in the middle are reserved for potential tenants of the second floor of the building. Mr. Tiseo: Yes. Mr. Ventura: I thought I understood that there was going to be a gate adjacent to those spaces that the tenants could walk through to get to the upper right-hand corner of the building where the entrance to the second floor is. Did I misunderstand something because I don't see it on this? Mr. Tiseo: Yes, that was not my understanding. Mr. Ventura: Okay. Mr. Tiseo: We have the gate on the far east side. Mr. Ventura: That's the only gate. Mr. Tiseo: That's the only gate Mr. Ventura: Walk around and then walk down to that corner. Mr. Tiseo: We don't anticipate really second floor tenant there. The space is there. A client didn't purchase it to lease it out. If he happens to get lucky in three years and find a tenant for it, so be it. But it has to be on his terms simply because of the security issue. And the purpose of purchasing the site is for the use car sales, not to lease it as a... Mr. Ventura: Yeah, I think that's a pretty good challenge. Yes. Mr. Tiseo: You're going to have to find someone that wants no public access, that is a hermit, wants to work on the second floor of the staff, and that's it. Mr. Ventura: Thank you. I appreciate that. Or. Long: Thank you, Mr. Ventura. Any further questions? Ms. Smiley, go ahead. Ms. Smiley: Did you want to tell us more about ... you said mostly you're able to get these cars through auctions or you buy them online and you sell them online and how that works. March 22, 2022 30455 Mr. Shahinllari: Oh, we're acquiring vehicles through auctions and local sellers and from other dealers in the area. We also do buy online, but we sell a lot of vehicles online without people coming actually into our facility in person. But also, the past two years of the pandemic, the business has changed quite a bitjust like any other business. We've gone from driving around looking at cars to shopping online. If you're financing, you're applying online. So, we've done all these things prior to someone coming and driving 10 cars and then, well let's see what we can do now. So, what I mean to say is that most of our customers that are coming in, are coming in on appointments. Very rarely do you see someone that's just driving by. So, we're going to have two salespeople on site. So, two salespeople are going to have at most, two or three to four customers at once. So that's what we anticipate, to have at once at the most is four customers at one time, just because we're scheduling customer to come in and just because we're selling vehicles online. Just because the financing everything is done prior. We've done a FaceTime video and showed the customer the car, so they have a perfect idea what they're buying. When they're coming there, they're coming to sign, and they're gone. So, there isn't really a storm of buyers coming in and just kind of roaming the lot and making a decision on the spot if they're buying the vehicle or not. And folks that live in the area and drive by and I'll see a car just driving by, I've seen him a lot of times they'll just pull in, drive around a lot and then just pull out if they don't see something that is interesting. But yes, very rarely do we have three or four customers at once in our lot and that's why we don't want a lot of empty spots just sitting in the middle of our display. That's the reason for that. Ms. Smiley: Okay, it's also my understanding that you wouldn't buy like a crashed vehicle. You're buying vehicles that need very minor... like oil change, tires... Mr. Shahinllari: We don't buy crashed vehicles. As a matter of fact, if any of you had a chance to go to our website, we have Carfax on there and we don't sell vehicles that are crashed. Older vehicles do or have been into accidents, but they've been repaired in the prior in the past, so we are showing buyers the history of the vehicle right there online. So, with that being said, we couldn't really buy a crashed vehicle and then have this bad Carfax. It wouldn't sell. But no, we would not be doing any bodywork or any sort of things like that at our facility. It is strictly light repair and sales. Ms. Smiley: Okay. You're in business now doing this. You had some experience? March 22, 2022 30456 Or. Shahinllari: Yes. So, we we've been doing this for 11 years. Ms. Smiley: Okay Mr. Shahinllari: We've been at the current location for a little over seven years and prior to that smaller location, which is gradually grew up in Plymouth. But yeah, altogether, we've been in business for 11 years. As. Smiley: You're purchasing this property? Mr. Shahinllari: We are purchasing this property. Ms. Smiley: Thank you. Mr. Long: Thank you, Ms. Smiley. Any other questions? If not, is there anybody in the audience wishing to speak for or against this? Since there are no questions from the audience, the Commission will close public hearing and a motion would be in order. On a motion by Ventura, seconded by Bongero, and unanimously adopted, it was #03-18-2022 RESOLVED, That pursuant to a Public Hearing having been held by the City Planning Commission on March 22, 2022, on Petition 2022-02-02-03 submitted by Tiseo Architects, Inc. on behalf of Plymouth Auto Sales, requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Sections 6.05 and 6.06 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance to operate a used auto dealership with repair facilities and outdoor display of vehicles at 36534 Plymouth Road, located on the north side of Plymouth Road between Levan Road and Market Street in the Southwest 'Y4 of Section 29, the Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council that Petition 2022-02-02-03 be approved subject to the following conditions: 1. That the Site Plan identified as ID dated February 12, 2022, prepared by Tiseo Architects, Inc., is hereby approved and shall be adhered to. 2. That the number of vehicles to be displayed outdoors shall be limited to a total of eighty-eight (88) and that no vehicle for sale shall be displayed closer than twenty feet (20') from the front lot line. March 22, 2022 30457 3. All parking spaces, except the required handicapped spaces, shall be doubled striped at ten feet (10') wide by twenty feet (20') in length as required. 4. That except for what may be authorized under the Zoning Ordinance as part of a temporary sales event, any type of exterior advertising related to the sale of the vehicles designed to attract the attention of passing motorists, such as promotional flags or streamers, shall be prohibited. 5. That the display of any vehicles on car lifts is strictly prohibited. 6. That there shall be no outdoor storage of auto parts, equipment, scrap material, waste petroleum products, junked, unlicensed or inoperable vehicles, or other similar items in connection with this operation, 7. That the hours of operation shall be limited to the following: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 8. That the Landscape Plan identified as L1 dated February 17, 2022, as revised, prepared by Elements Studio Inc., is hereby approved and shall be adhered to. 9. That all disturbed lawn areas, including road rights -of -way, shall be sodded in lieu of hydroseeding. 10. That underground sprinklers are to be provided for all landscaped and sodded areas and all planted materials shall be installed to the satisfaction of the Inspection Department and thereafter permanently maintained in a healthy condition. 11. That the Petitioner shall work with staff and the Plymouth Road Development Authority (PRDA) on plans to install additional landscaping and other streetscape improvements (i.e., brick piers and fencing) along Plymouth Road. 12. That the Exterior Elevations Plan identified as P3 dated February 12, 2022, prepared by Tiseo Architects, Inc., is hereby approved and shall be adhered to. 13. That all rooftop mechanical equipment shall be concealed from public view on all sides by screening that shall be of a March 22, 2022 30458 compatible character, material and color to other exterior materials on the building. 14. Unless a trash dumpster is constructed on site, all refuse, including tires and auto parts, shall be stored inside the building until such time they are taken away by an appropriate contractor. 15. That only conforming signage is approved with this peon, and any additional signage shall be separately submitted for review and approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals. 16. That no LED light band or exposed neon shall be permitted on the site including, but not limited to, the building or around the windows. 17. That the storage of vehicles in the rear storage yard area shall be limited to thirty-seven (37) vehicles and parked in an orderly manner. 18. That the storage yard shall be resurfaced with crushed rock, gravel or a material approved by the Engineering Division prior to the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy by the Inspection Department and shall be properly graded and drained to dispose of all surface water and maintained in a dust -proof condition; provided, further, that —pursuant to Section 9.10—the storage yard shall be hard surfaced with a pavement type and thickness as approved by the Engineering Division within two (2) years from the date that the Certificate of Occupancy is issued unless waived by City Council. 19. That any lighting equipment added to the site shall be directed and shielded/hooded so as to minimize glare trespassing on adjacent properties and roadways, and that the height of such equipment shall be limited to twenty feet (20')• 20. That repairs and maintenance work on vehicles conducted on this site shall conform to Section 6.05 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance, and such repairs as bumping, painting, spraying, or rustproofing shall not be permitted. 21. This waiver use is granted to this petitioner only, and any new user of this property is required to seek and receive City Council's consent to such user's operating the subject facility prior to occupancy by such user. March 22, 2022 30459 22. That the specific plans referenced in this approving resolution shall be submitted to the Inspection Department at the time an occupancy permit is applied for; and 23. Pursuant to Section 13.13 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance, 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. FURTHER RESOLVED, That notice of the above hearing was given in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.13 of Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Long: Is there any discussion? Congratulations. It'll go on to City Council with an approving resolution. Mr. Long, Acting Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution. Mr. Long: The petitioner did request a waiver. Is anybody willing propose a seven-day waiver? On a motion by Smiley, seconded by Bongero, and unanimously adopted, it was #03-19-2022 RESOLVED, That the City Planning Commission does hereby determine to waive the provisions of Section X of Article VI of the Planning Commission Rules of Procedure, regarding the effective date of a resolution after the seven-day period from the date of adoption by the Planning Commission, in connection with Petition 2022-02-02-03 submitted by Tiseo Architects, Inc. on behalf of Plymouth Auto Sales, requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Sections 6.05 and 6.06 of the Livonia Vision 21 Zoning Ordinance to operate a used auto dealership with repair facilities and outdoor display of vehicles at 36534 Plymouth Road, located on the north side of Plymouth Road between Levan Road and Market Street in the Southwest'/4 of Section 29. Mr. Long, Acting Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. ITEM #5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1,184t" Public Hearings and Regular Meeting March 22, 2022 30460 Mr. Long: We do have a miscellaneous item, but our minutes will not go forward because of our numbers and our absences and our quorum and stuff like that. So, we're going to punt that one to the next meeting. Is there any further business to come in front of the commission? On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 1,ublic Hearings and Regular Meeting held on March 22, 2022, was adjourned at 8:08 CITY PLANNING COMMISSION — Sam Cal`amagno, Secretary ATTEST: Ian Wilshaw, Chairman