Neighborhood Planning Council 1 - Post-Franklin

POST/FRANKLIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL Doris Hale Facility 100 Green Street Thursday, February 1, 2024 @ 7:00 PM James Moreno called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm at the Doris Hale Facility. Attendance: Members Present: Mary Fields, Cindy Fritz, Pamela Geleff, Andre Hoaglin-Jackson, Ryan Hoaglin-Jackson, James Moreno, Kjersten Sullivan, Yvonne Powell, Pat Shellenberger Members Excused:, LaMarr Mingle, Faye Washington City Staff/Commissioners: Tommy Engels, Code - City of Battle Creek, Travis Sullivan, Planning and Zoning, Darcy Schmitt, Planning Supervisor, Patrick O’Donnell, Ward 3 Commissioner, Cpl Emily Leach, BCPD, Helen A Guzzo, Community Development, Nikki Cummings, NPC 1 Ambassador Guests and Visitors: Representative Jim Haadsma, Amy Rose Robinson, CCLBA, Quinton Hay, CCLBA, David Hembree Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: City Planning and Zoning Report on proposed zoning changes. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve the January 4, 2024, minutes was made by Yvonne Powell, seconded by Pamela Geleff. Motion carried. Correspondence and Announcements: ‘Cue the Creek BBQ Festival is this weekend at the Kellogg Arena. See the insert in the water bill for more information. Congratulations and Welcome Mary on being approved by the City Commission to join the NPC Committee and Staff Reports Police: Corporal Leech reported not much new activity this month. Weed shops are still being targeted for break-in. And with the warmer weather, car break-ins are up. Reminder to lock car doors and not leave valuables in sight. Code: Tommy Engels distributed the Code Compliance report. Following up on questions from the previous meeting, 49 Caine is no longer an AirBNB and 14 Fonda was confirmed as a test address. 9 Burdge is still front yard parking. It’s better, but still happening. Planning and Zoning: Travis Sullivan, Planning and Zoning Administrator, presented a plan to rezone a portion of E Michigan Ave, from Caine Street to Stiles Street, from R-3 residential to T-3 neighborhood commercial. This change in zoning would hopefully allow for more investment in the neighborhood for uses such as small markets, coffee shops, beauty parlors, etc. This wouldn’t have any effect on existing buildings, T-3 includes all the same use by right as R-3, it just expands the list of permissible uses. This rezone was prompted by David Hembree’s request to open a private club in the former Liberty Liquor building. Mr. Hembree shared that he has taken a building off the dangerous building list and has purchased another nearby lot, with hopes to use it for parking. He shared there are two other developers interested in purchasing vacant property across the street from proposed private club; intent would be to put small commercial spaces on the ground level and housing above. He also shared the neighborhood improvement work he has been engaged in. A question was raised about the special land uses possible in a T-3, specifically marijuana provisioning and dispensaries. Planning staff confirmed that while those would be permissible uses, as special use uses, they would have to be approved by the city, they are not uses of right. Additionally, all existing marijuana businesses have opened in existing buildings they have renovated, and no such buildings exist in the proposed rezone. There is also a 1500 foot buffer required between marijuana businesses, and all those laws would remain in place. A question was raised about what sort of businesses could come into the area. City staff said it was impossible to know, this just opens the possibility. Some of the properties are owned by MDOT. A concern was raised about T-3 pushing out home ownership, something the neighborhood is already struggling with, having a high number of rentals. A concern was raised about additional traffic. MDOT bought the lots it currently owns to take E Michigan from 2 lanes to 3. That work never happened, and continues as a truck route with little improvement in the road. Will a commercial district increase traffic on an already damaged roadway? It was noted by Ms. Schmitt the city is working to obtain grant funding to engage consultants that will work with neighborhoods/NPCs to gain an understanding of what they’d like to see done with vacant properties in their neighborhoods. Support was voiced toward what Mr. Hembree has done in the neighborhood and what he hopes to do. Concern was raised about a motorcycle club, even a small, private one, in the neighborhood. The proposal has not been fully thought out, there is no plan in place for this, and the neighborhood as a key stakeholder has not been given opportunity for in- depth review and discussion. The rezone plan will be presented at the Planning Council meeting on Wednesday, February 28 at 4pm in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting is open to the public and interested or concerned members of the community are encouraged to attend. Battle Creek Public Schools: None Old Business: None New Business: Calhoun County Area Land Bank: Amy Rose Robinson and Quinton Hay presented on the CCALB plans for a Land Resue Strategy in Post Addition. In Washington Heights, an advisory committee was created to oversee the Land Bank’s work, is there an interest in creating a similar committee in Post Addition. There are currently 107 landbank owned properties in NPC 1. A packet was distributed, and maps displayed listing the properties, their locations, buildability, and other hurdles or possibilities they might face. The Landbank is looking at renovating 56 Lathrop, it is the only property in our NPC that fits the renovation criteria. There was a lot of conversation about the types of properties the landbank holds. Properties that can be sold to abutting properties as sidelots can be sold at $200 up to a certain size, and then a sliding scale for larger properties. Develop-This-Lot properties are sold at market rate. There is currently a hold on sales while the landbank puts it’s plans together and discusses the matter with NPCs. The NPC will discuss at the next meeting whether to form an advisory committee similar to Washington Heights to work with the landbank in this project. Helen Guzzo will present on Community Development and their revamped materials at our March meeting. Member Comments: Reminder of the Planning Commission meeting, Wednesday February 28 at 4 pm. City Commission: Patrick O’Donnell reminded us that early voting is available Feb. 17-25 at the Kool Center. Election Day voting will be available at your precincts on Tuesday, February 27. There is still opportunity to work the election. Talk to the City Clerk if you are interested in learning about training. Mr. O’Donnell explained the three different ways available to vote this year, by absentee ballot, early at the Kool Center, or election day at your precinct. Representative Jim Haadsma shared that he holds coffee hours on the first Saturday of the month. The next coffee hours will be Saturday, February 3 from 9:30 to 11 am at Mr. Don’s in Battle Creek and from 1 to 3 pm at Sterling Books and Brews in Albion. Public Comments: None Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 9 pm Next Scheduled Meeting: Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 7 pm, Doris Hale Facility. Respectfully submitted, Kjersten Sullivan