Planning Commission

CITY OF BATTLE CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION 10 North Division, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Minutes for February 28, 2024 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Commissioner Gray at 4:01 p.m. ATTENDANCE: Roll call was taken. Commission Members Present: Comm. Gray, present Comm. Denison, present Comm. Godfrey III, present Comm. Moton, absent Comm, O’Donnell, present Comm. White, absent Comm. Hughes, present Mayor Behnke, present Comm. Morris, present Staff Present: Melody Carlsen, Administrative Assistant, Marcel Stoetzel, Deputy City Attorney, CJ Sivak- Schwennesen, Planner, Darcy Schmitt, Planning Supervisor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 20, 2023 Capital Improvement Plan Workshop, December 20, 2023 Meeting. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GODFREY TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 20, 2023 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WORKSHOP MINUTES AND THE DECEMBER 20, 2023 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORRIS. ROLL VOTE: Commissioner Gray asked everyone in favor to signify by saying “aye”. ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED, MOTION APPROVED. CORRESPONDENCE: Correspondence from resident, Sheila McDonald in opposition of #R1-24 rezoning along E. Michigan Avenue was submitted to the Chairperson. Read by Melody Carlson. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS/DELIBERATIONS: A) ZONING MAP AMENDMENT #R1-24 Petition from the City of Battle Creek to rezone properties along E. Michigan Avenue, between Caine Street, and Stiles Street currently zoned “R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District” and “R1-B Single-Family Residential District” to “T-3 Neighborhood Commercial District” pursuant to Sections 1281.01 and 1240.13 of the zoning code. Staff Presentation: CJ Sivak-Schwennesen gave the staff report for #R1-24 rezoning with staff’s recommendation for approval. 1  Public Comment: Cynthia Fritz of 451 Main Street spoke and opposed the rezoning. James Moreno of 451 Main Street spoke and opposed the rezoning, would like to see more discussion within the community. Sherry Goodwin, resident residing on Cliff St. spoke and opposed the rezoning. Sarah Hodges of 41 Caine St had questions about property taxes changing if the rezoning was approved. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner O’Donnell would like to move the vote to a later date given community concerns. Mayor Behnke agreed with Commissioner O’Donnell that we need more time and is in favor of slowing down and more participation within the community. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER O’DONNELL TO POSPONE A VOTE FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AND HAVE SOME TYPE OF REPORT WITH RESIDENTIAL IMPUT. COMMISSIONER GODFREY SECONDED THE MOTION. Commissioner Discussion: Commissioner Morris agrees to a workshop and supports the motion at hand. Darcy Schmitt, Planning Supervisor asked for clarification as what information the body is requesting moving forward. Commissioner Godfrey would like to see the City reach out to the NPC to set up a meeting. Commissioner Gray would like to see the meeting held someplace within the neighborhood. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. B) ZONING MAP AMENDMENT #R2-24 Petition from the City of Battle Creek to rezone properties along W. Vanburen Street, W. Michigan Avenue, and W. Jackson Street between Cass Street and Wood Street, from “T-3 Neighborhood Commercial District” and “R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District” to “T-4 Downtown Commercial District”. In addition, rezone properties west along W. Jackson Street between Wood Street and Angell Street from “R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District” to “T-3 Neighborhood Commercial District” and “T-4 Downtown Commercial District”. Finally, continuing west to rezone properties along W. Michigan Avenue and W. Jackson Street between Angell Street and the western boundary of the City from “R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District” to “T-4 Downtown Commercial District” pursuant to Sections 1281.01 and 1240.14 of the zoning code. Staff Presentation: Darcy Schmitt gave the staff report for #R2-24 rezoning along W. VanBuren St. W. Michigan Ave and W. Jackson St. with staff’s recommendation for approval. Public Comment: Codie Burt representative for the property owner of 69 W. Michigan Ave spoke in favor of the rezoning. Commissioner Comments: Mayor Behnke thanked staff and others involved in the redevelopment of these properties. 2 MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MORRIS TO APPROVE ITEM #R2-24. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HUGHES. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. C) ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT #A-24 Request from the City of Battle Creek to consider amendments to various sections of the City of Battle Creek zoning code pursuant to Section 1281.01. Staff Report: Darcy Schmitt gave the staff report highlighting the changes to the Zoning Ordinance. Public Comment: James Moreno of 451 Main St. had a question and comments about Accessory Buildings. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Godfrey suggested the Body vote on each section separately due to the size of the packet. COMMISSIONER GODFREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT CHANGES AS PRESENTED CHAPTER BY CHAPTER. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORRIS. Chapter 1240 COMMISSIONER GODFREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHAPTER 1240 AMENDMENT CHANGES AS WRITTEN. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORRIS. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION APPROVED. Chapter 1241 MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GODFREY TO APPROVE THE CHAPTER 1241 AMENDMENT CHANGES AS PRESENTED. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER O’DONNELL. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. Chapter 1251 MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GODFREY TO APPROVE THE CHAPTER 1251 AMENDMENT CHANGES AS PRESENTED. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER O’DONNELL. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. Chapter 1260 MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GODFREY TO APPROVE THE CHAPTER 1260 AMENDMENT CHANGES AS PRESENTED. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER O’DONNELL. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. 3  Chapter 1281 MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GODFREY TO APPROVE THE CHAPTER 1281 AMENDMENT CHANGES AS PRESENTED. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER O’DONNELL. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Godfrey thanked staff for their work on the packet. Commissioner Gray echoed Commissioner Godfrey’s comment. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: Election of Officers COMMISSIONER MORRIS NOMINATED COMMISSIONER JOHN HUGHES AS COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER O’DONNELL. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. COMMISSIONER GODFREY MADE A MOTION TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER PATRICK O’DONNELL AS COMMISSION VICE CHAIRPERSON. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. COMMISSIONER GODFREY NOMINATED COMMISSIONER LYNN GRAY AS COMMISSION SECRETARY. COMMISSIONER GRAY DID NOT ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. MAYOR BEHNKE NOMINATED COMMISSIONER JOHN HUGHES AS COMMISSION SECRETARY. ROLL VOTE: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION APPROVED. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None. COMMENTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF: Commissioner Morris thanked staff for their time in putting together the meeting packet. Commissioner O’Donnell thanked everyone for voting to postpone item # R1-24. Darcy Schmitt informed the Body of grant information and asked for their input moving forward and upcoming training information. Commissioner Godfrey had questions about the upcoming training. Commissioner Gray stated it was an honor and pleasure to serve as Chair and looks forward to continually serving on the Commission. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Gray adjourned the meeting at 5:23 pm. Submitted by: Melody Carlsen, Administrative Assistant, Planning & Zoning. 4