City Council

AGENDA Planning Commission Monday, March 4, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. I. Call to Order Persons wishing to speak at public hearings, on agenda items, or extended comments, must fill out a “Speakers II. Roll Call Form” located on the counter. Completed forms must be submitted to Township Staff prior to the meeting. III. Pledge to the Flag IV. Approval of the February 05, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes V. Correspondence VI. Brief Public Comments & Questions (Limited to 3 minutes) VII. New Business A. Discussion – Groesbeck Trailhead – MNRTF Grant Application VIII. Reports A. Staff Report B. Commissioner Comments IX. Extended Public Comments & Questions (Limited to 4 minutes) X. Adjournment  MEETING MINUTES GRAND HAVEN CHARTER TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 5, 2024 I. CALL TO ORDER Wilson called the meeting of the Grand Haven Charter Township Planning Commission to order at 6:00pm. II. ROLL CALL Members present: Frifeldt, Lemkuil, Reenders, Taylor, Wagenmaker, and Wilson Members absent: Cousins, Hesselsweet, and Mesler Also present: Community Development Director Thibault, Associate Planner Chaphalkar, Interim Director of the Department of Public Works Tlachac, and Peter Brink of Prien and Newhoff. Without objection, Wilson instructed Chaphalkar to record the minutes. III. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Without objection, the minutes of the December 4, 2023 meeting were approved. V. CORRESPONDENCE Thibault provided correspondence from Fresh Coast Planning, 119 ½ Washington Ave. Studio B, on behalf of the Robinson Township Planning Commission, indicating the solicitation of comments regarding the Robinson Township Master Plan Draft. VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS – NONE VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Special Land Use – Township Meter Station Wilson opened the public hearing at 6:01p.m. Thibault provided an overview through a memo dated February 1, 2024. Interim Director of the Department of Public Works Tlachac, and Peter Brink of Prien and Newhof.were present to answer any questions, but none were asked. There being no further comments, Wilson closed the public hearing at 6:014p.m. VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. Special Land Use – Township Meter Station The Planning Commission noted the following points of discussion: • Agreed striped parking was not necessary due to the expected use being limited to municipal staff. 1  • Indicated support for proposed reduction in landscaping due to the impact of root systems on the use and to improve circulation. Motion by Reenders, second by Taylor, to conditionally approve the Department of Public Service Site Plan Review Special Land Use application for the construction of a new Government Building consisting of Parcel No 70-03- 33-100-087 based on it meeting the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. This motion is subject to, and incorporates, the following report. Approval is conditioned upon the following: 1. Recommendation for approval from the City of Grand Haven per the Act 425 agreement due to the subject development being located in the Robbins Centre Pointe PUD. 2. (18.07.A.11) Provide final plan approval from Ottawa County Water Resources, prior to any building permit being issued. 3. (4.02.A.6) Generator pad to be screened with evergreen landscape material. 4. (6.09) Proposed wall pack lighting to be full cutoff variant . Which motion passed unanimously. REPORT – SPECIAL LAND USE – GOVERNMENT BUILDING – TOWNSHIP METER STATION 1. The application meets the site plan review standards of Section 18.07.G of the Zoning Ordinance. Specifically, the Planning Commission finds as follows: A. The uses proposed will not adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare. Uses and structures located on the site shall take into account topography, size of the property, the uses on adjoining property and the relationship and size of buildings to the site. The site shall be developed so as not to impede the normal and orderly development or improvement of surrounding property for uses permitted in this Ordinance. B. Safe, convenient, uncontested, and well-defined vehicular and pedestrian circulation shall be provided for ingress/egress points and within the site. Drives, streets and other circulation routes shall be designed to promote safe and efficient traffic operations within the site and at ingress/egress points. C. The arrangement of public or private vehicular and pedestrian connections to existing or planned street in the area shall be planned to provide a safe and efficient circulation system for traffic within the Township. D. Removal or alteration of significant natural features shall be restricted to those areas which are reasonably necessary to develop the site in accordance with the requirements of this Ordinance. The Planning Commission may require that landscaping, buffers, and/or greenbelts be preserved and/or provided to ensure that proposed uses will be adequately buffered from one another and from surrounding public and private property. E. Areas of natural drainage such as swales, wetlands, ponds, or swamps shall be protected and preserved insofar as practical in their natural state to provide areas for natural habitat, preserve drainage patterns and maintain the natural characteristics of the land. F. The site plan shall provide reasonable visual and sound privacy for all dwelling units located therein and adjacent thereto. Fences, walls, barriers, and landscaping shall be used, as appropriate, to accomplish these purposes. G. All buildings and groups of buildings shall be arranged so as to permit necessary emergency vehicle access as required by the Fire/Rescue Department. H. All streets and driveways shall be developed in accordance with the Township Subdivision Control Ordinance, the Ottawa County Road Commission, and/or Michigan Department of Transportation specifications, as appropriate, unless developed as a private road in accordance with the requirements for private roads in this Ordinance or any other Township Ordinance. Except that the Planning Commission may impose more stringent requirements than those for the Road Commission or Department of Transportation with respect to driveway location and spacing. 2  I. Sidewalks or pathways shall be deemed to be required along all public and private roadways unless the applicant provides compelling evidence, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, that they are not necessary for pedestrian access or safety. Sidewalks shall terminate in an appropriate fashion consistent with the needs and safety of pedestrians. No sidewalk shall terminate into landscaping. J. Appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure that removal of surface water will not adversely affect neighboring properties of the public storm drainage system. Provisions shall be made to accommodate storm water, prevent erosion and the formation of dust. The use of detention/retention ponds may be required. Surface water on all paved areas shall be collected at intervals so that it will not obstruct the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or create puddles in paved areas. Catch basins may be required to contain oil filters or traps to prevent contaminants from being discharged to the natural drainage system. K. Exterior lighting shall be arranged so that it is deflected away from adjacent properties and so that it does not interfere with the vision of motorists along adjacent streets. Lighting of buildings or structures shall be minimized to reduce light pollution and preserve the rural character of the Township. L. All loading and unloading areas and outside storage areas, including areas for the storage of trash, which face or are visible from residential districts of public streets, shall be screened by a vertical screen consisting of structural or plant materials no less than six (6) feet in height. M. Entrances and exits shall be provided at appropriate locations so as to maximize the convenience and safety for persons entering or leaving the site. The number of entrances to and exits must comply with this Ordinance and the requirements of the Ottawa County Road Commission and/or the Michigan Department of Transportation. N. Site plans shall conform to all applicable requirements of County, State, Federal, and Township statutes and ordinances. Approval may be conditioned on the applicant receiving necessary county, state, Federal, and Township permits before final site plan approval or an occupancy permit is granted. O. Appropriate fencing may be required by the Planning Commission around the boundaries of the development if deemed necessary to minimize or prevent trespassing or other adverse effects on adjacent lands. P. The general purposes and spirit of this Ordinance and the Master Plan of the Township shall be maintained. This approval is based on the affirmative findings that the standards of Section 12.18 have been fulfilled. 2. This approval is based on the affirmative findings that the standards of Section 12.04 have been fulfilled. 3. The Planning Commission also finds the Project complies with the Overlay Zone findings and statement of purpose found in Section 8.01 of the Zoning Ordinance. A. The Project accommodates a variety of uses permitted by the underlying zoning, but ensures such uses are designed to achieve an attractive built and natural environment. B. The Project provides architectural and site design standards that are more demanding than required elsewhere in the Township in order to promote harmonious development and complement the natural characteristics in the western sections of the Township. C. The Project promotes public safety and efficient flow of vehicular traffic by minimizing conflicts from turning movements resulting from the proliferation of unnecessary curb cuts and driveways. D. The Project ensures safe access by emergency vehicles. E. The Project encourages efficient flow of traffic by minimizing the disruption and conflicts between through traffic and turning movements. F. The Project preserves the capacity along US-31 and other roads in the Overlay Zone by limiting and controlling the number and location of driveways and requires alternate means of access through service drives. G. The Project seeks to reduce the number and severity of crashes by improving traffic operations and safety. H. The Project requires coordinated access among adjacent lands where possible. I. The Project provides landowners with reasonable access, although the number and location of access points may not be the arrangement most desired by the Developer. J. The Project requires demonstration that prior to approval of any land divisions, the resultant parcels are accessible through compliance with the access standards. K. The Project preserves woodlands, view sheds, and other natural features along the corridor. 3  L. The Project ensures that distractions to motorists are minimized by avoiding blight and clutter while providing property owners and businesses with appropriate design flexibility and visibility. M. The Project implements the goals expressed in the US-31/M-45 Corridor Study. N. The Project establishes uniform standards to ensure fair and equal application. O. The Project addresses situations where existing development within the Overlay Zone does not conform to the standards. P. The Project promotes a more coordinated development review process with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Ottawa County Road Commission. 4. 8.09.A.2: The Planning Commission waives the standard were the City of Grand Haven to require and grant a waiver from its equivalent standards. 5. 8.09.D: The Planning Commission grants the modifications to the access and circulation standards as shown given the variation in existing physical conditions along the corridors as part of the site plan review process and in consistency with the departures provided in the Robbins Centre Pointe PUD report 6. 2.08: The Zoning Administrator waives the standard per 2.10 for essential service facilities given the essential service facility lot was minimized to the smallest practical extent possible, meeting the otherwise required setbacks. 7. 8.11.A.3.c.iii: The Zoning Administrator waives the standard per 2.10 for essential service facilities given the security risk for including windows 8. 8.11.A.3.f: The Zoning Administrator waives the standard per 2.10 for essential service facilities given the awning would interfere with placing, moving, or removing equipment from the building using a lift truck, as the awning would block the lift truck boom from getting close enough to the building exterior wall to lift equipment from the floor. To avoid the increased difficulty in maintenance, an awning over the access door was not included. VIII. REPORTS A. Staff Report - NONE B. Commissioner Comments • Wagenmaker explained proposed text amendments related to waiving water and sewer connection requirements for PUDs. • Commissioners discussed infill development. • Taylor summarized the recent training session and encouraged further work with public engagement and outreach. IX. EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMENTS - NONE X. ADJOURNMENT Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 6:41 pm. Respectfully submitted, Cassandra Chaphalkar Acting Recording Secretary 4 Community Development Memo DATE: March 4, 2024 TO: Planning Commission FROM: Rory Thibault – Community Development Director RE: MNRTF Land Development Application Discussion – Groesbeck BACKGROUND Recall in 2020, the Township applied for an MNRTF Acquisition grant to purchase 15.7 acres on Groesbeck Street from Meritt Bethig to add a northern entrance to Hofma Park and Preserve. The Township was selected for funding in 2021. The subject property is comprised of 2 parcels; those 15.7-acres of land have since been incorporated in Hofma Park & Preserve. The 10.3 acre parcel is vacant land and mostly wooded. On the 5.4 acre parcel there was a single family dwelling with several outbuildings. The Township has since demolished those structures as required by the grant. There is evidence that footpaths connecting this land to Hofma have been utilized for many years and the land the acquisition incorporates this informal neighborhood entrance into the full park system pathway network. DEVELOPMENT GRANT NARRATIVE Development of a new trail entrance at the 583 acre Hofma Park and Preserve. Improvements include a neighborhood-friendly trailhead parking lot, accessible low-impact multi-use trails, and native plantings. The development will incorporate environmentally sustainable features and celebrate universal design. The trails will interconnect and expand an existing trail network in the park, as well as the Township's 33 miles of non-motorized pathway.  Engineer’s Cost Estimate Groesbeck Trailhead Site Prep $32,000 Site Amenities $25,000 Earthwork Benches Grubbing & Tree Removal Trash Receptacles Hardscape $117,500 Trailhead Kiosk Sand Trailhead sign Asphalt for parking, drive, paths Interpretive Signs Aggregate Base for parking, drive, paths Parking striping & signage Concrete sidewalk (6-feet) Entry Sign (by TWP) Curb & gutter for drive Intersection Signs (by TWP) Softscape $104,600 Site Utilities $70,300 Chips and Fines path (8-feet) Water Service Native Seeding Stormwater/Basin Native Trees Irrigation Electric Service Lighting Sub-Total $349,400 Grand Total = $435,400 The MNRTF provides up to $400,000 for development applications, and requires a minimum 25% match ($100,000). In order for the project to be competitive, the Township has historically maximized our match percentage. In this case, the anticipated grant request would be $234,220 (49% of the total) with a Township contribution of $243,780 (51% total). This project will not proceed unless the grant application is successful and the project is funded.  TIMELINE Township Staff have been working with the Township’s engineer, Prein & Newhof, for the pre- development concept and cost estimation. Following is the anticipated timeline to meet the April 1st grant application deadline. o Monday, February 19th at 6pm: Pre-application meeting with the Planning Commission o Wednesday, February 21st : Parks & Rec Committee meeting o Monday, March 11: Township Board to approve resolution in support of the application o Prior - April 1st: Application submitted to MNRTF o December: MNRTF funding decision o Winter ‘24/25: Formal site plan review application and development of DD/CD documents  Note: we will not proceed with the park improvements unless grant funding is secured  Site Survey to be conducted after grant decision DISCUSSION Pending a successful application, the project would proceed through the site plan review process – public parks are permitted by right in all Zoning Districts. As such, the application will be brought to the Planning Commission following Staff review of all applicable ordinances and regulations.  Are there any items of concern the Planning Commission has with the amenities currently proposed, landscaping currently shown, or general concept that would substantially impact the cost of the grant and scope of the grant application? Please contact me if this raises questions. Hofma Park & Preserve - Groesbeck St. Entrance - MNRTF Development Plan Grand Haven Charter Township GROESBECK ST. EXISTING 10’ BIKE PATH PARK ENTRANCE SIGN DRIVEWAY W/CONCRETE CURB LED PARKING LOT LIGHTING TYP. NATIVE LANDSCAPE NATIVE DUNE GRASS TYP. PARKING BUFFER TYP. PAVED 8’ BIKE PATH CONNECTOR (3) BIKE RACKS NO MOW NATIVE TURF RESTORATION TYP. PARKING LOT (12 SPACES) BENCH W/COMPANION SEATING LANDSCAPE BUFFER INTERPRETIVE SIGN (24X36) TRAILHEAD KIOSK TRASH & RECYCLING UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE CHIPS & FINES PATH 01/29/2024 SCALE 1” = 20’  Engineering Estimate Owner: Grand Haven Charter Township Project Title: Hofma Park & Preserve - Groesbeck St. Trailhead Improvements - 2024 MNRTF Grant Date & Time: Project #: 29-Jan-24 2230693 Item No. Description Quantity Unit Unit Price Total Amount 1 Earthwork (Site Preparation, Excavating, Filling, Grading, Miscellaneous Removals) 1 LSUM $25,000 $25,000 2 Selective Clearing & Grubbing 2.0 ACRE $3,500 $7,000 3 Class II Sand, CIP (Allowance) 250 CYD $12 $3,000 4 HMA, 5EL (1.5" parking, drive, paths) 110 TON $150 $16,500 5 HMA, 4 EL (1.5"parking, drive, paths) 110 TON $150 $16,500 6 HMA, 5 EMH (1.5" drive taper) 15 TON $225 $3,400 7 HMA, 4 EMH (4" drive taper) 40.0 TON $200 $8,000 8 6" 21 AA Aggregate Base, CIP (parking, drive, paths) 1,500 SYD $15 $22,500 9 7" 21 AA Aggregate Base, CIP (drive taper) 76 SYD $20 $1,600 10 12" Storm 80 FT $60 $4,800 11 4' Dia. Catch Basin 2 EA $5,000 $10,000 12 4" Concrete Sidewalk (6' wide universally accessible) 2,320 SFT $9 $20,900 13 Concrete Curb & Gutter, MDOT F4 482 FT $45 $21,700 14 Concrete Valley Gutter - Type M Opening 75.0 FT $45 $3,400 15 4" Chips and Fines Path, 8' Wide (to woodline) 470 SYD $35 $16,500 16 4" Chips and Fines Path, 8' Wide (woodline to intersection) 1,625 SYD $35 $56,900 17 Irrigation (Backflow, Main, Valves, Zone Piping, and Heads) 1 LSUM $18,000 $18,000 18 Bench (6' surface mounted with recylcled slats and companion seating adjacent) 1 EA $1,500 $1,500 19 Trash & Recyling Receptacles (surface mounted with recycled slats) 2 EA $1,500 $3,000 20 Trail Intersection Signage (by owner) 2 EA $500 $1,000 21 Park Entrance Sign (by owner) 1 EA $2,500 $2,500 22 Trailhead Kiosk 1 EA $12,000 $12,000 23 Interpretive Signage (Surface mounted, educational for native plantings) 1 EA $2,000 $2,000 24 Barrier Free Parking Signage 2 EA $750 $1,500 25 Parking Lot Striping 1 LSUM $1,500 $1,500 26 Electric Service (Allowance) 1 LSUM $5,000 $5,000 27 LED Lighting 1 LSUM $25,000 $25,000 28 1" Water Service Connections 1 LSUM $7,500 $7,500 29 Type A Restoration Seeding (With 4" Imported topsoil) 1,000 SYD $6 $6,000 30 Evergreen Side Buffer Trees 5 Ea $600 $3,000 31 Native Shade Trees (2" Caliper Maple) 7 Ea $600 $4,200 32 Native Landscape Parking Buffer (plugs & seed) 675 SYD $15 $10,200 33 Stormwater Seed Mix (native topsoil) 215 SYD $6 $1,300 34 Dune Grass (plugs 16" triangular spacing) 40 SYD $20 $800 35 No Mow Native Seed Mix (native topsoil) 950 SYD $6 $5,700 Total Construction Costs $349,400 Contingency 10% $34,000 Engineering 15% $52,000 Grand Total $435,400 Township Match 51% $222,054 Grant Request 49% $213,346  Signed: Date: 1320’ 2640’ 2640’ 1320’ 70-07-03-300-015 970’ 70-07-03-400-010 660’ 911.55’ 1150’ 251.55’ 70-07-03-400-011 1670’ 70-07-02-300-003 408.45’ 660’ 1320’ 660’ (TF20-154) 1320’ 15582 Ferris St. 16295 Sleeper St. 15612 Groesbeck St. 13894 168th Ave. 583 Acres 1320’ 3630’ 1320’ 1320’ 70-07-02-300-003 70-07-11-100-002 660’ 70-07-02-300-003 660’ 70-07-02-176-008 280’ 627’ 2640’ 1320’ 400’ 350’ 70-07-02-251-001 660’ 1287’ 2640’