Planning Commission

MANISTEE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION Meeting of Thursday, April 4, 2013 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan AGENDA I Call to Order II Roll Call III Approval of Agenda At this time the Planning Commission can take action to approve the April 4, 2013 Agenda. IV Approval of Minutes At this time Planning Commission can take action to approve the March 7, 2013 meeting Minutes. V Public Hearing PC-2013-02 – Arens Investment Company – Alley Vacation Request A request has been received from Arens Investment Company to vacate that portion of the alley located between lot 1, 2, 3, 4, including the east 18.75 feet of lot 5 and lot 12, 11, 10, 9 including the east 18.75 feet of lot 8, located in Block 9 of Filer and Tyson’s Addition to the City of Manistee. At this time the Chair shall open the hearing. The Applicant shall present any comments and explanation of the case. City Staff shall present the proposed amendment The hearing will be opened for public comments The hearing will be closed VI Public Comment on Agenda Related items VII New Business PC-2013-02 – Arens Investment Company – Alley Vacation Request Page 1 of 2  Earlier in the evening a Public Hearing was held in response to a request from Arens Investment Company for an Alley Vacation Request. At this time the Planning Commission could take action to deny/approve and recommend to City Council to vacate that portion of the alley located between lot 1, 2, 3, 4, including the east 18.75 feet of lot 5 and lot 12, 11, 10, 9 including the east 18.75 feet of lot 8, located in Block 9 of Filer and Tyson’s Addition to the City of Manistee reserving any existing utility easements. The Woda Group, Inc. – Manistee Place PUD (former Chalet West Apartments) A request has been received from the Woda Group, Inc. – Manistee Place to relocate the basketball court, playground and picnic area from the area originally proposed on the site plan. Staff is forwarding the request to the Planning Commission for review. At this time the Planning Commission could take action on the proposed relocation of the basketball court, playground and picnic area at Manistee Place (former Chalet West Apartments). VIII Old Business IX Public Comments and Communications At this time the Chair will ask if there are any public comments. X Correspondence At this time the Chair will ask if any correspondence has been received to be read into the record. XI Staff/Sub-Committee Reports At this time the Chair will ask Staff for their report. At this time the Chair will ask if any of the Sub-Committees have anything to report. XII Members Discussion At this time the Chair will ask members of the Planning Commission if they have any items they want to discuss. XIII Worksession Master Plan Update XIV Adjournment Page 2 of 2  CITY OF MANISTEE PLANNING COMMISSION 70 Maple Street Manistee, MI 49660 MEETING MINUTES March 7, 2013 A meeting of the Manistee City Planning Commission was held on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 7 pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan. Meeting was called to order at 7:01 pm by Chair Yoder Roll Call: Members Present: Maureen Barry, Bill Dean, Ray Fortier, Marlene McBride, Mark Wittlief, Roger Yoder Members Absent: David Crockett (excused) Others: Jon R. Rose (Community Development Director), Denise Blakeslee (Planning & Zoning) and others APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Ray Fortier, seconded by Mark Wittlief that the agenda be approved as prepared. With a Roll Call vote this motion passed 5 to 0. Yes: Dean, Fortier, McBride, Wittlief, Yoder No: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Ray Fortier, seconded by Marlene McBride that the minutes of the February 7, 2013 Planning Commission Meeting be approved as prepared. With a Roll Call vote this motion passed 5 to 0. Yes: Dean, Fortier, McBride, Wittlief, Yoder No: None PUBLC HEARING None City of Manistee Planning Commission Meeting Minutes and Worksession Notes of March 7, 2013 Page 1 PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS None NEW BUSINESS None OLD BUSINESS None PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS None CORRESPONDENCE None STAFF/SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS Denise Blakeslee, Planning & Zoning – a workshop is being scheduled for either April or May that can be used for Citizen Planner Certification Credits. The Planning Commission will hold a Worksession on March 21, 2013 The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2013 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Mark Wittlief, seconded by Bill Dean that the meeting be adjourned. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Meeting adjourned at 7:04 pm Worksession - Notes At the January 19, 2013 Worksession the Planning Commission directed staff to schedule a Worksession to take place after every regularly scheduled meeting to continue working on various items that will be used for updating the Master Plan. Worksessions are scheduled to allow the Planning Commission the opportunity to discuss in a less formal manner than a regular meeting. No motions can be made during a Worksession. Commissioner Barry entered the meeting 7:06 pm City of Manistee Planning Commission Meeting Minutes and Worksession Notes of March 7, 2013 Page 2 Questionnaire Results - Commissioners were sent a copy of the list of answers to the question “If you were to drive through Manistee or fly over in a hot air balloon in ten years what would you see?” They ranked the top five follows: Ranked/Score Top Responses #1 / 16 Fully occupied downtown #2 / 13 More jobs/commercial & Industrial facilities #3 / 9 Removal & Reroute of train tracks to spur commercial development #4 / 8 (tied) Vastly developed downtown and new streetscape, parks and fountains #4 / 8 (tied) Enlarged Hospital with more than 28 beds and specialists and more medical treatments not have to go out of town. Complete list 8 Enlarged Hospital with more than 28 beds and specialists and more medical treatments not have to go out of town. 6 A local hospital providing a fully trained staff expert in current procedures and the use of contemporary instrumentation in the Trauma Center. Local transportation and trained and equipped staff to transport required patients to a higher level facility (Munson/Spectrum). 5 A fully functional and integrated community and services involving the City of Manistee, local and adjacent communities and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. 1 Possible by-pass wooded area (Driving) 8 Vastly developed downtown and new streetscape, parks and fountains 16 Fully occupied downtown 13 More jobs/commercial & Industrial facilities 0 High tech industry/filling our industrial parks 1 One large body of blue water connected by a river to smaller body, fed by two rivers very picturesque, Clean white (sandy) beaches (Flying) 5 An expanded West Shore Community College offering vocational courses, required to meet all needs of the Manistee Area. These programs will result in two year vocational degrees. Also four year programs in key educational (teaching) and technical medial areas (radiology) and other required programs. This will allow many local students to remain at home cutting costs for the student as well as the entire educational process. 0 Change Industrial area on Washington Street to park and condo/housing. 2 Relocate trains off highway and add passenger travel by train. 3 Continued integration of City services (eg like the police, fire, EMS) to cut costs by eliminating duplicate overhead, managerial and administrative costs. 0 It is a site to behold the green woods and rivers very special. 3 Start/complete Peninsula Project 2 Lake Michigan fully utilized for recreation. 2 Restaurants, theatre, and nighttime activities. 9 Removal & Reroute of train tracks to spur commercial development 0 No smoke stacks – maybe a little more development on Manistee Lake 0 World class beaches and water recreation facilities 3 Enlarged airport promoting more tourist and Industry by air 1 Large stores more employment and tourists to our town 0 Local business and industry fully adhering to local requirements/ordinances 0 City Annex property to grow city boundaries. 0 City wide Wi-Fi City of Manistee Planning Commission Meeting Minutes and Worksession Notes of March 7, 2013 Page 3  2 A Meijer on the outskirts Goals - The Commission began discussing Goals for the Master Plan. Ideas for Goals included: Downtown/Historic District Hospitals/Schools/Parks/Recreation Technology/Green Infrastructure/Preserving the Environment Commercial/Industry/Jobs/Relocate Rail Road Neighborhood preservation Master Plan - At the March 5, 2013 City Council Meeting Council approved the City of Manistee entering into the Lakes to Land Regional Initiative. This will assist in the will assist with the public involvement and facilitate public input as well as assist in the plan development. Discussed the need to have public input for the plan development, each member of the Commission was asked to list the names and contact information for members of the community they feel should be invited to participate in the public input for the master plan. Worksession Adjourned at 8:07 pm MANISTEE PLANNING COMMISSION ____________________________________ Denise J. Blakeslee, Recording Secretary City of Manistee Planning Commission Meeting Minutes and Worksession Notes of March 7, 2013 Page 4  CITY OF MANISTEE PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSESSION 70 Maple Street, Manistee, MI 49660 March 21, 2013 NOTES A Worksession of the Manistee City Planning Commission was held on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan. Meeting was called to order at 7:03 by Vice Chair Fortier Roll Call: Members Present: Maureen Barry, David Crockett, Bill Dean, Ray Fortier, Marlene McBride, Mark Wittlief Members Absent: Roger Yoder (excused) Others: Denise Blakeslee (Planning & Zoning) and others Master Plan Update – The Commission reviewed and discussed a draft of the Master Plan that has been prepared as a base to develop the plan from; Commissioners were asked to submit a list of names of individuals to invite to the public hearing; staff will work on items discussed. The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2013. ADJOURNMENT The Worksession adjourned at 8:20 pm MANISTEE PLANNING COMMISSION ____________________________________ Denise J. Blakeslee, Recording Secretary City of Manistee Planning Commission Worksession Notes January 19, 2013 Page 1  Planning & Zoning Community Development 231.398.2805 Fax 231.723-1546 MEMORANDUM www.manisteemi.gov TO: Planning Commissioners FROM: Denise Blakeslee, Planning & Zoning DATE: March 26, 2014 RE: Arens Investment Company – Alley Vacation Request Commissioners, we have received a request from Arens Investment Company to vacate a portion of the alley between Pine and Spruce Street. Mr. Aren’s has made an offer to purchase the property which is contingent upon the vacation of that portion of the alley located between lot 1, 2, 3, 4, including the east 18.75 feet of lot 5 and lot 12, 11, 10, 9 including the east 18.75 feet of lot 8, located in Block 9 of Filer and Tyson’s Addition to the City of Manistee as shown on the attached survey. This is the former Hotel Chippewa property that has been vacant since the hotel burned in the early 1990’s. The request has been noticed and a public hearing has been scheduled for the April 4, 2013 meeting. There are a few items that need to be considered when reviewing the request.  What is the intended use for the property? o Without knowing what the intended use of the property will be, how does one justify vacating the alley?  Are there any utilities located in the alley? o When vacating streets or alleys we always reserve any existing utility easements, under Council’s authority as contained in Public Act 288 of 1967, MCL 560.256, and Section 13-3 of the City of Manistee Charter. o If vacated this needs to be a condition of the motion. o Will this condition affect the applicant’s ability to use the property?  How will eliminating the alley affect access for the remaining property owners? o Will the remaining portion of the alley meet the access needs of the adjoining property owners? :djb Two properties adjoin the alley Photo of Alley taken from Spruce Street looking East 3-26-13  Aerial showing that the Hotel was not constructed over the alley  PUBLIC NOTICE The Manistee City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 4, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, MI 49660. The Hearing is being held in response to a request from: NAME: Arens Investment Company 2110 Crescent Beach Road, Manistee, MI 49660 HEARING PURPOSE: Request to vacate that portion of the alley located between lot 1, 2, 3, 4, including the east 18.75 feet of lot 5 and lot 12, 11, 10, 9 including the east 18.75 feet of lot 8, located in Block 9 of Filer and Tyson’s Addition to the City of Manistee. Interested parties are welcome to attend the hearing, or written comments with signature can be submitted to: Jon Rose, Community Development, City of Manistee, P.O. Box 358, Manistee, MI 49660, (231) 398-2805.  Planning & Zoning Community Development 231.398.2805 Fax 231.723-1546 MEMORANDUM www.manisteemi.gov TO: Planning Commissioners FROM: Denise Blakeslee, Planning & Zoning DATE: March 26, 2014 RE: The Woda Group, Inc. – Manistee Place PUD (f.k.a. Chalet West) Commissioners, we have received a request from the Woda Group, Inc. to modify the site plan for their PUD for Manistee Place (former Chalet West Apartments). They are requesting to relocate the basketball court, playground and picnic area. Review of the proposed relocation raised the concern of the area being next to a significant change in topography. The following photo shows the topography change as seen from the adjoining property. Proposed area to relocate basketball court, playground and picnic area These concerns were discussed with the developer, who is contacting their architect to include a fence with their proposal. :djb