Planning Commission

STERLING HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING CITY HALL August 10, 2017 LOCATION: City Council Chambers, 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights, MI SUBJECT: Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission held August 10, 2017. Mr. Reinowski called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present at roll call: Geoff Gariepy, Paul Jaboro, Edward Kopp, Stefano Militello, Donald Miller, Leonard Reinowski, Parmpreet Sarau Members absent at roll call: Lori Doughty – Excused Gerald Rowe - Excused Also in attendance: Chris McLeod, City Planner Clark Andrews, City Attorney APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Mr. Militello, supported by Mr. Jaboro, to APPROVE the Agenda. Ayes: Militello, Jaboro, Reinowski, Sarau, Gariepy, Kopp, Miller Nays: None Absent: Doughty and Rowe Motion carried. PSP17-0034 Kemp Building and Development Requesting site plan approval for a 43,400-square foot high tech industrial office building - West side of Mound Road, between Metropolitan Parkway and Fox Hill Drive in Section 20. Current Zoning: TRO Technical Research Office Property address: 37641 Mound Road Mr. Reinowski asked Mr. McLeod for an overview. Mr. McLeod displayed site plans and gave an overview stating the applicant is requesting site plan approval for the construction of a light industrial office building. The intended use of the building is a high tech industrial user which should not have the typical industrial impacts. The site will be used primarily for programming and development of robotic devices. Mr. Reinowski asked if the Commissioners had any questions for Mr. McLeod. Mr. Militello asked if they are still vacating the back part of the parking lot as discussed in the ZBA meeting. Mr. McLeod stated yes, they will land bank the back part of the parking lot along the western property line. He explained the applicant doesn’t need the parking spaces so they will have a larger green space. If the need ever arose, they would be able to add parking. Mr. Reinowski asked if the Commissioners had any further questions for Mr. McLeod. Being none, he asked for the petitioner to come forward to the podium. Tom Kemp, 275 West Girard Ave, Madison Heights, representing Kemp & Sherman, came forward to the podium. He explained there will be a substantial amount of trees plus a wall in the back area of the property. Mr. Gariepy asked what kind of tenant will be occupying the building. Planning Commission Regular Meeting of August 10, 2017 Page 2 Mr. Kemp explained the company moving in their building is currently operating in Sterling Heights and they assemble and program robots for the automotive industry. Mr. Reinowski asked for any other questions from the Commissioners. Being none, he asked for public participation. Being none, he asked the Board for any further questions/comments. Mr. Militello stated a letter was received from Roger Ghinelli, 37732 Geraldine, Sterling Heights, stating he is opposed to the plant being built. Mr. Reinowski asked the Board for any further questions/comments. Mr. Gariepy asked Mr. McLeod if the intense lighting issue (stated in back-up material) has been resolved. Mr. McLeod stated it has not. He said the lenses will be repositioned in the photometric plan and he does not feel it will be an issue. He explained if approval is granted, they will still have to go thru engineering and final site plan approval. Mr. Reinowski asked for any further questions or comments. Being none, he called for a motion. Motion by Mr. Miller, supported by Mr. Militello, that the Planning Commission to APPROVE case number PSP17-0034, Mor-Tec -- Kemp Building and Development, for the development of a forty-three thousand four hundred (43,400) square foot high tech industrial office building, for the following conditions: 1. That the development of the industrial building and associated site improvements shall remain consistent with the scale and layout as described in the proposal, at public hearing and reflected on the site plan, and all of the conditions of the Zoning Board of Appeals case, PZBA17-0009; 2. That the petitioner shall develop, maintain and operate the development in compliance with all pertinent codes, ordinances and standards of the City of Sterling Heights, County of Macomb and the State of Michigan. 3. The decision of the Planning Commission shall remain valid and in force only as long as the facts and information presented to the Commission are found to be correct and the conditions upon which this motion is based are forever maintained as presented to the Commission. 4. That the site plan be revised to address the site planning comments in the Office of Planning’s Staff Report. 5. That appropriate engineering plans meeting all other requirements of the City of Sterling Heights shall be provided. This action is based on the following findings: 1. That with the noted conditions, the proposed site plan will comply with all City Ordinances and requirements. 2. That the building and overall site layouts are generally consistent with the lot area, height, and bulk requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. 3. That the proposed development integrates well with the surrounding existing nonresidential development along the west side of Mound Road, and the City’s vision as outlined within the recently adopted Master Land Use Plan. Mr. Reinowski asked if there was any discussion on the motion. Planning Commission Regular Meeting of August 10, 2017 Page 3 Ayes: Miller, Militello, Reinowski, Sarau, Gariepy, Kopp, Jaboro Nays: None Absent: Doughty and Rowe Motion carried. PSP17-0035 - Jaafar Chehab Requesting site plan approval for an approximate 7,020 square foot office building – East side of Dequindre Road, between 14 and 15 Mile Roads in Section 31. Current Zoning: O-2 Planned Office Property Address: 33686 Dequindre Road Mr. Reinowski asked Mr. McLeod for an overview. Mr. McLeod displayed site plans and gave an overview stating the applicant is requesting a site plan approval for an office building. He stated four variances have been approved by the ZBA for this site. Mr. Reinowski asked if there were any questions from the Commissioners. Mr. Gariepy asked Mr. McLeod about the photometric plan and how it appears there is overlapping on the residential side of the property line. Mr. McLeod stated there are areas that it is very close to the line and they will have to have the lighting levels brought down. They will be working with the applicant to revise the photometric plan. Mr. Kopp asked Mr. McLeod if the 300-foot notification process was followed for this case. Mr. McLeod stated it was followed. Mr. Reinowski asked if there were any further questions. Being none, he asked the petitioner to come forward. Phil Moser, 14955 Technology Drive, Shelby Twp., came forward to the podium. He stated they will look at the photometric plan and make sure it is in compliance. He also stated they slightly changed the entrance per the ZBA recommendations. Mr. Gariepy asked if there was 31 feet between the parking island and the curb. Kevin Brandon, architect, came to the podium and stated yes there is 31 feet now. Mr. Moser stated there was concern from the ZBA that there was not enough room for things like snow removal, so they increased the width. Mr. Brandon explained there were four different keys on the photometric plan for different types of lighting and stated again they will work with Mr. McLeod to be in compliance with the ordinance. Mr. Moser stated they spoke with one resident who was concerned about having to look at a wall. He stated that’s why they are putting trees on both sides of the wall. Mr. Moser also stated they have agreed to maintain the trees/shrubs. Mr. Reinowski asked if there were any questions from Commissioners. Being none, he asked for a motion. He stated there is no one present for public participation. Motion by Mr. Gariepy, supported by Mr. Kopp, that the Planning Commission APPROVE case number PSP17-0035, for the development of a 7,020-square foot office building, based on the following conditions: Planning Commission Regular Meeting of August 10, 2017 Page 4 1. That the development of the office building and associated site improvements shall remain consistent with the scale and layout as described in the proposal, at Public Hearing and reflected on the site plan; 2. That the petitioner shall develop, maintain and operate the development in compliance with all pertinent codes, ordinances and standards of the City of Sterling Heights, County of Macomb and the State of Michigan. 3. The decision of the Planning Commission shall remain valid and in force only as long as the facts and information presented to the Commission are found to be correct and the conditions upon which this motion is based are forever maintained as presented to the Commission. 4. That the site plan review comments noted above are addressed to the satisfaction of the Office of Planning. 5. That appropriate engineering plans meeting all other requirements of the City of Sterling Heights shall be provided. This action is based on the following findings: 1. That with the noted changes made in response to these comments, the proposed site plan will comply with all City Ordinances and requirements. 2. That the overall development is consistent with the lot area, height, and bulk requirements of the Zoning Ordinance (also based on variances granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals). 3. That the proposed development integrates well with the surrounding nonresidential developments along Dequindre Road, as well as, the existing single-family subdivision to the east. Mr. Reinowski asked for any discussion on the motion. Being none, he asked for a roll call vote. Ayes: Gariepy, Kopp, Jaboro, Militello, Miller, Reinowski, Sarau Nays: None Absent: Doughty and Rowe Motion carried. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Mr. Gariepy, supported by Mr. Jaboro, to APPROVE the minutes of July 13, 2017 Planning Commission Meeting. Mr. Reinowski asked if there was any other discussion on the motion. Being none, he asked for a roll call vote. Ayes: Gariepy, Jaboro, Militello, Miller, Reinowski Nays: None Absent: Doughty and Rowe Abstained: Kopp and Sarau Motion Carried. CORRESPONDENCE Letter from Roger Ghinelli regarding case PSP17-0034 Executive summary of Master Plan Planning Commission Regular Meeting of August 10, 2017 Page 5 OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Ms. Sarau proposed there be a time limit for public participation and for length of meeting. Mr. Gariepy stated he reviewed the by-laws and it is within the right of the commission to establish a time limit. He supports Ms. Sarau’s suggestion. Mr. Andrews explained if there is going to be a limit, the by-laws should reflect what the limits are. Mr. Gariepy suggested having in the by-laws what to do if cases are talked about outside of the hearings. Mr. McLeod stated next meeting there needs to be an election for vice-chair. He also stated MSU extension is providing a Citizen Planner Program on-line. He stated if anyone was interested in taking the course, he would get them signed up. MOTION TO ADJOURN Motion by Mr. Militello, supported by Mr. Jaboro, to ADJOURN . Ayes: Militello, Jaboro, Miller, Reinowski, Sarau, Gariepy, Kopp Nays: None Absent: Doughty and Rowe Motion Carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Stefano Militello, Secretary Planning Commission