Planning Commission Packet 03-13-2014

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                                               CITY OF MUSKEGON
                                             PLANNING COMMISSION
                                               REGULAR MEETING

DATE OF MEETING:                       Thursday, March 13, 2014
TIME OF MEETING:                       4:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING:                      Commission Chambers, First Floor, Muskegon City Hall

                                                             AGENDA



   I. Roll Call

  II. Approval of Minutes from the regular meeting of February 13, 2014.

 III. Public Hearings

 IV. New Business
           a. Hearing, Case 2014-05: Request for a rezoning for the properties at 2306 & 2320
              S. Getty Street from B-4, General Business District to I-2 General Business
              District, by Timothy Mills.

  V. Old Business

 VI. Other
           a. Zoning Ordinance update

 VII. Adjourn




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                                               Ann Marie Cummings, City Clerk
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                                                     Muskegon, MI 49440
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                                     CITY OF MUSKEGON
                                   PLANNING COMMISSION
                                     REGULAR MEETING
                                          MINUTES

                                        February 13, 2014

Chairman T. Michalski called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. and roll was taken.

MEMBERS PRESENT:              J. Doyle, T. Michalski, B. Larson, L. Spataro, B. Mazade, S.
                              Gawron, B. Smith

MEMBERS ABSENT:               F. Peterson, excused; S. Wisneski

STAFF PRESENT:                M. Franzak, D. Renkenberger

OTHERS PRESENT:               J. Hughes, Hughes Builders; S. Kutches, Aerofoil, 1920 Port City
Blvd.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion that the minutes of the regular meeting of January 16, 2014 be approved, with the
correction that B. Larson is excused, was made by S. Gawron, supported by J. Doyle and
unanimously approved.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Case 2014-04: Request for a site plan review for a 14,440 square-foot addition to the building at
1920 Port City Blvd, by Aerofoil International. M. Franzak presented the staff report. The
property is zoned I-2, General Industrial and has a total area of 2.35 acres. The existing building is
30,000 square feet, and the addition will be 14,400 square feet of industrial space. There will also
be a 1,100 square-foot canopy addition to the east of the building in the back. A new asphalt drive
will connect this area to the current parking lot. The rear and side setback requirements for I-2
districts are each 10 feet. The proposed side setback to the south is 15’6” and the proposed rear
setback is 14’4”. There is a proposed loading dock in front of the addition that will connect the
building to Port City Blvd. There are currently 58 parking spaces on site. There are no additional
parking spaces proposed, as the company does not feel there is a need for additional parking at this
time. There is room for future additional parking at the northwest and northeast corners of the
property if needed. The plan includes stormwater calculations and proposes to maintain additional
stormwater in swales located on the southern and eastern portions of the property. The
Engineering, Public Works, Fire and Police Departments have reviewed the plans and do not have
any comments or concerns. The Planning Department recommends the following changes to the
plan: a) Landscaping: a landscaping plan shall be included for the front and side setbacks of the
building. All required front setbacks shall be landscaped with a minimum of one (1) canopy or shade
tree, two (2) understory or evergreen trees and (2) shrubs, for each thirty (30) lineal feet (or major
portion thereof) of frontage abutting the right-of-way. Additional landscaping may be required
adjacent to buildings to break up long building expanses and walls void of windows. Also, all
trees/shrubs that must be removed for the addition of the swale shall be noted and replaced
somewhere else on the property where possible; and b) The proposed loading dock should include a
paved turning radius so that trucks do not have to back in from the road. Staff recommends approval
of the request for site plan approval for the building addition.

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B. Smith asked if the company would be adding any new employees. S. Kutches stated that he
would be adding some, and would run two shifts.
L. Spataro arrived at 4:10 p.m.
S. Kutches explained the plans for the building addition and layout. He stated that they may add
some parking in front of the building, but he would maintain the 30-foot grassy area there. B.
Larson asked if they were aware of staff’s recommendations regarding the trees and the truck
turnaround area. J. Hughes stated that the had discussed it with S. Kutches and they would work
with staff to address those concerns.

A motion that the site plan for a 14,400 square-foot building addition at 1920 Port City Blvd, be
approved, with the condition that staff approves a revised site plan with the corrections listed in #8
of the staff report, was made by B. Larson, supported by J. Doyle and unanimously approved.


OLD BUSINESS

None

OTHER

Zoning Ordinance update – M. Franzak updated board members on the progress of the zoning
ordinance update. He hoped to have a public meeting on the issue in March.


There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:21 p.m.




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                                     CITY OF MUSKEGON
                                   PLANNING COMMISSION
                                     REGULAR MEETING

                                          March 13, 2014


Hearing, Case 2014-05: Request for a rezoning for the properties at 2306 & 2320 S Getty St
from B-4, General Business District to I-2 General Business District, by Timothy Mills.


STAFF OBSERVATIONS
   1. Port City Architectural Signage operates their business at 2350 S Getty St. They
      manufacture signs at this location, which is zoned I-2, General Industrial, and they also
      own the properties to the north at 2306 and 2320 S Getty St. Half of the parcel at 2320 is
      zoned I-2 and half of it is zoned B-4, General Business. The parcel at 2306 S Getty St is
      zoned B-4. They would like to have all of these properties be zoned I-2 so that they can
      expand their operations.
   2. Both parcels measure roughly 0.4 acres with about 100 feet of road frontage each. Both
      parcels contain a building. A lighting fixture business was located at 2320 and
   3. There appears to be enough parking at this location for industrial uses. However, the
      applicant will still be required to apply for a site plan review on this property (staff review)
      because it is a change of use.
   4. The properties to the north are zoned for business and residential. The properties to the
      east are industrial. The properties to the west located in Muskegon Heights and are mostly
      zoned for business. This area is on the border of the Medendorp Industrial Park.
   5. Notification was sent to property owners within 300 feet of these properties and at the time
      of this writing staff had not received any comments.


Port City Architectural Signage at 2350 S Getty with the building at 2320 S Getty to the left.




                                                  4
2320 S Getty (former lighting business) and 2306 Getty to the left.




  2306 Getty (former Laundromat) and 2320 Getty to the right.




                                5
Zoning Map




Aerial Map




    6
Zoning Ordinance excerpt:


                                      I-2 General Industrial

                 ARTICLE XV - I-2 GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS

PREAMBLE

The I-2 General Industrial Districts are established primarily for manufacturing, assembling, and
fabrication activities including large scale or specialized industrial operations whose external
physical effects may be felt to some degree by surrounding districts. The I-2 District is so
structured as to permit, in addition to I-1 Light Industrial District uses, the manufacturing,
processing and compounding of semi-finished or finished products from raw materials.

SECTION 1500: PRINCIPAL USES PERMITTED

In an I-2 General Industrial District, buildings and land may be used for one (1) or more of the
following specified uses, unless otherwise provided in this Article.

1.     Any Principal Use Permitted in the I-1 District, subject to the requirements of this District.

2.     Primary metal industries, including foundries, smelting and refining of metal or alloys,
       rolling and extruding plants.

3.     Chemical plants whose manufacturing process produce products which are not hazardous
       materials as defined in the Fire Code.

4.     Paper and pulp manufacturing.

5.     Power generating plants.

6.     Junk yards and scrap metal processing.

7.     Rubber manufacturing or the remanufacturing of rubber products.

8.     Medical Marihuana caregiver facilities to the extent licensed pursuant to City Code
       Sections 34-101 through 43-107 [03/11].

9.     Uses similar to the above principal uses.



RECOMMENDATION

The Master Plan recommends keeping this area flexible in terms of business and industrial uses.
Staff recommends the rezoning to accommodate the growing business.



                                                   7
DELIBERATION

Criteria-based questions typically asked during a rezoning include:

1.     What, if any, identifiable conditions related to the petition have changed which justify
       the petitioned change in zoning.

2.     What are the precedents and the possible effects of precedent that might result from the
       approval or denial of the petition?

3.     What is the impact of the amendment on the ability of the city to provide adequate public
       services and facilities and/or programs that might reasonably be required in the future if
       the petition is approved?

4.     Does the petitioned zoning change adversely affect the environmental conditions or value
       of the surrounding property?

5.     Does the petitioned zoning change generally comply with the adopted Future Land Use
       Plan of the City?

6.     Are there any significant negative environmental impacts which would reasonably occur
       if the petitioned zoning change and resulting allowed structures were built such as:

       a.      Surface water drainage problems
       b.      Waste water disposal problems
       c.      Adverse effect on surface or subsurface water quality
       d.      The loss of valuable natural resources such as forest, wetland, historic sites, or
               wildlife areas.

7.     Is the proposed zoning change a “Spot Zone”?

       a.      Is the parcel small in size relative to its surroundings?
       b.      Would the zoning change allow uses that are inconsistent with those allowed in
               the vicinity?
       c.      Would the zoning change confer a benefit to the property owner that is not
               generally available to other properties in the area?
       d.      A spot zone is appropriate if it complies with the Master Plan.


The following motion is offered for consideration:

I move that the request to rezone the properties located at 2306 and 2320 S Getty St from B-4,
General Business District to I-2, General Industrial District, as described in the public notice, be
recommended for (approval/denial) to the City Commission.




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