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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
April 16, 2009
Chairman T. Michalski called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: L. Spataro, T. Michalski, B. Mazade, B. Larson, S. Warmington,
T. Harryman, B. Smith, B. Turnquist
MEMBERS ABSENT: J. Aslakson
STAFF PRESENT: L. Anguilm, D. Leafers
OTHERS PRESENT: B. Butkis, Hooker DeJong; S. Johnson, Every Woman’s Place
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion that the minutes of the regular meeting of March 12, 2009 be approved, was made by
S. Warmington, supported by B. Larson and unanimously approved.
PUBLIC HEARINGS : None
NEW BUSINESS: None
OLD BUSINESS
B. Smith arrived at 4:10 p.m.; B. Turnquist arrived at 4:14 p.m.
Case 2009-03: Request for Site Plan Review for the property located at 1221 W. Laketon
Avenue, by Susan Johnson, Every Woman’s Place, Inc. and Brian Butkis, Hooker DeJong
Architects. L. Anguilm presented the staff report. The subject property is a large parcel located
on Laketon Avenue next to Muskegon Catholic Central, and is the home of an emergency shelter
and associated offices. Properties to the north, south and east are zoned R-1, Single Family
Residential, and to the west is OSC, Open Space Conservation. The subject property was
rezoned from R-1, Single Family Residential to RM-2 in September 2007. City staff submitted a
request in September 2008 to rezone the property back to R-1. That request has been tabled until
the May 2009 Planning Commission meeting. The current request is to add a two-story, 42,000
square foot building to the existing 3-story, 22,075 square foot building. At this time,
construction is scheduled to begin in June but this could be affected by funding. Construction of
the large addition will allow for 34 more beds, and will increase the number of counseling rooms
and office space. The site plan has just a few issues that must be addressed. The landscape plan
does not include the total number of required understory trees. Due to safety concerns, the
applicants requested that the smaller number proposed be approved. In addition, the City
Commission may require a sidewalk to be installed along Laketon Avenue, as has been their
policy for recent projects in the City. The Planning Department has the following amendments
to the site plan as conditions of approval: a) the property address and parcel number must be
Planning Commission Minutes – 4/16/09 1
included on the site plan, b) include specs for the dumpster, including material type and height,
c) show location of all fire lanes, d) all landscape islands or bump-outs require one canopy tree
and 3 shrubs, and e) if any additional outdoor lighting is proposed, show location, pole height (if
appropriate) and indicate that all light fixtures will be 100% cut-off style. The Engineering
Department has the following conditions of approval: a) need to check with Muskegon County
Public Works Department for possible need of soil erosion permit, b) permit from Engineering
Department is required for work on proposed drives (new or removal of existing), and c) all
unused drives need permit from Engineering Department. The Department of Public Works has
the following comments: a) contact DPW regarding water and sewer connections and fees at
724-4100, and b) a 6” water service “split” for fire and domestic uses must be inside the
building. The Fire Department has following conditions of approval: a) need revised plan with
location of fire hydrants, b) the number of hydrants required shall comply with IFC 2006 Edition
Appendix C and B, c) fire flow water supply test shall be conducted to determine number of
hydrants required for fire protection, d) a post indicating control valve shall be installed for
sprinkler system addition/existing systems, e) a stortz fire department connection shall replace
existing 2-1/2 connection, f) fire access road around building shall support 76,000 pound vehicle,
g) fire access road shall comply with IFC – International Fire Code Section 503, and h) contact
Fire Marshal for placement location of additional hydrants. Staff has received no other comments
regarding this request and recommends approval, subject to the conditions listed above.
B. Butkis addressed the sidewalk requirement. He stated that the property was about 800 feet
long, and there were no sidewalks immediately adjacent to the property to connect a sidewalk to.
He asked that a sidewalk not be required due to the additional cost, estimated to be around
$32,000. B. Butkis stated that they planned to meet with the City’s Engineering, Fire, and Public
Works departments to discuss the project and address items listed in the staff report. S. Johnson
stated that the request regarding the understory trees was for safety reasons, for both residents
and possibly police officers responding to calls at the facility. B. Mazade asked what the
difference was between the number of understory trees required and the number proposed. L.
Anguilm stated that the proposal was for about half of the number required. L. Spataro agreed
that a lower number of understory trees would be acceptable, but felt that a sidewalk was
necessary, and explained his reasons. T. Harryman also felt that it was important to put in a
sidewalk. L. Anguilm suggested that board members could require the installation of the
sidewalk at a later date, to help with funding. B. Mazade was concerned with trying to enforce
that after the fact. S. Johnson stated that it was important to them to get the site plan approved,
and she would agree to install a sidewalk if required. B. Larson suggested that the Planning
Commission make the installation of the sidewalk a condition of obtaining the final occupancy
permit. Board members concurred.
A motion that the site plan for an emergency shelter with associated offices located at 1221 W.
Laketon Avenue for Susan Johnson, Every Woman’s Place, LLC, and Brian Butkis, Hooker
DeJong Architects, be approved, based on the conditions that 1) all requirements listed in items
8, 9, 10 and 11 of the staff report shall be provided as needed on a revised site plan prior to
issuance of a building permit, 2) approval is granted for the reduced number of understory trees,
3) a sidewalk shall be installed along Laketon Avenue, per City Commission policy, with the
installation of the sidewalk being required before a final occupancy permit is issued, weather-
permitting, and 3) the rezoning request from RM-2 to R-1 be denied by the City Commission,
was made by B. Larson, supported by B. Smith and unanimously approved.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
Planning Commission Minutes – 4/16/09 2
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