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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Thursday, May 13, 2021
TIME OF MEETING: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING: Zoom / City of Muskegon Government Facebook Page
AGENDA
I. Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes from the regular meeting of April 15, 2021.
III. Public Hearing
A. Hearing, Case 2021-10: Request for Final Planned Unit Development approval at 151 N Causeway
for the redevelopment of the former power plant site for new bulk materials storage for shipping, by
Verplank Family Holding Company.
B. Hearing, Case 2021-11: Request for a departure for the form based code section of the zoning
ordinance to allow new glass windows without a visual light transmittance of at least 70% at 1042
Terrace St, by Panyard Building LLC.
C. Hearing, Case 2021-12: Request for a special use permit to operate a crematory at 1765 Peck St, by
Fountain Funeral Home LLC.
IV. New Business
V. Other
A. Updates on previous cases
VI. Adjourn
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT POLICY FOR ACCESS TO OPEN MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION AND ANY OF ITS COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEES
The City of Muskegon will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes
of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities who want to attend the meeting, upon 24- hour notice to
the City of Muskegon. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Muskegon by writing or
calling the following:
Ann Meisch, City Clerk
933 Terrace Street
Muskegon MI 49440
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STAFF REPORT
May 13, 2021
Hearing, Case 2021-10: Request for Final Planned Unit Development approval at 151 N Causeway for the
redevelopment of the former power plant site for new bulk materials storage for shipping, by Verplank
Family Holding Company.
SUMMARY
1. The property is zoned Waterfront Industrial PUD (WI-PUD). Please see the enclosed ordinance,
which states that the intent of this district is to require planned unit developments for all projects to
ensure a mix of port uses that enhances the industrial economic base of the city.
2. The project is located at the former Consumers Energy power plant.
3. The applicant is proposing to construct a new 10,000 sf bulk materials storage building for shipping
operations.
4. The master plan indicates that all shipping activities should be moved to the east end of the lake.
5. The development will occur within 500 feet of the lake, so the applicant is required to obtain a
stormwater permit from the Muskegon County Drain Commissioners office. The applicant has
already applied for the permit, but has not received an answer yet.
6. The Public Works Director has indicated that the drain filed location is directly adjacent to the bike
path. The raised drain field must not impede drainage from the bike path or impact the use of that
facility in any way. In addition to any potential drainage impacts we need to maintain at least two
foot of clearance along the edge of the paved trail, free of any obstructions.
7. Notice was sent to applicants within 300 feet of the property. At the time of this writing, staff had not
received any comments from the public.
Zoning Map
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Aerial Map
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval (with conditions) of the request as it helps accomplish the goal of moving
shipping operations to the east end of the lake.
Conditions:
• The raised drain field must not impede drainage from the bike path or impact the use of that facility in
any way.
• There must be at least two foot of clearance along the edge of the paved trail, free of any
obstructions.
• The applicant must also receive a stormwater permit from the Muskegon County Drain
Commissioners office.
DELIBERATION
I move that the request for Final Planned Unit Development approval at 151 N Causeway be recommended
to the City Commission for (approval/denial) with the staff conditions listed.
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Hearing, Case 2021-11: Request for a departure for the form based code section of the zoning ordinance to
allow new glass windows without a visual light transmittance of at least 70% at 1042 Terrace St, by Panyard
Building LLC.
SUMMARY
1. The property is zoned Form Based Code, Neighborhood Core (FBC-NC).
2. The applicant will be remodeling the building and replacing the front windows with the originally
larger-sized windows. The applicant is requesting to have dark, reflective glass on these new
windows.
3. All buildings in FBC districts are required to have windows on the first floor with a visual light
transmittance of 70% of higher. This is a design standard to limit reflective/black-out glass.
4. Please see the articles on the following pages regarding design and the importance of clear glass in
downtown districts.
5. Notice was sent to applicants within 300 feet of the property. At the time of this writing, staff had not
received any comments from the public.
Existing Windows on Site
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Zoning Map
Aerial Map
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STAF
F
REC
OM
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MENDATION
Staff does not recommend approval of the request.
DELIBERATION
I move that the request for a departure for the form based code section of the zoning ordinance to allow new
glass windows without a visual light transmittance of at least 70% be (approved/denied).
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Hearing, Case 2021-12: Request for a special use permit to operate a crematory at 1765 Peck St, by Fountain
Funeral Home LLC.
SUMMARY
1. The property is zoned B-4, General Business.
2. Crematories are allowed as a Special Use Permitted in B-4 districts.
3. There are no building additions associated with this project. There are two buildings on site. The
crematory would be placed in the building to the south (not the building on the corner).
4. Notice was sent to applicants within 300 feet of the property. At the time of this writing, staff had not
received any comments from the public.
Crematory to be place in the building on the left
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Zoning Map
Aerial Map
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the request.
DELIBERATION
I move that the request for a special use permit to operate a crematory at 1765 Peck St be (approved/denied).
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