REGULAR MEETING -
MEETING ROOM -
Public Hearing for Dimond Way LLC rezoning request for the northwest corner of Holt and M-99
was called to order by Chairperson Dave Kubicek.
Present: Kubicek, Borucki, Blair,
Absent: none
Also present: Jim Foulds, CPS
Chairperson Kubicek explained that this is a request
to rezone from A-1 to B-2 (commercial) of approximately 45 acres. He read the uses by right in a B-2 zone.
Pat Lundberg 5358 Bailey Rd asked what the Master Plan
showed for this area. The answer is
Ag/Rural Residential.
Dan McCabe, agent for Dimond Way LLC of 4677 Dimond
Way stated
that they do not have a specific plan at this time, only preliminary which
they presented a larger copy to the Commission.
He also stated that they have requested that the Master Plan be revisited
and amended before acting on their request. He stated that they would like to develop it
like a town center all the way to the village.
They have contacted the owner of the 95 acres, which could be tied
into this project.
Mike Mayotte 204 Adams, GL asked if this public hearing
was for a master plan change or rezoning? He also
asked if the rezoning and master plan change would take place at the same
time.
Jim Foulds of CPS stated that this is a public hearing for the
rezoning application as the applicant has outlined. The question is should the planning commission
look at the master plan. They can do
one of two things tonight. They can
table the request/look at the plan/report/rezone or could act on the rezoning
tonight.
Mike Mayotte stated that this is a large track of land and it would
change the character of the surrounding area. It would also have a large impact on the area. His in-laws are directly to the north and they
can not be here tonight so he is representing them. They are not necessarily in opposition to the
change but he knows that whatever can go in B-2 could enter that area. There
are many considerations when dealing with the master plan and changing this
to commercial could have adverse effect on the area.
Floyd Conklin 10540 Holt Rd asked how many acres we were
discussing as the application is for 40 acres and tonight he talked about
an additional 95 acres.
Dan McCabe repeated that he would like this request tabled tonight.
Floyd Conklin asked if MDOT had been consulted. McCabe stated yes and that the developer would
cover all the cost of improvements to M-99 due to additional traffic.
Doug VanEpps 4755 Dimond Way asked if hearing also included
additional 95 acres? No Kubicek
stated that this is the Public Hearing for the original request.
Danial Taracks 10441 Holt Hwy stated that he is the owner
of 5 acres in the middle of the 95 acres and he had not been contacted. He stated that the master plan must be reviewed
before rezoning.
Mike Chappell 136 Cherry asked if planning commission
is going to table tonight? If so, would there be
another public hearing. What will happen
is not known until the commission goes into regular meeting per Kubicek.
Carol Finton 5488 Bailey Rd stated that she was raised
here and has now moved back and she has two concerns: 1. The
environment and covering of green space. 2.
Traffic flow and making another dangerous intersection
like the one near her home.
Keith Gulliver 10218 Holt Hwy stated that changing from A-1
to B-2 is a big jump for a large section of land. There is no infrastructure
in the area. He stated he could see
maybe 300' back from M-99 being rezoned.
Ralph Reznick 316 E Washington expressed concern over the
impact on the village and the process. He
stated that the master plan needs to be looked at all along M-99 and the entire
township. He feels more commercial
will hurt the village businesses.
Doug VanEpps questioned the legal standing of Dimond Way LLC. They
are not a registered company in
Brian Adler 561 Creyts stated that the Master Plan
was done in the 90's and amended in 2002.
Need to look at Waverly & M-99 and that the Vermontville change are not documented. Also that SLDC is not on the map.
He has concerns that B-2 opens up a lot of possibilities and they will
deviate from the plan and need to talk to the village.
Also concern over the objectives on page 8-9.
Mike Mayotte asked if township board holds
a public hearing when it gets to them? No
Mike Chappell stated he thinks it is hard to talk about a
rezoning if it is going to tabled. It should be tabled - review master plan and
then hold another public hearing.
Floyd Conklin asked what school district? Eaton Rapids. What
about water & sewer?
Dan McCabe he has met with
McCabe asked Supervisor to confirm that this meeting
has taken place. St. Clair stated that
they had met with
Carol Finton stated that until all the t's are crossed and I's dotted
that they would be paying all the costs nothing should be done.
Doug VanEpps asked why he wanted this project? McCabe stated that it would bring more services
and offices to the area. The town center
idea would offer trails, bike and hiking paths. They have done market analysis and it was positive.
This area could have loft apartments and it is near the village where
Carol Finton stated that the jury is still out on effectiveness
of town centers. Condos are high ended
and not good for Dimondale.
Dan Taracks asked about time line. McCabe stated 2-3 years for roads and utilities
but that master plan comes first.
Stephen Wilcox business owner in Village stated that retail outside
would not help the village but be more negative.
Mike Chappell stated that he thinks the applicant should withdraw
his request. McCabe repeated that he
would like it tabled.
Glenn Harr business owner in the Village stated that he favors businesses
in the Village and that growth is coming. We need to learn from other areas that have
had growth positive and negative and do it right. We need growth to survive but do not favor open
ended. We need smart growth that will help the businesses.
Public Hearing closed at
Three-minute recess held.
The regular meeting was convened at
There were no public comments.
Minutes of previous meeting were approved.
Blair gave report from Board of Trustees and Sewer
Board.
Kubicek stated that we have heard the public comments
and he asked Foulds to give his report. Foulds stated that: 1.Planning Commission can
table the rezoning request until the next meeting giving them time to prepare
a Fact Finding with input from Public Hearing.
Then they would have report with specific recommendations.
2. At the next meeting they can review the specific
recommendations on amending the Master Plan, which are not driven by the rezoning
request. They are two separate issues.
Foulds continued to state that they could revisit the
Master Plan and co-ordinate with the village for joint plan. If don't work together there can be many problems
which lead to 425's and annexation.
Kubicek stated that we have to revisit the master plan
at least every 5 years. Foulds stated
that this is the most important thing a planning commission does for final
decisions. The last time it was reviewed was for the northern portion for
the Industrial due to GM plant.
Blair stated that we have to look at area around the
Secondary Complex also.
Borucki moved
and Johnson seconded to table the rezoning request application until the next
meeting to make a recommendation. Carried unanimously.
In
reference to master plan Foulds stated that there would be a recommendation
that will include the village.
Kubicek
read the 2005 goals and Blair stated that all are current. They discussed adding that each member attend
a neighboring community meeting and share back with group.
Borucki moved and Blair seconded
to add attending a neighboring meeting as a goal for 2006. Carried unanimously.
ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGES:
Clerk
shared what they have ready for public hearing and which are close. Clerk will work with township board to pass
posting ordinance that reduces some of the large printing costs.
TRAINING - PART 3:
Due
to the length of the public hearing Foulds only handed out two articles to
be read for next month.
With
no further business Borucki moved and Johnson seconded to adjourn the meeting.
Carried unanimously. Adjourned
at
Linda Towsley, Clerk