Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
October 9, 2002

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Poll in the Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.

PRESENT: Dave Zondervan, Virgil Leatherman, Bob Poll, William Timmer, and Steve Maas.

ABSENT: Craig Nicely

ALSO PRESENT: Dan Johnson, Assistant City Manager
Ken Krombeen, City Manager
Debby Descheneau, Personnel Assistant

Motion by Maas, seconded by Leatherman, to excuse Craig Nicely. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Zondervan, seconded by Maas, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Timmer, seconded by Zondervan, to approve the minutes of the September 4, 2002 meeting as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARING

1. Chairman Poll opened the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. to receive public comment on Special Land Use – Casual Restaurant with Drive-Through – Wendy’s. Dan reviewed the general standards for approval of Special Land Use along with additional Special Land Use standards adopted by the City.

Bob Potts with Meritage Hospitality, came before the Planning Commission to specify how Mertiage Hospitality has met, and in some incidents such as green space, exceeded the requirements for the Special Land Use.

Branden Vanderhoof, resident at 4215 44th Street, came before the Planning Commission to state his objection to the use of the property as a casual restaurant. He stated that he is not against fast food restaurants, however finds it a shame that the first thing the hundreds of thousands of people exiting off of I-196 into Grandville will see is a fast food establishment. He also stated concerns of a trend that would bring other fast food establishments to the surrounding area.

Lawrence Stranad, resident at 4376 Canal SW, came before the Planning Commission to express his concerns with the Special Land Use. Mr. Stranad presented the Planning Commission with a letter signed by him and five neighbors who all share these concerns:

1. Traffic – The business will add to the congestion and safety issues on surrounding streets that are already overloaded.
2. Environment – Specifically; litter, odor, and noise.
3. Property Values – Business developments along Rivertown Parkway and extending outward affect residential property vales both in the immediate area and throughout the community of Grandville.

Bob Lilly from JDN Development came before the Planning Commission to share his praise in the idea of a casual restaurant. Bob had spoken with representatives from four of the anchor tenants that he has in his development and shared how pleased they are about the possibility of a casual restaurant locating within the Grandville Market Place.

Motion by Leatherman, supported by Zondervan to close the public hearing at 7:23 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Maas, supported by Timmer to accept the letter from Lawrence Stranad, Branden Vanderhoof, and Darlene Brown and the memo from Craig Nicely. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Poll asked Dan or Ken to make some comments to the audience about the plans for Old 44th and Canal.

Dan spoke to the audience about the traffic study that was performed around Parkway Place. That study did determine that at this time there is no need for a traffic light at the proposed site, but there may be a need in the future when the entire development is built.

Dan reiterated the standards that a casual restaurant has to meet in order to develop in Grandville. Two major factors that will limit mass development of casual restaurants in Grandville are that the casual restaurant needs to be 600 feet from one family residential and the casual restaurant has to be within 1,000 feet of an exit ramp off of I-196.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Timmer to approve the Special Land Use. The motion carried 4-1 (Maas opposed).

NEW BUSINESS 

1.Site Plan Review – 4435 Canal Avenue – Wendy’s

Dan Johnson reviewed the site plan comments for the site. The only areas of concern were the height of the light poles, which should be consistent with the remainder of Grandville Marketplace, additional signage to better mark the inbound only lane, and the east side of Logan’s driveway should be curbed to avoid a shared driveway.

Bob Potts from Meritage Hospitality addressed the Planning Commission to inform them that Wendy’s is ready to move forward and that they are prepared to meet the conditions set forth by the Commission.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Timmer, CARRIED unanimously, to approve the Site Plan with the following conditions 1) Separate sign permit required for site signage. 2) Final utility connections are subject to Department of Public Works and City Engineer approval. 3) Light pole height shall be consistent with remainder of Grandville’s Marketplace. 4) Recommendations of Pete LaMourie’s October 2nd memo shall be incorporated. 5) East side of Logan’s driveway shall now be paved, as the entire driveway is not a shared drive. This will prevent people from cutting through the landscaped areas. 6) Grading to be approved by City staff. 7) All landscaping to be irrigated. 8) Page two of Progressive AE’s proposed layouts for driveway connection to Logan Steakhouse.

2. Site Plan Review – Wilson Avenue – Standard Federal Bank – Grand Pointe PUD

Dan Johnson reviewed the site plan comments for the site. The only areas of concern were that the lighting should be consistent with the remainder of the site. Parking spaces on the north and east side of the sight are currently 20 feet wide, they need to be 24 feet wide. Eliminate the curb cut on the north side of the site. And the material used on the canopy should be brick so it matches the rest of the building.

Jeff Smith from SE Spohn came before the Planning Commission to present the application and its development.

Joe Hooker from Standard Federal Bank came before the Planning Commission and explained that the driveway set up was formed with safety in mind. The proposed layout will allow for the traffic to flow one way. Joe did agree with comments of a stacking problem and suggest that the drive be pushed back but maintain its layout. As to the canopy material Joe expressed that they were more than happy to change the material but does not recommend brick for safety reasons. Joe does not see any problems in meeting the remainder of the conditions as presented.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Maas, CARRIED unanimously, to approve the Site Plan with the following conditions 1) Lighting should be consistent with remainder of site. 2) Parking aisle on the north and east side of the site need to be 24 feet wide. 3) Final utility connections are subject to Department of Public Works and City Engineer approval. 4) Driveway curbcut to the north should be eliminated. 5) Separate sign permit required for site signage. 6) Canopy material does not need to be brick.

3. Site Plan Review – 3711 28th St. – Grand Valley Marine – Storage Building

Dan Johnson reviewed the site plan comments for the site. Concerns for the site are the three new catch basins, landscaping, which at the time of the meeting had not been completed, and flood elevation; the information provided does not clearly show that the storage building is built above the 100 year floodplain.

John Noel came before the Planning Commission to inform them that the landscaping was going to be complete in the fall of 2002 and he sees no problem with completing the rest of the conditions as presented.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Maas, CARRIED unanimously, to approve the Site Plan with the following conditions 1) Final utility connections are subject to Department of Public Works and City Engineer approval. 2) Three more parking spaces shall be provided. 3) Front 10 feet of asphalt near the driveway shall be removed and landscaped. Landscape area shall include six shrubs and six trees with calipers of at least 2 inches. 4) City Engineer to verify system for storm water on the east side of the site. 

PUBLIC COMMENT

1.  Chairperson Poll asked if there were any public comments to be made. There were none.

OTHER BUSINESS

1.  Discussion of new Planning Commission member.

Dan informed the Planning Commission of the applicants interested in the vacant seat. Dan suggested to the Planning Commission that we select a member tonight in order for it to go in front of the City Council on Monday and in turn have the new Commissioner sit on the November 2002 meeting.

Discussion took place on applicant Jodie Sherman.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Timmer, CARRIED unanimously to recommend Jodie Sherman to the City Council for Planning Commissioner and to fill the remainder of the vacant term.

2.  Discussion of submittal requirements.

Chairman Poll discussed with Dan Johnson that he can and should stick with the submittal requirements for Planning Commission packets.

Motion by Timmer, seconded by Leatherman to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.

Debby Descheneau

Recording Secretary

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