Planning Commission Minutes

May 5, 2004

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Poll, in the Council Chambers at 7:03 p.m.

PRESENT: Jodie Sherman, Dave Zondervan, Bob Poll, Craig Nicely,

William Timmer and Virgil Leatherman

ABSENT: Steve Maas

ALSO PRESENT: Ken Krombeen, City Manager

Dan Johnson, Assistant City Manager

Debby Descheneau, Personnel Assistant

Motion by Nicely, seconded by Sherman to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Zondervan, seconded by Leatherman, to approve the minutes of the April 7, 2004 meeting as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARING

1. Chairman Poll opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. to receive public comment on the Special Land Use Request for the property located at 3676 Potomac Circle. Dan reviewed the applicant’s request.

Chairman Poll asked if there were any questions or comments from Planning Commissioners for Dan.

There were none.

Chairman Poll asked if there was anyone in the audience who would like to speak to the issues of Special Land Use for 3676 Potomac Circle.

Cheryl Scales of Progressive AE and Anthony Thompson of On The Border came before the Planning Commission to answer any questions.

Motion by Timmer, supported by Sherman to close the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Poll asked if there were any questions or comments to be made. There were none.

Motion by Leatherman, supported by Sherman to grant the Special Land Use for the property located at 3676 Potomac Circle. The motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Site Plan Review – On the Border Restaurant – 3676 Potomac Circle.

Dan Johnson reviewed the site plan comments for 3676 Potomac Circle and recommended that the Planning Commissioners make note of the parking setbacks on the north side of the lot, the tree size on the landscaping plans and the lighting heights.

Chairman Poll asked if there were any questions or comments to be made by the applicant.

Cheryl Scales noted that the Crab Apple trees were 1 ½ “, not 2 ½”. Cheryl also noted that they intend to put their signage at the rear of the property where they anticipate more traffic, and that the outside seating was a controlled environment.

Chairman Poll asked if there were any questions or comments from Planning Commissioners.

Craig Nicely asked if the site was fully irrigated. Anthony confirmed the property is fully irrigated.

Craig Nicely asked why the property was pulled to the east rather than centered on the lot. Cheryl responded that it was for the purpose of driveway placement.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Nicely to approve the site plan with the following conditions: 1) Utility connections subject to Department of Public Works and City Engineer approval; 2) Separate sign permit required for site signage; 3) Drainage plan shall be reviewed by the Kent County Drain Commissioner’s Office since outlets discharge into the system served by the Huizenga Drain; 4) Lighting shall not exceed 27’ in height; 5) underground irrigation to be placed at all landscaped areas. The motion passed unanimously.

2. Site Plan Review – Rapid Shred – 2972 Sangra Avenue

Dan Johnson reviewed the site plan comments for 2972 Sangra Avenue, noting that the front yard setbacks are less than 20 feet, and recommending the property be fully irrigated. Dan also pointed out that the applicant may need to move the Sangra driveway to the south and the Dormax driveway to the west for better alignment with opposing drives.

Chairman Poll asked if there was someone from the applicant that would like to speak in regards to this site plan review.

Rick Dunneback of D&K Engineering came before the Planning Commission to note that additional landscaping could be done to meet the reduced setback requirements. He also noted that the property would be fully irrigated and that the light fixtures were the shoebox type. Rick noted that the driveway placement was so because they were avoiding utilities that are already in place, and the business itself is not going to have a lot of traffic in and out of the site.

Ken Krombeen questioned the amount of parking spaces proposed if the applicant is not anticipating a high volume of traffic on the site, and suggested the applicant look into deferred parking.

Chairman Poll noted that he would like to see more landscaping from driveway to driveway along the north and south end of the property.

Motion by Timmer, supported by Sherman to approve the site plan with the following conditions: 1) Utility connections subject to Department of Public Works and City Engineer approval; 2) Separate sign permit required for site signage; 3) Lighting levels to be approved by city staff; 4) Additional landscaping in the area between the two driveways, and all green space fully irrigated; 5) Deferred parking to be approved by city staff; 6) Comments by the City Engineer and Public Works Director shall be incorporated. The motion passed unanimously.

Doug Stalsonburg from Exxel Engineering was running late, therefore the Planning Commission moved to the next item of business, the rezoning request of 4600 Ivanrest.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Rezoning – 4600 Ivanrest Ave

Dan Johnson informed the Planning Commission that he did not contact Birchler Arroyo Associates because staff feels that action needs to be taken on this rezoning request before having the consultant review and possibly amend the Master Plan.

Chairman Poll asked if the applicant would like to speak on behalf of the rezoning request.

Ralph Allen, property owner and owner of Cookware, came before the Planning Commission to inquire about having the property zoned from RR, Rural Residential to I-3, Industrial Planned Enterprise District, instead of the original request of RR, Rural Residential to C-1, Commercial Neighborhood, thinking it would be easier to get the property rezoned to C-1 from I-3 than it would be from RR. Ralph stated he didn’t feel that spot zone the property was a good idea, and if he could get the property zoned to I-3 he could use the location in conjunction with his golf business in Jenison.

Chairman Poll asked if the Planning Commission could use the existing application to consider rezoning from RR to I-3. Ken Krombeen stated that a new application would need to filed, new notices would need to mailed to surrounding properties acknowledging the rezoning request, and another Public Hearing would need to be set.

Virgil Leatherman stated that he would feel better about the property being rezoned to I-3 rather than C-1.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Sherman to recommend onto Council that they deny the rezoning request due to it being inconsistent with Master Plan. The motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED

3. Site Plan Review – Craig Baker – Medical Office – 3185 Macatawa Drive

Dan Johnson reviewed the site plan comments for the property at 3185 Macatawa Drive, informing the Planning Commission that sufficient landscaping is proposed to offset the impact of the smaller setback, though the applicant did not provide any kind of buffer yard along the north side of the property.

Chairman Poll asked if anyone from the applicant would like to address the Planning Commission.

Doug Stalsonburg from Exxel Engineering came forward to note that the entry way to the lot will be a boulevard style entry due to the fact that lighting and electrical boxes were installed. Doug also introduced Craig Baker from First Companies, who was also available to answer any questions from Planning Commissioners.

Virgil Leatherman questioned the angled layout of the plans.

Doug informed the Planning Commission that the design had no choice to but to be crooked because the right of way line of Ivanrest and Macatawa are not 90 degree angles.

Craig Nicely noted he would like to see the berming consistent with the properties to east and also to have naturalized landscaping on the west side at the end bay of the parking and along the dumpster area and the north side of the building. Craig also noted he would like to see the roof material palates once they are selected.

Motion by Leatherman, supported by Zondervan to approve the site plan with the following conditions: 1) Utility connections subject to Department of Public Works and City Engineer approval; 2) Separate sign permit required for site signage; 3) Additional berm on the northwest and northeast corners of the property that will be consistent with the property to the east; 4) Material palates to be approved by city staff; 5) Curb cuts along Ivanrest, if any, to be removed. The motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS CONTINUED

2. Special Land Use – 3313 & 3323 Century Center – Daane’s Site

Motion by Leatherman, supported by Nicely to remove the Special Land Use from the table for discussion. The motion passed unanimously.

Dan Johnson informed the Planning Commission that the parking along Century Center has changed due to a miscalculation. Some of the parking proposed are deferred parking, Dan recommends that the deferred parking be brought back to the Planning Commission before acting upon.

Chairman Poll asked if there was anyone who would like to speak to this special land use.

Chris Nye of Wolverine Building came before the Planning Commission to inform them that the south elevation will be modified to resemble the look of the front elevation. Chris brought new plans showing the change.

Virgil Leatherman asked if the firewall is what determines how a building can be designed. He also asked if the firewall could be removed in the future.

Chairman Poll noted that he had asked a similar type of question to the city’s attorney, and it was conveyed that the applicant originally presented plans that indicated two tenants in this building. Because of that the plans can not be used as one building, one tenant now or in the future.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Timmer to approve the Special Land Use. The motion passed unanimously.

3. Site Plan Review – 3313 & 3323 Century Center – Daane’s Site

Dan Johnson reviewed the site plan comments for 3313 & 3323 Century Center noting that 40 of the parking spaces are shown as deferred parking, and that the applicant will need to obtain a variance for the reduced setback.

Chris Nye of Wolverine Building confirmed that the new elevations presented will have the northeast side of the building consistent with the northsouth side of the building.

Motion by Leatherman, supported by Zondervan to approve the site plan with the following conditions: 1) Utility connections subject to Department of Public Works and City Engineer approval; 2) Separate sign permit required for site signage; 3) Variance for a 30-foot setback on west side of property must be granted by the ZBA; 4) Property owner shall return to the Planning Commission for approval prior to constructing the deferred parking; 5) Roof top equipment shall be screened in and not visible. The motion passed unanimously.

4. Zoning Ordinance

Dan Johnson presented the Planning Commission with draft language for accessory buildings, noting the changes to be the square footage from 864 to 1,080 for both attached and detached garages. Dan also noted that the horizontal dimensions in the draft language show 36’, but thought the Planning Commission was considering 40’.

The Planning Commission agreed to have the horizontal dimension not exceed 40’.

Dan Johnson noted that a public hearing would be set for next month to move forward with the revised language for accessory buildings.

PUBLIC COMMENT

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

OTHER BUSINESS

Chairman Poll asked if there was any other business to discuss. Dan Johnson informed the Planning Commissioners that Bill Timmer’s term expires July 1, 2004, when he plans to retire from the Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission packets included board applications for individuals interested in sitting on the Planning Commission. After some discussion regarding the applicant pool presented, it was unanimously decided to contact four applicants for consideration: 1) Jill Wendorf, 2) Randy Hartgerink, 3) Leroy Kars, and 4) Steve Peterson.

Dan Johnson also noted that Virgil Leatherman’s term was going to expire July 1, 2004. Virgil noted that he is meeting with Grandville Public School Superintendent Ron Caniff to determine if the schools would like Virgil to continue to represent them on the Planning Commission. Virgil said he would get back with the Planning Commission in June.

Motion by Zondervan, supported by Timmer to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Debby Descheneau Recording Secretary

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