Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES

NOVEMBER 1, 2006

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nicely, in the Council Chambers at 7:02 p.m.

PRESENT:                Jack Bengtson, Randy Hartgerink, Craig Nicely (at 7:02 p.m.), Gene LaSarge, Steve Zinger, and Bob Poll

ABSENT:                    Steve Maas

ALSO PRESENT:     Ken Krombeen, City Manager

                                    Matthew Butts, Assistant to the City Manager

Debby Descheneau, Recording Secretary

Motion by Bengtson, seconded by Poll to approve the amended agenda, removing (per the applicant’s request) the land use variance consideration for 4164 Kenowa Avenue and adding a parking lot expansion for 4556 Spartan Industrial Drive, as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Zinger, seconded by Poll, to approve the minutes of the September 6, 2006 meeting as presented.  The motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Zinger, seconded by Poll, to approve the minutes of the October 4, 2006 meeting as presented.  The motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

1.         Parking Lot Expansion – Michigan Fluid Power – 4556 Spartan Industrial Drive

Matthew informed the Planning Commission that Michigan Fluid Power is requesting the parking lot expansion in order to add ten parking spaces to the lot. 

Motion by Bengtson, supported by LaSarge to approve the parking lot expansion for Michigan Fluid Power at 4556 Spartan Industrial Drive with the following condition: 1) final approval subject to City Engineer’s approval.  The motion passed unanimously.

2.         Master Plan Presentation & Findings – LSL Planning Inc.

Val Lazdins from LSL Planning Inc. came before the Planning Commission to present findings of the planning & design workshops as well as the comments cards relative to the Master Plan amendments.  Synopses of the findings are:

South Planning Area:

·        Connect the current X-Rite property to Spartan Industrial Drive to possibly lighten up commercial traffic on Rivertown Parkway.

·        Hope Network property access should not be located on Wilson or 44^th Street.

·        Slow retail development and consider more life style centers.

·        Potential loss of character with incompatible developments on 44^th street.

·        Maintain features of the X-rite property (i.e., trees and pond).

·        Would like to see development of something not already in West Michigan.

·        Building fronts along 44^th Street.

North Planning Area:

·        Concerns about increased Mars Hill Church traffic.

·        Promote high-rise office/residential.

·        Consider park, recreation, or entertainment venue.

·        Connections with residential neighborhoods.

·        Pedestrian connections across I-196.

·        Reroute Chicago Drive traffic.

·        Refurbish the look of downtown.

·        Add boulevards on 28^th Street.

Planning Commission Discussion:

Bob Poll does not want to lose Maple trees on the X-Rite property. 

Steve Zinger does not like the idea building fronts along 44^th Street and parking behind the buildings.  He does not feel its good customer service to have the front door on the other side of the parking area.

Randy Hartgerink likes the idea of more mixed uses.  Craig Nicely concurs, with PUD’s added. 

Gene LaSarge would be cautious not to duplicate surrounding Grandville businesses.  He also inquired of any manufacturing or high tech facilities that might be a good fit in Grandville. 

Jack Bengtson asked about the benefits of a boulevard.  Val responded it eliminates cut through traffic, slows traffic and is more visually pleasing. 

Val suggested a corridor redevelopment authority between the City of Grandville and Wyoming for street connections.

Jack Bengtson and Bob Poll both noted they would like to see residential development on the Hope Network property.

Val will bring form-based coding examples to the December 6, 2006 Planning Commission meeting.  Val will also bring land use diagrams for the Planning Commission to discuss and present to the City Council.

OTHER BUSINESS

1.         Gene LaSarge attended the Zoning Board of Appeals Basic Training and asked that the information from that meeting be copied for all Planning Commissioners.  Gene felt the training was very beneficial.

PUBLIC COMMENT

1.         John DeHaan, 4612 Ivanrest, came before the Planning Commission to share his thoughts on the X-Rite property.  Does not believe this property could be used for Industrial.  He would like to see this property as used commercially and feels traffic is not a concern because the traffic already exists with people traveling to the mall.   He does not feel Grandville will have to worry about market saturation on this site.  Feels the city should market who they’d like to see on the site.

Motion by Bengtson, supported by LaSarge to adjourn.  The motion passed unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Debby Descheneau

Recording Secretary

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