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Z�i�D�C I I AM $. 3Q ZQNING BOARD OF APPEALS
CITY OF LIVtaNiA
MINUTES C}F SPECIAL MEETiNG HE�D OCTQBER 27, 2015
R Special Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals of the G�ty of Livonia was held in the
Audifiorium of the Livonia City Hall on Tuesday, October 27, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT Matthew Henzi, Chairman
Sam Caramagna, Secretary
Craig Pastor
Gregory Coppola
Jim Bannghaus
Ben Schepis
Leo Neviile
� MEMBERS ABSEN7� None
tJTHERS FRESENT� Mike Fisher, City Attorney
Craig Hanosh, Gity Inspector
Patr�c�a C Burklow, CER-8225
The meeting was cafied to order at 7 00 p m Chairman Henzi explained the Ruies of
Procedure to thase interested parties Each petitioner must give their name and address
and declare hardship for appeal Appeals of the Zoning Board's decisians are made to
the 1Nayne County G�rcu�t Court. The Cha�rman advised the aud�ence that appeals can
be filed withm 21 days of the date tonight'� minutes are appraved The decision of the
Zoning Board shall become final w�thir� five �5) calendar days follow�ng the hearing and
the applicant shall be mailed a capy of the decision There are four decisions the Board
can make to deny, to grant, to grant as modified by the Board, or ta table for further
informatian Each petitioner may ask to be heard by a full seven (7) member Board
Seven (7) members were present this evening The Secretary then read the Agenda and
Legal Notice to each appeal, and each petitioner�ndicated their presence Appeals came
up for hearing after due legal notice was given to all interested parties within 300 feet,
petitioners and C�ty Qepar#ments There were 21 people present in the audience
{7 05}
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City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 1 of 57 October 27, 2015
j'� APPEAL CASE IVO. 20?5-08-40(Tabled on September29, 2U15): An appeal has been
made to the Zonmg Board of Appeals by Septimiu and Mana Puscas, 20121 Mernman,
��vonia, MI 4$152, seeking to erect a detached garage while maintaining an attached
garage, resulting m excess number of garages, garage area and garage height.
Number of Garaqes Garacte Area Detached Garaqe Heiqht:
Allawed C7ne Allowed 720 sq ft. Ailawed 16 Q ft. 0 in
Proposed Two Proposed 1571 sq ft. Proposed 19 0 ft. 5 in
Excess Qne Existing 851 sq ft. Excess 3 Q ft. 5 in
Excess 851 sq ft.
The property is lacated on the west s�de of Merriman {2Q121}, between NorFolk and
Fairfax, Lot. No 009-99-0017-OQO, RUF-A Zoning District. Re�ected by the Inspection
Department under Zoning Urd�nance 543, Section 2 10{5}, "Definitian of Miscellaneous
Terms, Garage Private", and Section 18 24, `Residential Accessory Building "
Nenzi Is there a rnot�on to remoue fram the table?
Pastor� Mr ChaEr, 1'll make a motion
Caramagno Support.
� Henzi Maved and supported, all in favor say aye
Board Members Aye
Henzi ThEs is remaved, thank you Mr Hanash, do yau have anything to add ta this
case?
Hanash Not at this time, Mr Chair
Henzi Any questions for the Inspection Department? Hearing none, will the petit�oner
please come #o the podium? Good evening
Puscas Good evening, gentlemen I'm Septimiu Puscas with the address of 20121
Merriman Road m Livonia 1'm here w�th Mr Bill Apel, the sales manager from the
company that is going to build the garage for us
Henzi Okay, �ust tell us what is new since we were here last time
Puscas From the last the time if you recall three of the four board members actually
suggested or gave us the okay to consider the he�ght of the garage up to twenty feet. In
that regard we actually went and changed the drawing and submitted a new drawing with
a height of 19 feet and 5 inches
Henzi Okay, anything else you want to add?
Puscas No, everythmg else is the same unless any of you has any questions
Henzi akay Any questians for the petitioner?
l� Pastar Mr Cha�r
City of Livonia, Zoning Baard of Appeals Page 2 of 57 October 27, 2015
,� Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� Is any of the materials or--other then the height of the garage has anything
changed on this garage?
Puscas No, nothing at all
Pastor Okay, thank you
Nenzi Any other questions? Hearmg none, is there anyone in the audience who wants
to speak for or against this pro�ect? If so, come on up#a the podium I see no one coming
forward Are there letters?
Caramagno We have an approval from John Maykov�ch, 201 a0 Osmus (letter read} and
{etters of object�on from PhEll�p Arpino, 20135 Merriman �letter read) and Tina
Pamboukd�ian, 31491 Norfolk (letter read)
Henzi Nfr Puscas, ts there anything you want to say �n cEosing?
Puscas As I mentioned befare I d�d no# know about the restrictions on bu�lding the
second garage I learn them gomg alang It was not something I planned, definitely I did
nat plan to waste any of yaur t�me 1 feel bad that it had to stretch so long I did learr�
everythmg that I had to learn from it. But I do want to ask you to consider the new height
proposal On the end of �t 1 do have a second room which this garage is going to have
and I want to be able to use Of course my neighbors da not know that this garage has
a second room Also, our lot is 2 3 acres and rt is going to be built between trees m the
,�'� back. Nobody wil! see it. ActuaNy you are welcome to come and take a look in the back
of our lot. i actually--I'm confident we bring the value in that zone--if you look at the
hauses around and the back of the garages you w�ll be praud to know the new garage
goes there and it's going to actually look very nice So again I'm asking you to give us
the okay sa we car� move on and bu�ld �t before the winter gets here That's aur plan
And if time allaws and temperatures will allow I'll actually like to put the dnve to it this fall
also 1 #hank you very much for your considerat�on
Henzi Thank you I'll close the public portion of #he case and beg�n the Board's
comments with Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus Thank you I know you have had sort of a long journey to get fio #his point
where the garage is within code �tself You've demonstrated--you've admitted your
mistake on the original measurements of 23 feet, you've brought it back to 19 feet which
I think is a posit�ve s�gn It is more in line of what we orEginally had the impress�on of what
the s#ructure was going be built at. I would have no problems supporting this
Henzi Mr Coppala
Puscas Thank you
Coppola. The petitioner came back with the change as we requested I think in light of
the size of his lot and where �t would s�t in re)ationship ta the trees and the line of sight
whEch the trees and such it shouldn't be that much of an issue with the ne�ghbors I will
have no problem supportmg this
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City of Livonia, Zoning Board afAppeals Page 3 of 57 October 27, 20a5
n Puscas Thank you
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno I had the opportunity yesterday or a couple days ago #o see Mr Puscas
outside and 1 walked m the backyard w�th h�m Where this garage �s gaing to be built is
not gomg to be a hindrance to anybody in the neighborhood I appreciate the fact that he
brought it down ta 19 feet--to 39 and a half feet. i think this adds value as yau suggest.
And Mr Arpina's letter suggests that it had come back to us multiple times I think that is
a good thing because it is fnally gomg to be r�ght now So I'm in suppor�.
Puscas Thank you
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastar� I am ane of your ne�ghbors so I appreciate you coming down a little bit on that
height. I know there are other garages in #he area that are probably a little b�t taller
You've done a wonderful�ob on that praperty
Puscas Thank you, sir
Pastor- I drive by it every day and I appreciate you working wi#h us Sa 1 can support
this
Puscas Thank you I appreciate your help #oo
Henz� Mr Schepis
/1 Schepis 1 agree Th�s is what we requested and I don't have anything to add other than
I would support it.
Puscas Thank you
Henzi Mr Nev�lle
Neville I agree with the camments previously made And I appreciate your working with
the ZBA on it. Goad luck
Puscas Thank you, sir I appreciate it.
Nenzi And 1 agree with the other Board Members and I would just suggest that we
incorporate the four conditions that we set forth when we initially granted the variance
form June 3Q, 2015 Thank you for yaur indulgence an the height, Mr Puscas
Puscas Sure
Henzi Sa the floor is open far a motion
Schepis Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Schepis
Upon Motion by Schepis supported by Caramagno, it was
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City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 4 of 57 October 27, 2015
/"1 RESOLVED: APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-08-40 (Tabled on September 29, 2015)• An
appeal has been made to the Zoning Board of Appeals by Septimiu and Mar�a Puscas,
20121 Merriman, Livon�a, MI 48152, seeking to erect a detached garage while
maintaining an attached garage, resulting in excess number of garages, garage area and
garage height.
Number of Garaqes. Garage Area: Detached Garaqe Heiqht:
Allowed One Allowed 720 sq ft. Allawed 16 Q ft. Q in
Proposed Two Praposed 1571 sq ft. Propased 19 0 ft. 5 in
Excess Qne Existing 851 sq ft. Excess 3 Q ft. 5 in
Excess 851 sq ft.
The property is located on the west side of Mernman (20121), between Norfolk and
FaErfax, �at. No �09-99-Q017-400, RUF-A Zoning D�strict. Re�ected by the Inspection
Department under Zoning Ordinance 543, Section 2 10(5), "Definition of Miscellaneous
Terms, Garage Private°', and Section 18 24, "Res�dent�al Accessory Building,"be granted
for the fallowing reasons and findings of fact:
1 The uniqueness requirement is met because this �s a large lot on a main street
and Petitioner needs additional storage room for multiple cars and lawn and
snow equipment necessary to ma�ntain his property
� 2 Denial of the variance would have severe consequences for the Petitioner
because of the lack of storage space far his vehicles and lawn and snow
equipment.
3 The variance is fair m light of its effect on neighbonng properties and m the
spirit of the Zon�ng ardEnance because the neighboring property owners are in
support and neighbors have similar out buildings
4 The Board received two letters of approvai and no ob�ection letters from
neighboring property owners
5 The property is classified as 1aw density residential in the Master Plan and the
proposed variance is not inconsistent with that classification
FURTNER, Th�s variance is granted w�th the follow�ng condit�ons
1 That the garage be constructed as presented both in writing and orally ta the
Zoning Board of Appeals includ�ng placement, materials, and the garage height at 19
feet, 5 inches
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City of Livonia, Zaning Board of Appeals Page 5 of 57 October 27, 2015
,^ 2 That Petitioner must commence building within six (6) months of appraval af this
petit�on
3 That Petitioner must enciose the building within ninety (9t3) days of commenang
constructiort of the garage and camplete construction wi#h�n twelve (12) months
4 That Petitioner will �nstall standard electr�cal serv�ce
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Schepis, Caramagno, Coppola, Baringhaus, Neville, Pastor, Henzi
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Henzi The variance is granted which those four conditions wh�ch were identical #o what
was set fo�th at#he June, 2015 meeting
Puscas Okay Thank you
Henzi Good luck to you
Puscas Thank you very much I reaily appreciate your help and your hard work on it.
� Thank you Have a good even�ng
Henzi You too
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City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 6 of 57 Ocfaber 27, 2015
� APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-09-49(Tabled on September 29, 2015): An appeal has been
made to the Zonmg Board of Appeais by Jerone and Rosalie Stenrose, 304�0 Puritan,
Livonia, M! 48154, seeking ta erect a single family dwelling with attached garage,
resulting in deficient lot area and front yard setback.
Lot Area: Front Yard Se#back
Required 0 500 acre (21,780 sq ft.) Required 50 0 ft.
Existing 0 378 acre (16,466 sq ft.) Proposed 39 2 ft.
Deficient: 0 122 acre (05,314 sq ft.) Deficient: 10 8 ft.
As approved by the Baard
Required 0 500 acre (21,780 sq ft.)
Existing 0 378 acre (16,466 sq ft.)
Deficienfi. 0 122 acre (05,314 sq ft.)
The property is located on the west side of Henry Ruff (16135), between Puritan and
Greenland, Lot. No 054-99-0022-003, RUF Zonmg Distr�ct. Re�ected by the Inspection
� Department under Zoning Ordinance 543, Sectian, 5 04, "Mmimum Lot Size" and Section
5 05, "Front Yard "
Endersbe Hello, Matt Endersbe, 3077 Lafayette
Henzi Wait, hold an Is there a mot�on to remove from the table?
Pastor Mr Chair, I make a motion to remove from the table
Caramagno Support.
Henzi Move and suppor�, all �n favor say aye
Board Members Aye
Henzi Okay, it's removed, thank you Mr Hanosh, anything to add to this case?
Hanosh Not at this time, Mr Chair
Henzi Any questions far the Inspection Department? HearFng none, go ahead Mr
Endersbe
Endersbe Matthew Endersbe, 3077 L.afayette, Lincoln Park, Michigan I guess I'm back
here--we last time #abled it one of the cans�derat�ons last t�me was we were going ta--1
guess--da some research on the legal�ty of what the City Council put m place of the no
deed and no transferring ar seliing the property until the Zoning Board had approved the
�„� request_ I don't know if we got anywhere with that or--is that--
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 7 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Henzi Mr Fisher, do you want to speak to that?
Fisher� Yes I can speak to that. The--we don't do this anymore We don't do kind--this
approval process for lot splits Approximately ten years ago the Zoning ordinance was
amended as was the Code of Ordinances--applicabie Code of Ordinances provision and
ever since then City Council has taken on itself the �ob of waiving these lot area
deficienaes Council's resolution in this case did waive the lot area deficiency
Unfortunately, the resolution had I guess you would say a typo because it also included
the former standard language we used in those resolutions about the property not being
able to be split until it was approved by ZBA. It was clearly the intention however of
Council at that time to approve a split. And one way we know that is because Council
accepted at that time the proffered nght of way from Mr and Mrs Stenrose So it's--that
was a mistake--I mean the Council resolution that I guess we are here to clear up now
Henzi Did you know any of that Mr Endersbe?
Endersbe I guess I'm not even sure I understand what he�ust said
Henzi He's confirming that the--City Council in 2005 did approve a lot split.
Endersbe Correct.
Henzi They called it a land division For some reason I think we talked about it at the
meeting But the gist of it is Mrs Stenrose from whom you're going to buy the house, she
and her husband negotiated a deal with the City and they forfeited 43 feet times a certain
number of feet for an easement. And in exchange there was an agreement to split the
� lots And in fact what I read from minutes there was an agreement to make the lots more
identical in size of about 17,000 square feet each
Endersbe Okay
Henzi That's the--that's the existing house and then the lot that you want to build on So
in exchange for giving that up the City granted the lot split and deemed it a buildable lot.
Endersbe Okay
Henzi They then came forward--they had to get those two variances So they had to get
a variance for the existing home which was granted and a couple weeks later them came
back and they got a vanance for the lot you want to build on But that variance was only
good for one year and because they didn't build on it that's why you're back.
Endersbe Correct.
Henzi Okay
Endersbe Okay, so my guess--my interpretation is of all of what was just said is that I
can't imagine it being the position of City Council to split that lot, take that easement and
then not allow her to sell her lot. And no one is going to buy the lot unless they can do
something with it. So I mean I have a lot of other stuff to talk about but it kind of seems
like if that is not granted I'm sure she will be back. You know it's �ust kind of kicking the
can down the road in my opinion You have a buyer, someone that can develop that
property and she needs to sell it. And I think it's kind of--despite how--I'm not sure if that
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City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 8 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ was good or bad you kind of--I'm not sure of the whole verbiage of everything you said
and I'm not sure if it went my way exactly But--I don't know I �ust think don't think it
was the intention So a couple of things i want to add to you guys can decide what you're
going to do with that. The--her existing home which is referred to Parcel A is only 35 --I
believe 35 7 feet from the road or two--or seven inches from the--I'm sorry from the
easement. We're proposing 39 2 so this would more of a setback. In the--also in the City
Council minutes--I'm going to murder this guy's name, Taormina--
Henzi Taormina
Endersbe Taormina, say it one more time
Fisher� Taormina
Endersbe Taormina, had expiained that of the closest one hundred lots there were fifteen
other lots in the area that were less than 17,400 square feet. This lot here is 3788 acres
which makes its 16,465 feet and some change If you add back the easement that's 22
almost 2300 square feet, that gives you very close--well it gives you approximately 18,750
square feet. I'm not--I know that's the easement but at the same time this is kind of one
the crux of why we have an issue That does put the total lot if you add back the easement
and I know its 43 acres It's a nice--I think it's a nice lot. I guess--I guess that really is
the crux of it.
Henzi I'm going to ask you a couple questions about this setback.
Endersbe Sure
� Henzi I think we now have figured out that it's a buildable lot and we do have the history
So my initial line of questioning is are you proposing--do you know whether you are
proposing the same model that Mr and Mrs Stenrose had proposed in 2005?
Endersbe The exact model
Henzi Same plans and everything right?
Endersbe 1 have obtained a release of the copyright on those plans and also--I also
obtained it from Mrs Stenrose as well, that hey you can use the plans But I also have
gotten it from the architect as well
Henzi Okay When the Stenroses were before us, there was talk about essentially why
don't you move the house further back so you can comply with the front yard setback So
I'll ask that to you What's your position on that?
Endersbe Well I guess my answer would be exactly what the answer was in the minutes
And that was you're--you know if you move it back there's a pros right, you'll be more in
line with the other two houses that are to the north However, not the one to the south
and you would be kind of compromising or infringing on the people in the lots behind
That was what you guys said
Henzi And your agreement is with Mrs Stenrose to purchase the house contingent on
getting this variance, right.
^ Endersbe That's correct.
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City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 9 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Henzi Any other questions?
Caramagno Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno The Stenrose house on that piece of property that runs along Puritan do
you have any idea how many square feet that lot is?
Endersbe Yeah, it's on--do you have the plot plan?
Caramagno I don't think I've got the square footage That would be the address 30410?
Endersbe It says that it is 431
Caramagno That's the one that faces Puritan?
Endersbe Yes, on the corner--
Caramagno 431 How about the one further north, 16147 do you have that one?
Endersbe No I don't, I don't believe so
Caramagno Does anybody?
Baringhaus I do, why don't you pass this It's listed in one of the paragraphs
Caramagno 431
Bannghaus It's listed in square feet. There's three parcels A, B, and C
^ Caramagno A, B, C, so I'm looking for C
Baringhaus C I had at 5885 square feet based on that document.
Endersbe Isn't--
Henzi C is the easement.
Endersbe Yeah, that's what I was going to say, C is the easement, yeah
Caramagno Well I'm looking for the square footage of--or the--Lot 16147
Endersbe Which is--are you saying--is it the one that is ad�acent on the other side?
Caramagno It looks about the same as the lot you're proposing It looks about the same
As a matter of fact to the north of it, the next two lots look about the same size according
to this map that I've got.
Endersbe Yeah, you guys talked about it being very consistent with R-3 over there in
the meeting minutes
Caramagno Well for the sake of anything I'll�ust say they look the same yes And there
are houses on them, two houses--two lots north of you and they look similar in size
Endersbe Yeah
Henzi Any other questions?
^ Baringhaus Mr Chairman
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appea/s Page 10 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Henzi Mr Bannghaus
Baringhaus With the design that you have what is the square footage of the home?
Endersbe I believe it's 2350
Baringhaus Thank you
Endersbe Mm-hmm
Henzi Any other questions?
Coppola Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Coppola
Coppola I asked this question before and I know what your answer is but you could
have--could you have come up with a different design of the house without the garage
sticking out that would have not required a zoning variance for the setback?
Endersbe You know, I really would like to stick with the modern design I mean I'm--I
mean this isn't--I want--1 want it to be valuable I want it to--what I put into this I want
there to be value back to me I don't want to compromise if I could
Coppola So what you're saying is you want this layout to get a greater return on your
investment?
Endersbe Well, iYs the American dream right? I'm building my home so--
/1 Coppola Okay, thank you
Henzi Any other questions? Heanng none, is there anyone in the audience who wants
to speak for or against the pro�ect? If so, come on up to the podium
Perez My name is Gerald Perez. I live at 16148 Henry Ruff nght across the street from
where they are proposing to build the house I talked with Jerone Stenrose back in 2005
when you guy had the--when he had done the split. He was telling me how he had signed
over the right-of-way to--he had been talking to the City about that. And I had told him at
the time that I was okay with the split at the time and the deficiency that it was going to
be causing And--but in the way the case is coming up now the only problem I have is--
and I told Rose too, because I had talked to her beforehand As long as the gentleman
builds it 50 feet back I have no problem The other two houses that are on Henry Ruff are
set back 50 feet. My house is set back 50 feet. Rose's house is not set back 50 feet, she
is on Puritan So in talking with Rose she said well if I have to go without selling the
house--because I asked her, is this guy making it contingent that he build this house with
a deficiency? I'm okay with the lot defic�ency but I'm against him building it closer to the
road when every other house on that short block of Henry Ruff is all set back 50 feet. And
I'm the one that sits right across the street from it and am going to be looking at all that
stuff coming out at me And like I said as long as the guy builds it back 50 feet, no problem
I'm okay with the deficiency on the lot. I understand because I was pulling up some of the
paperwork on the lot across the street at 16147 And I remember when Lill Schull (sic)
used to live there I think the lot size was 1 99 acres at that time And Jackie Sorrel that
� lives at the house that is off to the north of her when they split the lot I believe is at a 43
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 11 of 57 October 27, 2015
/'1 acreage now So I don't know what exactly that left 16147 at but I believe that is sfil! half
an acre which is what the RUF is supposed to be at in that area is that correct?
Henzi Yep, that's carrect.
Perez: Okay, so i don't know what other--I knaw I had sen# in a comment that last t�me
you had the hearing and I heard thafi it was tabled So I don't know if you have all the
wr�tten in comments too or not but 1 thought I wouid come here because I taiked to Rose
and I told her well I'll came to the meeting because I know that--I'm not really for you I
goes--1 mean 1 mean understand you're selling #he lot I said but like I said 1'm aga�nst the
deficiency on the frontage there So in talking with her she understoad, she's "well I
understand what you are saying " She goes "I have no prablem with that," she goes, "in
fact," she goes "I told the bwlder, build it back 50 feet." And I don't knaw what his
response was but apparently he doesn't want to do that. But if he builds it back 5t3 feet I
have no problem with it. Any questions for me?
Caramagno Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno What was your address again?
Perez 'E 6148
Caramagno Thank you
� Henzi Anybady else? I see nobady, can you read the letters?
Caramagno I have a letter ofi approval from Michael Mi(ler 15981 Doris (letter read), and
letters of object�on from Jena Hoffman, 30220 Puritar� {letter read}, Christopher
McDonald, 30181 Greeniand, (letter read), Alicia Thayer, 30425 Greenland (letter read),
�ynette LaPointe, 34145 Greenland {letter read}, W C FoElmer, 30410 Greer�land {letter
read), Jacqueline Sorel, 16165 Henry Ruff, (letter read), Carol Bonamici, 30511
GreenEand {letter read}, Angela Nancatte, 3043'! Puritan {letter read}
Nenzi Mr Endersbe you have the apportunity for closing statement.
Endersbe I actually have a letter
Baringhaus We have an additional letter
Henzi Clkay We11 you can go ta #he podium because you're up ne�ct.
Garamagna �etter of ob�ection from James and Den�se Smartt, 30415 Pur�tan {letter
read) and a letter of approval from Walter Salczynski, 30450 Puritan (letter read) and
Rosalie Stenrose, 3043� Puritan (lefter read}
Henzi Mr Endersbe, anything you want to say in closRng?
Endersbe Sure, last time I was here we talked about the setbacks and we talked abaut
it not being a buildable lot and basFcally ten years ago �t didn't seem to be--�t was a slam
dunk And the difference between ten years ago and last month is this time I asked for
the lot to be buildable Maybe he knew something we didn't or we naw know I'm not sure
� but that he didn't have to ask for that. I'm not sure But we bas�cally said that--the
City of Livonia, Zaning Baard af Appeals Page 12 of 57 Octaber 27, 2075
^ comment was made that what we see the difference being is the setbacks weren't an
issue it was that--it was now I'm asking for a buildable lot. That's the--that was the
difference between my request and the one of ten years ago You know as far as the
issue hey it's--you're going to compromise I guess the integrity of RUF zoning, you know
it's a lot that is�ust shrubs I mean I can't see how when I'm done developing this property
it's not going to add value as to the neighborhood You know I �ust can't see it. i guess-
-you know--the other thing too is when I was walking around the neighborhood I asked
people to support me I said hey I want to develop that land and I'd love to live here and
I'll make it beautiful And I did run into some no's and I'm against it this gentleman and
some others And I did run into a lot people that were--that said I have no problem with
it at all but I cannot deal with that woman I guess there was some sort of garage issue
down the road So there's like a notorious neighbor and there's a lot of strife in the
neighborhood because of it. So I--you know--it is kind of the old marketing thing of you
burn a customer they are going to tell ten people if you take care of a customer they're
only tell �ust a few It is kind of bad news spreads fast and I think that is a little bit
disproportionate because a lot of peopie in the neighborhood that would support it are
actually afraid of the confrontation So that is my piece
Henzi Thank you I'll close the public portion of the case and begin the Board's
comments with Mr Coppola
Coppola I have no issues with the lot being buildable I think that is a significant issue
But where I have a little bit of a difficulty is with the fact that I think a different footpnnt
^ would avoid the issue of the setback. One of the areas we're asked to look at is the
hardship is something more serious than inconvenience or desire to earn more money I
asked you a question as to why you wanted to keep that footpnnt and one was that it
would be more valuable Well that's to earn more money That's the only reason that
you want to keep that footprint I would have trouble approving a variance for that setback.
So I probably would not be in support.
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno Well clearly it was the intention with the City to make a deal with the
Stenroses to make this lot a buildable lot. Whether that expired or didn't or the language
didn't get put in there right or not to me is--it doesn't speak to the intention of what was
going to happen here with the right-of-way, the splitting of the lot. But when I looked
earlier, and I looked before and I've been down the street many times The two lots to
the north are similar in size There's houses on those lots So when I look at this is
something that doesn't already exist there as far as lot size, no it already exists The two
house�ust to the north, the next two are on similar sized lots So how is this any different
other than it is treed or shrubbed or overgrown disaster right now? So I think it is a
buildable lot, I think so I would hope that your water issue if there is a water issue there
is well looked at before you build a house if you get this approval As far as the setback
goes for the neighbor right across the street, he doesn't want to see the 40 foot and in old
minutes you didn't want to move it back to interFere with the people behind you But I
hear the man across the street pretty loud We're talking about a ten foot difference
^ Maybe you meet in the middle at 45 feet. I don't know if there is a reason that can't be
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 13 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ done or not. It gives him some satisfaction not all of it but some And I don't think that
interferes with the people behind bad either So I'll be in support at 45 feet.
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� Well ten years ago I was in approval of this Today I'm in approval of this This
is a deal the City hammered out with the Stenroses I believe the only reason this expired
is because this Board said if they didn't build it within a year it would expire I don't even
have a problem with the 45 feet because--or the 39 2 feet because that is what we
approved before This is the exact same footprint, the exact same house I can't see him
moving the house back. I was looking at the plot plan and if you move the house back
that means your backyard would be some 45 feet. Mr Coppola said can't you move the
garage back, well not with the way this house is designed you cannot. So I'll be in full
support of this I don't even know why we are here other than a clerical error So I'il be in
support.
Henzi Mr Schepis
Schepis I'm struggling with this a little bit because on the one hand we have the prior
decision of this Board and the decision of City Council And on the other hand for
whatever reason there's a lot of opposition to this in the neighborhood You know the--I
would agree with Mr Coppola that when the petitioner mentioned he didn't want to look
at another footprint for his house that that does suggest a financial consideration But
overall I don't know if there is room to meet in the middle as Mr Caramagno suggested,
� but as it stands I would not be in support of this
Henzi Mr Neville
Neville Well obviously I try to look at this ob�ectively and come to a decision that I think
satisfies our law I think it's significant that the variance was granted for a period of one
year They failed to build upon the property within that one year, it expired When I look
at this request I can't but come to the conclusion that it is an economic reason the variance
is being requested not a reduction in the size of the home So unfortunately, I come up
with the conclusion this if purely a financial--financially driven request for a variance I
don't think that the variance is consistent with the zoning ordinances in fact I feel it is
completely violative of the spirit of the zoning ordinance Having viewed that property I
�ust think that the size is too small and unfortunately I would not be in support of the
request for a variance
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus I think I align my point of view with Mr Coppola and I think he asked a very
key question And that question is could the footprint be altered to adapt it to a 50 foot
setback. In the spirit of cooperation with your neighbors and the neighborhood I would
like to see that option addressed if it is possible I guess one thing I'm looking at in terms
of is the variance fair in terms of the neighbors' concerns And we've heard a lot of
concerns from your neighbors tonight that they want the 50 foot setback They want the
home to be consistent with the appearance of the neighborhood itself I would like to see
the motion tabled and look at an alternative design that could possibly make the setback
�,
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 14 of 57 October 27, 2015
/"� closer to 50 feet. If you choose not to do that and move forward I'm inclined not to support
the variance
Henzi I will support the request. This is the identical thing that the Stenroses tried to do
ten years ago The Stenroses were going to sell to a builder who was going to seli the
house for profit. Today we've got a builder who wants to live in the home It's the same
house We've received lots of documents that evidence this is a buildable lot. It would
be an ultimate inequity to the Stenroses for the City through its Law Department, Planning
Commission, and City Council to take 43 feet from the Stenroses' property on Puntan,
negotiate a deal, compromise the lot split--in fact ask the Stenroses to make the
properties more comparable in size and then tell them that it is not buildable There is no
doubt about it, this is a buildable lot. So then the issue becomes the front yard setback.
And I think that there is good cause for granting the deficiency for all the reasons that
were stated in 2005 which are as follows That the front yard wiil be 58 feet from the
road--from the edge of the road 58 feet. That the property at 16147, two--one house to
the north is 77--is it 77 feet from the front and by calculation it was determined it has a
deficient rear yard setback of 40 feet. So when we talked about this in 2005 the notion
was either he is going to be deficient in the front yard or he is going to be deficient in the
rear yard with this house plan And we decided that it would be more fair to give the
deficient front yard setback because that would be more in line with what exists on this
street, Henry Ruff, and it would also be more fair with the properties that are on
Greenland None of which--well one--yeah of which ob�ects and I don't know why
because this proposed to put the house farther away from hers Lastly, there was the
� notion of these four houses none of which are point five or half an acre lots that's more
like R-3 zonin� which would be a 35 foot setback. And if it was R-3 he wouldn't even
need the vanance I think that despite the neighbors' complaint which I'm empathetic with
it would be incredibly unfair to deny this So I would vote yes as presented The floor is
open for a motion
Caramagno Mr Chair, let me give you where we are at. We are four against, and three
support and Mr Baringhaus suggested a tabling So at this point we don't have the--we
have four votes against to deny So if the motion is coming out it needs to come out from
somebody who is going to deny it.
Coppola Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Coppola
Coppola Mr Fisher
Fisher� Yes, sir
Coppola Is it possible to split the vote on this There's two issues at hand here can we
deal with them separately?
Fisher� Well you can certainly adopt the motion--or you can adopt a resolution that would
approve in part and deny in part if that what's you're contemplating?
Coppola Yes Okay, thank you
/'r, Henzi What are you thinking?
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 15 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Coppola. Mr Chair, I'm �ust thinking it seemed everybody was relatively supportive,
everybody was supportive of the fac# that we get it an the record that this �s a buildable
lot. And that's fair to the current owner based on the dea! that made at the time But then
have a separate vote on the setback. 1 think the ob�ecfions were primarily to the setback
not to the bu�ldable lot issue So at that poir�t the petitioner can make a decision He can
appeal it or he can change his footpnnt.
Henzi Clkay Do you want to try that then?
Coppala Sure Mr Cha�r-
Henzi Mr Coppola
Upon Motion by Coppola supported by Baringhaus, it was
RESOLVED: APPEAL CASE NO. 2415-09-49 (Tabled on September 29, 2015): An
appeal has been made to the Zoning Board of Appeals by Jerone and Rosalie Stenrose,
30410 Puritan, Livania, MI 48154, seeking to erect a single family dwelling with attached
garage, resulting �n defic�ent lat area and front yard setback
Lot Area: Front Yard Setback
Required n 500 acre �21,78Ci sq ft.} RequEred 50 0 ft.
� Exist�ng Q 378 acre �16,46f> sq ft.) Proposed 39 2 ft.
Deficient 0 122 acre �05,314 sq ft.} Deficient: 10 8 ft.
As approved by the Board
Required � 500 acre (21,7$0 sq ft.)
Existing 0 378 acre (16,466 sq ft.)
Deficient: 0 122 acre (05,314 sq ft.)
The property is located on the west side of Henry Ruff (16135), between Puritan and
Greenland, �ot. No 054-99-0022-003, RUF Zoning D�strict. Re�ected by the Inspection
Department under Zoning Ordinance 543, Section, 5 04, "Minimum Lot �ize" and Section
5 05, "Front Yard" be granted in part and denied in part for the following reasans
and findings of fact:
1 The un�queness requirement is mefi because the lot is deemed buildable,
approval of the lot split was previously granted per an agreemen# wrth C�ty
Council and lots in the neighborhood are of similar size
�
City af Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page �t 6 af 57 October 27, 2015
�
2 Denial of the variance would have severe consequences for the Petitioner
because it would impact Petitioner's ability to sell the lot created by an
approved lot split by/agreement with City Council
3 The variance is fair in light of its effect on neighboring properties and in the
spirit of the Zoning Ordinance because lots in the neighborhood are of similar
size
4 The Board received two letters of approval and nine ob�ection letters from
neighboring property owners
5 The property is classified as low density residential in the Master Plan and the
proposed variance is not inconsistent with that classification
FURTHER, This variance is granted with the following conditions
1 That Petitioner may construct the home on the lot and the lot is deemed
buildable
� 2 That the Petitioner must construct the home in compliance with the setback
requirements and the request for a variance to allow a 39 2 foot setback is denied
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Coppola, Baringhaus, Schepis, Caramagno
NAYS: Neville, Pastor, Henzi
ABSENT: None
Henzi So that motion passed It was a motion to approve in part and deny in part. So
the variance for deficient lot area was granted but the proposed front yard setback was
denied So you heard Mr Fisher tell you your two options It is that you can build at the
50 foot setback or you would have to come back with a different proposal other than 39 2
proposed setback. Good luck.
Endersbe I have�ust one question
Henzi Yeah?
Endersbe So if you deemed it a buildable it's actually not a variance approval right?
Henzi Well we granted the deficient lot area so you could build on the lot but you have
to build it at the 50 foot setback.
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 17 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Endersbe Right, I understand so we have finro issues One is it a buildable lot and i was
asking for a variance for a buildable lot. Did you grant a variance or did we determine
that it is actually a buildable lot by �nher�tably
Henzi A vanance was granted waiving the deficient lot area which is the same as saying
it is a buildable lot.
Endersbe Is there a t�me I�m�t on that?
F�sher� No
Henzi No, there was none placed
Endersbe Okay, thank you
�
�
City of Lrvonia, Zoning Board af Appeals Page 18 c�f 57 October 27, 2015
/'\ APPEAL CASE NO 2015-10-56 An appeal has been made to the Zoning Board of
Appeals by MKO Real Estate, LLC, 27472 Schoenherr, Ste 140, Warren, MI 48088, on
behalf of Lessee St. Mary Mercy Hospital, 36475 Five Mile, Livonia, MI 48154, seeking
to erect two (2) wall signs, resulting in excess number of signs and sign area
Number of Wall Siqns Wall Siqn Area
Allowed One Allowed 184 sq ft.
Proposed Two Proposed 201 sq ft.
Excess One Excess 17 sq ft.
The property is located on the north side of Five Mile (36622), between Levan and
Williams, Lot. No 067-01-0110-003, C-1 Zoning District. Re�ected by the Inspection
Department under Zoning Ordinance 543, Section 18 50H,b,(2), "Sign Regulations in C-
1, C-2, C-3 and C-4 Distncts "
Henzi Mr Hanosh, anything to add to this case?
Hanosh Not at this time, Mr Chair
Henzi Any questions for the Inspection Department? Hearing none Good evening
Beaubien Hi, good evening Mike Beaubien, my address is 101 Curry Avenue in Royal
� Oak. My business address 36622 Five Mile Road I'm here to ask for a variance for our
signage for our wall signage You're probably familiar with our building It's been a two
year pro�ect for us but this is the final part of our big proJect here The allowed signage
calls for one sign and I believe 100--201--I'm sorry 184 square feet. Both the building
design as well as the tenancy of the building requires us to ask for a variance to have not
one sign but two and �ust a slightly larger square footage of the signage in total The
purpose for us--this is a medical building Mendelson Orthopedics was the tenant is the-
-has approximately 50,000 patients a year that comes into the building About 50 percent
of those patients at that practice are over the age of 50 or 55 And we believe that the--
it's important to have signage on the building to identify the building for people trying to
locate us There is as you know a monument sign out front but that's a very busy
intersection and I think it is important for passersby as well as--more so the patients
coming to us to quickly identify this not to cause any traffic issues near the intersection
The--our tenant, they are St. Mary's and I'm here with Steve VanBrussel from St. Mary's
who is the Director of Planning and Development and Dan Grace from Kasko
Construction who built our beautiful building for us And we believe this is both a safety
issue in terms of being able to identify the building but also you don't build a building
around a sign you put a sign on a building And if you look at our building the way it is
designed I think it is a beautiful building and it enhances the corner of that area--of the
Five Mile and Levan area It is very difficult to get the signage available to us by the zoning
requirements so I'm respectfully asking for that variance to have the two signs I think
it's--we've spent a lot of time looking at it to make sure that it was an attractive sign on an
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 'f9 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ attractive building and be respectful of the zoning requirements and coming as close as
we can to meeting the square footage for those signs
Henzi Gentleman, do you have anything add?
Grace Not at this time Steve?
VanBrussel As Mike said my name is Steve VanBrussel, I'm the Director of Planning
and Design and Construction at St. Mary's, 36475 Five Mile Road I'm obviously here to
speak in support of it. We've spent a lot of time as team understanding our site lines,
being aware of our population--our senior population that we serve And what we've
proposed here is very similar to what we've done at the hospital We like to get our
emblem out there We like to advertise our services or least advertise is the wrong word
We want to make people aware of what our services are in the building Based on the
very narrow window that you actually see the front this building this is what we would like
to see on the building It is in the same spirit of what we've done at the hospital and again
we are asking you to consider that as well for us
Henzi Thank you
VanBrussel Thank you
Henzi Any questions for the petitioners? Actually 1 had one Can you�ust tell me about
lighting on the sign? The hours and if it is backlit?
Beaubien It's--I believe it's designed to--it is not backlit, it is lit inside each of the letters
� It's on a--the letters are individually placed on a rail And we didn't discuss whether it
would be lit 24 hours a day, seven days a week but I would assume that is how we would
like it to be
Henzi Any other questions?
Caramagno Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno Were there other temporary signs on this property at one time recently?
Beaubien Yes, there were
Caramagno Some big emergency signs or something like that?
Beaubien Yeah, that's all been taken down It was--we have an urgent care in the
building as well as the hospital's surgery center The surgery center has taken the whole
second floor A surgery center and a bariatric program
Caramagno What was the idea behind the big emergency signs? I--explain that to me?
Beaubien There's an urgent care in the building
Caramagno Okay
Beaubien That's in--that subleases from us And so we needed to--the tenant who is
subleasing from the orthopedic group asked to have that sign put out there from the
� physicians so we did that temporarily
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 20 of 57 October 27, 2015
r'y Caramagno And going--that's not part of your plan here now, so he needed that�ust for
a couple of weeks or--
Beaubien With the branded--with the branded there might be--we would like to have
some site driven signs but not branded signage So �ust something that enables the
patients coming in the building to know what door to go to because it is an urgent care
But that's not a branded sign
Caramagno That's all I've got.
Henzi Any other questions?
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� So are you telling us now that you are going to be coming in front us once again
for another sign package?
Beaubien No, I'm not.
Pastor That's what you �ust said I thought.
Beaubien Well, I'm looking at�ust site signage not branded signage
Pastor That's part of your sign package though
Beaubien To have urgent care over the door?
/'\ Pastor� So there's more sign package--are you doing this in dribs and drabs because I
really hate that?
Beaubien Well--
Pastor� We've had this issue before and--
Beaubien --if you recall we brought this to you before
Pastor Are you--
Beaubien I pulled it before the hearing--
Pastor� Right.
Beaubien --because we had not finished our lease agreement with the hospital So we
weren't sure whether or not we were going to have a tenant at that time So we pulled it
because we didn't want to take the time of the Council So once that--I thought that site
signage was not going to be required to come here because it was not branded So there
might be--there might be, but we have to have signage up there We have to get signage
up there
Pastor� Mike, is that true I thought all signage had to come?
Fisher� I guess I'm--what I'm missing is what is the distinction between branded signage
and site signage?
/'�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 21 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Beaubien Just something labeling the urgent care above the door What was there
before was the temporary sign, it had the company's name on it and urgent--it was big
and it was really not appropriate for the building and I understand that. So this was what
we've--we've taken it all down and if that's got to have--we have to come back for that
part of the building signage I'm--I'll let the tenant do that.
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� I don't know how the rest of the Board feels but I'm not even willing to look at this
package without the full sign package That's my opinion Because we are going to be
back here in another month asking for more signage, and it's only another ten square
feet, it's only another 50 square feet. I--and I appreciate what you did the last time
because I think you did a great �ob but you keep coming back in front of us asking for
more and more and more signage, I don't think it is appropriate That's my opinion
Bannghaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus Currently there were eight red banners around the perimeter of the property
why are those banners there, what purpose do they serve and how long are they going
to be there?
Beaubien They can come down at any time They were�ust there to announce that--we
^ don't have signage at all so they were there for the urgent care so the urgent care had
some--people could find it because there was no signage at all for us at all
Baringhaus So you pulled the urgent care signage off the overhang--
Beaubien Off the over hang--
Baringhaus --and replaced it with eight banners along Newburgh and Five Mile?
Beaubien Well the banners were up there as well--the banners were up there as well
We did pull all the signage off the building though
Baringhaus The other question I have is how are you trying to brand the building because
I noticed the sign is Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics on the front of the building, yet
your signage on Five Mile calls it the Mendelson Professional Building It seems like you
are sending mixed messages with your signage Have you looked at the consistency of
the signage?
Beaubien Well we did strategically Mendelson--the Mendelson name I think is very
strong in Livonia The Mendelson--it was named after Herbert Mendelson who has been
a practicing physician here for 40 years in Livonia The Mendelson Professional Building
is the name of the building Mendelson Orthopedics is the name of the practice They are
the tenant, they are not the owner, MKO Real Estate is the owner
Fisher� Well MKO is Mendelson and Kornblum isn't it?
Beaubien Same--they are two different companies though
/~'�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 22 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Bannghaus Yeah--excuse me Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus I was �ust cunos why the placement of the name of the practice on the
building rather than the name Mendelson Professional Building I wasn't sure are you
trying to identify the location--
Beaubien I'm--I'm--
Bannghaus --of the building or are you trying to promote the practice and communicate
the practice to the public?
Beaubien There are a lot of patients that come to us that are not Mendelson patients
because we have fourteen doctors in our group But Kornblum is a big--he does the spine
work in our practice It's important for this because that's the name of the company
Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics and Spine Surgeons So Mendelson as a brand for
the monument sign was designated because of the--in honor to be honest with you of the
physician who has practiced here for all those years
Baringhaus Earlier you mentioned the need for some signage on the doors Are you
referring to directional signage that's on the let's say smaller entrance doors that type of
signage? Is that what you are describing?
Beaubien I was describing something that would be on the overhang--
Baringhaus Oh, the overhang?
f�1
Beaubien --of the building
Baringhaus Okay
Beaubien That would indicate that that's the door to go into for urgent care
Baringhaus Okay, thank you
Beaubien I would--I'd like to get this--submit this as it is and if in the future we have to
come back to do the signage you can do what you need to do at that point but we really
need to have the signage on the building for us We've been open for two months already
Henzi Weil to that point though how soon are we going to see a proposal from the urgent
care practice?
Beaubien I'd have to--I'd have to talk to them as a sub-tenant. I'm sure they could get
something together within the next six weeks or so maybe quicker
Henzi I mean, Mr Pastor hit the nail on the head There's going to be another tenant
who is going to come along So the way that I understand this is you're saying we need
the orthopedics out there We've got folks who are aged who don't come to this office all
the time, we need a sign, I get it. And you're also saying we need to have a St. Mary
Mercy Hospital emblem out there And then we've got the outpatient surgery center, we
need all those things Then we're going to have the urgent care say look we need folks
to know there's an urgent care But if we decide tonight on the size of the lettering we
^ are--we're locked in to the square footage And then what are we supposed to do as the
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 23 of 57 October 27, 2015
�""� sign packages keep rolling in? So that was my point if we could get the urgent care to
come and say here's what we want an extra 40--whatever it is then maybe we can do this
all at once Because then we might come back and say no make Mendelson Kornblum
Orthopedics 70 square feet instead of 90, these are our numbers anything like that. So
to circling back to the question is it realistic to say at the next meeting or two we can get
the urgent care group with a proposal? Or you as the landlord--landlord's representative
to have one for them?
Beaubien I would certainly handle it for them, I would handle it for them right now if we
could get an approval on the square footage for that. I understand the situation that is in
front of you I`m looking at this as--I have a call center that takes calls from our patients,
trying to schedule patients and without any sign out there they struggle trying to find the
building Even though you can say to a 65 year old woman we're directly across the
street from St. Mary's Hospital and it's--it's--you know--
Henzi You're right but every business in Livonia that comes before us has that same
problem and we treat them the same I'm thrilled with this building don't get me wrong
But if this was a restaurant on Haggerty which we approved we would be doing the same
thing like let's get this all done at once and not over the course of four or five meetings
That was my point.
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
^ Pastor There's nothing stopping him from putting the Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics
on the building it's under the sign ordinance size He can put that on there today without
any--without even talking to us So he can do that right now and if he wants to come back
in front of us with a full sign package that identifies his today and then he can--we can
look at the rest of the sign package The only problem with that is as you said if we look
at the full sign package and all of a sudden it is 300 feet over our ordinance who do we
cut?
Henzi Right.
Pastor� Because we don't what they are going to propose
Neville Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Neville
Neville Sir, I�ust want to ask, isn't it going to be something�ust as simple as urgent care?
Beaubien That's all it is going to be?
Neville So why would it take six weeks to design--I mean why--
Beaubien I'm thinking the cycle--
Neville --it should take a day?
Beaubien The cycle to get on your agenda and to come back that's why it is going to
take four to six weeks because 1 could do it tomorrow and have a sign company put that
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 24 of 57 October 27, 2015
n on there And then I have to resubmit if I need to resubmit the documents and then get
on your agenda, that's a four to six week process And then it's a four to six week process
to have it fabricated--the signs fabricated
Pastor Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor- What happens if your tenant says well I have to have my name on the building
too?
Beaubien It's--it won't happen
Pastor� Well you say that today but you didn't tell us until �ust now you wanted urgent
care on there as well
Beaubien Well--
Pastor� You know if he--if he--we've had many cases where--as a matter of fact the
building across the street I believe wanted some other signage on his building saying
well--then I want my tenant to be able to put their name on it. We don't know what your
future holds so we like to see--in my opinion we like to see as much as we can now
That's my comment.
Henzi Can you elaborate? You said that's not going happen, can you explain why you
said that?
^ Beaubien Well because anything we do is without our leases that we have So whatever
square footage we are allowed on the building a certain amount of that goes to different
parties as a percentage So there are no other tenants in the building The--there's
Mendelson Orthopedics, that includes our physical therapy center, and then the bariatric
center and then the outpatient surgery center and they are already covered We have
the urgent care in there but they are a subtenant of ours But it's--you know--for urgent
care again it is a matter of directional--you know--we're not--we're not saying its Lakeland
Urgent Care we are�ust saying it's the urgent care entrance And that's what I was looking
to have over that--I was willing to let them do over that--on that overhang There is a
question that we have in terms of the zoning and the zoning requirements for this site
because--and I think--I'm going to turn this over to the folks from Kasko, Dan Grace
There's'--I don't know if it is the zoning but given the linear square feet, our linear feet that
we have of frontage to Five Mile there is different ordinances that are allowed anyways
So I'm going to turn this over to him
Grace Hi, my name is Dan Grace with Kasko Construction The address is 226 East
Hudson, Royal Oak, Michigan Like he mentioned our reJection letter that you sent out
for this appeal meeting cited--I believe it's--let me see what it said here It is like Section
18 5H sign regulations and C-1 zone and subcategory B-2 which states one wall sign for
each separate business not to exceed one square foot of area for each lineal foot of
frontage per tenant. So if you go by that they are not actually over the regulated square
footage They would be allowed a 177 square feet per sign per tenant.
� Fisher� Wait a minute, no
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 25 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Pastor� No
Fisher� No, it's the street frontage that each tenant has that tenant is allowed to have that
much area
Grace If you have multiple floors wouldn't each tenant have--
Fisher� No
Grace --a 177 square feet?
Fisher� No-no--no--no It's not vertical it's�ust horizontal
Grace But the entire first floor facing Five Mile Road is MKO The entire second floor
facing Five Mile is St. Mary's
Fisher� That doesn't matter You get a hundred--you get the lineal square feet. Your
lineal feet of frontage equals your maximum square footage of signage
Grace Okay, I Just--Just a clarification I guess
Henzi Any other questions?
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� Do you have a group sign a monument sign?
^ Grace A monument sign
Pastor� So once again, we never got the--I do appreciate you guys did a real nice�ob on
the monument sign But we've already approved one extra size for monument, now
you're asking for this and then you are going to be asking for more I think I need a full
sign package before addressing this
Henzi Any other questions? Is there anybody in the audience who wants to speak for
or against the pro�ect? If so, come on up Seeing nobody coming forward, can you read
the letters?
Caramagno I have letters of approval from Dale Orsucci, 36509 Kingsbury (letter read)
and Martha Gardner, 36512 Roycroft (letter read) and a letter of ob�ection from Dan Soho,
36548 Roycroft (letter read)
Henzi Mr Beaubien, anything you want to say in closing?
Beaubien Well I guess �ust in closing if--I don't know if this is an option or not it's very
easy to say--to envision having two words on the front of the awning that says urgent
care And I understand that that is not was--that's not maybe protocol in terms of this
being submitted But if the rest of the package looks good, I respectfully ask for--I don't
know maybe I'm asking for something that you �ust can't do and that is to approve
something that isn't here right now But you know give me the square footage that we
could have on that urgent care so that I can go back to the tenant and say this is done
But I'd like to get this done
n Henzi Okay, I understand Mr Fisher, is that possible?
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 26 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Fisher� Well, you're going--you'd be confined to 201 square feet for all the signs because
that is all we put on the public notice So, if you were thinking 241 or something no we
can't do that.
Beaubien Okay I don't--I represent the owner but I'm not the owner so for me to say all
right I'm going to shrink my sign and ask Steve to shnnk his sign, we're the main tenant-
-you know those are the two main tenants in the buiiding Maybe urgent care won't be
able to have a sign and they won't be able to do business there So you know I think iYs
important for the safety of the patients who are coming to our building to be able to see
the building, know where they are going and be able to directionally see that and not have
the--you know--not create any traffic issues as they are trying to figure out where they are
supposed to turn So there's multiple buildings on that corner and so I guess you'd--I
guess I don't have anything else to say at this point.
Henzi Okay Thankyou I'll close the public portion--
Beaubien Steve, do you have anything else you want to say?
Henzi Thanks, I'll close the public portion of the case and begin the Board's comments
with Mr Caramagno
Caramagno Well I think the sign package here it looks very--very nice And I didn't find
the overage to be too bad But my question about the emergency signs was because
when I drove by there I found that exceptionally over the top for something that was really-
-I didn't care for it at all And that concerns me about the overall sign package and that's
/"\ where my questions started to go and then Craig �umped on that. So the whole sign
package would be important to see I think it is fair to the people around the area to see
what it would look like, to be notified of it properly I understand you want to move forward
to get this thing cooking but for the sake of everybody involved including your tenants I
think I need to see the whole package as well We had similar discussion about this for
the first case tonight how many times it's got to come back to the Board to get it right, well
in this case again I think it needs to come back again to look at it one final time to make
sure it is right.
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� I will agree with Sam We've already given you a vanance on the ground sign
which you've guys have done a beautiful�ob on this building, I'm not trying to beat on you
But we've had more than one time when a building similar to this comes in front of us and
says this is what we want. And then they come in front of us and say we can't sign this
lease unless they get this So I want to see the whole sign package only because if it is
going to be 600 square feet of signs, which I doubt, we need to know that. We need to
know what we are approving So I would not be in favor of this tonight.
Henzi Mr Schepis
Schepis I like what you've brought. I think this looks good and I think your building
overall is really nice and I'd like to say yes tonight. But I don't know that we can because
I �ust think we can approve something we can't see And I �ust don't think there is any
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 27 of 57 October 27, 2015
� room to work with based on the fact that the square footage has to remain the same
based on the notice So I'd like to say but I think I have to say no
Henzi Mr Neville
Neville I don't think the City of Livonia has had two greater supporters than St. Mary
Hospital and Mendelson Kornblum I mean you guys have been very supportive to our
community, great corporate citizens, businesses I share and echo the sentiments of my
other Board Members from the standpoint of if we were to approve this then the urgent
care might be something ndiculously small and that wouldn't do anybody any good And
I �ust think that to do it right it would be necessary for us to see what the size of the urgent
care sign is going to be and I agree with Mr Pastor We want to do this preferably at one
time So for that reason i wouldn't be able to support this petition And I think it would be
a matter right for tabling I think that would do you and your clients a greater service then
us voting no on this first one
Henzi Mr Bannghaus
Baringhaus I agree with my fellow Board Members I think the building has a beautiful
design and definitely adds to the community I do agree with Mr Caramagno that some
of the signage that you've attempted especially with urgent care is a little over the top
You indicated--I think a complete sign package would be beneficial in a couple ways It
would give us and the community an idea what the final package would look like for this
building and I think it will also settle your strategy on how you're going to execute the
n signage on this building as well so we can get away from large urgent care letters over
the overhands and then eight large red banners that say urgent care lining not only Levan
but Five Mile as well So I'm really not in favor of supporting this tonight.
Henzi Mr Coppola
Coppola I echo my other Board Members statements and you did a great Job with this
building That corner was an eyesore for a number of years and is a beautiful building
Really makes that area very nice But I would like to see a full package So I would
support tabling this for the time being You do--you could move forward and put signs up
all you would have to do it reduce it by seventeen feet. You could make the Mendelson
and Kornblum Orthopedic sign eighteen--nineteen less the size and put everything up
right now or you could adJust it whatever way you wanted and do that right now And then
when you figure out what you want to do with the rest of signage come and see us That's
an option if you guys need to get things up there right away But I agree with my other
Board Members that I think we'd like to see everything before we approve any vanance
Henzi I agree with Mr Coppola I think it is actually the most fair thing to do for the
petitioners to table It gives him the greatest amount of flexibility and I would like to see
the whole sign package similar to what we need with St. Mary Mercy when it redesigned
its entire campus and we did all the signs at once So the floor is open for a motion
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 28 of 57 October 27, 2015
n Upon Motion by Pastor supported by Coppola, it was
RESOLVED:APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-�0-56 An appeai has been made to the Zoning
Board of Appeals by MKO Real Estate, LLC, 27472 Schoenherr, Ste 140, Warren, MI
48088, on behalf of Lessee St. Mary Mercy Hospital, 36475 Five Mile, Livonia, MI 48154,
seeking to erect two (2) wall signs, resulting in excess number of signs and sign area
Number of Wail Siqns: Wall Siqn Area
Allowed One Allowed 184 sq ft.
Proposed Two Proposed 201 sq ft.
Excess One Excess 17 sq ft.
The property is located on the north side of Five Mile (36622), between Levan and
Williams, Lot. No 067-01-0110-003, C-1 Zoning District. Re�ected by the Inspection
Department under Zoning Ordinance 543, Section 18 50H,b,(2), "Sign Regulations in C-
1, C-2, C-3 and C-4 Districts," be tabled to allow the petitioner an opportunity to
consider the Board's comments and come back with a new sign package
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Pastor, Coppola, Baringhaus, Neville, Schepis, Caramagno, Henzi
/'1
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Henzi The next available meeting is December 8th You need to reschedule by
November 13th So Just contact the ZBA office and you can submit the same application
or a different one But November 13 is your deadline
Beaubien Thank you
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 29 of 57 October 27, 2015
n APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-10-57 An appeal has been made to the Zoning Board of
Appeals by Douglas Rogalla, 14944 Cavour, Livonia, MI 48154, seeking to erect a
detached garage while maintaining an attached garage, resulting in excess number of
garages
Number of Garaqes
Allowed One
Proposed Two
Excess One
The property is located on the east side of Cavour (14944), befinreen Elsie and Jamison,
Lot. No 094-01-0100-000, R-1 Zoning District. Re�ected by the Inspection Department
under Zoning Ordinance 543, Section 18 24, "Residential Accessory Building "
Henzi Mr Hanosh, anything to add to this case?
Hanosh Not at this time, Mr Chair
Henzi Any questions for the Inspection Department? Hearing none, good evening
Rogalla Good evening Doug Rogalla, 14944 Cavour
Henzi Mr Rogalla, tell us about the garage you want to construct.
Rogalla Right now we've got a small--real small garage and shed in my backyard And
� I'd like to be able to build another garage because everything I have right now is �am
packed I don't have room to put a car or anything in And I don't think it would look out of
place in the neighborhood And I'm not trying to build a real big garage, I'd just want to
get like a one and a half car garage
Henzi You've already got the driveway poured, right?
Rogalia Yes
Henzi Would you keep the shed?
Rogalla No
Henzi And can you tell us a little bit about the materials for the proposed garage?
Rogalla Yes, it will be wood framed with a vinyl siding to match my house And shingles
to match also
Henzi Okay, any questions for the petitioner?
Caramagno Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno Sir, you mentioned there are two other houses with multiple garages--
Rogalla Yes
Caramagno --I think on here somewhere I saw Where are they at because I didn't see
� any multiple garages?
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 30 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Rogalla There's one right next to the Church, St. Genevieve IYs on the same side of
Jamison as the Church
Caramagno It must be further to the east?
Rogalla Yes, it's right ad�acent to the Church property
Caramagno I didn't see that
Rogalla It's got an attached garage on the front and then a detached in the back. I don't
really know what there--I don't see a dnveway going to the back garage but there's a
garage in the back
Caramagno Where was the other?
Rogalla I thought there was one right on our street on Cavour up close--closer to Five
Mile It's got a--
Caramagno I didn't see it that's why I asked
Rogalla --three car it looks like it started off as a one car and then they built another
piece kind of next to it I guess they attached the roofs They changed the gables--it's got
two separate gables on it and then they ran a roof from garage to garage I guess to help
with the drainage so that they didn't run into each other
Caramagno Does it appear as one garage instead of two?
Rogalla It appears as one now yes they that it's designed I don't know if it always was
r1 or--
Caramagno I might have seen what you are talking about.
Rogalla --what to be honest with you
Caramagno How many total square feet of garage would you have with this proposal?
Rogalla The one that I want to build would be 16 by 20 and the one that I have right now
attached to the house is 13 by 20
Henzi 610
Caramagno Okay, thank you
Henzi Any other questions?
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� What type of power do you plan to put in this garage?
Rogalla Whatever is required, I don't really need a lot of power out there I�ust am going
to use it more as a big shed than anything else actually
Pastor� So it's not going to be a tool shop or--
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 31 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Rogalla Oh, no, uh-uh Basically a big shed You know I'll have a light out there, I'd like
to have an outside light and a few inside lights but as far as running any equipment or
compressors I'm not planning on doing anything as a shop
Pastor� Out of curiosity why didn't you attach this to your house?
Rogalla If I attach it to my house then I don't have any access to my backyard and that
is one thing that I would like to have Because I'm sixteen feet off of the lot line right now
with my garage and I put you know another ten feet or so then I would only be left with
six feet but I wouldn't be able to--I would be able to walk into my backyard but I wouldn't
be able to get a vehicle into my backyard or anything like that.
Pastor� What kind of vehicle--
Rogalla It�ust seemed more convenient to me to be honest.
Pastor- --are you putting in your backyard?
Rogalla Pardon me?
Pastor� What kind of vehicle do you put in your backyard?
Rogalla I've got a fifth wheel trailer
Pastor� You do not plan on putting that in the garage?
Rogalla Oh, no, uh-uh
�,., Pastor� Thank you
Rogalla Mm-hmm
Henzi Any other questions?
Baringhaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Bannghaus
Baringhaus I �ust want to reconfirm some points on the garage design
Rogalla Yes?
Baringhaus The doors will be white, the colors according to the diagram Okay, the
actual color of the walls to the outside of it will be a clay color?
Rogalla Yes, that's the color of my house
Bannghaus That's the color of your house?
Rogalla Yes
Baringhaus Okay, very good And shingles will match the color of--
Rogalla Yes
Baringhaus --the shingles on your home?
Rogalla Yep
� Baringhaus Okay, great. Thank you
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 32 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Rogalla Uh-huh
Henzi Any other questions?
Caramagno One more, Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno How long have you lived there?
Rogalla About 25 years
Caramagno Why now?
Rogalla I finally got enough money
Caramagno Thanks
Henzi Any other questions?
Baringhaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus When would you start construction of it?
Rogalla I'd like to start it this fall if I could It's getting kind of late and I'm not sure how
quick i can get my package of lumber delivered, you know You know I'm going to try to
do it this year but I hope it all works out by the time I get my concrete poured and go
^ further with it so
Baringhaus Okay, so this--
Rogalla My plan is yes this year
Baringhaus Great, thank you
Henzi Any other questions? Heanng none, is there anyone in the audience who wants
to speak for or against the pro�ect? If so come on up I see no one coming forward can
you read the letters?
Caramagno Letter of approval from Donald Wensing, 14963 Cavour (letter read), Dave
Wensing, 14963 Cavour (letter read), and Laura Kill, 14971 Cavour (letter read)
Henzi Mr Rogalla, anything you want to say in closing?
Rogalla No, not really
Henzi Okay, thank you I'll close the public portion of the case and begin the Board's
comments with Mr Pastor
Pastor� Usually on a lot this size I would probably say no but I don't have any real reason
on this particular case to say no So I guess I will be in support.
Henzi Mr Schepis
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 33 of 57 October 27, 2015
�'"� Schepis I agree, this is a large garage You have a one car garage now and you said
you have a need for�t. 1 think that whatever you build is cons�stent with what you proposed
tonight I would support it.
Henzi Mr Neville
Nevilfe I drove by your house this afternoon and I also look at the aerial photos to see
how it compares with athers in the neighborhood and from what i see your pian there is
not inconsistent with what other properties--how they are using their properties--or
property owners are using their property and I wouldn't have any obJect�an or problem
supportmg your request for a variance
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus I feel the design is ver}r well thought out. 1 would suppor# it.
Henzi Mr Coppola
Coppola I am �n support.
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno If I felt the size was excessive at ail 1 would not have supported two garages
an a small lot but I think what you are asking for is reasanable and I think it appears to
me to be absolutely necessary There are many hauses that have no garages in that
area and that is almost unbelievable �n these days So I'm �n support.
� Henzi I too will support it. There's lots of detached garages up and down the street. A
couple with no garages It's not going to iook out of character I�ust would like to see the
shed removed along with our other standard conditions So the floor Es open for a motion
Baringhaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Upon Motion by Baringhaus supported by Pastor, it was
RESOLVED.APPEAL CASE NQ. 20�'S-�0-57 Ar� appeal has been made to the Zoning
Board of Appeals by Douglas Rogalla, 14944 Cavour, Livonia, MI 48154, seeking to erect
a detached garage while maFntam�ng an attached garage, result�ng in excess number of
garages
Number af Garaqes:
Allowed One
Proposed Two
Excess Qne
The property is located on the east side of Cavour (14944), between Elsie and Jamison,
Lot. No C}94-01-0100-OQO, R-1 Zon�ng D�str�ct. Re�ected by the Inspect�on Department
�
Gity of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 34 of 57 October 27, 2015
� under Zoning Ordinance 543, Section 18 24, "Residential Accessory Building," be
granted for the following reasons and findings of fact:
1 The uniqueness requirement is met because of the need to update the garage
to a larger design
2 Denial of the variance would have severe consequences for the Petitioner
because of the lack of storage space for his vehicle and personal belongings
3 The variance is fair in light of its effect on neighboring properties and in the
spirit of the Zoning Ordinance because the neighboring property owners are in
support and no ob�ections have been filed by the other neighbors and it is
consistent with the neighborhood
4 The Board received three letters of approval and no ob�ection letters from
neighbonng property owners
5 The property is classified as low density residential in the Master Plan and the
proposed variance is not inconsistent with that classification
n FURTHER, This vanance is granted with the following conditions
1 That the garage be constructed as presented, including materials and roofing to
match the home
2 That Petitioner must commence building this fall
3 That Petitioner remove the shed upon completion of the garage
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Baringhaus, Pastor, Schepis, Coppola, Neville, Caramagno, Henzi
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Henzi The variance is granted
Rogalla Thank you
!'1
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 35 of 57 October 27, 2015
j� Henzi Good luck ta you
Rogalla Thank you
l`'�
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 36 af 57 October 27, 2015
� APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-10-58: An appeal has been made to the Zoning Board of
Appeals by Joseph and Cindy Rivet, 15619 Ellen, Livonia, MI 48154, seeking to erect a
four(4)foot tall open picket style fence upon a corner lot, resulting in the fence not aligning
with any other fence on ad�oining property and the fence being located in the front yard,
which is not allowed
The property is located on the west side of Ellen (15619), between Edgewood and
Roycroft, Lot. No 063-01-0040-000, R-3C Zoning District. Re�ected by the Inspection
Department under City of Livonia Fence Ordinance, Section 15 44 090A,4bi and Section
15 44 090A,(2), "Residential District Regulations "
Neville Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Neville
Neville I need to recuse myself from this hearing I have previously represented the
Homeowner's Association in this matter
Henzi Okay Mr Hanosh, anything to add to this case?
Hanosh Nothing at this time, Mr Chair
Henzi Any questions for the Inspection Department? Hearing none, good evening
� Rivet: Good evening
Henzi Can you tell us your name and address, please?
Rivet: Cindy Rivet, 15619 Ellen Drive
Henzi Okay You were here once before Can you tell us what is new?
Rivet: When we were here before we were seeking privacy panels along the Edgewood
side There was a lot of obJections to privacy panels being obstructive, safety issues,
what not. So we have redone the plan to be a four foot black aluminum fence which
matches what is existing on the other part of our lot including taking out the hedge that a
lot people have issue with and having a two foot setback for the fence from the sidewalk
The issue now that brings us here is that when we went to get to the permit to do this
apparently the garage side of our house is considered the front to Livonia The Edgewood
side--we have an Ellen address, 15619 Ellen Street. The Edgewood side does not have
any entrance other than the garage The mail comes to Ellen, we have an Ellen Street
address What's on file with Wayne Count reads that the residence erected on Lot 40
shall front on Ellen Drive meaning that it was always intended that Ellen be the front of
the house I think when the notice went out to the neighbors it was a little confusing
saying that we wanted to put a fence in the front yard I think a lot of people thought that
meant Ellen Street since that is our address, that's our front door, that's where our mail
comes When I accidently sent the house alarm once I got a call from Livonia Police
Department, they asked me to meet them outside the front door, they were outside the
Ellen Street door not on Edgewood outside the garage Its commonly Ellen is the front of
/''�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appea/s Page 37 of 57 October 27, 2015
� our house and you know--I don't know if any of you had the opportunity to drive by and
see that. I do have a picture in case there's anybody that didn't--what Livonia is saying
is the front is �ust the garage side Otherwise if you consider Ellen the front then that
would mean we could put like a play scape out there or a pool out there or something that
would �ust be ridiculous with the neighborhood because it would be considered a side
yard And if we go flush with the house from the garage on the Edgewood side it would
actually cut across part of our patio, we would have to take pavers out and what not and
lose a considerable amount of our yard There is already a hedge along the sidewalk
there, under ordinance a hedge is considered a fence so technically this would be a
replacement fence for that. And as mentioned the hedge would be coming out and the
new fence would have a two foot setback. And is not commonly considered the
Edgewood side to be the front of our house
Henzi I think I have two questions
Rivet: Yes?
Henzi Number one is does this resolve the litigation between you and the Homeowner's
Association?
Rivet: Correct.
Henzi And then I �ust wanted to ask does the proposed fence line up then with the black
wrought iron that the neighbors have that blocks off I think they have a pool that's an
Edgewood address?
� Rivet: Correct.
Henzi So what--they would meet?
Rivet: Yeah, it would run across the Edgewood side and then along the property line
along that fence yes
Henzi Okay, I �ust wanted to make sure I have the diagram right. Okay, any other
questions?
Bannghaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus Do you have a picture of the fence you would like to use?
Rivet: I might on my phone, I didn't bring one
Baringhaus That's okay
Rivet: It matches the black one that's already in place
Baringhaus It does match it? Okay
Rivet: It's four foot, flat top
Baringhaus Flat top?
Rivet: Flat top
�1.
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 38 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Baringhaus Thank you
Henzi And for the record, that model was approved by the Homeowner's Association,
correct?
Rivet. Correct.
Henzi Okay Anything else? Hearing none, is there anyone in the audience who wants
to speak for or against the pro�ect? If so, come on up I see no one coming forward, are
there letters
Caramagno You got someone--
Henzi Oh, I'm sorry Have a seat I'll call you back up, Mr Rivet.
Rivet: Okay
Claire Kasprzyk. Hi, I'm Clair Kasprzyk and our house is--and Ed Kasprzyk. Our house
is 15644 Edgewood and we are actually the ad�oining property, lot number 39 I had also
sent in an ob�ection and also am showing up tonight. We have a driveway--we're on a
half-moon shape lot so our driveway exits on Edgewood The only situation we have is a
safety hazard Currently there are hedges there but with a fence it is a visual obstruction
when you're trying to back down We have a two and a half car driveway so we wouldn't
be able to see the intersection We've had a few close calls with the hedges being there
with children walking, cars coming up from Ellen Street making the turn There is no stop
sign on Ellen Street and there's only a yield sign on Edgewood So that is a bus stop for
� children It is the main intersection of the subdivision But when you do back down our
driveway it is very difficult to see So I have a huge concern about backing down my
driveway, having a fence there It is a little shorter than the current fence that we have in
and it wouldn't align properly if it didn't go straight across They're actually--
Ed Kasprzyk. What she is saying is that our fence--okay it goes across and they want to
come out and go this way to a sidewalk which doesn't align with any other fence in the
subdivision We don't have any--if they are already privacy fences they are all at least 30
feet from the sidewalk. So not only--so our driveway if we back out they want the fence
all the way to the sidewalk well that's going to obscure our vision so if a kid is running
through I'm not going to be able to see him Because that fence as we all know even
though the fence is not solid as you're backing out the way the fence is erected you are
still going to having an obscure impairment on that side So all we're asking is that the
fence be not to the sidewalk but be consistent with our fence so as we do back out we
have to worry about a child pulling out in front of us
Claire Kasprzyk. And that's the reason why we have our fence set back as far as we did
Henzi Can I stop you for a second? Did you say your name, sir?
Claire Kasprzyk Yes, I did
Ed Kasprzyk. Edward Kasprzyk.
Henzi Same address?
^ Ed Kasprzyk Yes
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 39 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Henzi Thank you
Ed Kasprzyk Husband
Claire Kasprzyk. And that's the reason why we wanted to have the fence set back where
ours is is only because I would love to maximize the size of my backyard and run it out
further but the whole reason our fence is setback that far is for safety issues Because
there is no way we would be able to back out of our driveway So for that fence to be in
that situation and ours to be that far back we are in the same situation we would have
been had we wanted to maximize our backyard And with a pool we do have a smaller
half-moon shape in the backyard but our front yard is larger and so that's the reason our
fence is far back like that--
Ed Kasprzyk. From the sidewalk
Claire Kasprzyk. --is for safety Yes
Ed Kasprzyk. Right.
Henzi Thank you
Pastor Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� So you're saying you would rather have the hedge up there?
Claire Kasprzyk No, I'm saying the hedge has always been problematic for us We've
� talked to the neighbors about cutting it down, removing it.
Pastor� Well, they are talking about removing it and putting this up in place where you
can actually see through this fence, but you can't see through the hedge
Ed Kasprzyk Not along the sidewalk though
Pastor� I think everybody here drove by that property
Claire Kasprzyk. Well, it's not--the hedge is right across on the main street which is Ellen
But if you put a fence up you are also going to have a fence here and here which to me
would be a visual--for me it would be very--it would be a huge impairment for me to back
out of the driveway
Ed Kasprzyk. As you're backing down a driveway and there is a fence along a sidewalk
you are not going to be able to see because of all the fence posts As you are coming
out you won't see a clear vision of the sidewalk until you actually get past the fence Does
that make sense?
Pastor� I hear what you're saying--
Ed Kasprzyk. Because right now there's a lot of--
Pastor I--I--
Ed Kasprzyk. Well here's the other point. There's a lot of stuff that they got piled up in
the backyard okay And the problem with that we know that that is going to be there again
� when they put this fence up so it is still going to be an impairment. If they have their fence
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 40 of 57 October 27, 2015
� further which conforms with the subdivision then all that stuff that they pile up by their
�' fence can be away from the sidewalk You �ust can't run a fence all the way to the
sidewalk. There--none of our homes in our sub have that.
Claire Kasprzyk and with the magnitude of the traffic coming through on this intersection
I find it very problematic I am very concerned I wouldn't be here tonight on both
occasions This is the second time we've come out here if 1 didn't have a big concern I
think that it's an impairment visually and I think it is a liability for us So I feel very
passionate about it and that's why I'm here tonight. It's--it's--
Pastor So if we don't allow them to have this fence they can leave the hedge up, is that
good for you?
Ed Kasprzyk. No
Claire Kasprzyk. Well--
Ed Kasprzyk. Why would you say that?
Pastor� I can't--
Claire Kasprzyk. It's not--it's not where--
Pastor� I'm just asking
Claire Kasprzyk. What we're saying is the fence--
Ed Kasprzyk. They're not going to take it down anyways if you don't let them put a fence
� up That thing has been sitting there for six months
Claire Kasprzyk. We--we--
Ed Kasprzyk. It's all grown out of shape
Pastor� The hedge has been there for years
Ed Kasprzyk. No--
Clair Kasprzyk No--no--
Ed Kasprzyk. --but it's a--when they moved in they let it go okay The prior owners always
kept it tnmmed
Claire Kasprzyk. They kept it low
Ed Kasprzyk. At least--they were cordial--at least we could deal with the way they kept it
trimmed Now it's growing wild They've got all their stuff piled up by the shrubs It looks-
-it's really hard to back out. If you put a fence this is kind of the same thing that is going
to happen They are still going to have the fence obscunng your visual impairment from
the sidewalk and you are still going to have all that stuff piled up there
Claire Kasprzyk. You know the previous owner, the owner before that--we've been there
fifteen years, they kept it cut low
Ed Kasprzyk Yeah
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 41 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Claire Kasprzyk. And the last owner when I mentioned something that they were kind of
_ getting overgrown because walking the dogs by it and everything, she said well we're
selling our house so we'll get to it. And I get it who cares I'm moving You know that was
kind of the way it went So yeah, I have to--when I back out of my driveway, I back very
slowly, I'm looking because there are four turns there So again that's why I'm here To
me it's a liability, you know--
Ed Kasprzyk I don't think they need to go--
Claire Kasprzyk. It's an impairment.
Ed Kasprzyk --all the way to the sidewalk, they can't�ust run the fence--
Claire Kasprzyk. Go back to where ours is
Ed Kasprzyk. We've already told them we don't have a problem with the fence--
Claire Kasprzyk Otherwise--
Ed Kasprzyk. --we�ust don't want it right to the sidewalk--
Claire Kasprzyk Right.
Ed Kasprzyk. --where we're going to have--we're still having trouble backing out.
Claire Kasprzyk I guess bottom line is I could move my fence out to the sidewalk but I
wouldn't be able to see backing down my driveway but I'd have a much larger back yard
So if I'm trying to say I want to maximum the size of my back yard but at the same cost
/'"� of being a safety issue So that's why we're playing it safe and we kept our fence back
- and we just decided not to--
Ed Kasprzyk. Take our fence to the sidewalk too
Claire Kasprzyk Correct, for safety issue and honestly we've had some close calls We
have a few neighbors that could actually testify to say we've been backing out and--or
we've had people leaving our home where people have been walking by and walking their
dogs--there's a lot of kids in this subdivision There's a bus stop so it's a huge concern
and I'm kind of sticking with my feelings on this one
Baringhaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus Yes, I'm trying to recall the property You have the hedge and then behind
the hedge is a shed?
Ed Kasprzyk. Yeah, there's a shed and there's a bunch of stuff stacked up--
Baringhaus Okay
Ed Kasprzyk --toys and like chaises, lounge chaises They've�ust got everything piled
up
Baringhaus So even if you remove the hedges you will still have the obstacle of the
shed, correct?
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appea/s Page 42 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Ed Kasprzyk. If you put the fence--
- Ciaire Kasprzyk. The fence--mm-hmm--
Ed Kasprzyk. --further away from the sidewalk okay, then they can put all that stuff there
because then it wouldn't hinder our visual towards the sidewaik.
Claire Kasprzyk. It's a visual impairment as of right now
Ed Kasprzyk. that's all we are asking �ust so that it doesn't go to the sidewalk because
that's going to be a hindrance
Claire Kasprzyk. We've always had--
Ed Kasprzyk We know they are going to�ust pile their stuff up there anyways
Claire Kasprzyk. We've always had a good relationship with our neighbors where they've
kept them hedged--the hedges they've kept them trimmed We've always had a nice
relationship and so for the house since May they've�ust been kind of overgrown
Ed Kasprzyk. Yeah
Claire Kasprzyk. And we're in a situation where--you know--that's why we are here
Ed Kasprzyk And when they came to me first at my doorstep and asked if they could put
a fence, I said well if it is something similar like ours kind of lining with the rest, I've got
no problem with that because you know he wants his dogs and I guess they are wild or
whatever--wants them safe, that's fine But it's �ust we feel really strong about this and
/'� we are really thinking this is a safety issue
Claire Kasprzyk. And there's no other houses in our subdivision on a corner that have
fences
Ed Kasprzyk. That go to the sidewalk.
Claire Kasprzyk Right.
Baringhaus Okay, thank you
Coppola Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Coppola
Coppola So, what distance from the sidewalk would you deem to be acceptable?
Ed Kasprzyk. Like thirty feet which is very similar to what we have
Coppola Thirty feet? Okay
Ed Kasprzyk. Now if thirty feet is not going to give them enough room in their back yard
I can understand I was looking at it before we left tonight I think reasonable is they have
a small approach from their dnveway to their back yard I think to that area would be
sufficient. Give them the amount of space and give us at least--and I'm going to guess
that's about twenty feet from the sidewalk. That would be a lot easier for us to see as we
back out.
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 43 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Claire Kasprzyk We have a very interesting shaped lot with a half-moon shape lot with
_ a busy intersection and you're backing onto the Edgewood and you've got Ellen--
Ed Kasprzyk. You're not�ust backing straight out--
Claire Kasprzyk. --right there--yeah--yeah you've got--
Ed Kasprzyk. --you're turning
Claire Kasprzyk. --four ways of traffic--
Ed Kasprzyk. Yeah, nght--
Claire Kasprzyk. --coming at you
Ed Kasprzyk. --because we are on a curve so we got the traffic coming this way and then
we've got this big--
Claire Kasprzyk. Right.
Ed Kasprzyk. Yeah
Coppola Okay, thank you
Ed Kasprzyk. You're welcome
Claire Kasprzyk. Any other questions?
Henzi Yeah, I do How high was the shrub when the prior neighbor kept it trimmed?
� Claire Kasprzyk. When--
Ed Kasprzyk. It wasn't--we don't know what the actual--
Claire Kasprzyk. --for--
Ed Kasprzyk. --was but it wasn't like it is now
Claire Kasprzyk. I could--I could tell you right now it was probably about three feet. He
used to cut it right across the top and he was adamant about it.
Henzi Well it's cut--what does across the top mean? I mean its--
Claire Kasprzyk. Oh, �ust cut it right across the top like three feet but where the shrub is
we're not--where the shrub is they're proposing putting a fence where the shrub is and to
the side So to me it is even more of a blockage than the actual current hedge that's in
there If that makes--
Henzi Is that because it would extend to the north along the lot line?
Claire Kasprzyk. Correct.
Ed Kasprzyk. If they--
Claire Kasprzyk The lot line yes
Ed Kasprzyk --if they start putting hedges up there yeah, that will be more of an
impairment correct.
� Claire Kasprzyk. There's only one set of hedges--
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 44 of 57 October 27, 2015
^� Henzi Wait a minute--wait a minute I thought the point was there's a hedge on
Edgewood It used to be three foot--
Ed Kasprzyk. That's east west--
Claire Kasprzyk correct.
Henzi --now it's six foot.
Ed Kasprzyk. That's east west though
Claire Kasprzyk. I want to make sure we are right on the--
Ed Kasprzyk That's east west. When you said north, north is the opposite way
Henzi Okay
Ed Kasprzyk. The fence--the fence with the shrubs right--or should I say the shrubs they
run east west. That's the impairment.
Henzi Yeah
Ed Kasprzyk And as you are backing out if you have a fence that runs straight across
we all know that there's going to be so many feet before you can actually--you know--
before you lose all those pegs in your way You know the fence itself As you're backing
out you're going to have--you're not going to be able to see the sidewalk until you are
actually past the fence
n Henzi I got that.
Ed Kasprzyk. Oh, I'm sorry
Henzi Your wife said that her real problem wasn't that the fence--wasn't so much the
hedge, it's that there is another section of fence extending--
Claire Kasprzyk. There will be if they--
Ed Kasprzyk. They are proposing--
Claire Kasprzyk. --if they were to propose the fence that they are--well actually the fence
that they are proposing--
Henzi Yeah, e�ending to the north
Ed Kasprzyk. Okay
Henzi Isn't that extra--isn't that what you are saying, it's that extra piece--
Claire Kasprzyk. It would be that extra piece--
Henzi --that's the visual--
Claire Kasprzyk. --in addition to that and that would be a problem It would cause a visual
impairment. And if you backed up--
Henzi Okay--
Claire Kasprzyk. --I guess you have to--
l`�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 45 of 57 Ocfober 27, 2015
� Henzi I hate--wait--
Claire Kasprzyk I understand--
Henzi I hate to belabor this, I don't understand your position
Ed Kasprzyk Okay
Henzi At all, I'm sorry, I don't.
Ed Kasprzyk. I think what--
Henzi Hold on So there's the hedge and your position is that it used to only be three
feet now it's taller, it blocks our view when we are backing out. And you were asked the
kinds of questions well why would the hedge bother you when they are going to take out
a six foot hedge and put in a see through fence and you gave an adequate response I
get it that there is stuff piled up Then I thought I heard you say that that is only half of it.
It's also that this section is going to extend to the north and that means there's two pieces
of fence that I'm going to have to navigate as I back out. Did I �ust accurately state your
ob�ections?
Ed Kasprzyk. Yeah
Claire Kasprzyk that's sound correct, yes, what you said--yes
Henzi Okay, thank you Okay I got it then
Claire Kasprzyk. Okay
� Henzi Any other questions? Okay, thank you
Ed Kasprzyk. You're welcome
Claire Kasprzyk. Thank you
Henzi Is there anybody else that wants to speak for or against? No one else is coming
forward, can you read the letters?
Caramagno I have letters of approval from Michele wiles, 15701 Ellen Drive (letter read),
Martin Talty, 15612 Ellen (letter read), Nancy Guregian, 15685 Edgewood (letter read),
and an ob�ection from Jeremy Ferack, 15635 Ellen (letter read) and Duane Johnson,
15629 Edgewood (letter read)
Henzi Mrs Rivet do you have anything to say in closing? And if you could talk about
some of the site obstruction points that the Kasprzyks brought up in their comments, I'd
appreciate it.
Rivet: I think you can all see that hedge has been there for a very--very long time The
person that kept it at three feet was not the person that we bought the house from that
lived there He lived there pnor to them when we bought the house the fence was much
taller and encroaching on about half of the sidewalk. We did not actually move in the
house until--we closed the very end of June, we moved in in July Prior to even moving
in we had a notice on our door that the hedge was a problem and did get it trimmed back
within a week to meet what was requested of us by the City i think it's been mentioned
� that that is a very busy corner, there's a lot of traffic and what not. We have four kids and
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 46 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ two dogs that we are trying to manage in that yard There's a lot of traffic, it is a busy
corner, people don't always look and stop as much as possible So we're looking for our
children's safety and our dogs' safety in that backyard The way their driveway does
come up where our kids are playing in what we consider our backyard whenever they are
pulling in or pulling out there is no fence separating--three of our kids are really small,
five, four and two Who you know if a Frisbee goes or a ball bounces they are going to
take off after it. So it really keeps everybody a lot safer to have that fence there with all
those cars not �ust on the street side but going in and out the driveway that also aligns
where we want to put that fence We have the shed that is in the corner there that was
there when we bought the property I don't know how long that has been there, if the
people we bought the house put it there, or that was there before We've actually been
discussing moving it. We've done a lot of landscaping and a lot of work on the house
We've spent probably about $12,000 00 �ust since July on the outside of the house, the
pavers in the front, the new flower beds in the front. We have some things scheduled in
May with some new landscaping going on and one of the plans that Clippers in Livonia
has presented does involve moving the shed and camouflaging in another part of our yard
with some bushes We have not finished unpacking, our garage is still half full so there
are some more things in the yard that we would like to make room for before winter You
know we are still kind of working somethings out but getting this fence in before winter is
really important for us because it has been really difficult for our kids to play back there
between the street and the driveway and what not. And we are �ust trying to keep
everybody safe including the drivers that are going by from what could happen You know
� we are not trying to cause any problems In the neighborhood we lived in before was in
Livonia, we lived there for ten years for a portion of that time my husband was actually on
the association board, he played Santa Claus at Christmas and went around to the
houses that paid their dues and dropped off little stockings It's not that we are trying to
not be neighborly or not be friendly we are really �ust looking to keep our kids safe and
have enough of an area for them to play in without losing a significant portion of an already
small yard We feel a two foot setback from the sidewalk is appropriate It's only a four
foot fence, it's an open style picket so that you can see through it and it will increase
visibility from what's already there
Henzi Thank you
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� You're saying--you think two foot is appropriate, why not five, seven, ten?
Rivet: Our yard is actually that--it's small considered to a lot of lots in that neighborhood
and going back further than that we really lose a significant amount of play area for the
kids Obviously when we bought the house we had no idea that would be considered a
front yard
Pastor� Even if it's a side yard, why would you extend it way out to the sidewalk?
Rivet: If you go�ust from the corner of our house we lose a third of our yard back there
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 47 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Pastor• Not quite
Rivet: And it cuts across our--
Pastor� you lose a substantial amount I won't say a third--
Rivet. --and it cuts across part of our patio from how our house is angled on the lot.
Pastor� But your side door to your sidewaik appears to be almost 22 feet, why couidn't
you come back ten feet?
Rivet: When you open our sliding glass door, our--
Pastor� I'm talking about your side door on your--next to your garage--it looks like it's a
door, I'm looking at your plot plan
Rivet: There's�ust a garage on the Edgewood side and then there's a sliding glass door
on what we consider our backyard that goes out to the patio There used to be a sunroom
back maybe that's the door
Pastor� No, this is on the side of the--this is on the garage side of the house
Rivet: There's no door on the garage side of our house I'll show you picture Do you
want to see a picture?
Pastor� I'm�ust looking at what the plot plan shows
Rivet: Okay, there's no door on the garage side of our house
� Pastor� Is that a chimney maybe?
Rivet: There is a chimney next to the garage
Pastor� Okay So from the chimney to your sidewalk you have 22 feet, why couldn't you
bring that fence back another eight feet or so and come across? You are not losing that
much yard, I think you would make your neighbors a little bit happier Just my suggestion
or my comment. Why is it two feet? Why--what is driving the two feet other than you
want all the yard you can have?
Rivet: Well, we did expect that that was a backyard when we bought the house We did
drive through the neighborhood--
Pastor� The side of your house is not a back yard
Rivet: The--
Pastor� I would call it the side of your house not the front of your house because as you
said the front of your house is on Ellen So if that's the--if Ellen is the front of your house,
your garage is the side of your house It's not the back
Rivet: Correct, but there are houses all over Livonia that have fences down to the
sidewalk. Perhaps not in this neighborhood but everybody was a first and it's not unusual
I mean in our old neighborhood we had--a mile and a half away--there were fences in
people's--what would be considered their side yard that came all the way out to the
sidewalk. We have one on the corner of the street we lived on and our driveway was next
� to it. It went in within the last five years
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appea/s Page 48 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Pastor� I'll ask you one more time, why won't you go back to eight feet, seven feet?
Rivet: We really are trying to maximize and it is a small lot and we have four kids and two
dogs We want to--
Pastor� It may be a small lot but that's the lot you bought.
Rivet: Correct. You know we did drive around the sub, we saw there were fences The
people we bought the house from said there were no restrictions that they were aware of
They considered that part their backyard
Pastor� Thank you
Baringhaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus Your neighbor proposed moving the fence back 30 feet from the sidewalk
line, where would the fence fall in relation to the shed if that were to occur?
Rivet. The shed would be--
Baringhaus Would the shed be--
Rivet: I mean the shed is right behind the hedge currently right now
Baringhaus Okay
Rivet: Actualiy to put the shed--the fence in two feet we are still going to have to move
� the hedge--the shed because it abuts nght directly up to the hedge So even to put the
fence with the two foot setback the--
Baringhaus So if the fence were to move further in the shed would be outside the fence
line basically?
Rivet: Correct, we would actually then--on one of the plans that we are looking at move
the shed in the spring anyway Because we don't like where it is located
Baringhaus Thank you
Rivet: You're welcome
Henzi Anything else?
Rivet: No, I really tried to come up with a compromise and listen to what people said
when we were here in August. They really wanted at least a two foot setback We are
trying to preserve some trees that are within our yard that the kids like to play with and
under and build forts And we have a hammock and we are trying to keep that. If we go
two foot the trees are still in our back--what we consider our backyard if we take on the
inside of those trees then that's not something that they are able to do anymore either
Henzi Thank you
Rivet: And�ust where the walkway comes from the driveway we want the fence to extend,
there's a walkway from the driveway to the patio in what we consider the back and we
want the fence--we�ust want it to have flow
/''�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 49 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Henzi Okay, thank you I'll ciose the public portion of the case and begin the Board's
comments with Mr Schepis
Schepis So my understanding is at least at some point what's been presented tonight--
I don't know if I want to use the word compromise a settlement of some sort that reduced
the size of the fence and moved from a pnvacy fence to something with a little more
visibility Yeah, 1 also think a--that the fence that is being presented is--I mean it has more
visibility then the hedges that are there but corner lots and fences are always a struggle
And this one is in particular l don't know that I would support but I'd like to hear what
else the Board has to say
Henzi Mr Neville--I'm sorry, you recused yourself Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus Thank you I agree, I think an effort has been reached to make some type
of accommodation or compromise with the neighbors itself with the four foot picket fence
However, �ust looking at the character of the neighborhood I did notice that on a lot of
corner homes the fences are well set back from the sidewalk lines and they are
camouflaged to sort of blend in and actually be very discreet types of fences within the
property itself Based on that I'm not really in favor of granting the vanance for this Thank
you
Henzi Mr Coppola
Coppola This is an interesting situation The design of the--that corner probably
shouldn't have been done the way it was done Nonetheless this is where we are today
� I see this as an improvement to what we have today with the hedge there It's a complete
line of sight obstruction This has opened up the site somewhat. So it's definitely a
compromise, it's a four foot fence instead of the six foot that was proposed I could be
convinced to support this if additional efforts were agreed to keep the line of sight from
your neighbor to the west open In other words, move the shed, move the stuff, make
sure that there's--that they have a line of sight through the fence so that they can see
people coming I--that's a dangerous thing and you kind of get used to pulling out of the
back of your house and not looking because generally there's no one there and the one
time you don't look is the one time someone is there So again, summarize I could be in
support if there is some level of commitment or requirement to move anything else that
obstructs the view from the driveway of the neighbors from the west--gets moved and that
area stay clear In other words in a year from now you're not putting up landscaping that
blocks that line of sight.
Henzi Mr Caramagno
Caramagno It's been a dramatic change from what was originally presented to us the
last time this case came around and it's impossible to tell it's the same subdivision almost
because ten percent of the crowd is here It looks like there was some agreement with
the neighborhood architectural committee in relationship to this And I think that was big
on both sides, both sides came a long way here to see this I do hear the complaint about
the size of the back yard, and the complaint about the fence that obscures the vision
coming out of the driveway And I've heard some comments from this Board about
^ moving that fence--about kicking that in a little bit more I think there is a little bit more
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 50 of 57 October 27, 2015
� ground to make here and I don't think that kills anybody to move that fence in to an
agreeable point and being north And I don't mean thirty feet either I mean something
So I'd like to see it tabled and come back with something in the middle ground
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� Well unfortunately or fortunately for me I was not at the first meeting So I got to
miss that one So obviously the other Board members have heard things I have not. With
me looking that the way that it is I hear both sides I hear the neighbors saying 1'm not
going to be abie to see down the fence Something has struck me as Mr Coppola was
saying that no matter what fence we put up here, the petitioner says I'm going to start re-
landscaping my backyard I can see them putting shrubs and bushes next to that fence
at two feet, eight feet, thirty foot whatever the number is and the next door neighbor saying
I can't see through the fence anymore iYs like a solid wall So I'll be in favor to table this
but I also--I don't think I approve this any closer than 8 feet to the sidewalk in my opinion
the way I'm looking at it.
Henzi I'm kind of along that line of thinking I appreciate the fact that the homeowner's
association architectural committee approved by a ma�ority vote But at this point to me
this is the classic two side by side neighbors, one wants a fence and one doesn't. And it-
-we have to be mindful of both sides It's not fair to force a fence on somebody and it's
maybe not fair to not allow a fence I think that it is a realistic reasonable ob�ection to say
I don't like the fact that there is a shed and a bunch of things stored that are going to be
right up against this fence all the way on the sidewalk. I think that the Kasprzyks make a
� very good point. Unfortunately because of this drawing because we don't have distances,
it is hard for me to propose an alternative But for example if the fence came from the
chimney to the south and then at that if we go two bullet points--I don't know if those are
gates or posts and then moved it to the west something like that and then angled it off
sort of like what we do on--you know we make it on an angle to the--I guess it would be
to the northwest and then bring it straight north I would be agreeable to something like
that. But again the problem is I'd like both sides to figure that out because they can figure
it out better than I can And I don't want to stick a distance on them that might not be
reasonable But I will say this, I think it is unreasonable to bring it all the way to the
sidewalk. It �ust is And I think it's--I think the Rivets have made a lot of very positive
negotiations but it is�ust not fair to everybody else to store everything even if you neighbor
did it before you--to store everything on one end and try to come out all the way to he
sidewalk. That is�ust not fair So, I think there is room for a compromise, it's a long way
of saying that and I would support a tabling motion
Pastor� Mr Chair
Henzi Mr Pastor
Upon Motion by Pastor supported by Bannghaus, it was
/`1
Cify of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 51 of 57 October 27, 2015
,^ RESOLVED:APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-10-58: An appeal has been made to the Zoning
Board of Appeals by Joseph and Cindy Rivet, 15619 Ellen, Livonia, MI 48154, seeking to
erect a four (4) foot tall open picket style fence upon a corner lot, resulting in the fence
not aligning with any other fence on ad�oining property and the fence being located in the
front yard, which is not allowed
The property is located on the west side of Ellen (15619), between Edgewood and
Roycroft, Lot. No 063-01-0040-000, R-3C Zoning District. Re�ected by the Inspection
Department under City of Livonia Fence Ordinance, Section 15 44 090A,4bi and Section
15 44 090A,(2), "Residential District Regulations," be tabled to allow the petitioner an
opportunity to meet with adjoining neighbors to work out a compromise and to
consider the Board's comments
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES Pastor, Baringhaus, Coppola, Schepis, Caramagno, Henzi
NAYS: None
ABSENT None
ABSTAINED Neville
^
Henzi Your request was tabled So November 13t" is the deadline to reschedule and
the next meeting is December 8t'' So all you need to do is call Marilyn in the Inspection
Department and ask for the 8t" but you have to do it by November 13tn
/'!
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 52 of 57 October 27, 2015
� APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-10-59: An appeal has been made to the Zoning Board of
Appeals by David and Bonnie Kiselewski Rev Trust, 16572 Farmington, Livonia, MI
48154, seeking to erect a six (6) foot tall privacy fence in the side yard, which is not
allowed Privacy fences cannot extend beyond the rear line of the home toward the street.
The property is located on the east side of Farmington (16572), between Bloomfield Drive
and Bell Creek Lane, Lot. No 058-03-0018-000, RUF-C Zoning District. Re�ected by the
Inspection Department under City of Livonia Fence Ordinance, Section 15 44 090B,
"Residential District Regulations "
Henzi Mr Hanosh, anything to add to this case?
Hanosh Not at this time, Mr Chair
Henzi Any questions for the Inspection Department? Hearing none Good evening
Kiselewski Good evening My name is David Kiselewski, 16572 Farmington Road And
a little background I have an arborvitae hedge right where the proposed fence location
is going to be Some of the shrubs died some of them were misshapen by snow So I
decided to cut them all down And at that time I started exploring well maybe I could put
a fence in I did not know it was a code violation at that time I came down here to get a
permit and found out so It's a large lot as you can see from the drawing It is setback
over 100 feet from Farmington Road My neighbor has no ob�ection And it is �ust a 40
foot section of fence in relationship to a 350 some feet property I'm not trying to surround
� my lot line or anything like or my whole division on my property It is�ust a small section
fence instead of the hedge That's my first option, I'll put a hedge in if you deny it.
Henzi That's what I was going to ask you why don't you �ust replace the arborvitae?
Kiselewski Well it's just--I think the fence would look better in this application I've got a
real nice composite fence I'm going to purchase It would go with the house--both houses
I don't know if you have a picture of the house, the fence line is represented by the yellow
tape on the one drawing
Henzi And then my next question is what is that brown some kind of storage structure?
Kiselewski Okay, that's a storage building that has been there for 25 years and it's never-
-the hedge pretty much hid it. So I need to put something there I guess I store all my
lawn equipment in there I have a large lot and I do all my own landscaping We don't
have a basement. So storage is at a premium �ust like gentleman that wanted to put a
garage in Like the building--
Henzi This is my last question I did see you out there tending to your lawn today
Kiselewski Okay
Henzi Are you saying this is meant for privacy that you've always had the shrub?
Kiselewski Correct.
Henzi And you don't want to come out your garage and look directly into the--
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 53 of 57 October 27, 2015
^ Kiselewski Yeah, the neighbors are always out in the yard and looking in my garage
when I open it and things of that nature So I--the house--the garage door unfortunately
faces the neighbor Also we parked our cars and go right in the side door that's our
primary entrance So I'm �ust trying to get a little privacy basically and the neighbor has
no problem He likes to store a lot of stuff outside his house so it's kind of a mutual thing
you know
Henzi And you've both been ad�oining neighbors for how many years?
Kiselewski Fifty--fifty years I grew up in that house and I'm still there and hopefully my
kids will be there when 1'm gone
Henzi Okay Any questions? I see no one in the audience Are there any letters?
Caramagno A letter of approval from Rose Mary Comai, 16542 Farmington Road (letter
read)
Henzi Anything you want to say in closing Mr Kiselewski?
Kiselewski No, I appreciate your--
Henzi Thank you I'll close the public portion of the case and begin the Boards
comments with Mr Neville
Kiselewski I would like to say one more thing You guys have a difficult �ob from what
I've seen on previous cases
� Pastor� You caught us on an exceptionally good night.
Kiselewski Yeah
Henzi Well thanks for getting us back on track because I never thought we would be out
of here by 9 30
Kiselewski Okay What's the next step for this?
Henzi We have to go around and then we vote
Kiselewski Okay, I'm sorry
Henzi Mr Neville, go ahead
Neville No ob�ection
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Baringhaus I have no ob�ection
Henzi Mr Coppola
Coppola I'm in support.
Caramagno So am I
Henzi Mr Pastor
Pastor� Yes
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 54 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Henzi Mr Schepis
Schepis Ditto I guess
Henzi I agree as well The floor is open for a motion
Kiselewski Okay
Baringhaus Mr Chairman
Henzi Mr Baringhaus
Upon Motion by Baringhaus supported by Pastor, it was
RESOLVED:APPEAL CASE NO. 2015-10-59: An appeal has been made to the Zoning
Board of Appeals by David and Bonnie Kiselewski Rev Trust, 16572 Farmington, Livonia,
MI 48154, seeking to erect a six (6) foot tall privacy fence in the side yard, which is not
allowed Privacy fences cannot extend beyond the rear line of the home toward the street.
The property is located on the east side of Farmington (16572), befinreen Bloomfield Drive
and Bell Creek Lane, Lot. No 058-03-0018-000, RUF-C Zoning District. Re�ected by the
Inspection Department under City of Livonia Fence Ordinance, Section 15 44 090B,
"Residential District Regulations," be granted for the following reasons and findings
of fact:
�
1 The uniqueness requirement is met due to the distance befinreen the
neighboring homes
2 Denial of the variance would have severe consequences for the Petitioner due
to privacy infringements
3 The vanance is fair in light of its effect on neighboring properties and in the
spirit of the Zoning Ordinance because the neighbonng property owner is in
support.
4 The Board received one letter of approval and no ob�ection letters from
neighboring property owners
5 The property is classified as low density residential in the Master Plan and the
proposed vanance is not inconsistent with that classification
FURTHER, This variance is granted with the following conditions
/"'�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 55 of 57 October 27, 2015
� 1 That the fence be constructed as presented including materials and placement
on the property
2 That installation of the fence commence within two weeks
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Baringhaus, Pastor, Schepis, Coppola, Neville, Caramagno, Henzi
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Henzi The variance is granted with those two conditions You've got to build it both in
the place that you proposed and type that you proposed
Kiselewski Correct.
Henzi And then you have to do it within two weeks
Kiselewski Okay, agreed
Henzi Okay
Kiselewski Thank you
�„� Henzi Thank you, good luck
�
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appea/s Page 56 of 57 October 27, 2015
� Pastor� Do we have minutes?
Henzi Yes, September 15tn
Pastor� I make a motion to--
Kiselewski Do I have to file for an inspection permit for drilling holes for the fence or
anything like that?
Hanosh Just the permit.
Kiselewski Just the permit, okay I'll come and do that another day Thank you
Pastor� I'm making a motion to accept the minutes of September 15tn
Coppola Support.
Henzi Moved and supported, all in favor say aye
Board Members Aye
Pastor� I make a motion to ad�ourn
Coppola Support.
Henzi Moved and supported All those in favor say aye
Board Members Aye
Henzi We're ad�ourned
�
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was ad�ourned at
938pm
Matthew Henzi, Chairman
Sam Caramagno, Secretary
/pcb
^
City of Livonia, Zoning Board of Appeals Page 57 of 57 October 27, 2015