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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 2011-05-10MINUTES OF THE 1,009TH PUBLIC HEARINGS AND REGULAR MEETING HELD BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA On Tuesday, May 10, 2011, the City Planning Commission of the City of Livonia held its 1,009'' Public Hearings and Regular Meeting in the Livonia City Hall, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, Michigan. Mr. Lee Morrow, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present: Ashley Krueger R. Lee Morrow Carol A. Smiley Gerald Taylor Ian Wilshaw Members absent: Lynda Scheel Mr. Mark Taormina, Planning Director, and Ms. Margie Watson, Program Supervisor, were also present. Chairman Morrow informed the audience that if a petition on tonighfs agenda involves a rezoning request, this Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council who, in tum, will hold its own public hearing and make the final determination as to whether a petifion is approved or denied. The Planning Commission holds the only public hearing on a request for preliminary plat and/or vacating petition. The Commission's recommendation is forwarded to the City Council for the final detenninafion as to whether a plat is accepted or rejected. If a pefifion requesting a waiver of use or site plan approval is denied tonight, the petitioner has ten days in which to appeal the decision, in writing, to the City Council. Resolutions adopted by the City Planning Commission become effective seven (7) days after the date of adoption. The Planning Commission and the professional staff have reviewed each of these pefifions upon their fling. The staff has furnished the Commission with both approving and denying resolutions, which the Commission may or may not use depending on the outcome of the proceedings tonight. ITEM #1 PETITION 2011-04-02-04 MIDAS AUTO SERVICES Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the first item on the agenda, Pefifion 2011-04-02-04 submitted by Midas Auto Services requesfing waiver use approval pursuant to Section 11.03(8) of the City of Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, to display and sell used vehicles at 19708 Middlebell Road, located on the east side of Middlebelt Road between Seven Mile Road and Bretton Avenue in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 1. May 10, 2011 25650 Mr. Taormina provided background on the item and presented a map showing the property under petition plus the existing zoning of the surrounding area. Mr. Morrow: Is there any correspondence? Mr. Taormina: There are five items of correspondence. The first item is from the Engineering Division, dated April 18, 2011, which reads as follows: 9n accordance with your request, the Engineering Division has reviewed the above- eferenced petition. The legal description provided has some discrepancies with our records: The last line in the description reads... thence South 07 degrees 52 minutes 33 seconds West 269.37 feet to the point of beginning. It should read. thence South 87 degrees 52 minutes 33 seconds West 269.37 feet to the point of beginning. The address is confirmed to be 19708 Middlebelt Road." The letter is signed by Kevin G. Roney, P.E., Assistant City Engineer. The second letter is from the Livonia Fire & Rescue Division, dated May 6, 2011, which reads as follows: 'This office has reviewed the site plan submitted in connection with a request for waiver use approval to sell and display used vehicles on property located at the above referenced address. 1 have no objections to this proposal." The letter is signed by Earl W. Fester, Fire Marshal. The third letter is from the Division of Police, dated April 27, 2011, which reads as follows: 9 have reviewed the plans in connection with the petition. 1 have no objections to the proposal." The letter is signed by John Gibbs, Sergeant, Traffic Bureau. The fourth letter is from the Inspection Department, dated May 3, 2011, which reads as follows: "Pursuant to your request, the above referenced petition has been reviewed. This Department has no objection to this petition." The letter is signed by Jerome Hanna, Assistant Director of Inspection. The Iasi item is an email communication dated May 5, 2011, from Deborah Law, which reads as follows: `Good morning. Can you please forward my email to the Planning Commission in regards to the above item? 1 have been advised that they do not all have email addresses. Thank you. 1 am writing with concem regarding the above petition item on the 5114/11 Planning Commission agenda. 1 urge you not to make an exception in allowing Midas to display used cars for sale. 1 live very near this location and it would definitely give the feeling of devaluing our neighborhood. It's bad enough we have a Cash for Gold store on the corner with what seems to be a full time person standing on the corner with a hand held sign advertising the Cash for Gold store, but now used cars for sale? Lets take the time to uphold city standards in keeping our city a desirable place to live. Let's not lessen it during these already tough economic times when people are having a tough time holding on to their property, let along keep up with the maintenance. Please do May 10, 2011 25651 not let this pass or make an exception. There is no need to sell used cars at this location. Thank you for your time." The letter is signed by Deborah Law. That is the extent of the correspondence. Mr. Morrow: Are there any questions for the staff? Seeing none, would the petitioner please come forward? We need your name and address for the record. Frank Grisa, 34175 Oakdale, Livonia, Michigan 48154. Mr. Morrow: Frank, you heard the presentation. Is there anything you want to add to it or any comments you would like to make relating to your petition? Mr. Grisa: I think maybe just to the email from Ms. Law. I've been a Livonia resident all my life, and I agree with her. Our intent with this is to, from the street level, one would know no difference from the business that we currently run. I mean we don't propose any signage changes or anything like that. We're hoping that this can enhance our business. I don't want to detract from it. We've been there, as Mr. Taormina said, since 1984. We want to maintain the integrity of what we have. Mr. Morrow: Okay. Does the Commission have any questions? Ms. Smiley: Are the vehicles that you're going to display been wrecked or that you've fixed? Where are you getting these vehicles? Mr. Grisa: No. We would buy these. It's part of the reason for coming to the City. I want to get a Slate of Michigan used vehicle license. This will give me the opportunity to use the manufacturers' auctions to buy lease returned or factory official cars. I've had some experience in the car business. I don't want to sell wrecked cars. I want to sell nice cars. Ms. Smiley: So you're not buying them and fixing them and then selling them. You're buying vehicles that were perhaps leased. Mr. Grisa: Correct. With low to medium mileage. Ms. Smiley: Do you own this business? You said you've been there since 1984. Mr. Grisa: My family does. Ms. Smiley: Okay. Thank you. May 10, 2011 25652 Mr. W lshaw: Mr. Grisa, can you explain to us why you want to sell used cars? What is the reason behind d? Mr. Grisa: I think it's a complementary business, but the base reason is that we're currently doing about 50 percent of the sales volume that we did 10 years ago. Its been extremely tough. There's a lot of competition. I have some experience in this business, and I don't think it will detract from what we do now and economically put us right. That's really the thrust here. Mr. Wilshaw: What experience do you have in the used car business? Mr. Grisa: I owned a small Ford dealership in Ohio for 9 years. Mr. Wilshaw: Okay. Now these three cars that you're going to have on your lot, are all sales final? Are you going to be providing warranties and having people come back to service them, or how is that going to work? Mr. Grisa: Yes, we will offer warranties, an in -shop warranty on them. Many of the vehicles that we sell will have existing factory warranties on them. Quite often the lease return vehicles that you gel will still have 10,000 - 12,000 miles of factory warranty, and we'll do in-housewarranty as well. Mr. Wilshaw: Okay Mr. Grisa: Again, we don't want to detract from the business that we do have. Mr. Wilshaw: One thing that we talked about at our study meeting briefly was to have a condition in our resolution that would not allow you to have any streamers or signs twirling around saying used cars or anything along those lines. Are you okay with that? Mr. Grisa: Fine. Yeah. Again, we want to maintain the integrity of our current business. The idea is to add to it and not to detract from R. So, yeah, I've put nothing like that in the petition. Mr. Wlshaw: Basically, all its going to look like from someone driving by is that you have three cars sifting in your lot just like three customers. Mr. Grisa: Well, there will be something. The State of Michigan requires a seller's disclosure on the inside of every window. We'd probably put a hang tag with a price or something like that on an inside rearview mirror. Mr. Taormina: Just to follow up on what Mr. Taylor has indicated when he referred to condition 2 in the prepared resolution where it states that "no vehicle for sale shall be displayed closer than twenty feel (20')", actually he's showing the vehicles that will be on display within existing parking spaces that are set back 42 feet from the right-of-way. So if there is an approving resolution offered this evening, I would like to modify that condition 2 to stale that vehicles be displayed within the designated parking spaces on the plan no closer than 40 feet from the right-of-way. Mr. Morrow: I do have a question. Do you have cars overnight waiting to have some work done where you normally park your customers? Mr. Grisa: Outdoors? May 10, 2011 25653 Mr. W lshaw: Okay. That's all I have. Thank you. Ms. Krueger: I know we briefly talked about this at the study session meeting, but did you confirm that you are, in fact, under your franchise agreement permitted to have a secondary use? Mr. Grisa: Yes. If I can get a State license, then they are fine with us doing this. Ms. Krueger: Okay. My other question is, what are your planned hours of operation for this used car aspect of the business? Mr. Grisa: We are not going to extend our hours. We open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We dont intend to do anything different from that. Ms. Kruger: Okay. Thank you. Mr. Taylor: I lend to agree with Deborah Law in her letter, and as you, Frank, have also staled. But within our stipulation and if it is approved, there are two items in here that I think are very important to what she's saying. That's the number of vehicles to be displayed outdoor shall be limited to three. That's part of the resolution that I want her to know if she happens to be watching. And no vehicles for sale shall be displayed closer than 20 feel. The other one, number 7, that the petitioner shall enter into a conditional agreement limiting the waiver use to this user only. So if this gentleman happened to move out, then they can't bring in used cars. That's part of the approving resolution if it does pass. I think those are very important points at this time. Thank you. Mr. Taormina: Just to follow up on what Mr. Taylor has indicated when he referred to condition 2 in the prepared resolution where it states that "no vehicle for sale shall be displayed closer than twenty feel (20')", actually he's showing the vehicles that will be on display within existing parking spaces that are set back 42 feet from the right-of-way. So if there is an approving resolution offered this evening, I would like to modify that condition 2 to stale that vehicles be displayed within the designated parking spaces on the plan no closer than 40 feet from the right-of-way. Mr. Morrow: I do have a question. Do you have cars overnight waiting to have some work done where you normally park your customers? Mr. Grisa: Outdoors? May 10, 2011 25654 Mr. Morrow: Yes. Mr. Grisa: Seldom. We do have a night drop box. Someone could bring a car and put the keys in the drop and leave it there, and we would work on it in the morning. The regularity of that, unfortunately, is not high. A couple a week maybe. Mr. Morrow: Okay. I guess that leads to my next question. I think you have four bays. Mr. Grisa: I have six. Mr. Morrow: Would these used cars that you would be purveying, would they go inside overnight or would they remain on the parking lot? Mr. Grisa: I'd like to leave them outside, but we could bring them inside. Mr. Morrow: I was just curious. I was just thinking as far as security having them inside. Mr. Grisa: Luckily, we've had no problem thus far with any damage to cars. If we're work on a customer's car through the day, we leave those inside. Mr. Morrow: Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Is there anybody in the audience that wishes to speak for or against the granting of this petition? Seeing no one coming forward, a motion would be in order. On a motion by Smiley, seconded by Taylor, and unanimously adopted, it was #05-22-2011 RESOLVED, that pursuant to a Public Hearing having been held by the City Planning Commission on May 10, 2011, on Petition 2011-04-02-04 submitted by Midas Auto Services requesting waiver use approval pursuant to Section 11.03(8) of the City of Livonia Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended, to display and sell used vehicles at 19708 Middlebell Road, located on the east side of Middlebell Road between Seven Mile Road and Bretton Avenue in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 1, which property is zoned C-2, the Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council that Pe00on 2011-04-02- 04 be approved subject to the following conditions: 1. That the Site Plan dated April 6, 2011 drawn by Frank L Gnsa, is hereby approved and shall be adhered to; May 10, 2011 25655 2. That the number of vehicles to be displayed outdoors shall be limited to three (3), shall be located within existing parking spaces on the site, and shall not be displayed closer than forty feel (40') feet from the front lot line within existing spaces on the plan; 3. That any type of exterior advertising related to the sale of the vehicles designed to attract the attention of passing motorists, such as promotional flags or streamers, shall be prohibited; 4. That the display of any vehicles on car lifts is strictly prohibited; 5. That only conforming signage is approved with this petition, and any additional signage shall be separately submitted for review and approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals; 6. That no LED lighthand or exposed neon shall be permitted on the site including, but not limited to, the building or around the windows; 7. That the banner free parking space be properly striped and signed to the satisfaction of the Inspection Department; 8. That the petitioner shall enter into a conditional agreement limiting this waiver use to this user only, with the provision to extend this waiver use to a new user only upon the approval of the new user by the Planning Commission and City Council; and 9. That the specific plans referenced in this approving resolution shall be submitted to the Inspection Department at the time the building permits are applied for. Subject to the preceding conditions, this petition is approved for the following reasons: 1. That the proposed use complies with all of the general waiver use standards and requirements as set forth in Section 19.06 of the Zoning Ordinance #543; 2. That the subject site has the capacity to accommodate the proposed use; and 3. That the proposed use is compatible to and in harmony with the surrounding uses in the area. May 10, 2011 25656 Mr. Taylor: No problem Mr. Wilshaw: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to make one brief comment. I appreciate the change. These used car lots that are starting to pop up, its a trend that's happening because used cars are profitable these days. They are popular because of economic conditions. The petitioner explained to us during our study meeting that there is a better profit margin on used cars than there is on new cars these days. I'm not particularly fond of having little used car dealers all over the place, but this particular petition, and I like to look at each petition on its own meats, this particular petition is a location that already does automotive service. They are already dealing with vehicles. This seems to be a more complementary use and strikes me as FURTHER RESOLVED, that notice of the above hearing was given in accordance with the provisions of Section 19.05 of Zoning Ordinance #543, as amended. Mr. Morrow: Is there any discussion? Mr. Taylor: I wondered if the maker of the motion would mind putting in condition 2, "with the provision to extend this waiver use to a new user only upon the approval of the new user by the Planning Commission and City Council"? Ms. Smiley: Is that okay, Mark? Mr. Taormina: Yes. Ms. Smiley: That's wonderful. Yes. Mr. Taylor: Thankyou. Mr. Morrow: Any other discussion? Mr. Wlshaw: Just one other request to the maker of the motion, if they wouldn't mind considering adding a stipulation that the barrier free space be resolved to the satisfaction to the Planning or Inspection Departments, the issues behind that barrier free space. Ms. Smiley: Okay. Would we make that condition 9, Mark? Mr. Taormina: Yes. Mr. Morrow: So the maker and the supporter agree? Mr. Taylor: No problem Mr. Wilshaw: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to make one brief comment. I appreciate the change. These used car lots that are starting to pop up, its a trend that's happening because used cars are profitable these days. They are popular because of economic conditions. The petitioner explained to us during our study meeting that there is a better profit margin on used cars than there is on new cars these days. I'm not particularly fond of having little used car dealers all over the place, but this particular petition, and I like to look at each petition on its own meats, this particular petition is a location that already does automotive service. They are already dealing with vehicles. This seems to be a more complementary use and strikes me as May 10, 2011 25657 being similar to some of the auto oil change places that we've had come before us in the past and ask for a couple U -Haul trucks or something along those lines. So this does not seem out of the ordinary. If we're going to allow U -Haul or other rental vehicles to allow a couple cars to be sold, the fad that the petitioner is willing to agree to very restrictive conditions on how these vehicles are going to be displayed so that it does blend in with his business and the neighborhood, I think is important and the reason that I'm going to go ahead and support this motion. Thank you. Mr. Morrow: Thank you, Mr. Wilshaw. Any other discussion or comments? Seeing none, please call the roll. Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution. ITEM #2 PETITION 2011-04-08-04 NEW BIG DADDY'S Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Petition 2011-04-08-04 submitted by John Kaounas, on behalf of New Big Daddy's Restaurant, requesting approval to remodel the exterior of the existing restaurant located at 19333 Victor Parkway on the west side of Victor Parkway between Seven Mile Road and Pembroke Avenue in the Southeast 1/4 of Section 6. Mr. Taormina: This is a request to remodel the exterior of an existing vacant restaurant, formerly the Lone Star Steakhouse, located on the west side of Victor Parkway between Seven Mile Road and Pembroke Avenue. This is in the Southeast 1/4 of Section 6. Section 6 is the square mile that is bounded by Eight Mile Road to the north, Newburgh Road to the east, Seven Mile Road to the south, and Haggerty Road to the west. This properly is just under 1.5 acres in area. It has 380 feel of frontage along Victor Parkway and a depth of roughly 175 feet along the north property line. The zoning is C-2, General Business. The surrounding land uses include Doc's Sport Retreat, which is a full service restaurant located immediately to the south of this site. That property is also zoned G2, General Business. Lying to the south of Doc's is a slormwaler pond used to manage most of the runoff within the Victor Corporate Park development. To the north and to the west surrounding this site is an undeveloped parcel that is zoned PO, Professional Office. This was previously site plan approved for Incredible Universe in May 10, 2011 25658 1995 and then in 2002 a site plan was approved for a six -story office building that would have been 350,000 square feet in size. Obviously, neither of these developments was constructed, and this site remains vacant. To the north of that is Davenport University as well as the Embassy Suites Hotel. This new restaurant would operate under the name New Big Daddy's. Based on the number of seats proposed for the restaurant, this would qualify as a full service restaurant. Full service restaurants require a waiver use under Section 11.03(c) of the Zoning Ordinance, but this site received waiver use approval back on March 22, 1995, for the Lone Star Steakhouse. Because the waiver use runs with the land, there is no need to go back through that process. All we're looking at this evening is a site plan involving the remodeling of the restaurant. One of the conditions imposed back in 1995 with respect to the Lone Star restaurant is that the number of customer seats, including the patio seating outside, would be limited to 296 seats. The number of seats proposed for New Big Daddy's restaurant is 189. So this represents a reduction of about one-third in the total number of customer seals. Because that number is less and because, again, this is only involving exterior changes to the restaurant, this requires site plan review for the building elevation plans. It does have somewhat of a western theme for the previous tenant Lone Star. It has rounded and stepped pattern parapet walls and cedar lap siding, as well as a peaked roof over the porch and main entrance. This is a rendering of how the building would look upon completion of the improvements. You can see that it carries different lines along the roof. There would be new parapets that would consist primarily of exterior insulated finish system. There would be metal coping along the trim. The height of the new walls would actually be lower than what exists there today. Although its squared off more, there are some offsets and variation to the height. This is actually a few feet lower than the top portions of the parapet wall for the Lone Star Steakhouse building. This is going from about 26 feel down to 24 feet. One of the new features that you'll note with this plan is the addition of a lower element on the south side of the building directly above the main entrance. The entrance remains in its current location along the south side of the building, but they add this feature to give the entryway a better identity. You can see also that they are adding cultured stone around the vestibule area, along with new glazing and spandrel glass above that. The same theme will continue along the front of the building. Half -pillars of cultured stone will be added at the corners. Changes to the site include adding a few parking spaces to the front of the restaurant where they have some landscape area that is undeveloped and under-utilized. They also need to update May 10, 2011 25659 some of the exterior lighling around the properly and probably either re -sod or re -seed the lawn areas which are in need of repair. This landscape plan shows where they are going to be replacing dying shrubs and adding new shrubs to the property. In terms of parking, the site does have about 101 parking spaces available. If you do the numbers based on the restaurant, they are required to have 102 parking spaces. Again, this is a site that operated previously as Lone Star with approximately one-third more seats that what is shown on the current plan. There were 296 seats for Lone Star and they are proposing 198 for this restaurant. As far as the signage is concerned, they are proposing two signs, one along the south elevation of the building. I'll go back to that rendering which provides a view of both signs. Again, this is the entryway. On the left hand side of the rendering, you can see the sign that would be placed on the upper portion of the tower element. A second prominent sign would be installed along the east elevation facing Vidor Parkway. They are entitled to a single wall sign not to exceed 100 square feet. However, Lone Star Steakhouse had received approval for three wall signs totaling no more than 228 square feel. So the resolution that we've prepared this evening for your consideration would allow them to have replacement signage equal to what was permitted for Lone Star and in the same general location. We did check the language of the variance that was granted in 1995 for Lone Star. It was not specified for Lone Star. It is something that could be carried over. If you concur with that, we've prepared that language within the resolution. Thank you. Mr. Morrow: Thankyou Mr. Taormina: We do have a couple items of correspondence. The first item is from the Engineering Division, dated May 2, 2011, which reads as follows: 9n accordance with your request, the Engineering Division has reviewed the above -referenced petition. The legal description matches our prior records, and is correct. The address is confirmed to be 19333 Victor Parkway. Note that we are, via copy of this correspondence, informing the owner of the property that he should familiarize himself with Section 13.20.380 of the City Ordinances, which limits the amount of Fats, Oils and Grease (F. 0. G.) which can be discharged to the City sanitary sewer system to 100 milligrams per liter by weight. The Ordinance can be viewed on our website at wwwci.livonia.mi.us." The letter is signed by Kevin G. Roney, P.E., Assistant City Engineer. The second letter is from the Livonia Fire & Rescue Division, dated May 6, 2011, which reads as follows: "This office has reviewed the site plan submitted in connection with a request to remodel the exterior the restaurant May 10, 2011 25660 located at the above referenced address. 1 have no objections to the remodeling proposal." The letter is signed by Earl W. Fesler, Fire Marshal. The third letter is from the Division of Police, dated April 27, 2011, which reads as follows: 7 have reviewed the plans in connection with the petition. 1 have no objections to the remodeling proposal." The letter is signed by John Gibbs, Sergeant, Traffic Bureau. The fourth letter is from the Inspection Department, dated May 3, 2010, which reads as follows: "Pursuant to your request, the above -referenced petition has been reviewed. This Department has no objections to this petition." The letter is signed by Jerome Hanna, Assistant Director of Inspection. That is the extent of the correspondence. Mr. Morrow: Thank you. Are there any questions? Mr. Taylor: Just to clarify. Mark, you said they will not have to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals if we approve the signage that was there before. Mr. Taormina: That is correct. Mr. Taylor: Thank you. Mr. Wilshaw: Mark, do the light standards need to be put in the approving resolution that was prepared for us if we are going to offer that resolution tonight? There is no mention of light standards, dumpsters, things like that. Do some of those standard verbiage items need to be added? Mr. Taormina: In the prepared resolution, we refer to approval of the site plan dated April 11. On the screen is a copy of that site plan. The one pole I referred to in the northwest corner of the property is identified to be replaced on the site plan. But if you'd like to include that as additional language, that's fine, but it does appear on the site plan as scheduled to be replaced. Mr. Wilshaw: Okay. That was my concern because I know there was one light that had fallen and needs to be replaced, so as long as that's indicated somewhere. Thank you. Mr. Morrow: Mark, doyou know the height ofthose lighttowers? Mr. Taormina: I was out there today, and they are every bit of 20 feet. They could be 24 feet. Mr. Morrow: I was just curious because whatever is out there has been approved in the past. May 10, 2011 25661 Mr. Taormina: Correct. Mr. Morrow: I see no purpose in trying to go to our standard of 20 feet given the location of the site. Mr. Taormina: My guess is that they are 20 feet for the poles themselves and they sit on lop of bases that are probably 3 to 4 feet in height. So they are probably about 24 feel. Mr. Morrow: Okay. Thank you. Are there any other questions before I go to the petitioner? Is the petitioner here this evening? Please come forward. We'll need your name and address for the record, please sir. John Kaounas, New Big Daddy's Restaurant, 20660 Woodcreek, Northville, Michigan 48167. Good afternoon. I am the owner of the property. We're here to petition for remodeling the exterior of the building and some of the interior to bring it back into a family restaurant. On the lights you were talking about, we have removed the light already, the post, because it was dangerous. We will replace it to match the rest of the park. Also, we are working with the management. Victor Park has a management. Someone will go through the lamp poles to make sure we maintain the same architecture they have for the rest of the park. This is our architect here. We will show you some of the samples we have, the colors, and some bricks we have. That way you can see how it's going to look like other than what we have in the pictures. Jamal Ismail, J.M.I. Associates, 13746 Michigan, Dearborn, Michigan 48126. I'm the project architectural designer. I'd like to give you a brief summary of the design and the intent, why we went to this architectural style. The building is, as you see, Southwest architecture. Because of the intent of the new business, we looked at the overall shapes, the design of the building, from the exterior. All the elements would be very difficult to use in the new plan in terms of the new menu and the family style restaurant we have intention to do. However, the two elements which are difficult to work with are the mansard roof and the other element is the exterior brick on the building. Most of the building is covered with brick. Initially, this was material used in the design of Lone Star. The other issue was design intent. When you are driving on Victor Parkway going north, it is really difficult to see the building. Its kind of hidden behind the landscape and also behind the screen wall. We thought if we bring the entrance to a different style, it would be more appealing and the building itself would be more inviting. In May 10, 2011 25662 looking at these elements in the existing building, I came to this proposal in order to keep the main structure intact, only to develop the vestibule and to create some architectural element on the building facade and also on the parapet wall. That's the reasoning behind why we came to this conclusion. The other thing is, what is a good posifive thing about this site, is the circulation, the traffic, and also enough areas where we can do some good landscape. However, the plan I submitted was a general layout. We can go into more detail in selecting the species and the trees. We want to make sure that the landscaping selection will fit with the building architecture. In terms of the interior, just a quick review. We are going to model architecture depicting some Greek architectural element, some classical element, but put it in a new form, in modem language. Also, the floor, the finishes will be combining wood and mosaics. The wall paneling will use two different woods, cherry and maple, just to create some delineation in color. Also, for the interior seating, we are going to use some LED lighting but everything in terms of the lighting and cove lighting is going to be hidden. There will not be any neon or LED exposed lighting. Its the same way also on the outside. In the parapet wall, we are creating the crown and also we're going to have LED lighting hidden just to have some lighting to accentuate the crown detailing on the building. The only thing left is the signage. However, this was depicted just for the placement. We're going to go more in detail in selecting the font and the area when we go to the sign company and will have more detail on this. I'd also like to point out that we're going to have another sign on the west side of the elevation. In my drawings, I did show two signs on the east and the south. We will keep within the approved requirement for Lone Star in terms of square footage. Mr. Morrow: At the study meeting, the Commission showed some interest in the stone work that you were going to use. I think you could pass it around with the palette of colors that you'll be using. Ms. Smiley: Are these stones in a panel? Mr. Ismail: No. Ms. Smiley: They are nice and heavy. And that's the color scheme you're going with? Mr. Ismail: Its a special color. We can order it ahead of time. May 10, 2011 25663 Ms. Smiley: We're going to put you back at the microphone so everyone can hear you talk. You were saying that these are not panels. They are individual stones. Mr. Ismail: They are individual stones. It would be set like standard brick. In terms of the color, usually they tell you like 95 percent match to this sample. Because it's a natural product, you might gel some variation. But the color of the building, the E.I.F.S. system, the existing standing seam and the metal would be the same colors. Mr. Morrow: I'm going to ask the camera crew if they could zoom in on Mr. Taylor. He's holding up the stone work that is going to be applied to the building so the audience can see what it is. We just wanted to make sure because we didn't have the easel set up. I think that will satisfy what we want to accomplish. Thank you, Mr. Taylor. Mr. Taylor: That is heavy. You've done a great job on the architecture of the building and how it looks. I wonder if we could get John back up here and tell us what a great restaurant it's going to be. John, you have 15 minutes before the hockey game comes on. Mr. Kaounas: We're going to have family dining. That's why, as you can see, the colors and everything else, we're having a building there which you can go someplace and lake your family for dinner and feel like going someplace which is nice and comfortable like home. That's the intent. This is what we're going to do because I have my partner here. He is an expert on this kind of business. He used to have the Big Daddy's on Orchard Lake and 15 Mile and also the Little Daddy's. He used to have the best clientele and that's what we're hoping to bring in the City. We are actually going to have Greek, Italian and American cuisine. Like I said, friendly as a family, not loo much of teenagers drinking and so on, even though we are a full restaurant, but we're after the clientele who can come in and have a comfortable area to have a nice dinner with the family and relax. That's our intent and that's what we're going to do. Mr. Morrow: Thankyou. Mr. Taylor: We are going to have saganaki. Mr. Kaounas: We'll have saganaki and the garlic sauce and so on and the Iamb chops. That's right. Mr. Taylor: Thankyou. May 10, 2011 25664 Mr. Morrow: Before we let John go, are there any other questions or comments regarding this? Ms. Smiley: Do you have a date in mind that you might be able to open? Mr. Kaounas: Once we get the approval from the City, we figure about three to three and a half months we should be able to have it done. We're pretty much ready to start construction. Ms. Smiley: I do want to compliment you on this construction. It's a very attractive building, very inviting. Thankyou. Mr. Kaounas: Thank you very much. Ms. Krueger: I just have one brief comment. I notice in the site plan that you plan to have outdoor seafing. Do you plan on having speakers out there for music? Mr. Kaounas: I don't think I'm going to have speakers. No, I don't think we'll have speakers to tell you the truth because we're not after that kind of music or anything like that. If we have outdoor sealing, which we are, it's going to be just because people like to be outdoors in the summerfime. Even though it's such a short time, a lot of us like to sit out and kind of have a peaceful afternoon and talk with your partner. Ms. Krueger Okay. Are you going to have umbrellas over the tables or anything like that? Mr. Kaounas: We will have some umbrellas for lunch and the sun gets pretty hot. So we'll have umbrellas, yes. Ms. Krueger Will the umbrellas have any type of signage on them, any words or advertisements? Mr. Kaounas: No, not at the moment. No, we're not going to. Ms. Krueger Okay. Thank you. Mr. Wilshaw: This is going to sound like a bad Pastor joke, but being that it's a Greek restaurant, how are you going to handle the grease that the restaurant produces? Mr. Kaounas: Actually, this restaurant is designed with the grease traps and so on. Also, we actually hire the right companies that provide us all the soaps and degrease chemicals, which are friendly to the environment, and that's how its going to happen. Again, the people I'm with are going to be running it, they are experts. May 10, 2011 25665 They are experienced. We do enter contracts with companies which that's all they do. Mr. W lshaw: So is the grease going to be stored internally then or is it going to be put into the dumpster area? Mr. Kaounas: The grease is probably going to be in the dumpster area. They're going to come and pick it up, environmental people. We put it in a 55 gallon drum and they come pick it up to recycle. Mr. Morrow: Before we go any further, if I heard correctly, Mark, that they introduced a third sign that is not on the plan. As long as they stick with the prior approval, do we have to have a sign package or do we just allow three signs with the same number of square feet? Mr. Taormina: I think that's the way to go here as long as they don't exceed the total area. The signs will be in the same general location as Lone Star had them on the south, east and west elevations up on the parapet. Mr. Morrow: The Inspection Deparlmenlwill work with them loo. Mr. Taormina: Correct. As he indicated, these are only conceptual prints right now. There will have to be some changes in order to make it fl. We're confident that they can make it work. Mr. Morrow: I just want to make sure we don't have to bring back a separate sign package. Mr. Taormina: I don'tthink that's necessaryquite frankly. Mr. Morrow: Okay. I'm comfortable with that also. Mr. Wilshaw: I do have a question for Mr. Taormina. The petitioner menfioned something along the lines of using some LED accent lighting, not exposed but to accent the building. Does that fall outside of our no LED Iightband requirement? Mr. Taormina: This is going to be soffit lighting. As you indicated, it's going to be accent lighting or as he called it, like a downwash effect to provide a soft illuminated glow to the comice treatment. So no, we would not consider that part of the sign package. That is something that would be an architectural feature and it should look very nice. May 10, 2011 25666 Mr. Wilshaw: It sounds good. I just wanted to make sure that we weren't going to restrict him and that we would be able to allow that without permitting neon and everything else along with it. Thank you. Mr. Morrow: As long as we're on that subject, I think currently they have almost like a spotlight lighting up the east side of the building. I'm assuming that is coming down. I remember when they turned that spotlight on it created tremendous glare on the whole thing. You looked at that on a rainy day and it looked like a search light. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you're using soft accent lighting. Is there anything else? Before I ask for a motion, I'm going to see if there is anybody in the audience that wishes to speak for or against the granting of this petition? Seeing no one coming forward, a motion would be in order. On a motion by Taylor, seconded by Wilshaw, and unanimously adopted, it was #05-23-2011 RESOLVED, that the City Planning Commission does hereby recommend to the City Council that Petition 2011-04-08-04 submitted by John Kaounas, on behalf of New Big Daddy's Restaurant, requesting approval to remodel the exterior of the existing restaurant located at 19333 Victor Parkway on the west side of Victor Parkway between Seven Mile Road and Pembroke Avenue in the Southeast 1/4 of Section 6, be approved subject lolhe following conditions: 1. That the Site Plan marked Sheet G7.0 dated April 11, 2011, as revised, prepared by J.M.I. Associates, is hereby approved and shall be adhered to; 2. That the Landscape Plans marked Sheet L-1.0 dated April 11, 2011, as revised, prepared by J.M.I. Associates, is hereby approved and shall be adhered to; 3. That underground sprinklers are to be provided for all landscaped and sodded areas and all planted materials shall be installed to the satisfaction of the Inspection Department and thereafter permanently maintained in a healthy condition; 4. That the Exterior Building Elevations Plan marked Sheet A- 3.0 dated April 11, 2011, as revised, prepared by J.M.I. Associates, is hereby approved and shall be adhered to; 5. That the maximum customer seating count shall not exceed a total of one hundred ninety eight (198) seats, May 10, 2011 25667 including one hundred seventy (170) interior seats and twenty eight (28) outdoor patio seals; 6. That no advertising shall be permitted on any of the sealing apparatus of the outdoor patio area; and 7. That the maximum area of each wall -mounted sign and the approximate location of all exterior signage shall be consistent with the previously approved sign package for this site, and that any additional signage shall be separately submitted for review and approval; 8. That no LED lightband or exposed neon shall be permitted on this site including, but not limited to, the building or around the windows; 9. That the specific plans referenced in this approving resolution shall be submitted to the Inspection Department at the time the building permits are applied for; and 10. Pursuant to Section 19.10 of Ordinance No. 543, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Livonia, this approval is valid for a period of one year only from the dale of approval by the City Council, and unless a building permit is obtained and construction is commenced, this approval shall be null and void at the expiration of said period. Mr. Morrow: Is there any discussion? Mr. Wilshaw: Just a brief comment that the petitioner initially came to us in October of Iasi year to talk to us about this particular restaurant. I was excited about the concept when they had the initial meeting with us and to have this particular restaurant, which has been sifting vacant for a while in a really nice area of the city. Its a great location, and to have this pefifioner, who owns the property outright, to put this kind of investment into it is very excifing, and I think it's really good for the City. I wish him the best of luck going forward with this. Mr. Kaounas: Thankyou. Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the mofion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution. I know there was some talk about a seven day waiver. Because of your time constraint, we might want to move it along. Mark, did you have a chance to talk to the City Council? May 10, 2011 25668 Mr. Taormina: Yes. We're all set to move this to next week's agenda subject to your approval of the seven day waiver. On a motion by Wilshaw, seconded by Taylor, and unanimously adopted, it was #05-24-2011 RESOLVED, that the City Planning Commission does hereby determine to waive the provisions of Section 10 of Article VI of the Planning Commission Rules of Procedure, regarding the effective dale of a resolution after the seven-day period from the dale of adoption by the Planning Commission, in connection with Petition 2011-04-08-04 submitted by John Kaounas, on behalf of New Big Daddy's Restaurant, requesting approval to remodel the exterior of the existing restaurant located at 19333 Victor Parkway on the west side of Victor Parkway between Seven Mile Road and Pembroke Avenue in the Southeast 1/4 of Section 6. Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. It will go on to City Council with an approving resolution. ITEM #3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1,007m Public Hearings and Regular Meeting Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Approval of the Minutes of the 1,007th Public Hearings and Regular Meeting held on April 19, 2011. On a motion by Taylor, seconded by Wilshaw, and adopted, it was #05-25-2011 RESOLVED, that the Minutes of 1,0071' Public Hearings and Regular Meeting held by the Planning Commission on April 19, 2011, are hereby approved. A roll call vole on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following AYES: Taylor, Wilshaw, Smiley, Morrow NAYS: None ABSENT: Scheel ABSTAIN: Krueger Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. May 10, 2011 25669 ITEM #4 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1,008" Regular Meeting Ms. Smiley, Acting Secretary, announced the next item on the agenda, Approval of the Minutes of the 1,008'" Regular Meeting held on April 26, 2011. On a motion by Wilshaw, seconded by Smiley, and adopted, it was #05-26-2011 RESOLVED, that the Minutes of 1,0081" Regular Meeting held by the Planning Commission on April 26, 2011, are hereby approved. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Wilshaw, Smiley, Taylor, Morrow NAYS: None ABSENT: Scheel ABSTAIN: Krueger Mr. Morrow, Chairman, declared the motion is carded and the foregoing resolution adopted. On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 1,0091h Public Hearings and Regular Meeting held on May 10, 2011, was adjourned at 8:01 p.m. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION Carol A. Smiley, Acting Secretary ATTEST: R. Lee Morrow, Chairman