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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL STUDY - 2008-02-20 CITY OF LIVONIA— CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF STUDY MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 20, 2008 Meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. Present: Terry Godfroid-Marecki, James McCann, Joe Laura, Brian Meakin, Tom Robinson, Don Knapp, and Laura Toy. Absent: None. Elected and appointed officials present: Sean Kavanagh, City Attorney; Karen Kapchonick, Superintendent Parks & Recreation; Cindy LaFond, Community Development Supervisor; Jim Zoumbaris, City Engineer (Operations); Mark Taormina, City Planner; Kevin Roney, City Engineer (Utilities & Engineering); and Maureen Cosgrove, Assistant City Clerk. Brian Meakin recognized sixth grade Girl Scout Troop 12 from Johnson Upper Elementary School who were present along with their leaders, Colleen Meakin and Joan Melaris. Don Knapp offered a commendation, signed by the Mayor and the Council, to Dan Irvin, Livonia Jaycee President, who received the Martin P. Luthy Memorial Award on February 9, 2008 for outstanding contributions to the City of Livonia. AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. NEW BUSINESS: 1. REQUEST TO PLACE SIGNS AT REFERENCED LOCATIONS: Jodi Goodman, T.H.E. Friends of Literacy, re: to advertise Bookstock, an annual used book and media sale, scheduled to be held at Laurel Park Place Mall between April 6, 2008 and April 13, 2008. Sherri Schiff, 1250 Redding Road, Birmingham, MI, Steering Committee representative for Bookstock '08, stated that Bookstock is an annual used book and media sale and held every Spring at Laurel Park Place Mall. Groups involved are all 501c3 non-profit organizations, and the proceeds and remaining books support literacy programs, schools, libraries and different needs for media types of resources throughout Detroit and metropolitan areas. There is an admission fee for the pre-sale on Sunday morning for book dealers and others at the Mall. They will take used books until March 24, 2008, at the drop-off sites listed on their bookmark, and also books can be dropped off with the Security Guard in the office building across from Laurel Park Place Mall adjacent to the movie theater. Godfroid-Marecki offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 2 2. REQUEST TO PLACE SIGNS AT REFERENCED LOCATIONS: Catherine Anderson, MOPS Sale Team Member, St. Edith and St. Kenneth Parishes, re. to advertise a Mom-to-Mom Sale to be held at St. Edith's Church on Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Catherine Anderson, MOPS Sale Team Member, was in the audience. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 3. REQUEST TO AMEND COUNCIL RESOLUTION 12-08: Martha Saum, re- request to include entire community in renaming a private road in the On the Pond Condominium Complex to Pondview Circle from an Eight Mile Road designation effective May 1, 2008. Martha S. Saum, Agent for On The Pond Condominium Association, stated that the name change was already approved, but the resolution only changed the street name to include the loop around the pond and not the entire community, so they would like the whole street named Pondview Circle. Sean Kavanagh will take care of this matter. Knapp offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 4. REQUEST FOR INFORMAL APPROVAL OF PROPOSED PROGRAM AND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE 2008-2009 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM: Livonia Housing Commission, re. so that a second public hearing can be held on this matter, after which time a final program and budget will be forwarded to Council for formal adoption. Cindy LaFond, Community Development Supervisor on behalf of Housing Director Jim Inglis, stated that they were presenting the preliminary budget for 2008-2009 program year. The budget has been done in accord with HUD guidelines. The Mayor has viewed the budget, and he has concurred with the draft budget. A Public Hearing was held on February 7, 2008 with one person attending, and he just wanted to learn more about activities of the Housing Commission. There were no serious concerns raised at this time. A second Public Hearing will be held on February 28, 2008. The action plan in the budget will be published in the Observer during the month of March. The final budget will be resubmitted for Council approval in April, and in May, the action plan will be sent to HUD and funding will be requested. The HUD allocation for this year on the proposed budget is $382,017.00 which is $19,291.00 less than last year's HUD allocation. The total budget for the year is based on the HUD allocation plus any anticipated income for this next year plus any unspent funds from the previous year. The total budgeted amount is $585,017.00. The line items on the 3 budget are being spent on major and minor housing rehabilitation with $300,000.00 budgeted, $20,000 reserved for acquisition of any tax-reverted properties if they become available for the City's right of refusal. $25,000.00 is budgeted for management and maintenance of rental homes and the rehabilitation of fifteen (15) City owned single family homes, $55,000.00 for rehabilitation of five (5) homes owned by Liberty Hill Housing Corporation and leased to low income persons with developmental disabilities, and $50,000.00 for some neighborhood revitalization activity which would take place on the northeast corner of the City. The exact project has not yet been defined. It will probably be around Livonia Mall area, and it could be used for a feasibility planning study, infrastructure improvements or blight reduction. About 15% of this year's allocation plus 15% of the previous year's program income can be used for public service activities. So there is $84,000.00 to work with. The public service activities for the next year are the same as in most years–for the senior van program, for mental health counseling, services for First Step and for emergency utility assistance. The rest of the funding is for administration costs, accounting services, and fair housing. There is a waiting list for rehabilitation of houses. Christopher Martin, 12275 Inkster Road, Livonia, was present and stated that he was the one person at the Public Hearing on February 7t". He would like to attend the meeting on February 27, 2008, as he is interested in this. Someone on the Council will send Mr. Martin a notice. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 5. AWARD OF BID: Department of Parks and Recreation, re: for various items of clothing for the 2008 departmental needs. Karen Kapchonick, Superintendent Parks & Recreation, stated that they recently opened sealed bids for clothing items such as staff shirts, t-shirts for programs, championship t-shirts, special event t-shirts, and baseball caps. They are recommending that four (4) different companies be awarded bids—All American Embroidery, Livonia, MI, for Items 1, 5, and 12; American Silkscreen & Embroidery, Farmington Hills, for Item 2; Monroe Sports Varsity Athletic, Monroe, for Items 3, 67 77 87 137 147 15A and 15B, 167 19A and 1913; and Screened Images, Canton, for Items 4, 97 107 117 17 and 18. These are all low bidders. Funds are available from five (5) different budgeted accounts including the Community Recreation, General Recreation and Pool funds, and other accounts pertaining to the purchases. Robinson offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APROVING CONSENT 4 6. REQUEST TO WAIVE THE CITY'S COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS AND TO APPROVE AN ANIMAL SHELTERING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LIVONIA AND THE MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY; AND REQUEST TO APPROVE BACK PAYMENT FOR RATE INCREASE FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2006 TO DECEMBER 31, 2007: Public Service Division, re: for the period January 1, 2008 through November 30, 2009, with boarding fees to increase to $23.50 per day and to compensate for rate increase from old and new contract. Jim Zoumbaris, City Engineer (Operations), stated that the City has been negotiating with the Michigan Humane Society (MHS) since 2006, and after a lengthy contract, the Law Department came to a resolution, pay the back sum of $12,704.00, and go to the new rate they requested. The contract had expired and MHS allowed us to go at the old rate, since the Law Department was trying to negotiate the contract terms. It took over a year to negotiate the contract language. The Law Department resolved the issue, and they now are requesting an approval for the MHS. They are trying to find another source to deliver animals to. The Humane Society would eventually like to get out of this business. The Ordinance is being changed to increase the fees that we charge. We have been dealing with the City of Taylor as either a backup or another source. We cannot work it out at this time, but Taylor is still interested in us. The City of Taylor has their own pound where they take animals. There was a concern on how to deal with residents going to Taylor to pick up their animals because of the distance, and they do not have a vet on service at all times and they have to call them in. The City does currently takes animals to the MHS in Westland off Newburgh Road and Marquette which is about a twelve (12) mile trip. Livonia had an animal center at one time. Having our own animal center is an expensive type of operation, but Mr. Hogan is considering looking into this, but it does involve where the animals would be stored and who would maintain the shelter. A second animal control officer just started Tuesday with the City, so it is a possibility in the future, but it would take awhile to get an approval if we were to build one. Taylor is the only other source currently that is willing to possibly take animals. The City of Taylor is cheaper, but it is a thirty-eight (38) mile round trip for people. They have explored local veterinarians over the last three (3) years, but no vet in the City wanted to take on the responsibility of having someone available after hours or on the weekends without huge additional costs. If we were to build a site, and we would have to get an appropriation to build that, there is a possibility that some vets might be interested, but this would be a future negotiation, and we could still work out something better with the City of Taylor. City of Taylor currently has two (2) other cities, and there are a couple of other places, but they are even further away than Taylor. When residents pick up their animal, MHS has a fee they are charging Livonia. The fee itself in the Ordinance is different and just has been raised to bring it up closer, so we are not losing money. Other cities deal with animals as Livonia does—Westland, Canton part-time, and Novi or Northville. Canton does not have an animal control per se, but they hire a contractor. From research, local animal kennels are not willing to perform this type of service. Livonia 5 makes over 800 runs. Almost 400 cats have been taken into the Humane Society. Most of the kennels do not want to take in wildlife, and the City has had 84 cases where they had to be put away. Both animal control officers will normally do a split shift where one comes in early and one works later, and they patrol half the city at a time with one patrolling the north section and one the south while they are in at the same time. The issue for the City has been when the officer has to leave to take animals back, they had nobody to attend to what was going on (wild animals running loose through schools and coyotes in the area), and they have to hire someone else to catch them. The officers would still have to investigate. The two officers work 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but they are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Robinson stated that in the summary memo, it says that the boarding fees would increase to $23.50 per day, but in another area, it looks like there are two (2) increases. It looks like the fee of $16.00 is going to $25.00 for a dog the first time a dog is seized or impounded. Barbara Scherr stated the initial intake fee is to impound the animal, and the other fee is the per diem boarding fee. They feel the initial fee needs to be raised to cover the cost, and the other fee is based on what Humane Society is charging. The contract was negotiated through the Law Department. Law would be happy to process an RFP on this type of work, but immediately something needs to be done so there is a place to take strays and to buy some extra time to continue the process. She has contacted a number of other communities, and there isn't a lot of interest in assisting the City of Livonia with the animal problems. Taylor is the only community that expressed an interest in assisting the City. Dearborn has their own animal shelter, but they are not willing to take animals from other cities. Southfield has no animal control officer and the Police Department takes care of animal issues. They also have a private shelter. Canton uses the Huron Valley Humane Society, and Allen Park has their own shelter, but they did not return the calls. She said to run the RFP again to see what happens. With the Michigan Humane Society, we do not have to guarantee a certain amount of animals that they take in. It's an independent contractor relationship. We can use or not use it as much as we want. In the meantime, we can see what is out there to service our needs. Mayor Kirksey feels that Taylor is too far for residents to pick up lost pets. At the time Taylor was considered, there wasn't another animal control officer hired, so the time involved in driving back and forth to Taylor with a van full of pets was taking the officer out of service for way too long and also the fuel costs, so it makes more sense to use MHS in Westland which is only twelve (12) miles round trip vs. the thirty eight (38) miles round trip to Taylor at least until the City finds something better. Godfroid-Marecki offered the approving resolution and First Reading on the Regular Agenda. Toy offered the approving resolution on the Regular Agenda to obtain an RFP for other providers. 6 DIRECTION: (1) APPROVING & 1ST READING REGULAR (2) OBTAIN R.F.P. FOR OTHER PROVIDERS 7. REQUEST TO APPROVE PROPOSED 2008 SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM: Engineering Division, re: which includes targeted areas in Section 22 and resident-requested repair locations throughout the City, consisting of approximately 947 locations, which will require the property owners at these locations to install, repair or remove and replace unsafe sections of sidewalk by July 1, 2008, after which date the Engineering Division shall arrange for the construction and/or reconstruction of same. (CR 784-82) Kevin Roney, City Engineer (Utilities & Engineering), stated this is an annual program with approximately 947 locations for sidewalk repair this year. Ultimately, the property owner is responsible for the cost. A letter is sent out to property owners in April telling residents that they have a choice of fixing it themselves or hiring a contractor and repairing the sidewalk by July 1, 2008. If they choose not to do that, then the City will repair the sidewalk and the property owner will be assessed the costs. Council President Toy said she would like to look at the letter beforehand as the wording seems a little "heavy-handed". McCann stated that the letter is meant to make the City's sidewalks safer. It is the citizen's responsibility to take care of the sidewalks by repairing, shoveling snow or de-icing the sidewalks in the winter. If the City contractor does repairs on the sidewalk, the cost is usually less for residents. McCann offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 8. SIGN PERMIT APPLICATION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2007-11-SN- 08 submitted by Taco Bell requesting approval for signage for a new restaurant on property located on the south side of Eight Mile Road, between Farmington Road and Shadyside Road (33193 Eight Mile Road), in the Northwest '/4 of Section 3. Mark Taormina, City Planner, said that the new Taco Bell will be located at Eight Mile Place on Eight Mile Road. Back in September, 2007, the Council approved a waiver use approval to construct and operate a full service restaurant, but that signage would be separately submitted for review and approval. Taco Bell is part of a retail complex at Eight Mile Road and Farmington Road. There are four (4) buildings. There is a Walgreens drug store, east of Taco Bell is a multi-tenant retail center, and a Tim Horton's Restaurant. Property is zoned C-2 (General Commercial), and the sign package includes a wall sign as well as a monument sign. They are permitted 35 square feet for the wall sign, and they are proposing 32 square feet. A rendering was shown of the building site. The thirty (30) square foot ground sign is conforming and would be set back ten (10) feet from the right-of-way. The only sign that is additional is the main board sign that 7 would need approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The main board sign is located at the back of the restaurant. Ordinance requires the sign to be 30 square feet. Planning Commission is recommending approval of the sign package subject to the approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals for the oversize menu board. Technically, a menu board is not visible from a public thoroughfare, therefore, the ZBA usually considers this item. Eric Rauch, Desine, Inc., 2183 Pless Drive, Brighton, MI 48114, stated that the building is moving along nicely, and petitioner hopes to open in April. Timing is critical now. They are working very close with the ZBA office. They have a meeting with ZBA on March 18, 2008, which would allow sufficient time for this to move forward to the next Regular Council Meeting on February 27th. On the 28th the ZBA would post to the newspaper allowing time for public notice, be approved at the next Regular Meeting on March 12th, and then March 18th at the ZBA meeting. They need a couple of weeks for manufacturing the menu board depending on the decision by the ZBA. He stated that ZBA asked that this be placed on the Consent Agenda so they could feel more comfortable. In May of last year, the corporation redesigned the menu board by incorporating the wings and appendages into the sign to create a cleaner image. The standard was 67 square feet and reduced it to 44 square feet. This board has not been installed in any Taco Bell in Michigan yet. The existing main sign at Taco Bell on Merriman and Plymouth Road is twenty eight (28) square feet with side wings. Menu board is thirty three (33) square feet which is 5.4 feet wide by 6.1 feet tall. Laura would like to take a look at their boards. They took a survey of other fast food restaurants which includes two (2) Taco Bells, a McDonald's, a KFC, and a few others similar to Taco Bell, and the average square footage of the menu boards was forty eight (48) square feet. They have addresses with pictures and measurements of each sign and submitted these to the ZBA to look at. City Attorney Kavanagh said that the present sign that was presented with the site plan package is not visible from I-96. The menu board shown on the signage is 44 square feet and only 30 square feet is permitted. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Regular Agenda with the menu board maximum at 44 square feet. DIRECTION: APPROVING — MENU BOARD REGULAR MAXIMUM @ 44 SQ. FT. 9. WAIVER PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2008-01-02-01 submitted by Raaga International, L.L.C. requesting approval to utilize a Class C Liquor License in connection with a full service restaurant (Haandi) located on the north side of Six Mile Road, between Newburgh Road and Fitzgerald Avenue (37116 Six Mile), in the Southwest '/4 of Section 8. Mark Taormina, City Planner, stated that the restaurant is in the Key Bank Commons Shopping Center on the north side of Six Mile Road about 500 feet 8 east of Newburgh Road. This plaza is about 38,600 square feet and is divided into fourteen (14) tenant spaces. The properties are zoned C-2 (General Business). Haandi Indian Restaurant is seeking approval to utilize a Class C liquor license in connection with the existing full-service restaurant. This restaurant is approximately 3,000 square feet and is between Papa Romano's Pizza and Key Bank which is in the southeasterly wing of the shopping center and was approved with a total of 102 customer seats. There would not be a separate bar seating area. The license would allow them to sell beer, wine and other spirits to be consumed on the premises. This Class C license would not be in compliance with the ordinance requiring a 1,000 foot separation from other similarly licensed establishments. This is a state requirement that is waivable by the City. The Akasaka Japanese Restaurant is located in the same plaza as is Sol Caliente Mexican Grill (formerly Kokopelli's). Waiver use for the Indian Restaurant was originally granted to the former China Kitchen in 2003, and two (2) years later, Haandi Cuisine of India assumed occupancy, expanded the leased unit and increased seating from 30 to 102 seats. On behalf of the Petitioner Raaga International, Shannon Price, Renaissance Strategies, 27780 Novi Road, Suite 210, Novi, MI 48377, was present and stated his client opened in June of 2006 and expanded in December, 2006. There are two (2) other restaurants in the same strip mall that are serving alcohol, and several of their clients have been asking to have some spirits with their meal, and after hearing they don't serve drinks, they have turned around and left. They would like to bolster their clientele by serving drinks which would increase their business by 5 or 6%. They figure 30% of their customers would be ordering drinks. They will not be changing their hours. Hours are now seven (7) days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday, the hours are 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. They have paid their outstanding balance of $100.00 to the Inspection Department as of today. Knapp offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda approving the waiver use for the liquor license. Knapp offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda to waive the 1,000 foot separation requirement. DIRECTION: (1) APPROVING CONSENT (2) APPROVING WITH WAIVER OF 1,000 FOOT SEPARATION 10. SITE PLAN PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2007-11-08-18 submitted by Bob Evans Restaurant in connection with a proposal to demolish and reconstruct the restaurant on property located on the west side of Middlebelt Road between Schoolcraft Road and Bentley Avenue (13911 Middlebelt Road), in the Southeast '/4 of Section 23. 9 Mark Taormina, City Planner, was present and stated that Bob Evans Restaurant is requesting to demolish and reconstruct their facility on the northwest corner of Schoolcraft Road and Middlebelt Road. Zoning of the property as well as the property to the west is zoned commercial, and the property on the north is zoned C-1. The existing restaurant is south of the center of the site approximately eighty-five (85) feet back from Schoolcraft Road and seventy-five (75) feet back from Middlebelt Road. The existing restaurant is about 4,900 square feet in total size. The site has a total of 98 parking spaces. Seating, originally approved in 1981, would be a total of 149 customers. The new proposed restaurant would be slightly north of the existing restaurant approximately 150 feet from Schoolcraft Road and about seventy-five (75) feet from Middlebelt Road. With the additional cooler units, the new building would be approximately 5,500 square feet with the same number of seats (149) and 21 employees working shifts. The restaurant would be only slightly larger than the existing one. There would be no outside dining. There would be no change in the driveway access. A driveway would be off Middlebelt Road and a second driveway off Schoolcraft Road. Parking required for the site is 98 spaces, but the new parking area would provide 86 spaces which is a shortage of 14 parking spaces and would therefore require ZBA approval. Bob Evans is confident there is sufficient parking. They comply with setback requirements in the Ordinance. The required landscaping would be 15% of the total site, and they would provide landscaping of 18%. The plans call for additional trees and other plant materials on the right-of-way and up near the building. An underground storm water detention system is planned under the parking lot between the north side of the existing building and the north property line. Currently there is none. The new building would be constructed of brick on all four (4) sides. The existing restaurant is a painted red wood-sided structure. Building accents would be bands of soldier course and herringbone brick patterns. Metal awnings would trim the top of the windows. The front entrance would have a metal overhang porch supported by brick columns. The top edge of the roof's parapet would be trimmed with decorative cornice. Currently they have one sign on the east elevation facing Middlebelt Road. There is also a large pylon sign located along Middlebelt Road. They are entitled to two (2) wall signs, one at 67 square feet on Middlebelt Road and one on the south elevation at 33 square feet. They are allowed one ground sign at 30 square feet. They are proposing two (2) wall signs, one on the south elevation and one on the east elevation. These would both be 45 square feet, and they are proposing to maintain the existing pylon sign on Middlebelt Road. Petitioner Rick McKinney, Senior Real Estate Manager for Bob Evans Farms, Inc., 3776 S. High Street, Columbus, OH 43207, stated that they adjusted the sign on the left side of the building to comply. Most of the other issues that were in the petition have been taken care of and adjusted. There were a couple of issues that he wanted to discuss. First, they would like to change the material of the dumpster enclosure from steel to a more durable composite material that they have put on all their rebuilt restaurants for the past five (5) years. The petitioner brought a sample to show the Council. Another comment was 10 concerning the cooler on the back of the building requesting enclosures on all three (3) exposed sides with brick. He spoke to their engineers. The one side closest to the entrance door is not enclosed and is open for maintenance of the cooler unit. Photos were also submitted. The last issue, other than the sign, concerns the light poles that are currently on the site that are twenty-six (26) feet high. According to code, they are supposed to be twenty (20) feet, but they would like to keep the current poles as they had them inspected, and they are in good condition. They would like to replace the heads on the poles to put different lights on that would only face down and be just on the property. He brought photos of the lights. Lastly, they had a lot of discussion regarding the pole sign, and they would like to keep the sign. They had it inspected, and the sign is in good shape. Taking the sign down and replacing the sign would be very expensive for them. The petitioner mentioned that they will keep the Bob Evans open in Dearborn on Michigan Avenue, build right next to it, then they will tear down the old one. It was not feasible on the Livonia site because of the way it is laid out. The Vice President of Bob Evans, who is celebrating 30 years with the company, has most of the southeastern stores, and he was a Livonia resident for years. Laura would like to see the sign taken down and be in compliance. The current pylon sign cannot be seen from I-96 freeway according to the petitioner. Petitioner stated that they would like to demolish the restaurant when the weather breaks. Current employees can transfer while it is closed. It should take about four (4) months to rebuild. Initially they wanted it to open in September. Most of their restaurants open at 6:00 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m. except on Friday and Saturday, they are normally open until 11:00 p.m. depending on the area. Laura offered the resolution on the Regular Agenda referring to the Committee of the Whole for their report and recommendation. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Regular Agenda without the pylon sign and including the ground sign, 26 foot light standards, composite material on the dumpster doors, and two (2) sides of brick on the cooler area. Godfroid-Marecki offered the approving resolution on the Regular Agenda with the pylon sign. DIRECTION: (1) REFERRING TO THE REGULAR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (2) APPROVING WITHOUT PYLON SIGN & INCLUDING GROUND SIGN, 26 FT. LIGHT STANDARDS, COMPOSITE ON DUMPSTER DOORS & 2 SIDES OF BRICK ON COOLER (3) APPROVING —AS REQUESTED 11 11. SITE PLAN PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2007-11-08-19 submitted by Etchen Gumma Limited, on behalf of The Wine Palace, in connection with a proposal to renovate the exterior of the commercial building on property located on the west side of Middlebelt Road, between Schoolcraft Road and Bentley Avenue (13971 Middlebelt Road), in the Southeast '/4 of Section 23. Mark Taormina, City Planner, stated that The Wine Palace is just north of Bob Evans, zoned C-1 (Local Business) and is about % of an acre and includes 435 feet of frontage on Middlebelt Road. There is an existing commercial building on the property which is about 7,400 square feet and divided into two (2) units. Presently the Wine Palace occupies the southerly portion of the building and is 4,752 square feet, and a computer store (Computerize) occupies 2,789 square feet on the north side of the building. The current building has a flat roof. There is some vertical wood siding along the upper portion of the facade. There are 36 parking spaces. There is a single driveway off Middlebelt Road. There is an existing screen wall at the rear of the building. The proposal is to completely remodel the exterior facade on the front and the two sides. There would be a raised front entry canopy or overhang that would increase the height of the building from about 15' 4" to a total height of 29' 7". The upper portion of the facade would include a decorative E.I.F.S. crowned molding that is along the top. There would be a veneer finish along the upper part of the facade that would utilize thin brick material. There is quite a bit of discussion on the application of thin brick for this project. The front eighteen (18) feet on both sides of the building would have brick columns, E.I.F.S. components, crown moldings and fabric awnings. The rest of the south and north elevations and all the west elevation would be painted to match the existing brick. The petitioner plans to plant trees along the right-of-way similar to Bob Evans trees. Petitioner Edward Etchen, Etchen Gumma Limited, 24300 Southfield Road, Suite 308, Southfield, MI 48075, was present and said that Mark did a good job presenting the proposal, and they have been through a lot of negotiations. Originally they met with the Planning Commission when the issue of thin brick first came up. It was deferred to the Building Department for their comments. The Building Department thought it was an appropriate use of material above grade, but they would like to see a full brick. Mr. Etchen stated that they revised their drawing to reflect that. Kelly Denha, owner, was present and said he wants to update his 25 year old store to attract more people, so they decided to remodel the exterior. It was offered to have a cross-access parking agreement with Bob Evans when they need the additional parking spaces on Sundays since Wine Palace is not open on Sundays. Mike Yetter, Williams Panel Brick Company, Livonia, MI, showed samples of the thin brick product and stated it comes with a twenty-year warranty and is used extensively. Product was used 100% at Partridge Creek Mall near Lakeside in Sterling Heights. 12 Discussion followed regarding Chi Chi's and the hotel. Knapp offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. As there were no further questions or comments, Council President Toy adjourned the Study Session at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. DATED: February 26, 2008 LINDA GRIMSBY, CITY CLERK