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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 1995-05-18 MINUTES OF THE 18th REGULAR MEETING OF THE kre PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA. MICHIGAN The 18th Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 4:04 p.m. , Thursday, May 18, 1995 in the 4th Floor Conference Room of City Hall . Members Present: Mayor Robert D. Bennett Mr. Bill Pike Mr. Scott Grace Mrs. Toni Mette Mr. Conrad Carson Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Stan Anderson Mr. Dale Summers Members Absent: Mr. Mike Polsinelli Mr. Marvin Walkon Mr. Joe Laura (unexcused) Mr. Adelard Raby Others Present: Mr. John Nagy, Director Mrs. Jean Garvey, Secretary Mr. Michael McGee, City Council 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously approved, it was #95-20 RESOLVED that, the minutes of the 17th Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on May 4, 1995 are approved. 3. Comments from Chairman: Chairman Pike thanked Councilman McGee for a letter received from him acknowledging the work the PRDA board had done to date. Chairman Pike also acknowledged an article about the PRDA that appeared in the May 11th issue of the Detroit News. Mr. Pike stated an article should also be appearing in the May 22nd issue of Crain's Detroit Business. 4. Progress report Plymouth & Laurel property: Mr. Nagy reported the City Council on May 17th had accepted the quit claim deed to this property. He stated there was a great deal of interest on the part of the Livonia Volkswagen Mazda dealer and Mr. Nagy, Mayor Bennett and Rick Niedieck would be meeting with them on Monday to discuss a possible sale. 5. Action Toward Program: Clean Up: Chairman Pike brought up the possible use of the group called Hope Network, Inc. The Mayor reported that he had met with the Inspection Department to set up a program as soon as possible to begin a higher degree of ordinance enforcement along Plymouth Road. This would include looking at signs, replacement of landscaping, maintenance, etc. The Mayor and Bob Beckley, Director of Public Service, have also checked out the areas in front of the City's parking lots along Plymouth Road. The City will be doing something about this, possibly contracting with a private company that does landscaping. The board felt the fact that the City was doing their part was a good example for private property owners. It was suggested that a letter be sent out to property owners along Plymouth Road suggesting they work with the PRDA to clean up/fix up their property and if they are already doing so, thanking them. A letter will be drafted by Chairman Pike and reviewed at the board's next meeting. The three steps toward clean up would be (1) inspect, (2) private company to do landscaping and (3) letter to businesses. Street Lights: In discussing street lights, the board felt they should decide what they want to do about landscaping before they decide on street lights. For this reason they should be thinking about hiring a landscape consultant. The board directed Mr. Nagy to begin the process for developing requests for proposals. The board did narrow the lighting down to two choices and it was determined that one meeting, possibly the second meeting in June, would include a bus tour of the City of Dearborn at nighttime where both styles of street lights were being used. Monument Signs: Monument signs were discussed and the board felt they wanted something different to welcome people into the City at the east and west entrances to the City and also at various intersections. They felt they might get some ideas at their next meeting when they visit Canton. The board members were to be thinking about these signs to be discussed further at a future meeting. 6. Update on current Plymouth Road projects: Mr. Nagy reported on the following: Archie's Restaurant was approved on May 17th by the City Council with respect to their restaurant expansion and waiver use for a Class C liquor license. The City Council also on May 17th authorized the go ahead to negotiate for the right-of-way for Milburn Avenue. Mr. Nagy reported that he had met with Mr. Ventura in an attempt to acquire their property in lieu of Archie's property. Mr. Ventura indicated he might be willing to sell and is waiting for an offer. The request to rezone property on the east side of Haller Avenue, north of Plymouth Road from C-2 and R-1 to R-6, for the purpose of permitting the development of such property for a duplex, received a recommendation to deny from the City Planning Commission. This matter will now go to the City Council for final determination. Henderson Glass Company has moved to their new building and a company that is competing with them called Auto One is looking to move into Henderson's old building. -2- 7. Polling of Board Members: Mr. Anderson reported that he had informed the owners of a new business called Printers Plus that went into a strip mall on Plymouth Road about the PRDA. In asking what the owners felt the PRDA could stress, the owners replied better landscaping, housekeeping, trash pickup and grass cutting. The owners were having a problem with customers entering and exiting their place of business and they did not know where to turn. They felt they needed some kind of exit sign. Mr. Nagy stated they were allowed information signs like that as long as they are back from the curb. They are not regulated as long as it is traffic enforcement. Also, Mr. Anderson stated in talking with Johns Cleaners, the owner suggested putting in bus stops because as it is now people use his canopy to wait for buses and they leave litter. Mr. Anderson was told that SMART provides the bus stops but possibly the PRDA could put benches at the various bus stops as part of their project Mr. Summers asked if the PRDA could move forward on the demolition of some of the vacant buildings. Mr. Nagy stated while they were waiting for the money they could be taking steps to determine the value of those properties. Mr. Grace brought up the idea that when the landscaping was done in front of the City's parking lots, why not move the retaining walls back and put in fences and sitting areas consistent with the new landscaping. Mr. Carson apologized for missing the last meetings as he had been seriously ill. He also suggested reducing the number of meetings in July and August to one meeting a month for those two months. Mr. Peterson stated he will be pushing to get the monument signs installed. Mrs. Mette would like to see a nice monument sign at the park at Inkster and Plymouth Roads and would like to vote on it at the next meeting. Mr. McGee stated he was glad to see the members moving forward and they should keep the pressure on to continue to get things done. He reported the Rosedale Park Subdivision homeowners' association is doing a campaign to keep their area in repair. They will be replacing the entrance walls into their subdivision. He felt this might be an incentive to the other homeowners' associations in the area. The board might even want to kick in a portion of money to assist them. Mr. McGee had also received a letter from Andy Taylor, who is a member of the Historical Commission, and she suggested having a progressive dinner along Plymouth Road. Mr. McGee also informed the board of an annual meeting in Washington of the League of Historic American Theatres. 8. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 18th Regular meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority of Livonia on May 18, 1995 was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. -3- The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on June 1, 1995 in the City of Canton. Members are to meet at the Applebee's Restaurant, 43500 Ford Road, located on the north side of Ford Road, west of Morton Taylor, east of Sheldon Road. The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. at which time beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be served. When the meeting adjourns the members will take a walking tour of the district, weather permitting. A van will be provided for the tour in case of rain. Tom Yack, Township Supervisor, and Ken Stamps of Harley Ellington Designs will also be in attendance. Jea , arvey, Secretary (or -4-