Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 1951-04-04 157 MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA A public hearing and special meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Livonia were held on April 4, 1951 at 33110 rive Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan. Members present: George Bentley Clarence Jahn Helen Byers Robert MacIntyre Edwin Conway Walter Russell Dallas Hay Members absent: Harold Bower Carson Johnston Also present were Wm. Brashear, City Attorney and Maloomb Waring, Planning consultant. The meeting was called to order at 8 P.M. by Chairman George Bentley, and Helen Byers, Secretary, read Petition #24 (A & B) to vacate alley in Golden xlidge Subdivision. Petitioners John H. Kaiser and Edith Woods were present. Chairman Bentley asked if anyone wanted to give reasons why alley should not be closed. There were no objections by members present. Chairman Bentley made the recommendation that the alley be closed. Miss Byers read Petition #25 - Anna B. Slapinskas. nandall C. Kohler, Attorney, representing Anna Slapinskas, stated that his clients were trying to get the zoning changed to conform with building restric- tions. His clients desired to use the large house in question for business, but if this were not possible, perhaps they would turn it into a two-family flat. The Chairman asked if there were objections to this change. Mr. Chas. Kumon, 16854 tougeway Drive , appeared against the change, stating that before 1945 a lot of trouble developed and the sheriff was called to this location all of the time because the dwelling was used as a roadhouse. He would rather leave it as it is now. He wants no business places to corrupt the surrounding residences. Mr. and Mrs. Mynatt, 27605 W 6 Mile 1d. , announced that they wanted to conform with what Mr. Rumon said. Mrs. xohrscheib , 16835 Itougeway, also wanted to go on record as con- forming to the same things as stated by Mr. Rumon. The secretary then read the following 2 letters that were presented at the hearing; "We are definitely against changing the restrictions on Lots #147 and #148 from residential to business. This is strictly a 159 residential neighborhood and we would like to have it remain that way. Harold and Alice Beamer 16863 xougeway Drive " "As owners of house and Lot #144, Parkwood Sub. at above address, we protest any change of restrictions on Lots #146-147- 148-149 Parkwood Sub. We live directly behind these lots and have been paying taxes on house and lot #144 for 11 years and cannot see why restrictions should be changed at this late date. This is a nice community in a nice city and we intend to do all in our power to keep it that way. The only thing we can do is vote NO on any proposal to change restrictions in our neighborhood. Respectfully yours, Dewey and Muriel Moore." ' Mr. Kohler advised that his petitioners were not seeking to change the claseiftoaco�orm tonrestrictionsorm to dinand theng creadsthehsubdwanted the zoning to restrictions from owner's abstract. Mrs. Mynatt : I understand that the zoning board had rezoned as residential district that section. I believe at the time they under- stood the abstract. I believe the people that bought in therere would like to have it remain as such. Leave zoning stand as is. that if it were changed to a business, we would have to go through the same as the neighbors went through 8 or 9 years ago. the t at all for Mynatt:estate officere andoabgreen$ses housenthat haveebeen thereexcept for a real years. a e Mr. O'Connor stated that it was all residential in there. r'urther that a roadhouse could be made of the house again, if sold. Mr. l Kohler stated andthat that didn'tclients wanted to first work, they would like to for to makebusiness classification two-family flat. Chairman Bentley asked for further comments either for or against Petition #25. There were none. Miss Byers then read Petition #27 - David Newman and Sarah Newman requesting that Zoning Ordinance #7 be amended by changing classi- fication lassi- fication from its present A-1 to C-1. Mr. 1. Wilson, Attorney, stated that his clients had purchased this property for business purposes and had secured an attorney's opinion and said it could be used for WQ$tn�sthishere is a property to beeor ohsngedweld- ing shop which borders on the � Road on both Land also up to that intersection all along Plymouth sides is business property. Part of this road, he said, has been re- zoned by your Board for business purposes. We would like to have a modern business store and would be willing to have the store approved 161 by the Planning Commission. We are willing to provideparking facilities to relieve congestion and are willing to provide a 40 foot easement to the county on Newburg Road side. Mr. Wilson then submitted some photographs of the property involved. Mr. A. A. Campbell, representing the hoard of Wayne County road Commissioners, was opposed. "We very definitely believe the estab- lishment of retail business at this corner would create a hazard to the park and very definitely believe that it would be undesirable to have any egress ." Mr. Bentley asked whether they intend to build a business estab- lishment using Plymouth Road side entirely, as the county particu- larly objects to any drive-in or out onto the parkway. Mr. Wilson did not state definitely what kind of business would be opened, but did state that it would be a restaurant or a super mar- ket or something of use to the community and adequate parking space would be provided. Mrs. Margaret Hoffert, 37560 Plymouth Road: "I live directly across from the property and we have only one form of business and that has been there longer than we are old. There is no business for a mile ; the rest is all residential. The already mentioned property was re- zoned since business was established that is now there. " Mr. Wm. Schnell, 37470 Plymouth Road: "I own two lots directly across from the property in question, and I would like to mention that we are all against the change ia lotwould ofjeopardize spentall tore- sidences. We feel that there has been de- velop property around there , and there is ample room for businesses farther away from the described property." Mr. Wilson: "How far east and how far west is ample room?" Mr. Schnell: "A half mile east and a half mile west." Mrs. Schnell: "There is more business property between Newburg Fnd Ann Arbor Roads. The property in question is an RUFB classification and is all agricultural. It wasn't business property at any time since we have been there." Florence Crawford , 37500 Plymouth Road: "I live directly across from property and for the same reasons. I am opposed to a change in the classification. A list of opposers present at the meeting was then submitted for the records : Margaret Hoffert, 3'7560 Plymouth Road Harry Crawford, 37500 Plymouth Road Florence Crawford, Alma Schnell, 37470 Plymouth Road Wm. A. Schnell, 163 Jacob Livernois , 37862 Plymouth Road Vinnie Livernois, " Jerry B. Baldwin, 37917 Plymouth Road Mabel E. Hoag, 37907 Plymouth Road I: Orville B. Hoag, " Sallie Livernois, 37930 Plymouth Road Harris Kennedy, 37825 Plymouth Road John U. Livernois Miss Byers then read Petition #28 - closing alley in Bonaparte Gardens Subd. from Oporto to Melvin St and from Lot #382 to Dover Street. No one appeared either for or against petition. Petition #29 - Master Thoroughfare Plan for the City of Livonia, as advertised. Recess was called by the Chairman at 8 :50 P.M. At 9 P.M. the meeting was again called to order and there were approximately 12 persons present. Chairman Bentley asked Mr. Waring to explain in detail the proposed plan. Mr. Waring first explained that under the Charter form of City Govern- ment, the chief duty of the Planning Commission is to set up a Master Thoroughfare Plan for the City of Livonia. He explained further, I: by use of a tentative map, that Livonia's master thoroughfares would fit into the over-all picture including Detroit and surrounding territories. Building line set-back on the south side of School- craft would be very beneficial when the time does come for the City to acquire this property as it would remain vacant. In an effort to avoid some mistakes that have been overlooked by other cities when they were just starting, Mr. Waring warned that the natural drainage areas should not be filled in. The railroad is, of course, the natural area for industry to develop such as is the case in the building of the plants already established in Livonia. Mr. Waring recommended that no more railroad crossings be built than are absolu- tely necessary, as they are costly items when the time comes to build retaining walls when viaduots are constructed. At the present time, one lineal foot of retaining wall costs approximately $200. A zoning ordinance for 120 foot roads would have to provide that owners should stay back 60 feet from the setback which would be 85 feet. The thing is to acquire vacant property. Mr. Bentley advised that the purpose of having this petition in Public Hearing is this - if there are any people here who have sug- gestions for bettering the plan, they should be presented. The Planning Commission makes the final decision on the Master Thorough- fare Plan. I: Art Jenkins: How would the City directly pay for the set-back? 165 Mr. Bentley: The City would pay when it acquired the land. This is done by resolution and can be amended like any other ordinance. Oar laws are set up in such a way that they can always be amended. I: Mr. Brashear brought up the question of subdivision roads being affected by the Master Thoroughfare plan. Mr. Waring pointed out that only the mile and half-mile roads are affected; subdivision streets could be changed without affecting the Master Plan. Mr. Donald Wilson, Building Inspector, raised the issue of building line set-backs, stated that it was not too clear especially in the case of a business corner lot of 40 or 50 feet. He wanted to know how a man could build a business on a 40 foot lot and keep within the set-back allotted, particularly when all of the houses or busi- ness establishments faced one way. Mr. Waring said it could be done if the owner was not held to side yard restrictions. Mr. Wilson said that on 40 foot corner lots he advises people to buy the neat lot also or don't build and they go away unhappy. Mr. Bentley advised that this problem of business corner lots of 40 or 50 foot size should be presented to the Zoning board of Appeals by means of a zoning ordinance. Mr. Wilson then brought out the fact that Mr. Young of 11424 Mark Twain intends to build a store on Joy Road at the property line and I: if he does so, he will be erecting his building over the gas line that is in the process of being installed in back of the property line. Mr. Wilson stated that he tries to have property owners hold back to a 25 foot line on 120 foot roads. Mr. Young: "The company that is putting in the gas line is request- ing permission to place it 10 feet inside of property line . I wanted to find out what the law is on this before I give my permis- sion." Mr. Brashear suggested that the State and County Highway Department be contacted to find out why gas line could not be put in within the right-of-way. The Chairman announced that if no other persons had anything to say, the Public Hearing would be adjourned. The Hearing closed at 9:40 P .M. 1 Ica MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION A special meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order I: at 9 :41 P.M. to discuss petitions brought before the commission at the Public Hearing. On a motion made by Clarence Jahn, seconded by Robert Maclntyre and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that Petition #24 A & B be granted as pre- sented, with the condition that property owners grant property easement for public utilities. After a lengthy discussion on the matter of zoning laws, etc. , a motion was made by Walter Russell and seconded by Clarence Jahn to table Petition #25 until the next meeting. Motion carried unani- mously. Petition #27 - Mr. Dallas Hay made a motion to deny the petition and it was seconded by Walter Russell. Motion carried by all members present except Ed Conway. Petition #28 - On a motion duly made by Clarence Jahn, seconded by Ed Conway and carried unanimously, it was RESOLVED, that the alley be closed, provided the property owners grant property easement for public utilities. The Chairman appointed the Plat Committee, consisting of Walter Russell, Dallas Hay and Edwin Conway to meet with Messrs. Waring and Wilson to try and reach some agreement on policy and make a study to determine final answer on gas line installations, etc. being installed on owners ' property. Petition #29 - Thoroughfare Plan. A motion was made by Ed Conway, seconded by Helen Byers and unanimously carried to hold Thorough- fare Plan until next meeting. A recess was called by the Chair at 10:10 P .M. (awaiting the arrival of City Council for a joint meeting with Planning Commission). The City Council joined the Planning Commission at 10 :45 P.M. to arrive at a decision on the Grandon Woods subdivision. All City Council members were present except Mr. Taylor. Mr. Bentley advised Messrs. Herald Hamil, Buck, She nkma n and Lester (the latter three owners of property in Grandon Woods ) that the Planning Commission had made a recommendation to the City Council to do away with half streets. Mr. Hamil submitted a tentative Plat of Grandon Woods that was shown for approval previously. I: A lengthy discussion followed itsand deeisionWolfe agai stasked thethe Grandon Planning ods Com- mission to again reconsider 1 169 Subdivision. City Council left the meeting at 11 :10 P.M. There followed an informal discussion by the Planning Commission. A motion was made and seconded to return the same decision as previously made to the City Council. Roll call vote was taken with the following result: YEAS Robert Maolntyre Clarence Jahn Walter Russell Edwin Conway Helen Byers George Bentley Dallas Hay NAYS None The decision was given to Mr. William Brashear, City Attorney, to return to the City Council at approximately 11 :30 P.M. April 4, 1951. Upon a motion duly made by Edwin Conway and seconded by Clarence Jahn and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that this meeting be adjourned until April 19, 1951. The Chairman thereupon declared the meeting adjourned until April a 19. e en ' . Byers, ary Ip9( ATTESTED: (R-o. eorge ntley, ai an i