HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 1951-05-16 179
MINUTES OF THE FIFTEENTH SPECTAL
MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
The fifteenth special meeting of the Planning Commission was held on May 16,
1951 at 33110 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan.
Chairman Bentley called the meeting to order at 8 PM and roll call was taken
with the following result:
Members present: George Bentley Helen Byers
Harold Bower Edwin Conway
Clarence Jahn Robert MacIntyre
Dallas Hay Walter Russell
Members absent: Carson Johnston
Mr. Wm Brashear, City Attorney, and Mr. Malcolm Waring, Planning Consultant,
were present also.
Miss Byers read a letter dated 4/26/51 from Mr. George Mayhew of Consumers
Power Company regarding gas mains in Livonia.
There was a brief discussion on off-street parking in Livonia, and Mr. Jahn
stressed the necessity of something being considered immediately on the
problem of off-street parking facilities particularly for commercial buildings,
now being erected, or those that will be in the very near future.
Mr. Brashear informed the Commission that a zoning ordinance covering off-
street parking is in the process of being drawn up.
I[: Petition +30 - opening of Yale Avenue to the public. Upon a motion duly made
by Clarence Jahn, seconded by Dallas Pay and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED, to refer Petition #30 to Mr. Brashear, City Attorney,
and the City Engineer, for review and investigation.
A discussion was held concerning the printing and distribution of reduced
zoning maps. Mr. Waring said that 1000 small zoning maps could be printed
for approximately $49.00. Mr. Jahn suggested that the Chamber of Commerce
might be interested in sponsoring the distribution and making up of these
maps and as a result, Mr. Bentley asked Miss Byers, Secretary, to contact
Mr. W. W. Edgar of the Chamber of Commerce regarding same.
Mr. Bentley asked Mr. Brashear and Mr. Waring what progress had been made
in the preparation of the rules and regulations for use by the Planning
Commission in approving new subdivisions. Mr. Brashear presented a rough
draft, and read aloud, the proposed set of regulations. Upon a motion
duly made by Clarence Jahn, seconded by Edwin Conway, and unanimously
carried, it was
RESOLVED, to prepare for public hearing the proposed draft of
regulations for new subdivisions.
In addition, Mr. Brashear agreed to prepare the proposed regulations and
turn them over to Mr. Waring, who further agreed to have copies made up
1[:
free of charge for the joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the
City Council to be held 6/6/51.
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During the discussion that followed, it was brought out that the Planning
Commission is responsible for a five point objective consisting of the fol-
lowing: 1. Thoroughfares 2. School Area 3. Recreation of Playground Area
E for the Schools 4. Park Area 5. Civic Center.
Mr. Waring pointed out that normally a school and playground area is pro-
vided for each square mile, owing to the density of population. Mr. Bentley
added that when a choice is made of playground area, all efforts are made to
choose space as near the center of each square mile as possible.
An invoice was presented from Waring and Johnson dated May 1, 1951 in the
amount of $85.62 covering services rendered during the month of April.
Upon a motion duly made by Walter Russell, seconded by Dallas Hay and »nrn-
imously carried, it was
RESOLVED, to approve the invoice and present same to the City
Council for payment.
At 9:30 PM Mayor Ziegler arrived to discuss with the members of the Planning
Commission the progress being made on the acquisition of land for the pro-
posed Civic Center of Livonia.
Chairman Bentley asked Mayor Ziegler to advise the Commission just where
matters stand on the Civic Center at present.
At 9:45 PM Mr. Russell left the meeting.
Mayor Ziegler reported that he had nothing very definite as yet, but he was
of the opinion that something should be decided upon one way or the other,
and soon, as it is time to act. Mayor Ziegler further stated that he had
been in contact with the owner of the property for the proposed Civic Center
and had hoped to bring a decision with him regarding said property. The
owner is trying to acquire additional property to include in the land grant,
however, this has been hanging fire for a period of two or three months, and
Mayor Ziegler felt that a committee should meet with him and Mr. Brashear
and the owner to make a decision. Mayor Ziegler said that if this property
could not be acquired, some other property could be, and his only stipulation
was that it be for the good of the City and located as centrally as possible.
The Commission appointed Mr. George Bentley to fill Mr. Carson Johnston's
place on the Master Plan Committee and it was decided that, that committee
(George Bentley, Harold Bower and Clarence Jahn) would meet with Mayor
Ziegler, Wm Brashear and the property owner on Tuesday, May 22nd if an ap-
pointment could be made with the owner for that date.
After a lengthy discussion regarding the removal of top soil from vacant
property, and the manner in which some citizens clutter their yards with
building materials, etc. during and after building their homes or garages;
a motion was made by Edwin Conway, seconded by Robert MacIntyre and unani-
mously carried, it was
RESOLVED, to authorize Messrs. Brashear and Waring to rewrite
the zoning ordinance for Livonia.
After further discussion by the group, regarding costs involved in re-
writing the ordinance, Harold Bower made a motion, which was seconded by
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Robert Maclntyre and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED, to amend the above resolution by having Mr. Waring,
Planning Consultant, submit whatever changes or additions he
feels necessary to bring the zoning ordinance up-to-date and
advise the approximate cost involved before the ordinance is
rewritten.
The next special meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on June
6th, and it is planned to invite the City Council on that date to review
the proposed subdivision regulations jointly.
At 10:30 PM a motion was made, seconded and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED, that this meeting be adjourned.
C4°-
Helen E. Byers, Secret
ATTESTED:
j George N. :entley, Chairman