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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 1952-11-25 379 MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE TWENTY- SEVENTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION A public hearing and the twenty-seventh postponed regular meeting of the City Planning Commission were held on Tuesday, November 25, 1952 at the Court House Building, Livonia, Michigan. Nice-Chairman, Robert Maclntyre, called the public hearing to order at approximately 8:15 PM, and there were around 25 persons present. Members present: Helen Byers George Bentley H. Paul Harsha Clarence Jahn Robert Maclntyre Members absent: Edwin Conway, Dallas Hay and Walter Russell Wm Brashear, City Attorney, was present. Mr. D. A. Sipson, Commercial Manager, of the Michigan Bell Telephone Company serving Plymouth and Livonia, etc. , was present. The Chair announced that the Secretary had received a phone call from Mr. Lees at 4:25 PM on the afternoon of November 25, 1952 and received a phone confirmation of a letter being forwarded by Michigan Bell inre the petition to be heard tonight. The letter asked for a postponement of the hearing inasmuch as they had found a serious title question and may make it necessary to consider other locations. Mr. Brashear advised that he had received a request for postponement of the hearing also, but wanted it made clear if the telephone company was asking for a postponement only, or would they file a new petition. Mr. Sipson advised that he knew very little about it, but felt that it was merely a request for postponement. Raymond Gaiefsky, 11415 Merriman: "We are here to determine if that is the place the building should be built. We have money invested, and we want to keep it residential. We will have enough trouble keeping industry off Plymouth Road." The secretary read a petition that was submitted by the people not in favor of the telephone building. She also read the 30 signatures ap- pearing on the petition. There were 13 persons present who had signed the petition. The Chair asked if anyone was present who lived on Merriman and wanted to voice an objection. Mr. L. C. Stoll, 11360 Merriman: "I object and I think that it is a case of allowing a business to come into a residential section. At the present time, the telephone company is right next to me and Mr. Sipson wanted to know what I thought about it. They claim to keep the grounds so nice. Last summer they had grass that was not cut. Nothing was being done, so I finally said if this isn't cleaned up in a week, I will get someone to clean it up. It was cut by someone with a grass whip. They sent three men out but they didn't accomplish anything." Raymond Gaiefsky, 11415 Merriman: "My biggest objection is the trucks; they have no parking facilities. They park them out in front and it makes it rough for me to get in my drive and it is unsightly to see 20 trucks standing outside. Our guests have no place to park when they come to our house in the afternoon." 381 Mr. Frank Brady, 11307 Merriman: "My objection is that it would be across the street from me and I came to Livonia to get away from factories and the like and that would start these things and I don't go for it. There would be buildings instead of homes." Mr. A. L. Baker, 11301 Merriman: "I would like to know what that is zoned for now on that side of Merriman Road. That would have to be chpnged, wouldn't it?" Mr. Brashear advised the people that the telephone company may be allowed permission to erect an exchange building after a public hearing. They can go into any residential area. The Commission is trying to decide if this is the proper place for it. This case is an exception to the rule and no zoning change would be made. Mr. Baker: "I would like to go on record as being against the issue for the simple reason that I go along with Mr. Brady, I think it should be kept residential." Mr. E. J. Masser, 11425 Merriman: "The telephone company wants to put up this building on Merriman. Is the area between Middlebelt and Mer- riman all residential?" Mr. Masser was advised that it is not. Mr. Masser: "Most of us moved to Livonia to get away from Detroit, but if heavy industry is going up near us, I will sell my home and most of the others feel the same as I do." Mrs. Fannie Thomas, 11037 Merriman: "We have been in Livonia for 14 years and we have our home just the way we want it. We live right across the street from Mr. Baker, and if that building is erected, our property will depreciate in value and the people will move out of Livonia. The newer section is on the other side of Rosedale and it seems that the building could be built there where the new business district is." The Chair asked members of the Planning Commission whether Michigan Bell Telephone Company's request to postpone the hearing should be granted, and the Chair asked Mr. Brashear if there was a legal aspect. Mr. Brashear said that in answer to Mr. MacIntyre's question regarding the postponement of tonight's hearing, many things were to be considered and among them was the length of time that the notice had been extended and the hardship of the people who came to the meeting tonight. Upon a motion duly made by Helen Byers and seconded by Clarence Jahn, it was RESOLVED, to proceed with the hearing on the telephone company's petition. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Bentley, Harsha, Jahn, Maclntyre and Byers NAYS: None Mr. Sipson asked to have the petition read. The secretary thereupon read the petition of Michigan Bell Telephone Company. 383 Mr. Stewart: (11027 Merriman) "There are enough people here who live across from where the building is going to be built. A decision should be made tonight. Lots of these people here put themselves out to come tonight." Mr. Phillips; "Under what laws do they qualify? Is it a Livonia law?" Mr. Brashear advised the group that it is a Livonia law, however, laws are provided in most cities for this. Mr. Phillips: "What are they supposed to put in a petition? Assuming there are no objections, what qualifications will they have? Have they complied with all of the regulations, if granted?" Mr. Brashear advised that those things would come when and if permission is granted by the Planning Commission. Mr. Phillips: "I don't feel that they have proven that this is the property that it has to be done on. We have their petition but we don't know that as a matter of fact." Mr. Brashear explained, that is what the Commission is trying to determine. The Chair asked if anyone was present who favored the petition. Mr. Brant, 11040 Denne Drive: "I don't favor it exactly, but I have nothing against it. They could do a whole lot worse. I would want to see it kept up. We have been approached by all kinds of people who want to buy property for trailer camps, etc. , and I would rather see a telephone company building." Jospeh Bojanzyk, 11316 Merriman: "We need a nice building to provide people with service. If the building is not put up soon, we will be loaded with party lines." The Chair asked Mr. Sipson if he wished to speak for the petition. Mr. Sipson advised that he had gone over the plans for the building at a previous meeting with the Planning Commission. He commented that the upkeep of the present building was not good, but this was an ex- ception rather than a rule. This new planning provides for off-street ,11 parking and also he said that he could not see how a building of the telephone company's could serve to depreciate other property. He ex- G plained a little about what had gone into this particular building as far as planning is concerned and said that it involved cables, etc. and any relocation of cables would involve a large amount of money. He said that the building would involve better than two million dol- lars, including the dial equipment. The Chair asked for a showing of hands of those favoring the petition. There were five (5). The Chair then asked for a showing of hands of those opposed. There were sixteen (16) . Upon a motion duly made by George Bentley and seconded by Clarence Jahn, it was RESOLVED, that the proposed location of the telephone company be denied. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Bentley, Jahn, Maclntyre and Byers NAYS: None 385 Mr. Harsha declined to vote as he lives within 500 feet of the proposed building. At approximately 9:10 PM, the Chair declared the public hearing adjourned. MINUTES OF THE 27TH REGULAR MEETING At 9:25 PM, the Chair, Robert Macintyre, called the twenty-seventh regular meeting to order (postponed from November 20, 1952). Members present: Helen Byers George Bentley H. Paul Harsha Clarence Jahn Robert Maclntyre Also present were: Wm Brashear, City Attorney; Messrs. J. P. Folsom and Dave Meinzinger of the Joint Study Committee. Plats were presented of Lyndon Manor #2 and the secretary read a letter from B. E. Taylor dated November 20, 1952 inre the plats. Miss Byers also read Waring ari Johnson's recommendation of November 25th stating approval with the gage of a street name. Mr. Folsom: "We are interested, and as Chairman of the Joint Study Com- mittee, we don't want to be left out of the area. We surveyed the ter- ritory and chose a site." (He pointed out the site on the plat.) Mr. Warner was present with a tentative plat on the same piece of property. A motion was made by Clarence Jahn that tentative approval be given sub- ject to the naming of the street. (McKinney Court be changed to Oakley.) Mr. Harsha said that if they are considering the property east of Henry Ruff Road for a school and park site, is there any reason why these streets could not be thru streets instead of courts. Mr. Warner said, as to why people like courts, he did not know but they prefer to live on them. Mr. Brashear raised the question of providing a crosswalk at the end of the court. Mr. Jahn withdrew his motion. Mr. Schaeffer of the Stuart Construction Company was present inre a parcel of 80 acres west of Middlebelt and south of Schoolcraft. Miss Byers read Waring and Johnson's recommendation of November 24th. Mr. Jahn advised Mr. Schaeffer that a lot of work had been done re- garding the acquisition of school and park sites and provision had to be made for same. Mr. Schaeffer said that he preferred not to sell any of this land and said that some other land should be investigated. He said that he knew nothing about the school and park sites. Mr. Schaeffer agreed to meet with the Joint Study Committee and Plat Committee of the Planning Commission. Upon a motion duly made by Clarence Jahn and seconded by George Bentley, it was RESOLVED, that both requests be temporarily tabled for further study. 387 A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Bentley, Harsha, Jahn, Maclntyre and Byers NAYS: None Mr. Folsom asked if there was any way to make a survey so that they might have information in advance of the meetings. He was advised that the Planning Commission had acquired a density survey from Waring and Johnson. Plats were presented of Laurel Glens Subdivision with a letter from Fred Blackwell Company of November 17th. Miss Byers read the letter and Waring and Johnson's recommendation dated November 24th. Mr. Jahn suggested that Laurel Glens plats (Part of the SW 1/4 of Section 9, T1S, Range 9E, City of Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan), be forwarded to the plat committee. Upon a motion duly made by George Bentley and seconded by Helen Byers, it was RESOLVED, that the Laurel Glens plat be referred to the Plat Committee for study. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Bentley, Harsha, Jahn, Maclntyre and Byers NAYS: None An invoice was presented from Waring and Johnson, and upon a motion duly made by Clarence Jahn and seconded by George Bentley, it was RESOLVED, that Waring and Johnson's statement in the amount of $55.19 dated December 1, 1952, be presented to the City Council for payment. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Bentley, Harsha, Jahn, Maclntyre and Byers NAYS: None Plats were presented of the Smokier-Rousseau Subdivision, part of the NW 1/4 of Section 32. A letter was submitted with the plats from Park Building Company, represented by Mr. Warner, requesting a change of zoning across the street for the records. Miss Byers read Waring and Johnson's recommendation of November 24th regarding Smokler-Rousseau Subdivision. Proposed plats were given to Mr. Jahn for the Plat Committee to review and the secretary informed him she would send others to him. A letter was read by the secretary from Waring & Johnson of November 25th inre services rendered by the firm. The retainer fee would be increased to $125.00 per month beginning January 1, 1953, as the present rate did not begin to cover the expense incurred. Upon a motion duly made by Clarence Jahn and seconded by George Bentley it was 889 RESOLVED, to table the letter from Waring and Johnson until the next meeting. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Bentley, Harsha, Jahn, MacIntyre and Byers NAYS: None Miss Byers asked that a new secretary be chosen for the Planning Com- mission in the next 60 days. The next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, December 18, 1952 at 8 PM. At approximately 10:30 PM, a motion was duly made by Clarence Jahn and seconded and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that this meeting be adjourned. The Chair declared the meeting adjourned. Helen E. Byers, , - retary ATTESTED: G2l Dallas P. Hay, Chairman