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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNING MINUTES 1954-03-30 37J MINUTES OF THE FORTY-EIGHT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION The 48th Special Meeting of the City Planning Commission was held on Tues- day, March 30, 1954 at the City Hall, Livonia, Michigan. Chairman Dallas F. Hay called the special meeting to order at approximately 8:04 p.m. Members present: Clarence Jahn William Newton Dallas F. Hay Peter Ventura Irving Geer Rufino Salinas H. Paul Harsha Members absent: *Edwin Conway * Robert L. Greene Mr. Malcolm F. Waring, Planning Consultant; Mr. Max Koehler, Building In- spector; and Mr. Herald Hamill, Chief Engineer were present. The secretary announced that the first item on the agenda was Petition No. V-3, Rev. John G. Davies, Minister, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church of Livonia asking that the first 20 foot alley situated South of Five Mile Road between Arcola and Cavell Streets in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 24 be vacated. Rev. Davies was present earlier but had to leave before his petition was heard. The secretary read the letter dated March 26, 1954 from The Detroit Edison Company stating that they will relocate thier equipment in the alley des- cribed in Petition No. V-3 at no cost to St. Paul's Presbyterian Church as it is their feeling that this is in line of civic improvement and will justify this expense. An answer to the City Attorney's letter had not been obtained from the Bell Telephone Company although Mr. Sipson did call the Chairman and stated that local management had approved relocating their equipment at no cost to St. Paul's Presbyterian Church but the request still had to be approved by higher management in Detroit. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Jahn, seconded by Mr. Newton and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that Petition No. V-3 by Rev. John G. Davies, Minister St. Paul's Presbyterian Church of Livonia asking that the first 2A foot alley situated South of Five Mile Road between Arcola and Cavell S reets in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 24 be vacated, be tabled until April 13, 1954 in order that a reply to the City Attorney's letter dated 3/10/54 may be obtained from the Bell Telephone Company. The Chairman declared the foregoing resolution adopted. The next item on the agenda was the Edward Rose Chicago Subdivision located on the North side of West Chicago and one quarter mile east of M±ddlebelt in the Northhest 1/4 of Section 36. This subdivision was given tentative approval by the Planning Commission at the Public Hearing, December 15, 1953. Mr. Rose was present. 381 Mr. Hamill, City Engineer drew it to the commission's attention that some of the front lot lines of lots bordering on the cul-de-sacs were 35 feet instead of the required 55 feet as stated in the Zoning Ordinance. In his opinion there is sufficient land available in Livonia that the houses should not be crowded too close together. Also stated that there has been a similar case in the past where a subdivider was lacking only a few feet from the required 55 foot front lot line and the Planning Commission requested he redraw the plat. Mr. Salinas stated that it was his opinion that the commission had agreed that as long as the building line was the required 55 feet the commission would accept the plat. Mr. Rose stated that considerable money has been invested in the improvement plans on the basis of tentative approval given by the Planning Commission on December 15, 1953. His organization will guarantee that on the final plat the width oflot at the building line will be a minimum of 55 feet. The secretary read portions of Waring and Johnson's recommendation dated October 12, 1953. Mr. Waring stated that the average width of building lines meet the require- ments of the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Koehler stated that Mr. Wilson desires to keep front lot lines 55 or 60 feet which ever is required by the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Howard Middlewood arrived at approximately 8:26 p.m. There was a lengthy discussion about the 35 foot front lot line being reasonable or being a hardship case. *Mr. Edwin Conway arrived at approximately 8:30 p.m. Mr. Rose stated that in Mr. Wilson' s letter dated January 6, 1954 to Edward Rose and Sons there was no objection to the front lot lines; that he only objected to the rear yards. Mr. Ventura made the following motion: RESOLVED, that the Edward Rose Chicago Subdivision located on the North side of West Chicago and one quarter mile East of Middlebelt in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 36 be tabled until the Planning Commission obtains from the City Council clarification of the Zoning Ordinance regarding the required 55 feet for the building line or the front lot line. There was no support to Mr. Ventura's motion as the commission agreeld the Council did not have that jurisdiction. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Ventura and seconded by Mr. Jahn, it was RESOLVED, that the Edward Rose Chicago Subdivision located on the North side of West Chicago and one quarter mile East of Middlebelt 38 in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 36 be tabled until April 20, 1954 for further study. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Newton, Ventura, Conway, Jahn, Geer and Hay NAYS: Salinas and Harsha The Chairman appointed a committee of two (Messrs. Harsha and Ventura) to study this subdivision. The secretary gave Mr. Ventura the file copy of the Edward Rose Chicago Subdivision plat. Mr. Frederick R. Slorrer was present regarding the Country Homes Subdivision. This subdivision was referred back to the Planning Commission from the City Council for clarification of the size of certain lots as per the letter addressed to the Council dated March 19, 1954 from the Bureau of Inspection. This subdivision was given tentative approval by the Planning Commission on February 16, 1954. The secretary read portions of the Bureau of Inspection's letter dated March 19, 1954 addressed to the Council. Mr. Hay suggested that the Zoning Ordinance be amended to state that 55 foot and 60 foot lot lines refer either to the front lot line or the building lot line. Also stated that the Country Homes Subdivision was not on the agenda and that the matter will be presented et the meeting April 20, 1954. Mr. Salinas stated that he would be interested in hearing what other Planning Commission's opinions were on the matter of lot lines referring to front lot line or building lot line. Mr. Geer stated that he wished the committee (Messrs. Harsha and Ventura) take into consideration the drive way. The next item on the agenda was the request made by Mr. Robert Kellogg, Wilson School regarding public thoroughfare between Greenette Subdivision and Elliott Subdivision. The secretary read the letter dated February 23, 1954 from Mr. H. M. Hultquist. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Ventura, seconded by Mr. Newton and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that a letter be written to Mr. Robert Kellogg, Principal Milson School incorporating the recommendation of Mr. Hultquist. The Chairman declared the foregoing resolution adopted. IE: Mr. Jahn stated that the Master Planning Committee (Messrs. Jahn, Harsha and Newton) had not met regarding Waring and Johnson's clover-leaf plan in relation to Middlebelt at Plymouth and Farmington at Plymouth as they did not think anything could be accomplished until after the Traffic Commission 385 r�-y iy and the State Highway Department had met and an opinion could be obtained from the State Highway Department. Mr. Waring stated that he was present on a field trip and investigation of intersections along Plymouth Road Friday, March 26, 1954 with the following: Mr. Marvin, District Office - State Highway Department Mr. Jack Hickox, Chairman, Traffic Commission Mr. James Hagen, Director of Public Safety Chief Harmon, Police Department The State Highway Department requested the following: 1. The full 60 foot portion of Plymouth for a distance of not less than 300 feet West of Wayne Road be acquired immediately in order to provide for right hand turns onto Wayne. This will thereby releave a bottleneck condition which will increase when Wayne Road is widened to four lanes of pavement. 2. At the intersection of Plymouth and Stark Roads it is requested that not less than a 440 foot pavement be installed on Stark Road North of Plymouth for a distance of not less than 250 feet. At this location, it was requested that curb be installed 16 feet from edge of existing pave- ment both East of West of Stark Road and both East and West of Merriman Road for a sufficient distance to include the development of business establishments. This curb is necessary to facilitate parallel parking. Mr. Waring submitted a detailed drawing of a S udy of Standard Grade Separation for Major Highway Intersections. Stated that the State Highway Department seemed impressed with this plan and the Typical Surface Interchange at Main Intersections to avoid all left hand turns and that they had taken the two plans back to Lansing with them. There was a lenghty discussion of who stands the cost of over-passes, under- passes and the clover-leaf. Mr. Beglinger was present regarding his Petition No. Z-50 and the date it is to be presented at a Public Hearing. *Mr. Robert L. Greene arrived at approximately 9:35 p.m. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Harsha and seconded by Mr. Jahn, it was RESOLVED, that Petition No. Z-50, Walter Beglinger requesting a change of zoning classification of Lots 14 and 15 of Shaffmasterts Plymouth Riverside Estates Subdivision be presented at the next Public Hearing, April 20, 1954. No roll call vote was taken. Mr. Harsha and Mr. Jahn agreed to withdraw their motion setting a date for Public Hearing for Petition No. Z-50 for April 20, 1954 because of the time element to set up a Notice of Public Hearing. 387 Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Harsha, seconded by Mr. Jahn and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that Petition No. Z-50, Walter Beglinger requesting a change of zoning classification of Lots 14 and 15 of Shaffmaster's Plymouth Riverside Estates Subdivision be presented at the next Public Hearing, April 27, 1954. The Chairman declared the foregoing resolution adopted. The secretary passed Waring and Johnson's statement for February, 1954 for $212.46 for the commission's approval. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Geer and seconded by Mr. 11arsha, it was RESOLVED, that the statement from Waring and Johnson for February, 1954 in the amount of $212.46 be approved cis presented. A roll call vote on the foregoing resolution resulted in the following: AYES: Newton, Conway, Ventura, Jahn, Greene, Geer, Harsha, Hay and Salinas NAYS: None The Chairman called a recess at approximately 9:50 p.m. The Chairman called the meeting to order at approximately 10:03 p.m. The secretary reminded the commission of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Michigan Society of Planning Officials to be held April 2 and April 3 in the University of Michigan Union, Ann Arbor, Michigan/ Mr. Waring stated that he was going to attend the April 3 meeting and Mr. Johnson would attend the April 2 meeting. The secretary read the communication from William White, President, School- craft-Plymouth Property Owners Association regarding a 170 square foot political sign erected in front of a residence at 31341 Schoolcraft which the Chief Inspector informed the petitioner that the sign was in violation of the Zoning Ordinance and that such sign must have the approval of the Planning Commission. The secretary read the letter dated March 30, 1954 from the City Attorney giving his legal opinion of Mr. White's communication. The secretary read the recommendation of Waring and Johnson dated March 29 on the same matter. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Newton, seconded by Mr. Geer and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that the communication from William White, President, Schoolcraft-Plymouth Property Owners Association regarding a 170 square foot political sign erected in front of a residence at 389 31341 Schoolcraft be referred to the Building Department with the legal opinion of the City Attorney dated 3/30/54 and the recommendation of Waring and Johnson dated 3/29/54. The Chairman declared the foregoing resolution adopted. Mr. Waring showed the commission a small city map with the nine areas to be considered for municipal parking lots shown and large individual detailed maps showing each area. The commission agreed that this was what they had in mind. There was a discussion of municipal parking lots on Plymouth Road from a safety point of view; whereas the cars could go into the lot from Plymouth but that they should come out from the alley. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Newton, seconded by Mr. Jahn and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that the minutes of the meeting March 16, 1954 be approved with the correction of Mr. Irving Geer's name being added to the list of members present on Page 518 (Official Minute Book is correct). The Chairman declared the foregoing resolution adopted. Upon a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, it was RESOLVED, that the 48th Special Meeting be adjourned. At approximately 10:25 p.m. the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned. StILL-Lk R ino Salinas, Secretary ATTESTED: Dallas F. Hay, Chairman