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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 1998-12-03 MINUTES OF THE 84th REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA The 84th Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:35 PM, Thursday, December 3, 1998 in the 4th floor conference room of City Hall. Members Present: Mr. Scott Grace Mr. Adelard Raby Mr. Mike Polsinelli Mr. Stan Anderson Mr. Bill Pike Mr. Duane Wolfgang Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Marvin Walkon Members Absent: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey(excused) Mr. Dennis Kujawa(excused) Mr. Jerry Wordhouse (excused) Ms. Toni Mette (excused) Others Present: Mr. John Nagy, Director Mrs. Doris Urbanski, Secretary Mr. Mike Slater, Finance Director Ms. JoAnn Michaels, Project Landscape Architect, BRI Mr. Ralph Williams Mr. Kole Zekaj, Legacy Restaurant Mr. Jeff A. Bryant, Economic Development Manager 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of November 19, 1998 Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was #98-48 RESOLVED, that the minutes of the 83rd Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on November 19, 1998 are approved. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. 3. Comments from Chairman: Chairman Polsinelli noted that the first meeting of January(January 7, 1999) is the PRDA officer election meeting, and Mr. Peterson of the Nominating Committee is in the process of seeking candidates. 1 A Release of Offer to Purchase Real Estate has been executed and signed by Julie Stanley for the former Livonia Tire property at 31600 Plymouth Road. Chairman Polsinelli will request the City Council to allow the PRDA to purchase the City-owned property to the rear to combine the parcels for a single development. The expense figure for the Holiday Parade to date is $5865.44. This does not include the City Police and Fire Department costs. Based on the $10,000 received from Schostak Brothers and a contribution from the Livonia Mall,the PRDA's contribution could be minimal. Comments on the parade were very favorable. Mr. Grace noted that previous parades closed Middlebelt Road plus Six and Seven Mile Road intersections, and suggested that future parades may want to add another quarter mile to the Plymouth Road route and close the Middlebelt and Plymouth Road intersection. 4. Budget Report: In Mike Slater's absence, Chairman Polsinelli presented the October budget figures, which were received and filed. 5. Beckett and Raeder: JoAnn Michaels presented a status report on Phases I, II and III. The Phase III easement contracts are being signed. The bases for the light poles are in, as well as the street signs. Once again, banner designs for the light poles were displayed and voted on. On a motion by Mr. Anderson, supported by Mr. Pike and unanimously approved, it was,, #98-49 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby approve the banner designs for the Plymouth Road corridor as presented by Beckett and Raeder on December 3, 1998. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. Mr. Pike suggested using orange fencing or cutting old drums to use as safety barriers around the light poles instead of tape. There was further discussion on which way the street signs should face, and it was the consensus of the Board that the sign arms should be directed to point toward the street being identified. Mr. Anderson remarked that the City of Livonia emblem on the light poles was not readable and inquired as to their cost. Ms. Michaels replied that it was only an architectural design rather than a sign to read, but it could be easily enlarged. 6. Kole Zekaj, Legacy Restaurant, made a presentation of the status of his restaurant under construction at 34110 Plymouth Road. Since the renovation costs exceeded what he had budgeted, his purpose for this meeting with the PRDA was to request some assistance with expenses. Mr. Nagy commented that historically it was the PRDA's policy to only contribute 50% of demolition costs, not to exceed a certain cap, and that deviating from this policy could set a precedent for future renovations on the (kw corridor. Mr. Zekaj said his demolition cost was$35,000. 2 On a motion duly made by Mr. Pike, seconded by Mr. Raby and unanimously approved, it was #98-49 RESOLVED, that the PRDA does hereby support the request of Mr. Kole Zekaj of Legacy Restaurant for reimbursement of up to $15,000 towards demolition costs for the renovations to the building at 34110 Plymouth Road, such amount payable upon receipt of verification of such costs. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. Mr. Zekaj was directed to bring his invoices totaling up to $30,000 to Mr. Nagy on a one-time only basis. Mr. Zekaj noted that his expenses have been exceeded by $40,000-50,000. Mr. Grace commented that this is an example of where a Director could help with finding financial assistance such as a small business loan. Mr. Pike offered his assistance to Mr. Zekaj in finding other areas of financial assistance. Further discussion followed as to whether or not the Bylaws should be amended to make it a policy that requests for financial help be made up front and not after the fact. Chairman Polsinelli requested that this item be introduced to the Board at the second meeting of January 1999. 7. Reports from Committees: Public Relations Committee: Stan Anderson requested items for the next PRDA Newsletter, which would be distributed about March 1999. Suggestions included articles on the new Director,the Holiday Parade, Plymouth Road improvements and giving credit to everyone on the corridor who made improvements to their establishments, highlighting one or two with photographs. Vacant Buildings Committee: Mr. Grace: No report. Mr. Jeffery Bryant, Economic Development Manager, inquired if the Board had any zoning preference for the vacant buildings on the 12.9 acre Leone's Food parcel. It is presently zoned M-1 (Light Manufacturing)and the asking price is $4.3 million. Mr. Bryant commented that he would like to see it stay as industrial, but because of the high asking price, the property would be more suitably marketed for commercial rezoning. The Board members were in agreement with the commercial zoning. Inspection Committee: Mr. Raby commented that he noticed there were not as many small"for sale" signs on the corridor as in the previous inspection. Chairman Polsinelli thanked Mr. Raby for his representation of the PRDA in the Holiday Parade. Search Committee: Mr.Nagy reported that the ads for a PRDA Director were sent to Crains,the Detroit News and Free Press, the Livonia Observer,the Michigan Chronicle,the U of M Jobtrak, Michigan Economic Developers Association,the College of Urban Planning bulletin, the Michigan Municipal League and the City of Livonia website. Resumes will be reviewed and interviews start about the middle of January 1999. 3 Nominating Committee: Mr. Peterson is in the process of contacting members for Cr' the upcoming election of officers on January 7, 1999. 8. Update on Plymouth Road Projects: Mr. Nagy informed the Board that the proposed medical/dental clinic for the closed Wendy's Restaurant at 28701 Plymouth Road is on the Planning Commission Public Hearing agenda for December 15, 1998. Days Inn, located at 36655 Plymouth Road, has submitted a site plan for renovations for its extended stay motel. 9. Polling of Board Members: Mr. Peterson inquired if any progress had been made on the problem between Dunkin Donuts and My Granny's restaurant with regard to sharing a dumpster, and Mr. Pike replied the progress was very slim. 10. Adjournment. On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 84th Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority of Livonia on December 3, 1998 was adjourned at 5:02 PM. The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on December 17, 1998 at 3:30 PM in the Community Room of Wonderland Mall. r Doris Urbanski, Secretary Cot 4