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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 1999-04-15 MINUTES OF THE 92nd REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA The 92nd Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:05 p.m., Thursday, April 15, 1999 in the 4th Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey Mr. Michael Polsinelli, Chairman Mr. Raby, Vice Chairman Mr. Rod Crider Mr. Scott Grace Mr. Bill Pike Ms. Toni Mette Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Jerry Wordhouse Mr. Stan Anderson Mr. Duane Wolfgang Members Absent: Mr. Marvin Walkon Mr. Dennis Kujawa Others Present: Mr. John Nagy, Director Mr. Mike Slater, Finance Director Mr. Harold Stein, Livonia Volkswagen Ms. JoAnn Michaels, BRI Mr. Ralph Williams, Citizen Ms. Susan Annibal, Secretary 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of March 18, 1999 Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was #99-33 RESOLVED that the minutes of the 915`Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on March 18, 1999 are approved. C 3. Comments from Chairman: Chairman Polsinelli referred to the correspondence he had sent to John Nagy regarding the PRDA Director Agreement to be effective May 1, 1999. Mr. Nagy commented that he would be working for the Authority and the City on a 50:50 basis initially. Each member had available a copy of the letter. April 23, 1999 was the deadline for applications for Planning Director. 4. Budget Report: Mr. Slater reviewed budget figures for the month of February 1999, Construction Fund. The Special Revenue Fund had shown little activity, with only $800.00 in disbursements. Also, Workers Compensation Insurance for the PRDA Director was discussed (correspondence dated April 13, 1999), the low bid being Perry & Drummy, (the City's provider of Workers Compensation Insurance) for an annual premium of $372.00. Mr. Slater went on to define Special Revenue expenditures including the award for Carol Swales, Holiday Parade/Acct & Plan fees for February and one appraisal for 1.88 acres north of Plymouth Road for a total of $4,852.72 disbursed. On a motion by Mr. Wordhouse, seconded by Mr. Grace, and unanimously approved, it was #99-34 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby approve of and award the contract for Workers Compensation Insurance to Perry & Drummy, Inc. for the Director of the Plymouth Road Development Authority 5. Livonia Volkswagen -- Mr. Harold Stein of AME Group, Inc., architects on this matter, presented a proposal for signage for the Livonia Volkswagen, Hyundai, Subaru and Mazda dealerships and provided an accompanying hand-out. Mr. Stein represented John C. Auffenberg, owner of Livonia Volkswagen, Inc. All existing signs would be removed, with one exception --the tall pole sign identifying the VW dealership. It was suggested that, rather than three individual signs to identify the other dealerships on-site, as proposed, one monument sign be utilized with the individual logos of the additional car companies located at this facility.. Mr. Stein was directed to take the message back to Mr. Auffenberg and to pursue the option of the multi-name monument signage. He was also asked to come back to PRDA at the next meeting to report any progress. A monument sign stating "Livonia Autoplex," as well as wall signs for the Hyundai building, were proposed. The proposal to identify the facility as Livonia Autoplex was the petitioner's plan to build a corporate identity/design; however, signage proposed was well over the square footage allowed, as well as an overage with regard to the number of signs allowed. Briefly, the Sign Plan was described, which would also include a monument sign. Proposed signage was excessive. Mr. Pike favored the sign suggested by the petitioner listing the three company names. Mr. Stein explained that the tall pylon sign would merely have the VW logo on it; this was the first renovation VW had done in the State. It was pointed out that the VW proposal included multiple dealerships 2 and makes of cars. Downsizing the amount of signage and bringing it into better compliance was a wise move and was a move consistent with the objectives of the Authority. Mr. Stein asked for a resolution stating what the Authority wanted him to take back to Mr. Auffenberg. A proposal would be easier to support if a monument sign was placed at the entrance for all the car brands,though no resolution was offered. 6. Beckett & Raeder/Construction Progress Report: JoAnn Michaels reported that light pole removal would begin on April 18`h. Grounds Maintenance bids were out currently and due by May 21'. Banners (welcome and spring) would be going up for Phases I and II in two weeks at Inkster and Middlebelt, every third panel would be daffodils for the spring season. Cost per installation was $40.00. Irish Company would install the trees as an addition to the Phase II contract. There had been a problem with McMullan. Phase III Landscaping and Irrigation bids were out with an extended deadline of April 10. Tree planting had been removed from the package. Ms. Michaels reported on the selection of tree species for the Streetscape on Plymouth Road, i.e., Norway Maple, Purple Ash, and Honey Locust. There was a problem finding good quality trees in the desired sizes and types (three or four different kinds), which would handle local weather conditions; the Locusts held up well. (Something was attacking Norway Maples.) Ginko did well, also, but were harder to find to suit our needs. Maintenance would be covered by Short Cuts Lawn Care, who were agreeable to doing this work. Basile would be taking over Phases I and II. The angle of the driveway apron at the entrance to public street was addressed; there was a lot of overrun resulting in damage to the new landscaping and sod. Mr. Anderson recommended consideration of a 135° instead of whatever the other angle was to open up the entryway. (There was additional commentary on the angle/entryway topic.) Also addressed was the sidewalk problem in front of the library. Another subject discussed was that of the quote for the Ameritech lines, three separate locations at $68,000.00 each, not taking upgrades into consideration.. 7. Reports from Committees: PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE — Stan Anderson. The newsletter would be completed sometime that weekend. The mailing would be 800 plus 1000 to the Chamber with a few hundred for the zoning people. Vacant Buildings Committee — Scott Grace. The only change is the Hi Fi gas station located on Plymouth Road; it's still holding for redevelopment. The Cochrum's property residential section at the back was sold. It was going through a zoning change from C-2 to residential (Elmira Court) with a road coming in from the west going east. The property was being reduced in area to 315' deep by 310' wide. Construction Committee—Bill Pike. Construction discussion included Ameritech, the paving of Mama Mia's parking lot,which is needed to solve a storm water problem. Inspection Committee—Adelard (Butch) Raby. No report. 3 8. Update on Plymouth Road Projects — John Nagy: Discussion concerned the George Burns Theater property, which had been presented to the Planning Commission at a Study Meeting. The proposal is to change zoning from C-2 and M-1 to R-8II —High Rise Multiple Family (8 stories). Fountain Park Plaza is to be of a "village concept" in design. Among topics covered was a proposed drug store and several specialty shops in the commercial village. The petitioner will have to come back for the site plan. The City Council wanted this project not to be approved in two phases, one commercial, one residential. The Council was concerned that we'd have a drug store and nothing else. Also, the ownership on that corner only surfaced when the drug store came on the scene. On another topic discussed was the Naimola's barber shop. Mrs. Naimola lives on the property. We've got to remove the asphalt from the front of the building to the southwest parking and put parking in back of the building. 9. Polling of Board Members: Mr. Raby passed. Mr. Walkon passed. Mr. Anderson raised the issue of bus stops and whether the City had taken a position about the bus stop at Middlebelt and Plymouth, adding that he thought we should have a plan for bus stops. While waiting, bus riders were wearing out the grass, trash and paper was strewn about. Mayor Kirksey agreed that a trash receptacle was a good idea. He addressed the matter of bus shelters, and the purchase of such shelters was under way. Don Dirks, SMART Director would be invited, the Mayor would send a letter. People loitering at the Wonderland shelter had been asking people for change and money. In the past when we had MDOT, there had been a request to remove the shelter. Then, SMART began stopping there. It was a 15-year problem at Wonderland. A shelter was needed there. We really needed to look at bus stops. The Target store on Plymouth was then addressed, re: requested signage. There really was a technical process involved. Perhaps we needed some ground rules, getting into the domain of the Planning Commission, the ZBA and the Council. To consider such signage wasn't really a productive use of the Authority members' time. Mr. Pike noted that Wayne County Commissioners were not in support of passing legislation on any new development authorities beforehand and, based on the article, there would be a push to get it started. Wasn't the six months lease on the Burns by Bill Brown Ford up? Mr. Grace spoke to the subject of Bill Knapp's. Also addressed was Volkswagen - would the petitioner give us the right-of-way, which we hadn't had originally had; we had to request it. Also addressed was excess window signage. 4 • Mr. Wordhouse spoke to an issue with regard to auto dealers. We should have the Inspection Department go down there. At Tennyson, they preferred those brick pavers in the right-of-way and were parking cars there. It was assumed that the Council approved it within that designated area; it didn't give them the right to go out in front or the showroom. Mr. Polsinelli brought up the subject of the parade and reported that the Finance Department that some of our dollars and sponsors of the parade didn't come through. Wonderland had $10,000.00 that had come through. Livonia Mall had also committed to support the parade. Mr. Nagy said he'd work on it. 10. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 92nd Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority held on April 15, 1999 was adjourned at 5:15 p.m. The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on May 20, 1999, the May 6"'meeting being cancelled due to lack of a quorum. )44,4tj at40 Susan Annibal, Secretary /sea 5