Oct 11, 2021 Planning Commission

[00:00:10]

RECORDING IN PROGRESS.

WELL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO JOIN MUCH QUICKER EACH TIME.

AND WE GOT TIM. ALL RIGHT.

APOLOGIES EVERYONE, I'M NOT SURE.

GOOD JOB IT. THANK YOU FOR GETTING ME FIGURED OUT HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ANOTHER MOMENT OR TWO TO REJOIN, SINCE THEY'VE BEEN ON THE ROLLER COASTER HERE WITH US, I KNOW I SAW QUITE A FEW MEMBERS JOINING EARLIER, SO WE'LL GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO GET HERE SO THEY DON'T MISS PUBLIC REMARKS AND WE'LL GET STARTED. PROBABLY AROUND 7:05.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER PREMOE BACK, AND I SAW HIM A MINUTE AGO, SO HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE ABLE TO JUMP BACK IN AS WELL.

OK, WELL, HOPEFULLY COMMISSIONER PREMOE WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN US HERE SHORTLY.

WE HAVE DELAYED A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.

IT IS 7:05, AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER OF TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TO ORDER THIS OCTOBER 11TH 2021 AT SEVEN P.M.

WE ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY AGAIN.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING FLEXIBLE WITH THAT.

AND THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE WILLING TO JOIN US ONLINE AS WELL.

WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

FIRST UP, WE'RE GOING TO DO ROLL CALL AND I'LL REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS SINCE WE ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO LET US KNOW THAT YOU ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY AND WHERE FROM AS WE GO THROUGH.

SO WE'LL START THINGS OFF WITH COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.

PRESENT FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

COMMISSIONER PREMOE.

PRESENT FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP OKEMOS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORDILL.

OH, PARTICIPATING FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER SHREWSBURY.

EXCUSE ME, I'M ALSO PARTICIPATING REMOTELY FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IN OKEMOS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RICHARDS.

PARTICIPATING REMOTELY FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BLUMER.

PRESENT FROM MY HOME IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SNYDER.

PRESENT FROM MY HOME IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TOO.

[00:05:03]

PRESENT FROM MY HOME IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

AND CHAIR HENDRICKSON IS PRESENT PARTICIPATING REMOTELY FROM MY HOME IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

OK, FIRST UP, THIS EVENING ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC REMARKS.

THERE WILL BE ONE TWO THREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC REMARKS THIS EVENING.

RIGHT NOW, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING AND DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARING, I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THAT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU MUST SPEAK ONLY ON THE TOPIC AT HAND FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW AND AT THE END OF THE MEETING, YOU MAY SPEAK ON ANY TOPIC.

PUBLIC REMARKS AT ALL THREE TIMES WILL BE THREE MINUTES IN LENGTH MAXIMUM AND WE'LL ASK YOU TO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME.

THAT SAID, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INDICATE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, WE'D ASK THAT YOU IF YOU ARE IN THE ZOOM MEETING.

PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE AND OUR STAFF WILL GO AHEAD AND PROMOTE YOU TO A PANELIST SO THAT YOU MAY SPEAK.

AND THEN IF YOU ARE AT HOME AND WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING, YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AND THE CALL IN NUMBER IS 517-349-1232 AND OUR STAFF WILL PUT YOU THROUGH TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. WITH THAT SAID, ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THIS TIME, PLEASE EITHER CALL OR RAISE YOUR HAND.

DON'T SEE ANY HANDS GOING UP IN THE ZOOM PARTICIPANTS PANE.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE CALLING IN DIRECTOR GEBES? WE HAVE NO CALLS AT THIS TIME, SIR.

OK. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC REMARKS THEN AND MOVE ON TO OUR

[3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER BLUMER.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CORDILL.

THANK YOU. ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA THIS EVENING? I HAVE ONE THAT WAS REQUESTED BY STAFF WHO SENT OUT SEVEN ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING.

THAT WOULD BE SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 21-9519 151, PARDON ME.

SO IF IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BY THE MOTION MAKER, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD THOSE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE AGENDA.

I WILL ACCEPT THAT. PLEASE DO SO.

OK. ANY OTHER CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED.

AND THE AGENDA PASSES AS AMENDED.

NEXT UP IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES FROM OUR SEPTEMBER 27TH 2021

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TREZISE? ANY CHANGES IN MOTION? EXCUSE ME. [INAUDIBLE] CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES THIS EVENING? COMMISSIONER CORDILL. IT LOOKS LIKE I WAS PROMOTED [LAUGHTER] ON PAGE THREE.

PROMOTED TO BEING CHAIR.

ON THE TOP OF THE PAGE INSTEAD OF COMMISSIONER CORDILL, CONGRATULATIONS.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT COMMISSIONER CORDILL.

IT SOUNDS RIGHT. ANY OTHER CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS? THAT'S ACCEPTABLE AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THEN, SEEING NO OTHER CHANGES, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MINUTES AS AMENDED. SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MINUTES PASS.

OK, SO NEXT UP IS COMMUNICATIONS ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE 10.

[5. COMMUNICATIONS]

SO 17 TOTAL THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR SPEAKING OUT ON THIS SUP THAT'S BEFORE US THIS EVENING. NEXT UP IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER

[6A. Special Use Permit #21-95151 – 3654 Okemos Road – modification to Special Use Permit for Cedar Classical Academy]

FIRST UP, WE'LL HAVE AN OVERVIEW FROM DIRECTOR SCHMITT, WHO IS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP'S STAFF, AND THEN WE WILL GIVE THE APPLICANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT

[00:10:03]

SO WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO DIRECTOR SCHMITT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DIRECTOR GEBES.

CAROLINE HUMMEL IS THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE.

IF YOU COULD BRING HER OVER, THAT'D BE GREAT, SO SHE'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN A MOMENT.

SO BRIEFLY, THE REQUEST IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING IS A RELATIVELY MINOR MODIFICATION TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON THE SITE AT 3654 OKEMOS ROAD.

SO THIS IS THE EXISTING CHURCH BUILDING ON THE SITE.

THE LANSING CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

SITE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF SUPS OVER THE YEARS.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS CORNERSTONE ASSEMBLY OF GOD EVENTUALLY WAS PURCHASED BY LANSING CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. AND THEN SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE CEDAR CLASSICAL ACADEMY APPROACHED THE TOWNSHIP IN 2019 ABOUT OPENING A K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOL IN A PORTION OF THE BUILDING.

THE TIME THAT WAS, THEY WERE STARTING OUT, AND THAT WAS THE SCALE OF STUDENTS THEY WERE EXPECTING AT THE TIME.

THERE WERE NO MAJOR CONCERNS BECAUSE THEY WERE OPERATING OPPOSITE OF THE CHURCH, SO MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TILL THREE.

WHEREAS THE CHURCH TYPICALLY OPERATES ON SUNDAYS AND SOME WEEKEND EVENINGS.

THOSE HOURS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE HAVEN'T CHANGED.

SO FUNCTIONALLY, IT'S THE SAME REQUEST THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2019.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AT THIS POINT IS THEY ARE REQUESTING TO EXPAND FROM K-8 TO K-12.

THEY HAVE A COHORT OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SCHOOL UP TO THIS POINT, AND THEY SEE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT UP TO GRADE 12TH.

AND THAT'S THE REQUEST IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.

SO WHAT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY IS AS PART OF THE APPROVAL IN 2019, IT WAS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL AND IT WAS PART OF THEIR APPLICATION AT THE TIME ACTUALLY WAS THAT THEY WOULD BE LIMITED TO K THROUGH EIGHT AND THAT IN THE FUTURE AN AMENDMENT BEYOND THAT, AN EXPANSION OF THE GRADES WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THE SUP AND AN UPDATED TRAFFIC GENERATION ANALYSIS OR TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT.

SO THAT IS WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.

THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE LETTER FROM PROGRESSIVE AE THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS GOING TO GENERATE LITTLE TO NO TRAFFIC AT BEST AND WOULDN'T GO MUCH BEYOND WHAT WAS THERE PREVIOUSLY.

SO IT DOES NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF REQUIRING AN ACTUAL TRAFFIC STUDY OR TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT UNDER OUR ORDINANCE.

THEY ARE, THEY WILL.

THEY ARE PLANNING APOLOGIES THEY ARE PLANNING FOR IN THE FUTURE AN EXPANSION TO THE BUILDING. BUT THIS TIME THAT EXPANSION IS NOT BEING REQUESTED.

THEY ARE SIMPLY REQUESTING A MODIFICATION TO THE CONDITION TO ALLOW FOR K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS TO BE AT THE SCHOOL.

THAT'S THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE APPLICATION.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS HERE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING THERE.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCHMITT.

WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICATION AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. HI I'M CAROLINE HUMMEL.

THIS IS MY HUSBAND, JACK, HE'S THE HEAD OF SCHOOL HERE AND I'M THE ONE WHO PREPARED THE APPLICATION. I'M THE CHAIR OF OUR BUILDING COMMITTEE.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE HERE IN THE SAME SITUATION ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO BE K-8, AND WE WEREN'T SURE HOW IT WAS GOING TO GO.

BUT IT'S GONE REALLY WELL.

WE'VE GROWN FROM 32 STUDENTS TO 60 AND NEXT YEAR.

SORRY, MS., HUMMEL, YOUR AUDIO SEEMS TO HAVE CUT OUT FOR A MOMENT, CAN YOU? CAN YOU START BACK AFTER WE GREW TO 60? THINK WE LOST THEM.

YOU LOST US FOR A SECOND, WOULD YOU ASK US A QUESTION? YEAH, WE HEARD YOU UP UNTIL YOU SAID YOU GREW TO 60.

OH, AND WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING OUR APPLICATION.

EXCELLENT. OK, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN THINGS OVER TO PUBLIC REMARKS.

ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME MAY DO SO TO A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES. IF YOU'RE IN THE ZOOM MEETING AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 517-349-1232 AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC REMARKS.

ANYONE ON THE PHONES.

[00:15:09]

OK. I DID SEE A HAND BRIEFLY.

KRISTIN PANG, CAN WE PROMOTE THEM, PLEASE.

AND GO AHEAD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REMARKS.

I'M TIMOTHY PANG I'M USING MY WIFE'S ACCOUNT.

AND YES, I'M THE PASTOR AT THE LANSING CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF THE BUILDING.

AND WE JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SCHOOL BEING THERE, AND IT WORKS OUT REALLY WELL FOR THE BOTH OF US AND AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TOWNSHIP GAVE US THE PERMISSION A FEW YEARS AGO AND WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME FOR US.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION? OK. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC REMARKS AT THIS TIME AND MOVE ON TO PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION.

ANY COMMISSIONER IS WISHING TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS SUP IN FRONT OF US.

COMMISSIONER SHREWSBURY.

I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS, SO AND IT'S STILL A FAIRLY SMALL [INAUDIBLE] BUT MOVING TO HIGH SCHOOL FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT SOMETIMES INVOLVES STUDENTS WHO ARE OF DRIVING AGE.

AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU ARE IN YOUR PLANNING FOR EXPANSION, YOU'RE CONSIDERING HAVING STUDENTS DRIVE TO AND FROM SCHOOL IN ADDITION TO PARENTAL DROP OFF AND OR IF YOU PLAN TO HAVE A CLOSED CAMPUS OR WILL THE STUDENTS BE ABLE TO LEAVE AT LUNCHTIME? YEAH. SO WHEN STUDENTS REACH DRIVING AGE, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO AND FROM SCHOOL, BUT IT WILL BE A CLOSED CAMPUS.

NO STUDENTS LEAVING DURING THE DAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PREMOE.

YOU PROBABLY SAID THIS, AND I DIDN'T HEAR IT.

AND IF I DIDN'T, I APOLOGIZE.

BUT CAN YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT THAT WOULD ENROLL? SO OUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN IS LOOKING AT ONE HUNDRED STUDENTS BY 2026. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING.

IT'S HARD FOR US TO PLAN TEN FIFTEEN YEARS OUT, BUT I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY OUR ENROLLMENT WOULD JUST BE LIMITED BY THE PROPERTY.

I THINK THAT THERE'S A FUNCTIONAL CAP ON STUDENTS BASED ON HOW MANY CLASSROOMS WE HAVE, ETC. THE SITE PLAN AMENDMENT THAT WE MIGHT PROPOSE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WOULD ONLY BE ADDING THREE CLASSROOMS, SO WE WOULD STILL BE GROWING INCREMENTALLY.

THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF FUNCTIONAL CAPS ON HOW MANY STUDENTS WE COULD HAVE, AND OVERALL, WE JUST HAVE A SLOW GROWTH PHILOSOPHY WHERE WE'RE ONLY ADDING ONE GRADE EACH YEAR, A DOZEN STUDENTS EACH YEAR.

SO. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, IT DOES.

AND SO EVENTUALLY YOU'RE SAYING THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT WOULD BE ABOUT ONE HUNDRED.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A TARGET ENROLLMENT FOR WHAT WE WOULD BE IN 15 YEARS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BLUMER.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, DOES YOUR SCHOOL HANDLE ALL EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STUDENTS, OR DO YOU HAVE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES? YES, WE HANDLE ALL OF THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

WE HAVE ONLY GONE K THROUGH EIGHT, SO NINE THROUGH 12TH WILL BE THE NEXT BIG PHASE IN THE CURRICULAR PROGRAMING THAT WE OFFER.

THANK YOU. I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR STAFF, IF I COULD.

I NOTICED IN THE PACKET THERE WERE SEVERAL SORT OF INFORMAL BLUEPRINTS THAT THAT WERE FORWARD LOOKING AS TO ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDING, AND THE APPLICANT JUST ALLUDED TO ONE SUCH THAT WOULD BE A SITE PLAN AMENDMENT.

THESE CHANGES TO THE BUILDING WITH THESE BE ALLOWABLE BY RIGHTS OR APPROVAL BY THE STAFF LEVEL OR WOULD THEY COME BACK BEFORE US AT SOME POINT? THE BUILDING IS WELL UNDER THE THRESHOLD TO REQUIRE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A MODIFICATION, SO IT WOULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF A SITE PLAN.

OK. OBVIOUSLY, ASSUMING IT MEETS ALL THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS.

[00:20:02]

COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL. YEAH, THANKS.

A FEW COMMENTS ON WHY I SUPPORT THIS APPLICATION, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT USE FOR THE SITE. I THINK FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, USING A BUILDING THAT'S OTHERWISE OCCUPIED MAKES SO MUCH MORE SENSE THAN BUILDING NEW OR DEMOLISHING.

FROM THE TRAFFIC STANDPOINT, I DIDN'T BELIEVE THE TRAFFIC NUMBERS WHEN I FIRST SAW THEM, BUT THEN I REALIZED THAT THE PARENTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE CARPOOLING IN.

AND FROM A TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT, THOSE ARE CARPOOLING NUMBERS THAT YOU NEVER SEE.

I WAS ALSO HAPPY TO SEE IN THE APPLICATION THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE WETLAND. AND YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED THE TOWNSHIP, BOARD HAS BEEN SUPPORTING SOME GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WAYS TO USE THOSE AS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ABOUND.

AND YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN CONTACTING THE TOWNSHIP'S ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR, LEROY HARDY, FOR THIS KIND OF INFORMATION AND MAYBE SUPPORT.

THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS, COMMISSIONER CORDILL? OH, THANK YOU.

I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT.

THE SCHOOL HAS OPERATED FOR SOME TIME SINCE IT WAS FIRST GRANTED THE SUP IN 2019 AND IT'S AN AMPLE SITE GREATER THAN IT WOULD ACTUALLY NEED.

THE UPTICK IN TRAFFIC IS REALLY NEGLIGIBLE LIKE JUST WAS MENTIONED AND THIS PROPOSAL IS ALREADY IS USING WHAT IS EXISTING ANYWAY IN TERMS OF SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING. I WISH THEM SUCCESS IN EXPANDING.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORDILL.

SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP DIRECTOR SCHMITT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THIS BUILDING IS AT PRESENT? OR PERHAPS THE APPLICANT MIGHT KNOW THAT.

IT IS TWO SECONDS TO GET TO THE RIGHT SPOT HERE.

BEAT YOU TO IT. IT'S FOURTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED.

THERE YOU GO. PERFECT.

THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

YEAH, I ECHO THE STATEMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES.

I WAS HERE IN THE 2019 SUP WHEN THAT CAME UP AND WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE SUCCESS.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF FLOWN UNDER THE RADAR, I THINK, FOR A LOT OF FOLKS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BUT I'M VERY PLEASED THAT A LOT OF THE FAMILIES CLEARLY SUPPORT THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT THAT THE APPLICANTS HAVE CREATED AND FOSTERED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND THE FACT THAT THOSE PARENTS ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION HERE IS THE BEST KIND OF STATEMENT THAT YOU CAN MAKE ABOUT A SCHOOL.

I COMMENTED TO MY WIFE, WHO'S A TEACHER AT HOW MANY PARENTS WERE CALLING YOUR SCHOOL A BLESSING. AND THAT, I THINK, WAS IT'S REALLY TELLING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND FROM THE TOWNSHIP'S PERSPECTIVE, CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING WE ASKED TO DO.

AND WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK HERE BEFORE US AND THAT SHOWS THAT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU'RE SEEING SUCCESS AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR EXPANSION AND AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR OBJECTIONS, SO I WOULD SUGGEST WE VOTE.

SO WE GENERALLY WOULD WAIT UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING UNLESS WE SUSPENDED THE BYLAWS, WHICH IS NOT REQUESTED AT THIS TIME.

I GET IT. I APOLOGIZE.

COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL, WERE YOU LOOKING TO MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT? SAW YOUR HAND UP BRIEFLY.

I WAS FUMBLING WITH MY HAND.

THANKS. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, AT THIS TIME, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, I DON'T SEE ANYONE ITCHING TO RAISE THEIR HANDS.

WE'LL GO AHEAD TO THE STRAW POLL.

SO THE STRAW POLL IS A TOOL THAT.

THAT IS WHAT I MEANT. YEAH, THE STRAW POLL IS A TOOL THAT WE USE TO PROVIDE STAFF WITH DIRECTION WHEN IT COMES TO CRAFTING A RESOLUTION FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

IT IS BY NO MEANS A BINDING OR FINAL DECISION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT IT DOES GIVE OUR STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF GET POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH OUR STRAW POLL AND WE'LL SEE WHAT DIRECTION WE CAN OFFER DIRECTOR SCHMITT AS HE AND HIS STAFF CREATE A RESOLUTION FOR OUR NEXT MEETING. SO WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.

SUPPORT. COMMISSIONER PREMOE.

SUPPORT. COMMISSIONER CORDILL.

[00:25:03]

THAT'S TRUE. THANK YOU.

YEAH, COMMISSIONER SHREWSBURY.

I ALSO SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RICHARDS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER BLUMER.

SUPPORT.

COMMISSIONER SNYDER.

SUPPORT. COMMISSIONER TREZISE.

SUPPORT, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, WHICH I ASSUME WE'LL SEE NEXT TIME.

THE APPLICATION MAKES REFERENCE TO PUTTING ON AN ADDITION, BUT YOU'VE INDICATED IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE AT THIS TIME, AND THE RESOLUTION MAKES REFERENCE TO FLOOR PLANS FROM R&G ARCHITECTS WITH MY QUESTION IS WITHOUT A PLANNED EXPANSION, IS THAT APPROPRIATE IN THE RESOLUTION? DIRECTOR SCHMITT.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT ITS GENERAL BASIS FOR THE APPROVAL.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

AND SO GENERALLY WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, WE TRY TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION.

SO GIVEN THAT IT'S REFERENCING IT, WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO BE IN GENERALLY IN ROUGHLY THIS FORMAT FOR THE EXPANSION THAT GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP THE SITE PLAN BASED OFF WHAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

AND THE SITE PLAN WOULD GO BACK TO STAFF AND NOT TO THE.

OK. I'M FINE WITH IT.

[INAUDIBLE] QUESTION. IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE GETTING AHEAD OF THE GAME.

BUT I DO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND THE EXPANSION.

OK. AND JUST TO CLOSE OUT THAT LOOP, I ALSO WOULD SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND PROPOSAL.

SO SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GIVEN SOME DIRECTION TO DIRECTOR SCHMITT AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK IN TWO WEEKS TIME FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION OF YOUR PROPOSAL.

COMMISSIONER BLUMER.

JUST TO FOLLOW UP FOR A SECOND ON COMMISSIONER TREZISE'S OBSERVATION, IF THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON NEXT WEEK CONTAINED SOMETHING WHICH DIRECTOR SCHMITT HAS SAID WILL BE HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY RATHER THAN THROUGH BOARD ACTION, ISN'T IT NEEDLESSLY COMPLICATING THE PROPOSAL? SO GENERALLY, ANY TIME THERE IS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, THE SITE PLAN THAT FOLLOWS IS ALMOST ALWAYS ADMINISTRATIVE.

SO IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER REQUEST.

A FLOOR PLAN WAS SUBMITTED FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, SO WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO HAVE SUBMITTED ONE. IN THIS CASE, THEY'RE SHOWING SORT OF THEIR NEXT PHASE AS WELL IN FULL DISCLOSURE. SO WE COULD CERTAINLY REMOVE THE REFERENCE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE FLOOR PLAN IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE OR NOT, THE SITE PLAN WILL BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY. I'M SIMPLY CONCERNED THAT IF IN THE FUTURE THEY REALIZED THAT THEY MADE AN ERROR IN THEIR PREDICTION.

HAVING IT IN THE RESOLUTION, AS APPROVED, MIGHT COMPLICATE THEIR FUTURE IF IT'S NOT THERE AT ALL, THEN IT DOESN'T COMPLICATE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT, AND WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO SEE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO REMOVE IT. GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S WEIGHING IN ON THE RESOLUTION.

IT IS NICE TO HAVE IT AT THE FIRST MEETING, TOO, JUST SO WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO STRIKE THINGS OUT ON THE FLY AND CONFUSE OUR MINUTES TAKERS.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:31.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE HUMMEL'S FOR JOINING US AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OK. OUR NEXT ITEM IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

WE HAVE NONE OTHER BUSINESS, WE HAVE NONE.

SO NEXT UP, DIRECTOR SCHMITT FOR OUR TOWNSHIP BOARD UPDATE.

[9A. Township Board update.]

THE MAIN THING THAT THEY'VE DONE RECENTLY IS APPROVAL OF THE WOODWARD WAY PROJECT THAT WILL THEN GO THAT DOES NEED TO GO TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS OR THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TO AMEND THEIR PREVIOUS VARIANCES.

THEY'RE ABOUT THREE FEET OF DIFFERENCE FROM THEIR ORIGINAL APPROVAL, SO THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK THERE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS HAPPENING AT THEIR NEXT MEETING.

TOWNSHIP BOARD DID OF NOTES TO THIS BOARD AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS, AS MOST COMMUNITIES HAVE ELECTED TO ACCEPT THE AMERICAN RESCUE

[00:30:03]

STAFF HAS RECEIVED SOME INPUT FROM THE BOARD AND WE'RE NOW SORT OF FORMULATING A BIT OF A PLAN TO BRING BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FORMAL ADOPTION.

THERE'S NO HUGE RUSH ON DOING THIS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT.

AND SO AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE LOOKING FOR SOME PUBLIC INPUT AS A TOWNSHIP ON HOW THAT MONEY GETS UTILIZED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

ADDITIONALLY, WE APPROVED HALLOWEEN HOURS FOR TRICK OR TREATING THIS YEAR.

SO IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS THE PRESS RELEASE HAS GONE OUT.

I, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, DON'T REMEMBER BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHEN EAST LANSING'S ARE AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE I'M JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, SO THAT'S THE MAIN UPDATE I HAVE RIGHT NOW FROM THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONERS MIGHT HAVE.

WELL, NOW I NEED TO KNOW WHEN TRICK OR TREATING IS HAPPENING.

GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.

IT'S FINE. IT'S FINE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE WOODWARD WAY PROJECT FOR AN 18TH TIME AT THE ZBA IN TWO DAYS. THEY ARE TRYING HARD.

[LAUGHTER] I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS.

YEAH. TRICK OR TREATING IS SIX TO EIGHT ON SUNDAY, THE 31ST.

ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.

LIAISON REPORTS, ANYONE HAVE ANY.

[9B. Liaison reports.]

YEAH, MINE ACTUALLY ISN'T A LIAISON REPORT, BUT YOU KEEP MENTIONING THE WOODWARD WAY PROJECT. FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T REMEMBER THAT PROJECT, WHAT IS IT.

THAT IS THE PROJECT AT THE END OF SIRHAL DRIVE.

THAT'S THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT BROUGHT FORTH BY IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP YOU.

IT'S THE WOODWARD WAY LIMITED HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, DIVIDEND CORPORATION OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. IT ALSO USED TO BE [INAUDIBLE] COOPER AT ONE TIME.

[INAUDIBLE] COOPER IS THE OVERALL MASTER DEVELOPER, AND YEAH, IT'S THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT ON SIRHAL DRIVE.

OK, ONE THAT WE TOOK UP AT OUR LAST MEETING, I THINK.

THAT'S JUST THE SMALL.

TWO UNITS.

FORTY NINE UNITS, TWO BUILDINGS.

OH, THAT ONE.

LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY BEHIND WHOLE FOODS.

GOT IT. OK, THANK YOU.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE ONE TWO DOORS DOWN THAT WE HAD REZONED FOUR TIMES.

[LAUGHTER] COMMISSIONER PREMOE.

THIS IS A PERSONAL NOTE AND INFORMATION I WAS SCHEDULED FOR A MAJOR SURGERY ON NOVEMBER 30, WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT ME OUT OF COMMISSION FOR TWO MONTHS.

BECAUSE I HAVE DONE SOME MAJOR WEIGHT LOSS.

I WENT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY AND THE SURGERY HAS BEEN CANCELED.

IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY.

SO HALLELUIAH. CONGRATULATIONS.

THE ONLY GOOD THING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN I WOULD HAVE HAD TO EXCUSE TO MISS TWO MONTHS WORTH OF MEETINGS. [LAUGHTER] I'M BEING FACETIOUS.

THAT WAS GREAT NEWS.

AND LIKEWISE, TO VIRTUAL PLACES, IT TURNS OUT DID WONDERS FOR YOU, HUH? WELL, SIXTY POUNDS.

CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH.

ANY LIAISON REPORTS, COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.

THANKS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 6TH AND GOT AN UPDATE, I WAS MENTIONING THE TOWNSHIP BOARD GRANTS FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SCHOOLS AND A GREAT UPDATE OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT IN HASLETT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED THERE.

LOTS, OF FUN STUFF.

I ALSO ATTENDED A MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 4TH.

IT'S A JOINT MEETING WITH THE EAST LANSING TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER.

AND SEVERAL TOPICS WERE DISCUSSED, BUT THE MAIN ITEM OF DISCUSSION IS THE RECONFIGURATION OF THE INTERSECTION AT EAST LAKE LANSING POWER AND [INAUDIBLE].

AND OPINIONS CONTINUES TO DIFFER ON THE POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE DESIGNS FOR THAT.

BUT A LOT OF INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE BOTH THROUGH THE EAST LANSING TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION'S SITE AND MERIDIAN AND THE TOWNSHIP DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY DID A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING WHERE THE TOWNSHIP COMES ON THIS ONE, SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, IT'S A FASCINATING CONUNDRUM OF HISTORICAL CONFLUENCE AND OTHER HOW TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS THAT HAVE GROWN UP OVER A LONG TIME.

SO. THANKS.

THANK YO., COMMISSIONER BLUMER.

[00:35:03]

I'M STILL PLAYING CATCH UP WITH THAT COMMITTEE, I'M STILL LEARNING WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE.

IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF.

HOW DO I PUT THIS? THEY'RE GETTING FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEVELOPER.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO TAKING SOME ACTION THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE LOOKING FOR A NEW DEVELOPER.

ALSO. AND THAT WAS BACKED UP BY TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR WALSH, WHO WAS THERE AND ADDED TO THE COMMITTEE SAYING THAT THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO SAYING THE HECK WITH THIS, WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRY SOMEBODY NEW BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH CHANGING DEMANDS BY THE DEVELOPER. JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING, ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THIS MEETING, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM AMBER CLARK.

AND SHE TOLD US THAT THERE IS A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR A NEW COMPANY IN THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THAT WOULD BE THE THATCH COMPUTER CONSULTING COMPANY, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 4747 OKEMOS ROAD IN THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AREA.

THAT RIBBON CUTTING IS FOR OCTOBER 22ND AT 4:00P.M.

IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THAT.

AND THAT WOULD BE IT. SO CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON, I GUESS, THE DDA'S AUTHORITY TO GET A NEW DEVELOPER? THIS IS THE OKEMOS, THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN OKEMOS PROJECT, RIGHT? YEAH, I WAS QUITE SURPRISED BECAUSE I ASKED THE QUESTION DURING THE COURSE OF THE MEETING. WHY ISN'T THERE AN ACTIONABLE TIME CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT? AND I WAS SHOCKED BY THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONTRACT.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT FACTOR, RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO IRREVOCABLE TIE BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE DEVELOPERS, WHICH MEANS THE TOWNSHIP IS FREE TO CHOOSE A NEW DEVELOPER IF THEY JUST REACH AN IMPASSE WITH THE CURRENT ONE.

AND APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE TONE OF THE MEETING, THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY CLOSE TO DOING THAT. MAYBE MR. SCHMITT HAS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THAT.

I WILL. [LAUGHTER] THAT HE CAN DISCLOSE TO US.

WELL JUST I WILL SAY THIS.

THEY OWN THE PROPERTY OUTRIGHT.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO SIMPLY CALL ANOTHER DEVELOPER AND TELL THEM TO DO THE PROJECT. IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S SO HIGH PROFILE, BUT IT'S NOT UNLIKE THE NEWTON PLACE PROJECT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SINCE THE 07 08 YEAR.

IT'S JUST A SLOW DEVELOPMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A VERY HIGH PROFILE, SLOW DEVELOPMENT.

BUT YES, THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION ALL AROUND, AND WE MEET WITH THEM ON THE REGULAR TO TRY AND PUSH THIS THING FORWARD.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE THEM MAKE A DECISION HERE SHORTLY.

I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, I'M PLAYING CATCH UP.

I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE NUANCES OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DDA.

BUT THE IMPRESSION I GOT MOST OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE IS AN MUPUD DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY'RE TRYING VERY HARD TO TAKE THE MU OUT OF THE MUPUD.

THEY REALLY ARE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE MULTIPLE USE ASPECT OF IT AND JUST ADD APARTMENT BUILDINGS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THOSE ARE CHEAP, THEY'RE EASY TO PUT UP AND THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THEM.

IT'S THE MULTIPLE USE ASPECT OF IT THAT IS.

WHAT MAKES IT SUCH AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE GETTING ALL OF THE CLOSE SCRUTINY, I'D SAY.

WELL, ONE HISTORICALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW IT WAS PITCHED, RIGHT, IT WAS PITCHED AS TWO STORIES OF COMMERCIAL AND THEN IT WAS ONE STORY OF COMMERCIAL AND THEN IT WAS, WELL, MAYBE HALF A STORY OF COMMERCIAL.

AND YEAH, AND SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE COMING BACK AND WITHOUT READING BETWEEN THE LINES HERE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE COMING BACK AND SAYING, HOW ABOUT NO COMMERCIAL? TO BE CLEAR, THEY'VE NOT SAID THAT.

NO I UNDERSTAND.

THEY'RE CURRENTLY LOCKED DOWN AS TO WHAT THEY ARE.

I MADE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.

BUT IT IS, YEAH, MUCH LIKE EVERY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE TOWNSHIP.

THEY JUST WANT THE APARTMENTS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

YEAH. OK.

I SAW COMMISSIONER SYNDER AND THEN COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.

THANK YOU. I WAS JUST I HAD MY HAND RAISED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL FOR ATTENDING THAT TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION JOINT MEETING WITH EAST LANSING

[00:40:02]

I JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND FOR THE REPORT BACK.

COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL. YEAH NO PROBLEMS. I THINK, TO THE QUESTION COMMISSIONER BLUMER POSED ABOUT TIMELINES.

I WAS WONDERING IF STAFF COULD REMIND US WHAT IS THE.

IS THERE NOT A CLOCK ON THE MUPUD HAS BEEN AMENDED? THERE IS A CLOCK ON IT.

THEY HAVE UNTIL.

APOLOGIES, THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL PREDATES ME, SO I HAVE TO THINK HERE FOR A SECOND.

NO I DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT THERE IS A CLOCK RUNNING ON THE CURRENTLY APPROVED AND AMENDED MUPUD.

THERE IS A FOUR YEAR CLOCK, I BELIEVE, FROM THE TOWNSHIP'S ORIGINAL APPROVAL FOR IT TO BE DONE. NOW THAT WAS I THINK, JULY 18 OR THEREABOUTS IN JULY OR AUGUST OF 2018.

ACTUALLY, I THINK IT WAS 19 BECAUSE IT'S A NINETEEN NUMBER IN MY SYSTEM.

OK, WELL, THERE YOU GO.

EITHER WAY, THEY CAN REQUEST ONE EXTENSION OF THAT.

IT'S GOING TO GET REALLY CONFUSING, BASICALLY, IF THEY DON'T START CONSTRUCTION EARLY NEXT YEAR. REALLY CONFUSING.

AND IF I CAN TAKE A SECOND BITE OF THE APPLE, HOW THAT MIGHT FIT WITH THE OKEMOS BRIDGE [INAUDIBLE] BRIDGE, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TRAVERSE OKEMOS ROAD FOR A WHILE.

ULTIMATELY, I WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT THE PROJECT ITSELF SHOULD LARGELY HAVE NO IMPACT ON OKEMOS ROAD. WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OKEMOS ROAD IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRIDGE. AND EVENTUALLY, IF THE TOWNSHIP OR THE DEVELOPER BURIES THE POWER LINES, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OKEMOS ROAD.

THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE SELF CONTAINED WITHIN THE RECTANGLE OF OKEMOS AND ARDMORE AND METHODIST.

AND I BLANKED ON THE LAST ONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO STAGE IT APPROPRIATELY ON SITE. OKEMOS ROAD CONSTRUCTION IS REALLY THE OKEMOS ROAD PROBLEM.

WELL, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PIECES OF THE ROAD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT TOO, RIGHT? THERE WERE TWO TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT ONE POINT AND A RECONFIGURATION OF THE INTERSECTION AT HAMILTON AND OKEMOS.

BUT I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO RE STRIPE AN INTERSECTION, RIGHT, THAT COULD BE A MATTER OF DAYS.

YEAH IF THE GEOMETRY IS THERE, IT'S RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD, IT'S A MATTER OF WHETHER THE ROAD DEPARTMENT HAS THE GEOMETRY IN PLACE.

RIGHT.

OK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALWAYS, GOOD TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT PROJECT, SINCE IT'S IN SUCH A PROMINENT LOCATION.

SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF, YOU KNOW, PICA AREA PROJECTS.

DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HASLETT PICA? THE SENIOR HOUSING BUILDING IS STILL MOVING ALONG, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THEM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN IN CONSTRUCTION YET.

I EXPECT THAT THIS IS A LUMBER COST ISSUE AND THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY GAMBLING THAT IT'S GOING TO KEEP COMING DOWN, GIVEN THAT LUMBER FUTURES ARE CONTINUING TO DROP NOT AS PRECIPITOUSLY AS THEY WENT UP.

WITH RESPECT TO THE REMAINDER OF THE SITE WE HAVE HAD SOME INITIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPER, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN FORMALLY SUBMITTED.

ALL I'VE SEEN IS SORT OF A BACK OF THE NAPKIN CONCEPT, SO THERE IS SOMEONE FLOATING AROUND RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE SITE.

ALL RIGHT. EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER LIAISON REPORTS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS PROJECT UPDATES, NEW

[10. PROJECT UPDATES]

GOT SITE PLANS RECEIVED NONE.

SITE PLANS APPROVED NONE.

BRINGS US TO OUR LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC REMARKS.

ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU'RE IN OUR ZOOM MEETING, AND WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION. PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 517-349-1232 GIVE YOU A MOMENT TO RAISE YOUR HAND OR GIVE US A CALL. DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED.

WE'RE HEARING NO PHONES RING, SIR.

NO PHONES RING. WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC REMARKS AND IT WOULD BE TIME TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. COMMISSIONER PREMOE SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SHREWSBURY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED.

AYE. AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION STANDS ADJOURNED AT 7:46.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH THE ZOOM MEETING AGAIN AND.

THREE TIMES LONGER THAN OUR LAST MEETING.

I JUST WANT TO SAY.

[LAUGHTER] WELL, WE STARTED FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHICH IS ONE THIRD OF THAT MEETING, SO WE'LL GET THERE. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

[00:45:03]

THANK YOU. GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT.

RECORDING STOPPED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.