[*This Meeting was joined in Progress*]
[00:00:02]
>> I SAW HERE. MAYBE DEFENDER SHORKEY CAN HELP WITH THIS.
[8.B. SUP #24012 – Consumers Transfer Station (Rutherford Drive)]
I SEE SEVERAL NAMES IN EVERYTHING THAT I READ.I SEE HABANA, AND IS THAT THE APPLICANT?
>> THE APPLICANT IS HAZLITT GALLERY, AND HABANA IS THEIR DOING BUSINESS AS NAME.
>> YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS AS HABANA.
HAZLITT GALLERY INCORPORATED IS DOING BUSINESS AS HABANA? IS THAT AN APPROPRIATE ASSUMPTION?
IT'S REGISTERED WITH THE STATE.
>> WHO IS MERIDIAN RE VENTURES LLC?
>> I BELIEVE MERIDIAN RE VENTURES WAS AN ORIGINAL APPLICANT THAT WE HAD.
>> I LOOKED AT THE LEASE. YES, SIR.
>> YES. THEN THAT LEASE, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE SAME OWNER OF MERIDIAN RE VENTURES, ALSO OWN HAZLITT GALLERY, SO THEY SIGNED THE LEASE TO HAZLITT GALLERY.
>> WELL, I NOTICED THAT THE PRESIDENT OF HAZLITT GALLERY IS THE SAME PERSON WHO IS THE MANAGER OF MERIDIAN RE VENTURES LLC.
TELL ME, WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP IN ALL OF THESE COMPANIES?
>> THEY'RE OWNED BY THE SAME PERSON.
>> WELL, I COULD GO INTO ASSET DIVERSIFICATION HERE.
BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE REASONS TO DO IT.
FOR INSTANCE, JUST A LITTLE BIT, I USUALLY TELL CLIENTS THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN OWNERSHIP OF LAND, AND YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN YOUR BUSINESS, THEY'D LIKELY RATHER HAVE PUT THOSE INTO TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES, SUCH AS TWO DIFFERENT LLCS OR WHATNOT.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU WOULD DO THAT IS LET'S SAY A DRIVER OF YOUR BUSINESS, UNFORTUNATELY INJURES ANOTHER PARTY.
YOU GET SUED BY THAT OTHER PARTY.
IF ALL OF YOUR ASSETS ARE UNDER THE SAME LLC OR CORPORATION, WELL, THEN ALL OF YOUR ASSETS ARE AT RISK.
BUT, IF YOUR ASSETS ARE IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, NOT ALL OF YOUR ASSETS WOULD BE AT RISK.
ONLY THE ASSETS UNDER THE ONE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD THE OFFENDING PARTY WOULD BE AT RISK.
>> THANK YOU. NOW I WANT TO LOOK AT THE ATTACHMENT B, EMPLOYMENT AND HOURS OF OPERATION.
>> IT SAYS HOURS OF OPERATION THAT HG, WHICH I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT'S HAZLITT GALLERY, CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR. I BELIEVE WE DEFINED IT AT THE START OF THE DOCUMENT.
>> WILL OPERATE FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM WEEKDAYS, AND LIMITED HOURS ON WEEKENDS.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE THAT YOU HAVE DOWN HERE, DAY OF WEEK, I SEE MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, HOURS OF OPERATION, 9:00 AM TO 8:00 PM.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT INCONSISTENCY THERE, PLEASE, SIR?
>> I WOULD CERTAINLY BASE IT ON THE SCHEDULE, AND IT IS LIKELY IN LINE WITH YOUR ORDINANCE OPERATING HOURS, WHICH ARE CERTAINLY IN THERE.
>> WHICH ONE ARE YOU GOING TO BE FOLLOWING?
>> DISREGARD THE STATEMENT ABOVE?
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR FOR THE APPLICANT? COMMISSIONER AT THIS? COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL, PLEASE.
>> WE MIGHT HAVE ONE MORE. SORRY. NOT SO FAST. SORRY.
>> THE LEASE AGREEMENT WAS JUST FASCINATING.
I THINK COMMISSIONER SCALES AND I INVESTED SOME VALUABLE TIME THIS AFTERNOON.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN ATTACHMENT G. I'M AFRAID I DON'T HAVE THE PAGE IN THE PDF FOR THAT ONE IN MY LITTLE SCROLLING NOTES HERE.
AFTER THE LEASE AND AFTER THE TRAFFIC.
>> ATTACHMENT G, IS ON PAGE 80 OF THE PDF.
>> [OVERLAPPING] TO SAY THIS WAS A 104 PAGE PACKET.
>> THAT'S THE ONE. THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH, THE THIRD FULL SENTENCE BEGINNING ON THE FIFTH LINE,
[00:05:03]
THE PROJECT IS CONSUMER FACING BUSINESS WHICH ANTICIPATES INTERACTIONS WITH CUSTOMERS CAN TAKE AROUND 10 MINUTES, WHICH MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO ME.SIMILAR TO THOSE INTERACTION TIMES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AT OTHER NEARBY BUSINESSES, INCLUDING SALONS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND TARGETED RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.
CAN YOU GET IN AND OUT IN 10 MINUTES? IS THAT RIGHT? PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, I THINK THERE'S A TAX CONSULTANT.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY RAPID, I'D LIKE TO SPEND MORE THAN 10 MINUTES WITH MY TAX PRICE. I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE THEN SAYS, THIS PROJECT IS THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF LAND USE AS THE CURRENT RETAILERS IN THIS AREA.
IF IT WERE THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF BUSINESS AS ALL THOSE SURROUNDING IT, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS HEARING.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THE APPLICANT WANTED TO CLARIFY THOSE ISSUES OF THE SIMILARITY OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S STATED HERE, AND HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> IT'S CONSUMER BASED RETAIL TRANSACTIONS.
LIKE MANY OF THOSE THINGS UP ABOVE, YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO THE SALON OR TAX FOR LONG MEETINGS.
MANY TIMES YOU'RE MAKING A STOP BY TO SIGN CERTAIN DOCUMENTS OR MAYBE TAKING CARE OF OTHER THINGS.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT PULL INTO OUR STORES, THEY DRIVE, THEY OPEN UP THE DOOR, THEY COME INSIDE, THEY DO THEIR SHOPPING, AND THEY LEAVE.
VERY SIMILAR TO MOST EVERYTHING THAT OPERATES DOWN THESE PARTICULAR ROADWAYS IN THE CITY, AND IN THE PARTICULAR TOWNSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK MY RELATED QUESTION MAYBE FOR STAFF, ON PAGE 75 OF THE PDF, THERE WAS SOME REFERENCE IN THE TRAFFIC STUDY TOO.
I KNOW THE TRAFFIC STUDIES USE A STANDARDIZED MANUAL THAT GIVES TRIP GENERATION ESTIMATES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES AND IT LOOKED LIKE THIS WAS A MORE SMALL OFFICE BUILDING. [NOISE]
>> AGAIN, I DO NOT HAVE ANY FORMS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING? THEN I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:08 PM, AND THEN OPEN IT UP TO COMMISSIONER COMMENTS OR FURTHER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.
[LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] GO AHEAD.
>> WELL, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH THIS.
I DON'T FIND ANY PUSHBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORS.
>> A 300-FOOT RANGE, WERE NOTICES SENT?
>> FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO COMMISSIONER SCALES.
ARE THERE ANY RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITHIN THAT 300-FOOT AREA? DO YOU KNOW? I CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING.
THERE IS A NOTICE IN THE PAPER.
>> NONE OF OUR PACKETS ARE PUBLIC ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE TOO.
>> JUST TO PULL THIS UP AGAIN. THIS IS [INAUDIBLE]. THREE HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM THAT? LET'S SEE. I'VE LEARNED THAT.
HERE I CAN TURN THIS ON, THE FEET.
THAT MEASUREMENT IS ALMOST 300 FEET THERE.
[LAUGHTER] DO THIS A LITTLE BIT.
I'LL START DOING MEASUREMENTS AGAIN.
YOU'VE GOT THESE PARCELS HERE, THAT ARE RESIDENCES, SO YOU'VE GOT IN HERE THAT IS FAMILY TRUST.
[00:10:02]
THERE'S SOME RESIDENCES THAT WE'RE IN THAT 300 FOOT.>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> I WILL ENTERTAIN A STRAW POLE VOTE OF LIKELIHOOD OF SUPPORTING THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 24017 WHEN IT COMES BEFORE US NEXT.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU STAFF.
NOW WE ARE ON TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS NUMBER 8A, AND WE HAVE A TEXT AMENDMENT NUMBER 24010 SECTION 36377, RN VILLAGE OF NEMOKA ORDINANCE UPDATE.
>> OKAY. YOU'VE SEEN THIS A FEW TIMES.
YOU'VE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU'VE GOT A RESOLUTION OF APPROVAL.
YOU'VE GOT LANGUAGE AS TO WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE.
JUST TO REVIEW, IT'LL TAKE THE REFERENCES OUT OF THE LANGUAGE AS USE OF EITHER LAND USE, SPECIAL LAND USE, AND DIMENSIONAL REGULATIONS.
THEN CLEANS THE USES UP A BIT TO BRING THEM INTO CONFORMANCE WITH MICHIGAN PLANNING LAW AND TAKE OUT A COUPLE INCONSISTENT USES WITH THE VILLAGE OF NEMOKA AREA, ESPECIALLY GOLF COURSES, WHICH I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO SEE THAT DEVELOPED INTO.
>> OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? THOUGH I GUESS WE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER COOKS, YOU HAD ONE THING YOU WANTED TO FLAG AS A CHANGE, BUT WE DO HAVE A DRAFT RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT IN OUR PACKET, IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT.
COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL HAS MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND?
>>I MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF ZONING AMENDMENT NUMBER 202406 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REVISED DRAFT ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SNYDER.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE TEXT AMENDMENT NUMBER 24010.
I WILL NOT READ THE ENTIRE THING. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I THINK THIS IS WHERE I WOULD PUT FORWARD MY, IS THIS AN AMENDMENT?
>> AMENDMENT THAT THE CORRECT TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR NAME BE PUT IN PLACE.
IT CURRENTLY HAS PATRICIA, AND JOHNSON [INAUDIBLE].
>> OKAY. THAT'S HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO, THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
>> IF THE MOVER AND THE SECOND ARE OKAY, I CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. OKAY.
>> THAT'S TECHNICALLY NOT WITH AN AMENDMENT TO THE REGULAR RESOLUTION.
[OVERLAPPING]. IT JUST FIXES [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER RONBECK, I KNOW YOU'RE NEW, SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK THEM, IF YOU HAVE ANY?
>. OKAY. WITH THAT, THEN, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I WILL CALL THE VOTE.
>> THE CHAIR VOTES YES.THE MOTION IS APPROVED. THANK YOU.
NOW WE ARE AT SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 24012.
THE CONSUMERS' ENERGY TRANSFER STATION, SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR CONSUMERS ENERGY.
>> I WILL NOTE THE APPLICANT IS REPRESENTED.
YOU SAW THIS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS A GAS REGULATOR STATION ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF LAKE LANSING ROAD AND RUTHERFORD DRIVE.
THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT WILL FOLLOW SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
BASED ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD TWO WEEKS AGO, RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVAL.
YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKET TO THAT EFFECT.
>> WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MOVE THAT RESOLUTION?
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE RESOLUTION.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 98, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH SOMEONE ALREADY OFFERED A MOVEMENT ON THAT AND IT WAS SUPPORTED.
>> [LAUGHTER] THAT IS THE DANGER OF THE PACE FUNCTION.
IT'S NO PROBLEM. WE'LL CERTAINLY REPLACE THEM WITH THOSE APPROPRIATE NAMES.
>> GOT IT. WHO WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT RESOLUTION? SOUNDS LIKE YOU.
[00:15:09]
>> NO. I THINK COMMISSIONER SCALES SHOULD DO IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] JUST BEFORE WE GO.
>> I MOVE TO ADAPT THE RESOLUTION FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 24012.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> OKAY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SNYDER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I WILL CALL THE VOTE.
>> THE CHAIR VOTES YES, SO THE MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU. NOW WE ARE AT OTHER BUSINESS 9A.
[9.A. Resolution of Appreciation – James McCurtis]
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR FORMER COMMISSIONER, NOW TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBER, JAMES MCCURTIS.WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MOVE THAT, MR. SCALES? [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANT TO READ IT AGAIN FOR THE RECORD.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, TRUSTEE MCCURTIS IS NOT IN ATTENDANCE, BUT HE WAS HERE AT OUR LAST MEETING AND HE THANKED US FOR THE TIME THAT HE SERVED WITH US, THE THINGS THAT HE LEARNED AND THE THINGS THAT HE EDUCATED US ON.
WHEREAS JAMES MCCURTIS BEGAN HIS PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE TOWNSHIP STARTING IN 2023 WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WHEREAS DURING HIS TWO YEAR TENURE AS PLANNING COMMISSIONER, MR. MCCURTIS HAS ABLY REPRESENTED THE INTERESTS OF THIS PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITIZENS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ALSO SERVING ON THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
WHEREAS MR. MCCURTIS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ADVANCE AND ACHIEVE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ADOPTED BY THIS COMMISSION AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD SELFLESSLY, CONTRIBUTING VALUABLE FOCUS, PERSPECTIVE, INSIGHT, AND ENERGY TO OUR MOST CHALLENGING EFFORTS AND SUBSEQUENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, AND WHEREAS MR. MCCURTIS HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE MERIDIAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MUST RESIGN FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, WISHES PUBLICLY TO RECOGNIZE, COMMEND AND THANK JAMES MCCURTIS FOR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO, AND IMPACTS ON THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS COMMISSION IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE AND WISHES YOU WELL IN YOUR FUTURE PURSUITS.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, HEREBY ADOPTS THIS TRIBUTE OF APPRECIATION TO PLANNING COMMISSIONER JAMES MCCURTIS, AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION?
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SNYDER. ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I'LL JUST SAY I KNOW I APPRECIATED WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER MCCURTIS, AND APPRECIATED HIS TIME AND THOUGHTS HERE AS VERBALIZED IN THIS MOTION IN THIS RESOLUTION.
SORRY THAT HE'S NOT HERE, BUT I TRUST THAT HE WILL ACCEPT OUR WARM WISHES AS IS PRESENTED TO HIM.
>> ATTENDING HIS MEETINGS ALREADY.
>> EXACTLY.[LAUGHTER] KEEPING VERY BUSY [INAUDIBLE] ANYWAY.
>> WE'RE SENDING HIM PLENTY OF WORK.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL CALL THE ROLL IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER SCALES?
>> THE CHAIR VOTES, YES SO THIS MOTION IS ADOPTED. THANK YOU.
NOW WE ARE ON TO OTHER BUSINESS 9B,
[9.B. Corridor Improvement Authority Appointment]
CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY APPOINTMENT.ASSUMING THAT'S BECAUSE THAT POSITION IS VACANT, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER BROOKS HAS MOVED TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND WE NEED A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TOWNSHIP.
[00:20:01]
>> I'LL LET COMMISSIONER BROOKS EXPLAIN MORE, BUT WE GOT AN EMAIL INDICATING THAT COMMISSIONER BROOKS WAS HAPPY TO BE ON THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, BUT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE HE COULD HANDLE BOTH.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME, FUNNY. DID I MISREAD YOU?
>> YEAH. BUT I THINK I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE ON THE SAME DAY, AND THAT WAS PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY, I THINK, BECAUSE THEY GOT MOVED.
BUT NO, I THINK I DID LOOK AT THE CALENDAR, AND I THINK THEY ARE ON THE SAME WEDNESDAY.
>> BUT WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSIONER.
>> HOWEVER THAT BEING SAID, EXACTLY.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST GOT THE PACKET FOR THE ONE THIS WEEK.
YOU CAN SEE IN JULY, CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 6:00, ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AT 6:30.
>> YEAH. THAT'S THEIR [INAUDIBLE]
>> BEFORE WE FINISH, SHOULD WE EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS?
>> THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO EXPLAIN TO HER.
>> COMMISSIONER BROOKS, AS THE MOST RECENT APPOINTEE TO THE CIA, PLEASE SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
THERE YOU GO. THIS IS HELPFUL ON THE SCREEN ALSO.
>> I WOULD SAY YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO DO THIS.
HOWEVER, THE GROUP IS BASICALLY WORKING ON ALL THINGS RELATED TO GRAND RIVER AND THAT CORRIDOR SPECIFICALLY.
THE MOST RECENT THING THAT'S HAPPENED THERE IS THAT THEY'VE VOTED TO CREATE A TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCE PLAN, WHICH IS RAISING OR TAKING PUBLIC FUNDS FROM TAXES COLLECTED AND THEN USING THOSE TO REINVEST IN THAT CORRIDOR.
THE WHOLE WORK OF THE CIA OVER, IT'S GOT TO BE THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WILL BE ON DEVELOPING A STRATEGY FOR USING THESE FUNDS.
BUILDING OUT AN APPLICATION AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THOSE FUNDS AND THEN START DISTRIBUTING THEM AS BUSINESSES REQUEST THEM.
DID I SAY THAT ADEQUATELY ENOUGH?
>> THAT'S WHAT IT IS. AS THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER REPRESENTATIVE, YOU'RE NOT A VOTING MEMBER, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY LISTENING AND OFFERING THE POSITION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ANYTHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RELATED TO THAT.
AT THE END OF OUR AGENDAS, YOU'LL SEE LIAISON REPORTS, AND THEN ANY OF OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO ANY OF THESE OTHER ENTITIES, WILL SHARE UPDATES OF MOST RECENT MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES AND HELP CREATE THAT DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN US.
WE ARE NOT PRESSURING YOU TO TAKE THIS.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE.
IF NOT, WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TWIST SOME ARMS UNTIL WE FIND SOMEONE.
>> IF IT'S A LITTLE MORE CONVINCING.
WE USED TO BE A NINE-MEMBER BOARD, NOW WE'RE A SEVEN-MEMBER BOARD.
ALL OF US SHARE IN SOME OTHER BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS, SO WE SPREAD THE WORK OUT PRETTY EVENLY.
NOW THAT WE ARE TWO MEMBERS LESS, A LOT OF US ARE DOING TWO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ALONG WITH THIS COMMISSION.
>> THE ONLY THING I RUN INTO IS AT THAT PARTICULAR WEDNESDAY DATE, I TAKE MY SON TO GOLF PRACTICE THAT DAY.
I'M AT LEAST BOOKED THROUGH SUMMER, WOULD BE MY STANCE THERE, BECAUSE AT THAT SAME TIME, MY TWO OTHER DAUGHTERS HAVE GYMNASTICS, MY WIFE GOES THERE.
I HAVE MY SON AT [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT IS MY HESITANCY FOR NOW, AND ACTUALLY, PERSONALLY, I SERVE ON FOUR OTHER BOARDS.
>> QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. SHORKEY.
I KNOW WITH THE ZBA, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT HAS, A STATUTORY LAW.
BUT AS OUR LIAISON TO THIS BOARD, I KNOW CONTINUITY WOULD BE HELPFUL, BUT COULD WE GET BY WITH HODGEPODGING, A LITTLE BIT OF HAVING ONE PERSON DO IT ONE MONTH AND THEN HAVING A SUB OR A BACKUP BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A VOTING MEMBER OF THAT BODY.
>> I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU.
>> COULD YOU CHECK? UNLESS THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER.
>> I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.
NOT TO MAKE THIS TOO COMPLICATED, BUT I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA TOO TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE OF A SENSE OF THE OTHER BOARDS TOO.
I REALIZE THAT WE CAN ATTEND AT ANY TIME TO ANY BOARD MEETING, BUT, IT COULD BE A SOLUTION THAT COULD WORK FOR OTHER BOARDS TOO IN THE FUTURE IF IT'S FEASIBLE AND ALLOWABLE.
[00:25:02]
WE CREATE MAILING LISTS AND UPDATE THAT ON A MONTHLY BASIS.>> I THINK IF WE OPTED TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS THE PERSON, AND THEN ONE OR MORE OTHERS WHO ARE WILLING TO BE THE BACKUPS, AND IT WOULD BE ON THE PERSON TO SAY, "I CAN'T GO THIS MONTH.
>> IF THAT WOULD EASIER FOR YOU, I THINK THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE ONE BENEFIT TO HAVING SOMEBODY THERE IS THAT THE CIA IN PARTICULAR IS DOING SOME, THE TIFF IS FAIRLY TECHNICAL, I GUESS UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THEM BEFORE, AND SO IT REQUIRES BUILDING UP SOME KNOWLEDGE.
NOW, THAT GROUP HAS ONLY MET FOUR TIMES, I THINK, IN THE PAST MAYBE 4-6 TIMES IN THE PAST, A YEAR, PROBABLY.
IT'S NOT MEETING ALL THE TIME.
IT'S JUST THE PROBLEM IS IT'S AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ZBA.
I WONDER IF ANOTHER SOLUTION MIGHT BE, YOU GENERATE MINUTES, THE CIA?
>> JUST TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO SUMMARIZE WHAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY GENERATE EXCELLENT MINUTES.
>> YEAH. BUT AMBER STAFFS THAT.
>> I JUST KNOW THAT I CANNOT COMMIT TO A 6:00 O'CLOCK MEETING.
I DON'T GET OUT OF WORK UNTIL, IT'S HARD TO GET HERE AT 6:30, SO THERE'S NO WAY THAT I COULD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THIS EVENING.
>> I GUESS CAN WE PUT THIS ON OUR NEXT AGENDA? I'LL HAVE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THIS.
YOU COULD CHECK ON WHAT OUR OPTIONS MIGHT BE.
IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND A DESIGNEE AND SOMEBODY WOULD BE WILLING TO NOMINALLY BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE AND REVIEW MINUTES IF NOTHING ELSE, WE COULD PERHAPS GET BY.
>> CAN WE CHANGE OUR MIND ON THE SHRINKING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER SCALES MAKES A GOOD POINT.
BY REDUCING OUR NUMBER, WE INCREASE THAT LOAD, AND IT MAY BE THAT WE CAN'T HAVE ALL THOSE LIAISONS WE ENJOYED AS A NINE-MEMBERED GROUP.
>> TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HAS ALSO NOT MET IN QUITE A LONG TIME.
>> I KNOW MANY OF THEM MEET DURING THE DAY, WHICH IS EVEN MORE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY OF US WHO HAVE JOBS THAT REQUIRE WORKING. [LAUGHTER].
>> THERE ARE DAYS, IF I KNOW I'M WORKING FROM HOME ON A PARTICULAR DAY, I COULD PROBABLY ZIP OVER HERE BY 6:00, BUT MY DAYS ARE DIFFERENT EACH WEEK AND YOU JUST NEVER KNOW, AND I'D END UP PROBABLY MISSING A LOT OF THEM.
WE'LL PUT THAT ON A PAUSE FOR A MINUTE.
WE ARE NOW TO ITEM 10A, TOWNSHIP BOARD UPDATE.
[10.A. Township Board update.]
UNDER REPORTS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS.AT THE LAST MEETING, THE TOWNSHIP DID APPROVE THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LICENSE FOR AREA 3 FOR THE DVNK PEOPLE.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT THEY WERE IN LAST YEAR FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE UNITS. [INAUDIBLE]
>> I HAVE TO SEND IT YET. THAT'S MY REPORT.
>> APPRECIATE THAT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SHORKEY? WAIT, THIS COMES UNDER PROJECT REPORTS? I WAS GOING TO SAY, I'VE SEEN ANNOUNCEMENTS OF AN OPENING OF A CERTAINTY SPECIALTY GROCER.
>> I BELIEVE I SAW THE DATE IS JUNE 28TH.
>> THEY MIGHT HAVE THE MOST WILD CRAMMED OPENING OF ANY BUSINESS
>> I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE NEAR THERE[LAUGHTER]
>> THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A TRAFFIC STUDY.
[00:30:01]
>> THE COFFEE SHOP NEXT TO PLAYMAKERS.
>> DO WE HAVE A DATE. DO WE KNOW?
>> THE ONE I'M THINKING OF IS NEXT TO THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CL CONSTRUCTION IN FRONT OF PLAYMAKERS.
IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO LOTTE MART.
>> THEN THERE ARE SOME REALTORS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE OLD TUCK SHOP.
>> COOL. GOOD JOB, COMMISSIONER BROOKS.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT WAS ME[LAUGHTER] I KEPT TALKING ABOUT A COFFEE SHOP RIGHT THERE.
>> GOOD JOB, [INAUDIBLE] EXCELLENT.
>> WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT COFFEE SHOP THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> ACTUALLY, CAN WE NAME THAT NOW?
>> THEY ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN AND SITE PLAN REVIEW AT THIS TIME.
>> HAVE THEY YET TO NAME IT OR NO, STILL?
>> [LAUGHTER]I'M JUST CURIOUS.
>> I KNOW OF WHAT YOU SPEAK AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS[LAUGHTER].
WE ARE AT 10B, LIAISON REPORTS.
[10.B. Liaison reports.]
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A LIAISON REPORT TO SHARE?>> THE BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DID NOT MEET, AND THE EDC DID NOT MEET.
ONE OF THE BYPRODUCTS OF THE EDC WAS THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.
THAT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, AND A LOT OF FUN WAS HAD BY ALL.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?
>> THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS NOT MET SINCE WE LAST MET.
I WAS COPIED ON SOME COMMUNICATION TO TOWNSHIP STAFF TODAY REGARDING A MATTER THAT WAS ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING OR NOT ON OUR AGENDA.
I CAN ELABORATE UNDER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE? PROJECT UPDATES, ITEM 11A.
[11.A. Project Report]
>> I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHANGES IN THE REPORT, I DIDN'T HAVE IT IN HERE, BUT I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU.
LOOKING AHEAD TO YOUR NEXT MEETING, YOU'VE GOT THREE UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEMS. THEN ASSUMING I DON'T GET ANY LAST MINUTE THINGS, TOMORROW IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR JULY 22ND, AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AT THIS TIME.
DO YOU WANT A PLANNING MEETING OR DO YOU WANT A NIGHT OFF? BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT SOME PLANNING STUFF THAT WE DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT, IF YOU GOT SOME SUGGESTIONS, ONE OR TWO THINGS [NOISE] PARKING BIKE PLAN.
THESE ARE THINGS INTERNALLY WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.
>> WE HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS ON OUR AGENDA FOR THIS YEAR TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE'VE BEEN SO BUSY.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE REALLY HAD OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE INTO ANY OF THOSE.
IF YOU FEEL YOU COULD BE READY TO BRING ONE OR MORE OF THOSE TOPICS TO US, I'M SURE PEOPLE HAVE VACATIONS COMING UP.
I KNOW THAT ACTUALLY MINE FALLS OUTSIDE OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, SO I KNOW I'LL BE HERE AT BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BRING IT UP.
>> IF YOU'RE ABLE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WANTS TO PRIORITIZE FROM THAT LIST OR IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO BRING, BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING SOMETHING AND KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY MAY BE ABLE TO BE HERE.
WE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE'LL HAVE ONE OR TWO SPECIFIC THINGS TO UPDATE YOU ON AND THEN JUST PLANNING RELATED, WHERE'S THINGS GOING WITH THE MASTER PLAN, MAYBE A SIX MONTH CHECKUP THING.
>> IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU WOULD LIKE STAFF TO WORK ON, SHARE IT WITH MR. SHORKEY, AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COPYING ME TOO.
>> I THOUGHT WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS EARLIER ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE PLAN.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT DOES RESIDE ON THE TOWNSHIP'S WEBSITE, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE AT THE WEBSITE OF THE CONSULTANT GREENWAY COLLABORATIVE AS A SERVABLE PDO.
>> WELL, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO KNOW AN HOUR AND A HALF AGO[LAUGHTER]
[00:35:04]
>> IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO FINALLY GET IT ON MY PHONE, BUT WE DO HAVE IT.
OUR NEXT MEETING ON THE 8TH, WE HAVE SCHEDULED THREE UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEMS AND ONE OF THEM, I SUSPECT IS GOING TO GENERATE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT BASED ON TONIGHT.
>> [OVERLAPPING]EAT DINNER BEFORE THAT MEETING.
>> YES. NOT LIKE WHAT I DID[OVERLAPPING] SO NO PROJECT REPORTS.
WE HAVE NOBODY HERE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I THINK YOU CAN GO ON TO COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
[13. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]
COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT?>> SURE. COMMUNICATION I WAS FORWARDED IS VERY SIMILAR TO MANY OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD AT OUR HEARINGS ABOUT THE NATURAL CHARACTER OF THE PARCEL WE'RE CONSIDERING FOR REZONING ON DOBE ROAD.
AS PART OF RESEARCH I'VE DONE IN THE PAST WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY'S AIR PHOTO ARCHIVE, I HAVE SOME OLDER HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I LOOK BACK TO FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
IN 1938 AND 1950 AND 1955, THAT PARCEL WAS CLEARLY BEING CROPPED, SHOWS ALL THE SIGNS IN THE OLD AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAVING BEEN UNDER ROW CROPS.
IN 1963, A HOUSE WAS BUILT ON ONE OF THOSE PARCELS AND IT [INAUDIBLE] TO BECOME WHAT IS THE CURRENT CHURCH BUILDING.
AT THE TIME WHEN THAT FIRST BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED, THERE WERE NO TREES ON THE PARCEL, JUST THE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES ALONG DOBE AND BEHIND ON THE BACK.
IT WAS IN THAT COMPLETELY CULTIVATED STATE AS RECENTLY AS 1963.
IF YOU LOOK AT GOOGLE EARTH BACK FROM 1999, YOU CAN SEE THE PARKING LOT BEING PUT IN PLACE AND THE BUILDING BEING EXPANDED.
IT JUST HELPS ME REMEMBER THE HERITAGE OF OUR TOWNSHIP AND ITS LAND USE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT A PARCEL FOR ITS NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS, SUPPORTIVE OF WILDLIFE, TOWNSHIP STAFF, DESPITE BEING REALLY OVERWORKED, IN MY VIEW, PROVIDED A REALLY DETAILED RESPONSE ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH GREEN SPACE WE HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP, THAT PROVIDES HABITAT AND HOW WE'VE BEEN VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT PURCHASING AND CONSIDERING PARCELS FOR PURCHASE TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS, AND WE'VE BEEN WILDLY OVER SUCCESSFUL WAY MORE THAN WE EVER PLANNED TO DO.
IT HELPS ME TO GO BACK AND LOOK A LITTLE BIT IN THE PAST AND SEE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO CONSIDER THE VALUE THAT AN UNBUILT PARCEL PROVIDES TO THE TOWNSHIP OR THE AREA.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BASED ON ALL THAT FOR THIS SPECIFIC PARCEL?
>> MY INTERPRETATION OF THE PATTERN OF CULTIVATION AND CONSTRUCTION IS IDENTICAL.
THE PARTS THAT WERE TOO WET TO FARM WERE LEFT AND WEREN'T FARMED.
MANY WERE DRAINED, SO THEY BECAME FARMABLE.
BUT THE PARTS THAT ENDED UP BEING BUILT WERE LARGELY THOSE PARTS THAT WERE EITHER DIDN'T NEED TO BE DRAINED OR WERE SUCCESSFULLY DRAINED.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR WETLAND MAP AND OUR PRIORITY CONSERVATION CORRIDORS, THEY PRETTY WELL MESH WITH THE THINGS THAT WERE TOO HARD TO FARM AND NOT WORTH BUILDING ON AND NOW WE'VE PROTECTED THEM, SO THERE'S RESTRICTIONS ON BEING ABLE TO BUILD IN THOSE AREAS.
WHAT IT TELLS ME IS IF PEOPLE WERE FARMING IT FOR HALF A CENTURY AND THEN STARTED BUILDING HOUSES ON IT WITHOUT DREAMS, IT PROBABLY IS NOT ONE OF THOSE UNBUILDABLE PARTS THAT TEND TO PROVIDE VERY HIGH HABITAT VALUE BECAUSE THEY'RE WET AND THEY SUPPORT A LOT OF SPECIES.
THE SAME THINGS THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR FARMING AND BUILDING MAKE IT BETTER FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
>> IF I CAN JUST SYNTHESIZE, YOU'RE SAYING THAT BECAUSE THIS USED TO BE FARMLAND AND THERE WAS JUST NO HOUSE BUILT ON IT YET, BUT IT WAS STILL CULTIVATED, THEN IT COULD BE AN APPROPRIATE SPACE FOR BUILDING AS WELL?
>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T FOLLOW THAT[LAUGHTER]
>> I COULD HAVE BEEN CONFUSING.
>> I THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT HE SAID[LAUGHTER]THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT I HEARD.
>> PIGGY BACKING IN WHAT YOU SAID, AND THIS IS A GENERAL STATEMENT THAT WILL PROBABLY GET ME IN TROUBLE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
I LOVE THE GREEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
[00:40:05]
I KNOW THAT THE DECISION BEFORE US IN MANY OF THESE CASES IS TO REZONE TO ALLOW FOR MORE DENSITY, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER.BUT WHEN A PROPERTY IS ALREADY ZONED AT SOME TYPE OF RESIDENTIAL, IT IS NOT THE DECISION OF US OR THE TOWNSHIP TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT CAN BE BUILT.
WHILE IT MAY BE A LOVELY SPACE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ADJACENT TO THAT PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RIGHT TO DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY REMAINS.
WE HAVE AN ABILITY TO SAY WHETHER IT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED MORE DENSELY THAN IT'S CURRENTLY ALLOWED TO DO, BUT WE DON'T AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WRESTLE WITH SOMETIMES BECAUSE I KNOW AS A NEIGHBOR WHEN YOU'RE USED TO HAVING PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN UNDEVELOPED, IT'S HARD TO SEE IT BECOME DEVELOPED WHEN IT'S BEEN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOODS, BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NECESSARILY HAVE THE ABILITY TO STOP OR PREVENT AND THE PROPERTY OWNER DOES HAVE THAT RIGHT.
IT'S A HARD THING TO SAY WHEN PEOPLE ARE UPSET, BUT IT IS I THINK FUNDAMENTAL TO THE WORK THAT WE DO.
>> I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING RECENT.
I WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN WE DEALT WITH THE FIRE STATION.
THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE ACROSS THE STREET AT THAT POINT, THE NEW CONDOS DIRECTLY TO THE NORTH OF THE FIRE STATION WERE UP IN ARMS THAT WE PUT A FIRE STATION RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
FORTUNATELY, IT WAS US, THE TOWNSHIP THAT WAS THE APPLICANT, BASICALLY, I'M USING THAT TERM APPLICANT LOOSELY.
BUT WE MADE A LOT OF SHIFTS AND CHANGES BECAUSE WE LISTENED.
WE LISTENED TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR ARGUMENTS, AND WE TRIED TO ADDRESS EVERYTHING.
WE MOVED THE BUILDING FURTHER TO THE WEST THAN WHERE WE WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO PUT IT.
WE PUT UP THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON [INAUDIBLE] THAT COULD BE CONTROLLED FROM THE FIRE STATION SO THE FIRE TRUCKS DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE OUT BLAZING SIRENS AND LIGHT POLLUTION IN THEIR HOUSES.
WE LISTENED AND I SAW EVERYONE HERE TAKING NOTES, LISTENING TO EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH NOT SUGGESTIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T OFFER ANYTHING TO THE APPLICANT ON THIS SITUATION.
BUT WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATION DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARING EXPRESSING HOW WE FEEL ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO UTILIZE THE NOTES THAT WE HAD.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD REMINDER, AND I THINK THAT I'VE SEEN IT WORK WELL HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I'VE SEEN IT WORK WELL WHEN I WAS ON THE LANSINGMI PLANNING BOARD WHEN I LIVED IN THE CITY OF LANSING, THAT NOTHING IS MADE WORSE BY LISTENING AND HEARING PEOPLE OUT.
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER COMMENTS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT TOPIC.
IS THERE AN EASY WAY TO GO THROUGH PREVIOUS MEETINGS TO IDENTIFY WHICH MEETING IT WAS IN MARCH WHERE WE HEARD BECAUSE AND THIS GOES BACK I THINK TO WHAT COMMISSIONER BROOKS HAD ASKED ABOUT AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE THAT FELT[OVERLAPPING].
>> NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
I THINK HER FIRST NAME IS CECILIA.
>> SHE SPOKE ABOUT THE DESIRE TO HAVE IT REZONED AND THE REASONING BEHIND IT, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THAT.
HOW HARD DOES IT DEFINE WHAT DATE WAS THAT?
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH PROBABLY TO THE BEGINNING OF 2022, WHEN YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT MASTER PLAN STUFF AND GO BACK THROUGH MINUTES.
THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT COMMISSIONER BROOKS ASKED FOR AND I'M GOING YOU HAVE TO GO LOOK FOR IT.
>> YOU CAN SEARCH A WHOLE SET OF PDFS AND FIND CECILIA GREER EVERY TIME.
[00:45:02]
>> BUT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD PULL TOGETHER ALL THE PDFS TO.
>> I CAN SEARCH A PDF, BUT I HAVE TO GO AND DOWNLOAD EACH AND EVERY.
>> I CAN'T JUST GO TO THE TOWNSHIP.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT.
> I USED TO HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO ADOBE ACROBAT TO DO THAT.
I RETIRED AND I NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THAT TOO.
>> I'M SORRY. I MISSED WHAT YOU SAID.
WERE YOU SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT PROVIDING ANYTHING TO COMMISSIONER BROOKS ABOUT THAT?
>> AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, COMMISSIONER BROOKS ASKED FOR A SYNOPSIS OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
I WAS GOING TO PUT TOGETHER THE LIST OF DATES [OVERLAPPING] THAT HAPPENED.
BUT THEY WERE FAR AND AWAY THE MOST ACTIVE PEOPLE WE HAD.
>> YEAH. I HAVE TWO OTHER REQUESTS, MR. SHORKEY, THAT I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP US WITH.
BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE STAFF ARE SUPER ON THEIR PLACE.
>> YOU JUST HEARD ME SCHEDULE A TALKING SESSION FOR JULY 22ND.
>> I KNOW, [OVERLAPPING] YOU LET ME IN A LITTLE BIT.
[LAUGHTER] I'M REALLY CURIOUS IN THE MEETING COMING UP.
I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON THE PARKING STUFF THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
IN RELATION TO THAT AND OTHER ISSUES IN THE MASTER PLAN, I THINK OVER THE PAST I DON'T KNOW, SIX MONTHS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST COMPARED TO THE FIRST YEAR I WAS DOING THIS, THERE WAS A LARGE NUMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE COME TO OUR MEETINGS, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD AND THEY'VE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT COMMENTS.
ONE OF THE THEMES THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE HEARING IS SIDEWALKS AND WALKABILITY AT SOME LEVEL.
THIS EVENING, ONE OF THE EXAMPLES WAS ON DOBIE IS THAT WHEN THERE WAS A RAIN, THE SIDEWALK WOULD FLOOD, AND THEN PEOPLE HAD TO WALK UP ON SOMETHING TO GET AROUND THE FLOODING, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE TRAFFIC IS LIKE.
THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THIS AND I KNOW THAT IN THE MASTER PLAN, WE TALK ABOUT WALKABILITY AND IMPROVING THAT AT SOME LEVEL.
MY REQUEST, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
IS DO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE THAT LOOKS AT SIDEWALKS AND THEIR WALKABILITY, OR A PLAN FOR BUILDING OUT OUR SIDEWALK SYSTEM OR MAINTAINING IT? YOU'RE LOOKING LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER BECAUSE YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER.
>> YOU'RE USING THE WORD SIDEWALK.
WE HAVE IN OUR ORDINANCE IS THE WORD PATHWAY.
>> THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON DOBIE ROAD, THAT'S TOWNSHIP.
WE HAVE A RECENTLY UPDATED PATHWAY.
THEY CALL IT A PATHWAY PLAN, IT'S A MAP.
HAVING SAID THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE TOWNSHIP GOT HONORABLE MENTION BIKE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY FROM THE AMERICAN LEAGUE OF BICYCLISTS.
ONE OF THE BIG COMMENTS ON WHY IT WASN'T LIKE BRONZE WAS, WE DON'T HAVE A TRUE BIKE PLAN, WE HAVE A MAP.
LOOKING AT THAT LEVEL IS ONE COMPONENT OF SUCH A THING, BUT THIS IS NOT A SMALL TASK.
THE MORE I'VE LOOKED INTO HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A QUICK AND EASY BIKE, THERE IS NO QUICK AND EASY BIKE PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, BUT YES, WE DO HAVE A RECENTLY UPDATED PATHWAY MAP.
>> IT ACCOUNTS FOR LIKE THESE POCKETS WHERE LIKE IF THERE IS FLOODING, THEN YOU CAN'T GET AROUND IT?
>> NO. IT'S LOOKING AT WHERE SHOULD PATHWAYS GO.
IT SHOWS EXISTING AND PROPOSED PATHWAY ROUTES.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS, MSU TO LAKE LANSING PHASE 1 AND 2, THAT HAD BEEN SHOWN ON PREVIOUS PLANS AS A PROPOSED ROUTE.
GUESS WHAT? WE'RE GETTING IT. WE HAVE IT?
>> THERE'S A DISTANCE BETWEEN PATHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.
>> YEAH. THE OTHER COMMENT HERE, AND I KNOW EVERYONE I'M READY TO GO HOME TOO.
MY OTHER COMMENT RELATED TO THE SIDEWALKS PATHWAYS IS THAT I FEEL
[00:50:03]
LIKE THERE'S QUITE A FEW NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE TOWNSHIP THAT DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS, AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE REASONS FOR THOSE, BUT I FOR ONE, AM REALLY INTERESTED IN PROMOTING MORE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES IN SOME WAY AND THINKING THROUGH LIKE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN RELATION TO THE PATHWAY STUFF.>> SURE. NOW THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALKS ISN'T PATHWAY, THOSE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALKS.
DIFFERENT STANDARD, USUALLY THE HOMES A LOT OF SHOVELS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SOME OF THE OLDER DEVELOPMENTS BEFORE WE MANDATED SIDEWALKS IN NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEM.
NEW CONSTRUCTION AS IT COMES ONLINE HAS THE REQUIREMENT TO INSTALL SIDEWALKS.
>> THEN MY LAST REQUEST, AND THEN I'LL BE QUIET.
THIS ONE IS FOR NEXT MONTHS MEETING, I'M HOPING, BUT I REALIZE THIS MIGHT BE A BIG ASK IS I FEEL LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT SOME LEVEL, THE RATIO OF OWNED HOUSES TO RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE TOWNSHIP.
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THE FEDERAL ONE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A RENTAL COMMUNITY.
THEN THIS THE COPPER CREEK WINNER IS GOING TO BE OWNERSHIP, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD FAR MORE RENTALS, AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT OUR RATIO IS OF RENTAL TO OWNER-OWNED HOUSING IN THE TOWNSHIP?
>> I THINK IT WAS THAT QUESTION THAT GOT ME LOOKING AT PUTTING THE PROJECT REPORT TOGETHER IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> I'M FOLLOWING THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> MAYBE NOT A TOTAL AT LEAST I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE BROAD BREAKDOWN AND HOW IT'S CHANGING OVER TIME.
>> I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOU THE NUMBER OF RENTAL PERMITS BECAUSE REMEMBER WELL, YEAH, RENTAL LICENSES IN THE TOWNSHIP.
>> WELL, SO THE OTHER REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE WITH THE FEDERAL PROJECT, IT'S LIKE DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S HERE AND SAYING THEY WANT TO DO IT, AND THEY'RE OFFERING RENTALS.
BUT ALSO THAT'S POTENTIALLY DEVELOP A LAND AND WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE TO THAT.
WE COULD SAY, WE'D LIKE TO HOLD OFF AND WAIT FOR THE HOUSING MARKET TO COOL OFF MORE AND THEN WE'RE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE RELATED TO THIS MIXTURE BECAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF RENTALS THAT ARE GETTING READY TO HIT THE MARKET AND WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH LAND.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ETERNALLY INTERESTED IN AS WELL.
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE IN SIMILAR LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO LOOK AT REZONING TO ANYTHING MULTIPLE FAMILY WHEN IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO REPEATEDLY, BUT ALSO WHEN THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN APPEAR TO BE A LOT OF THE MULTIFAMILY AND ADDITIONALLY, THE INCOME REQUIRED TO LIVE IN ONE OF THESE RENTALS IS JUST BEYOND THE MISSING MIDDLE.
>> YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN A REPEATING CONCERN FOR ME, TOO.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE VISUALLY LIKE WHAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING? WHAT IS THE TRANSFORMATION AND WHAT LAND IS LEFT THAT COULD FEASIBLY BE DEVELOPED? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S A QUESTION I CAN ANSWER ON THE 22ND.
I'VE WORKED EXTENSIVELY ON A CURRENT LAND USE GIS LAYER AND I CAN MEASURE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DEVELOPER LAND SERVICE BOUND.
I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
>> SAGINAW ROAD IS YOUR LAST AREA.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR?
>> I'LL REITERATE SOMETHING THAT CHAIR SAID, IF YOU WANT ME TO RESEARCH SOMETHING, MAYBE I CAN TIE STUFF TOGETHER.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DOING QUICK PRESENTATIONS ON THE 22ND AND EMAIL ME.
JUST LET ME KNOW YOUR QUESTIONS.
THAT MIGHT BE MAYBE I CAN PUT THEM TOGETHER AND GIVE YOU TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW, I'M THINKING OUT LOUD.
>> WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL AND DO YOU WANT THOSE IN ADDITION TO THE COMMENTS THAT WE JUST GAVE?
>> NO, I WANT YOU TO EMAIL ME.
[OVERLAPPING] I LIKE FEEDBACK.
>> NONE OF THAT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RENTAL PERMITS TO SIT THERE AND SAY, HERE'S A FIVE YEAR LOOK BACK OF A NUMBER OF RENTAL PERMITS PER YEAR, BECAUSE YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THAT MUCH OF A GROSS NUMBER IF YOU JUST GO BACK FIVE YEARS.
BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE TREND OF RENTAL PERMITS ARE COMING
[00:55:03]
VERSUS LIKE NEW BILLS AND THAT SO I CAN BACK INTO IT?>> I'LL BE HONEST, WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT SELLING OUR HOUSE AND BUYING ANOTHER HOUSE IN OKEMOS.
I WAS CONSIDERING NOT SELLING MY OLD ONE AND TURNING IT INTO A RENTAL BECAUSE THAT I PAID LOW FOR IT, SO I CAN DO WELL.
YEAH, MAN, BECAUSE THAT GETS REAL NERDY IN THE DATA SETS SAY, THEN NOT ONLY TO THE NUMBER RENTAL PERMITS BUT WHERE IS THE OWNER RESIDING? ARE THEY WITHIN OKEMOS OR ARE WE SEEING LIKE PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE BUY IN.
THAT'S DEEP. THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WORK.
I'M HEARING A LOT ABOUT YOU HAVE MINIMAL STAFF AND OVERWORK STAFF.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I HALF SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.
I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A DATA PERSPECTIVE.
>> NO, I THINK LOOKING AT RENTAL VERSUS OWNERSHIP, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF AVENUES I CAN LOOK UP TO GET YOU SOME A PICTURE.
>> WHEN I BECAME MY HOA PRESIDENT, THE FIRST FIVE EMAILS I GOT WERE LIKE TWO WERE ABOUT A FENCE, AND THEN THE OTHER THREE WERE ABOUT THERE'S THIS RENTAL HOUSE ON THE SUBDIVISION, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? MY RESPONSE WAS THE DOCUMENTS SAY I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, THEN WE START TO DO A BY LAW UPDATE COMMITTEE AND THAT WENT OVER TWO YEARS.
THEN THE PERSON WHO WAS HEADING IT UP, SHE LEFT AND I WAS LIKE, I'M NOT BACK SELLING.
>> IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU WE PUT A RECORDING STILL GOING.
WE HAVE GROWN THIS TOWNSHIP BY ABOUT 15,000 AND THAT WASN'T THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF DIFFERING LIKE THE LAST ONE I THINK WAS THE HIGH END UPSCALE RENTALS, LONG TERM, SO IT IS A VARIETY AND I THINK THAT WHOLE MISSING MIDDLE PIECE THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IS CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RUN OUT OF PLACES TO HAVE THAT MISSING MIDDLE.
>> ALL THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE EVER SEEN ABOUT MISSING MIDDLE TALKS ABOUT THE TYPE OF THE HOUSING, THE DUPLEX OF THE QUADS.
IN THESE CONFERENCES I GO TO, NO ONE EVER SAYS THEY GOT TO BE AFFORDABLE.
>> HOW ABOUT THIS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT MAYBE AT NINE O'CLOCK I GET A LITTLE MORE CYNICAL.
>> THINGS ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW IN THE GREATER LANSING AREA.
THERE'S ABOUT 50 OR 60 HOMES AVAILABLE WHEN THERE USED TO BE 500.
>> BUT WE HAVE A UNIQUE SITUATION HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ENTRENCHED HERE THAT HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME, THEY HAVE LARGE HOUSES, THEY'VE GOTTEN OLDER.
THEY ARE TRYING TO DOWNSIZE, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE AREA WHERE THEIR FRIENDS ARE, AND THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO BUILD.
THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THEIR CHILDREN CAN'T AFFORD THEIR HOUSE.
>> DEPENDING ON HOW THE RECORDING OF THIS WENT, THERE MIGHT BE A LOT OF PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION IN THE NEXT SET OF MINUTES.
>> THAT WOULD BE FINE. YES. THANK YOU.
[OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SCALES. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> [INAUDIBLE] AT 9:00 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.