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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Thursday, February 11, 2010
TIME OF MEETING: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING: Commission Chambers, First Floor, Muskegon City Hall
AGENDA
I. Roll Call
II. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of January 14, 2010.
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Case No. 2010-02 Staff-initiated request to amend Section 1101 of Article XI to
include “Vintage Shops” as a special use permitted.
B. Case No. 2010-03 Staff-initiated request to amend Article II, Definitions, to add
definitions for “Vintage Merchandise” and “Vintage Shops.”
IV. OLD BUSINESS
V. NEW BUSINESS
VI. OTHER
VII. Adjourn
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT POLICY FOR ACCESS TO OPEN MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION AND ANY OF ITS COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEES
The City of Muskegon will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired
and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities who want to attend the
meeting, upon twenty-four hour notice to the City of Muskegon. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or
services should contact the City of Muskegon by writing or calling the following:
Ann Marie Becker, City Clerk
933 Terrace Street
Muskegon, MI 49440
(231) 724-6705
Staff Report
CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
February 11, 2010
Hearing, Case No. 2010-02 Staff-initiated request to amend Section 1101 of Article XI to
include “Vintage Shops” as a special use permitted in B-2 zones.
BACKGROUND
Staff has recently received various requests from local entrepreneurs to open vintage clothing
and furniture stores in B-2 zones. However, Section 1101 of Article XI only allows second hand
merchandise in B-2 zones as a special use permitted if they meet the following conditions.
1. The site shall be located within or adjacent to an established, identifiable commercial
corridor.
2. The store will be associated with a bona fied charitable organization, such as but not
limited to 501©3 organizations.
Staff recognizes the reasoning behind the limitations and the need to restrict so called “junk
stores” from locating in these zones. However, there are many stores across the country that
offer renewed vintage furniture that is indistinguishable from new furniture. These stores are
tapping into the green market by offering recycled furniture, in which they take used furniture
and refurbish it into artistic, like-new products. Many times these stores will also offer vintage
clothing to expand their business market. Although these products appear to be new
merchandise, they are technically used merchandise and not allowed in B-2 zones. Staff has
created two definitions proposed for inclusion to the zoning ordinance (please see Case No.
2010-03) for these types of stores and is confident that they will continue to restrict the “junk
stores.”
NEW LANGUAGE
Deletions are crossed out and additions are in bold:
Amendment to Section 1101 of Artilce XI, “Special Uses Permitted”
New #14
14. Vintage Shops
Pictures courtesy of Chroma Lab, a Boston-based vintage furniture store. (www.chromalab.net)
Pictures courtesy of Scavenger Hunt, East Lansing, MI. (www.scavengerhuntvintage.com)
DELIBERATION
I move that the amendment to Section 1101 of Article XI, of the City of Muskegon Zoning
Ordinance to add “vintage shops” as a special use permitted, be recommended to the City
Commission for (approval/denial).
2
Hearing, Case No. 2010-03 Staff-initiated request to amend Article II, Definitions, to add
definitions for “Vintage Shops” and “Vintage Merchandise.”
BACKGROUND
In order to avoid confusion, the following new definitions should be added to Article II,
Definitions, of the Zoning Ordinance.
NEW LANGUAGE
Deletions are crossed out and additions are in bold:
Amendment to Article II, “Definitions”
Vintage Shop: A retail establishment which sells vintage merchandise.
Vintage Merchandise: Furniture or clothing; esteemed for its collectability, artistry,
beauty or period of origin; meeting the following criteria.
1. Clothing must be laundered and in like-new, ready to wear condition.
2. Furniture must have been previously restored to like-new condition through
the process of reupholstering or renovation, prior to being brought on-site.
DELIBERATION
I move that the amendment to Article II, Definitions, of the City of Muskegon Zoning Ordinance
to add definitions for “Vintage Shops” and for “Vintage Merchandise,” be recommended to the
City Commission for (approval/denial).
3
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