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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
September 13, 2018
Chairperson T. Michalski called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: T. Michalski, J. Montgomery-Keast, B. Mazade, B. Larson, M.
Hovey-Wright
MEMBERS ABSENT: S. Gawron, excused; J. Doyle, excused; E. Hood, excused; F.
Peterson, excused
STAFF PRESENT: M. Franzak, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: S. Singh, 415 E Laketon Ave; J. Davis
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the Minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of August 16, 2018,
was made by J. Montgomery-Keast, supported by B. Larson and unanimously approved.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2018-27: Request for a special land use permit to allow a gas station at 415 E Laketon Ave, by
Surinder Kaur. M. Franzak presented the staff report. The property is located at the southeast
corner of the intersection of Wood St. and Laketon Ave and is currently the location of Metro PCS.
The applicant is requesting a special use permit to change the use to a gas station, and they intend
to add a small addition to host a beer cooler. The lot measures roughly 18,730 square feet, the
current building measures 1,251 square feet and the addition would add 560 square feet. The
property is zoned B-2, Convenience & Comparison Business District, which allows automobile
service stations for the sale of gasoline, oil, tires, muffler tune up, not including major repair such
as engine rebuilding, undercoating, and similar industrially-oriented activities, and further subject
to the following conditions: 1) The curb cuts for ingress and egress to a service station shall not
be permitted at such locations that will tend to create traffic hazards in the streets immediately
adjacent thereto. Entrances shall be no less than twenty-five (25) feet from a street intersection
(measured from the roadway) or from adjacent residential property, and subject to other ordinances
of the City; 2) The minimum lot area shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet, and so arranged
that ample space is available for motor vehicles which are required to wait; 3) There shall be
provided, on those sides abutting or adjacent to a residential district, a four foot (4') completely
obscuring wall or fence. The height of the wall or fence shall be measured from the surface of the
ground; 4) All lighting shall be shielded from adjacent residential districts and from abutting
streets; and 5) All restroom doors shall be shielded from adjoining residential property.
M. Franzak distributed an updated site plan to the board members and stated that it addressed most
of the staff concerns listed in the original staff report mailed to the board, including the issues with
traffic flow. They still needed to submit a stormwater management plan but staff could review
that to ensure it met the requirements. They also addressed blight issues on the property such as
broken concrete. They still needed to add some plantings and a greenbelt, but would need to leave
a concrete pad for the bus stop at that location. Franzak stated that the property met the
requirements listed above for a Special Use Permit. Notices were sent to properties within 300
feet of this property but no comments were received.
B. Larson asked if the gas station would be affiliated with a major oil company or independently
owned. S. Singh stated that at this point it would be individually owned, although they had
contacted some of the major oil companies and were still considering their options. He stated they
would be installing new underground tanks and lines, as well as removing any old tanks. They
had been in business for 2 years there with the cell phone store so he was aware of the condition
of the property. M. Hovey-Wright asked if he had had any input from the neighborhood
association regarding alcohol sales. S. Singh stated that they had not applied to sell alcohol at this
time and not spoken to the neighborhood association; however, they would likely consider selling
beer and wine at at a later date as part of a convenience store. J. Davis was the builder and
explained the some of the planned improvements to the building. They were going to build an
addition for a walk-in cooler, add more glass to the front to improve aesthetics, and install a
handicap-accessible entrance. B. Mazade asked if alcohol sales would have any effect the Special
Use Permit. M. Franzak stated that it would not.
A motion to close the public hearing was made by B. Mazade, supported by J. Montgomery-Keast
and unanimously approved.
A motion that the request for a special land use permit to allow a gas station at 415 E Laketon Ave
be approved, with the conditions that 1) the concrete bus pad must remain on site, 2) a stormwater
management plan must be approved by staff, and 3) landscaping and a greenbelt buffer must be
added as required by the ordinance and approved by staff, was made by J. Montgomery-Keast,
supported by M. Hovey-Wright and unanimously approved, with T. Michalski, J. Montgomery-
Keast, B. Mazade, F. Peterson, B. Larson, and M. Hovey-Wright voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
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