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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
December 10, 2015
Chairman T. Michalski called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: T. Michalski, B. Mazade, J. Doyle, L. Spataro, B. Larson, J.
Montgomery-Keast, B. Smith, S. Gawron, F. Peterson
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: M. Franzak, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: J. Williams,
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion that the minutes of the special meeting of November 12, 2015 be approved, was made
by J. Montgomery-Keast, supported by B. Larson and unanimously approved.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Case 2015-23: Request for a site plan review for the construction of an additional six apartment
buildings at 816 Marquette Ave, by James Williams. M. Franzak presented the staff report. This
property was recently rezoned from R-1, Single Family Residential to RM-1 Low Density
Multiple Family Residential. It was owned by the City and sold to James Williams, owner and
developer of the townhomes adjacent to this property at 860 Marquette Ave. This project will be
a continuation of the current apartment complex and will also include an office building. The
new parcel is 6.14 acres and the existing complex is 1.91 acres. The applicant plans to start
construction with unit E and work east over the next several years. The new asphalt drive to
building E will loop around to the existing parking area around building A as part of the first
phase for access. The plan shows the general layout of the buildings but is missing a lot of
information. The developer will be working to get the following shown on a new set of plans in
time for the meeting: height and square footage of buildings, elevation pictures of buildings,
topography map with grading plan, stormwater plan with calculations, soil erosion control
measures, lighting and a landscaping plan. The Fire Department has noted that another fire
hydrant may be required. They also have some concerns with access near buildings I and J, but
feel they can work with the applicant before those units are built. They have requested that any
approval be contingent upon the Fire Department approving a fire access route and hydrant
additions. Many large oak trees have already been removed to make way for development.
Oftentimes trees are required to remain or be replaced. These oak trees could be replaced on the
undeveloped east side of the property. There is no sidewalk on either side of the street on Getty
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Street. The property leads down the ravine and back up to property in Muskegon Township to
the north. Dumpsters must be screened.
M. Franzak stated that he received updated plans today that appeared to address most of the
issues listed in the staff report. He reiterated that any approval would need to be contingent upon
further fire department review and approval once they started building the later units, as stated in
the staff report. He requested that conditions also include that all parking lot lighting must be
100% cut-off and downward facing. Regarding sidewalks, M. Franzak stated that there was an
existing sidewalk on Marquette, but he did not think one would be needed on Getty St., since
there was just a wooded ravine north of the property.
A motion that the site plan for the addition of six townhomes be at 816 Marquette Avenue be
approved with the conditions that 1) The Fire Department reviews and approves an access plan
prior to the construction of units I and J, and 2) All parking lot lighting must be 100 cut-off and
downward facing, was made by B. Larson, supported by J. Montgomery-Keast and unanimously
approved, with T. Michalski, B. Mazade, J. Doyle, L. Spataro, B. Larson, J. Montgomery-Keast,
B. Smith, S. Gawron, and F. Peterson voting aye.
Case 2015-19 (Tabled from October): Request for a site plan review for an 11,099 square-foot
building addition at 1690 Creston St, by Production Fabricators. M. Franzak presented the staff
report. This case was originally heard at the October meeting; it was tabled so the applicant
could address some issues with the site plan. The City of Muskegon owns the property at 1690
Creston, adjacent to Production Fabricators which is located in Muskegon Township. The City
is selling a portion of its parcel to Production Fabricators to expand their business. The
remainder of the city parcel will continue to be used by Muskegon Central Dispatch. A
rendering of the proposed lot split was provided. The lot meets the minimum requirement of 100
feet of road frontage; however, a 60-foot easement is proposed to allow Production Fabricators
access to their loading dock. This only leaves 40 feet of buildable area along Creston St for any
future development on the city-owned lot. In addition, staff and board members had expressed
concerns about stormwater management on the lot.
An updated site plan was provided, which addressed the concerns brought up at the previous
meeting. M. Franzak stated that the Fire Department condition that “the original building and
the addition are suppressed with sprinkling” should be included if the board made a motion to
approve. He also discussed the remaining lot size of the City-owned parcel. He stated that it
must have 100 feet of frontage, but the easement for loading would limit the usable area. B.
Larson asked if the lot had any value with or without the easement. M. Franzak stated that the
lot could be used but it would require a long driveway and building toward the rear of the
property. He stated that it was not available for development at this time due to the Central
Dispatch equipment on site. B. Mazade asked if the issues regarding the retention basin were
resolved. M. Franzak stated that they were; some of the stormwater would remain on the City lot
and they had approved of that, since some of the runoff would be from pavement on their lot. B.
Mazade asked if the building in the Township was sprinkled. M. Franzak stated that he had been
working closely with the Township Fire Inspector on those issues and they are in agreement. J.
Montgomery-Keast asked if Central Dispatch approved of the revised plan. M. Franzak stated
that he had sent them the current information and they had not indicated any problems.
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A motion that the site plan for the building addition at 1690 Creston Street be approved,
contingent upon the sale of the property, with the conditions that 1) The original building and the
addition are suppressed with sprinkling, 2) The applicant is responsible for the cost of moving all
utilities, and 3) An updated site plan is approved by staff, showing a drainage plan with all
stormwater being stored on site and the type of parking lot material listed, was made by J.
Montgomery-Keast, supported by S. Gawron and approved, with T. Michalski, B. Mazade, J.
Doyle, L. Spataro, B. Larson, J. Montgomery-Keast, B. Smith, S. Gawron, and F. Peterson
voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER
None
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:18 p.m.
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