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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Thursday, March 16, 2017
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 from the regular meeting of February 16, 2017.
III. Public Hearings
a. Hearing, Case 2017-03: Staff-initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family
Residential Districts) to rename it R-1, Single Family Low Density Residential Districts.
b. Hearing, Case 2017-04: Staff-initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family
Residential Districts) to create two new categories for single family districts. These will
include R-2, Single Family Medium Density Residential Districts and R-3, Single Family
High Density Residential Districts.
c. Hearing, Case 2017-05: Staff-initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family
Residential Districts) to amend the preamble to reflect the changes made by adding the new
residential districts; to amend Sections 400 (Principal Uses Permitted) and Section 401
(Special Land Uses Permitted) to create the allowed and special uses permitted in the new
residential districts; and to amend Section 404 (Area and Bulk Requirements) to create the
development standards for the new residential districts.
IV. New Business
V. Old Business
a. Update on WI-PUD zoning amendments
b. Update on Urban Residential zoning expansion
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 Meisch, City Clerk
933 Terrace Street
Muskegon, MI 49440
(231) 724-6705
TTY/TDD: Dial 7-1-1 and request that a representative dial 231-724-6705
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STAFF REPORT
March 16, 2017
Hearing, Case 2017-03: Staff initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family Residential
Districts) to rename it R-1, Single Family Low Density Residential Districts.
Hearing, Case 2017-04: Staff initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family Residential
Districts) to create two new categories for single family districts. These will include R-2, Single Family
Medium Density Residential Districts and R-3, Single Family High Density Residential Districts.
Hearing, Case 2017-05: Staff initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family Residential
Districts) to amend the preamble to reflect the changes made by adding the new residential districts; to
amend Sections 400 (Principal Uses Permitted) and Section 401 (Special Land Uses Permitted) to create the
allowed and special uses permitted in the new residential districts; and to amend Section 404 (Area and Bulk
Requirements) to create the development standards for the new residential districts.
SUMMARY
1. Staff held two public workshops regarding the small lot zoning and the downtown multi-family
zoning proposals. The small lot zoning proposal was very well received; however, there are still
some concerns over the multi-family zoning, so staff is working on some revisions and plans to
request the amendments at the April 13 Planning Commission meeting.
2. The reason for these three amendments is to allow each specific residential block to be developed in
the same manner in which it was created. Many homes in the downtown area are built on 33’ wide
lots, but the ordinance currently requires lots be 50’ wide to be buildable. This limits development
and creates a lot of non-conforming lots. Many lots in the Nims and Beachwood-Bluffton
neighborhoods are just over 40’ wide, but development is again limited because of non-conformities.
3. The first request is to rename R-1, Single-Family Residential Districts to R-1, Single Family Low
Density Residential Districts. This will just change the name of the zoning district and will not
change any of the regulations on parcels with this designation.
4. The second request is to create two new zoning districts to go in Article IV along with R-1 districts.
These will be R-2, Single Family Medium Density Residential Districts and R-3, Single Family High
Density Residential Districts. The uses for all three districts will be the same. The only thing that
will be different is the area and bulk requirements.
5. The third request is to modify the wording in Article IV to reflect the new zoning regulations. This
will include changes to Sections 400, 401 and 404.
6. None of these requests will result in a rezoning for any property. Staff will request the rezoning of
certain properties to R-2, R-3 and Urban Residential in April. All of these property owners will be
properly notified before the meeting.
7. Please see the enclosed workshop handouts related to the residential amendments.
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MOTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
Hearing, Case 2017-03: Staff initiated request to amend Article IV to rename it R-1, Single Family Low
Density Residential Districts.
I move that the request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family Residential Districts) to rename it R-1,
Single Family Low Density Residential Districts be recommended for (approval/denial) to the City
Commission.
Hearing, Case 2017-04: Staff initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family Residential
Districts) to create two new categories for single family districts. These will include R-2, Single Family
Medium Density Residential Districts and R-3, Single Family High Density Residential Districts.
I move that the request to amend Article IV of the zoning ordinance to create two new categories for single
family districts; R-2, Single Family Medium Density Residential Districts and R-3, Single Family High
Density Residential Districts; be recommended for (approval/denial) to the City Commission.
Hearing, Case 2017-05: Staff initiated request to amend Article IV (R-1, Single Family Residential
Districts) to amend the preamble to reflect the changes made by adding the new residential districts; to
amend Sections 400 (Principal Uses Permitted) and Section 401 (Special Land Uses Permitted) to create the
allowed and special uses permitted in the new residential districts; and to amend Section 404 (Area and Bulk
Requirements) to create the development standards for the new residential districts.
I move that the request to amend Article IV to amend the preamble to reflect the changes made by adding the
new residential districts; to amend Sections 400 and Section 401 to create the allowed and special uses
permitted in the new residential districts; and to amend Section 404 to create the development standards for
the new residential districts; be recommended for (approval/denial) to the City Commission.
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