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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Thursday, June 15, 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 special meeting of May 22, 2017.
III. Public Hearings
a. Hearing, Case 2017-14: Request for a Special Use Permit to operate a banquet facility,
community center, day care, office and ice cream shop in an R-1, Single Family Low Density
Residential District at 2330 Barclay St by 1 Chronicles 4:10, LLC.
b. Hearing, Case 2017-15: Staff-initiated request to amend Section 2334 of the zoning ordinance to
amend the rules on electronic message board signs and to allow them in B-1, Limited Business
Districts and WM, Waterfront Marine Districts, as well as at churches in all zoning districts and
all businesses that have been granted a special use permit in residential districts.
c. Hearing, Case 2017-16: Staff-initiated request to rezone several parcels to R-2, Single Family
Medium Density Residential District. Please see map for a description of parcels to be rezoned.
d. Hearing, Case 2017-17: Staff-initiated request to rezone several parcels to R-3, Single Family
High Density Residential District. Please see map for a description of parcels to be rezoned.
IV. New Business
V. Old 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 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
June 15, 2017
Hearing, Case 2017-14: Request for a Special Use Permit to operate a banquet facility, community center,
day care, office and ice cream shop in an R-1, Single Family Low Density Residential District at 2330
Barclay St by 1 Chronicles 4:10, LLC.
SUMMARY
1. The building at 2330 Barclay St was the former location of the Moose Lodge, which closed over 10
years ago. The owner would like to utilize this building in a similar manner as before, with a banquet
facility/community center, and also add office space, a day care and an ice cream shop.
2. The property is zoned R-1, Single Family Low Density Residential, which allows previously existing
or established commercial uses not already converted to residential the ability to run limited
businesses with a special use permit.
3. The lot is approximately 6.4 acres. The main building measures approximately 13,000 sf and the
gazebo/storage building measures approximately 2,200 sf. There are two entrances to the lot and
enough parking space to cover all of the proposed uses.
4. A privacy fence runs along the southern border of the property, screening the residential uses to the
south.
5. Written notice was mailed to all property owners and tenants within 300 feet. At the time of this
writing, staff had not received any input on the request.
6. Please see the floor plan on the following pages and the enclosed rendering of the building
improvements.
Looking northeast from the southern entrance off Barclay St
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Looking northwest from the southeast corner of the lot
Privacy fence along southern property line
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Building Floor Plan
4
Zoning Map
Aerial Map
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MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION
I move that the special use permit to allow a banquet facility, community center, day care, office and ice
cream shop in an R-1, Single Family Low Density Residential District at 2330 Barclay be (approved/denied)
with the following conditions:
1. Hours of operation be restricted from ____ to ______.
Hearing, Case 2017-15: Staff-initiated request to amend Section 2334 of the zoning ordinance to amend the
rules on electronic message board signs and to allow them in B-1, Limited Business Districts and WM,
Waterfront Marine Districts, as well as at churches in all zoning districts and all business that have been
granted a special use permit in residential districts.
SUMMARY
1. The Mart Dock, located at 560 Mart St (zoned Waterfront Marine), would like to install an electronic
message board sign. However, these types of signs are prohibited in Waterfront Marine districts.
They are also prohibited in B-1, Limited Business districts and at churches and approved businesses
in residential zones.
2. Electronic message board signs have been allowed by the zoning ordinance for over 10 years and
staff has not received any major complaints on them.
3. Staff has had to deny some electronic message board sign requests for some businesses and churches
because of the current sign ordinance. Staff is requesting to allow these signs in more zoning districts
to allow these churches and businesses to effectively promote themselves. There currently are some
churches that are allowed to have electronic message board signs because they are located in business
districts. However, most churches are located in residential districts.
4. Where already allowed in the current ordinance, there is a provision that states “electronic message
boards shall be dimmed at dusk.” This allows staff to enforce on the brightness of any sign that may
possibly cause a nuisance to any residential uses at night. Staff has not had to enforce using this as of
yet, but it is good to have if a problem ever arises.
5. In addition to the electronic message board sign request, the Mart Dock also requested to have a 14’
tall sign. Signs in Waterfront Marine districts are only allowed to be a maximum of 8’ tall. Staff
feels that the ordinance is correct here for the most part, given that most Waterfront Marine districts
are located in Lakeside, and we should limit the height of pole signs in this area to avoid blight and
diminished lake views. However, an 8’ tall sign would be too small to notice for someone driving on
Shoreline Dr at 55 MPH. Staff recommends allowing taller signs in these districts as long as the
property has frontage on a highway.
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Current Message Board Sign at Mart Dock
Electronic Message Boards Sign at Mount Zion Church (188 W Muskegon Ave). This property is
zoned Form Based Code, where these signs are allowed.
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First Congregational Church (1201 Jefferson St). This property is zoned R-1, where electronic
message board signs are not allowed.
Various signs in Lakeside, where electronic message board signs are not allowed
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This building was recently approved for a SUP to operate a restaurant in an R-1 district, where
electronic message boards are not allowed.
NEW LANGUAGE
Deletions are crossed out and additions are in bold.
6. Permitted signs in all residential and mobile home park districts:
a. Entranceway monument signs are permitted for residential developments of up to
twelve (12) square feet. One sign for each major public road frontage may be
provided. Signs shall not exceed eight feet in height.
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b. Internally illuminated monument signs of up to thirty-two (32) square feet, not
exceeding eight (8) feet in height, and internally lit wall signs up to twenty-four (24)
feet for lawful institutional uses such as churches and schools. [amended 7/06]
c. Legal business uses in residential districts are permitted signage as allowed in the B-1
zoning district, except for those uses otherwise addressed in this section. [amended
4/02]
d. One (1) non-illuminated wall sign of up to eight (8) square feet for a home occupation.
[amended 12/01]
e. Changeable copy or message boards shall be part of a fixed, permanent sign and shall
have rigid letters. Electronic message boards are prohibited.
f. Electronic message boards shall be permitted for all churches and business
granted special use permit to operate in a residential district, provided:
1) One electronic message board shall be permitted per premise.
2) Electronic message boards shall be dimmed at dusk.
3) Electronic message boards shall not be permitted for home businesses.
8. Permitted signs in the B-1, Waterfront Marine Zone, Open Space Conservation, Open Space
Recreation, and Lakefront Recreation:
a. Scope: Signs shall pertain exclusively to the business carried on within the building.
b. Lighting: Signs may be illuminated, but no flashing or moving illumination shall be permitted.
c. Number: One monument sign is permitted per property regardless of the number of
businesses there. Properties with frontage on Muskegon Lake are permitted an additional
monument or pole sign on the water frontage only.
d. Wall, Awning or Braquet Signs, Size: Signs shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the surface
area of the commercial portion of the front building and may be placed on any wall. In the
case where the building is over one hundred feet (100’) from the road, this allotment may be
15% of the front face of the storefront. In the case where the building is over 300 feet from
the road, this allotment may be 20% of the front face of the storefront. In the case where the
property has parallel frontage on at least one major street or corner frontage on at least one
major street, this allotment may be 15% of the front face of the storefront.
e. Wall, Awning or Braquet Signs, Placement: Signs shall be placed against the principal
building or on a canopy. Signs shall not project above the roof line or cornice. No wall sign
shall interrupt or conceal the architectural details of a building. A sign attached to a mansard
shall be considered a wall sign.
f. Changeable copy or message boards shall be part of a fixed, permanent sign and shall have
rigid letters. Electronic message boards are prohibited.
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g. Electronic message boards, provided:
1) One electronic message board shall be permitted per premise.
2) Electronic message boards shall be dimmed at dusk.
h. Free-standing signs:
1) Setback: The leading edge of the sign must be out of the public right-of-way. Signs
must be a minimum of 10 feet from a neighboring sign.
2) Clear vision: Signs shall not obstruct clear vision requirements for motorists.
3) Area and height: Signs shall comply with the area requirements of Table II and shall
not exceed eight feet (8’) in height. However, any parcel with frontage on a
highway shall be allowed to follow the height restrictions of Table II.
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION
I move that the proposed amendments to the Sing ordinance be recommended to the City Commission for
(approval/denial).
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Hearing, Case 2017-16: Staff-initiated request to rezone several parcels to R-2, Single Family Medium
Density Residential District. Please see map for a description of parcels to be rezoned.
1. This request is a continuation of the rezoning efforts we have been working on to allow smaller lot
development on the appropriate blocks.
2. Please see the development standards below and the enclosed rezoning maps. A larger, clearer map
will be provided at the meeting.
Development Standards
R-1 R-2 R-3
Minimum Lot
6,000 sf 4,000 sf 3,000 sf
Size
Minimum Lot
50 ft 40 ft 30 ft
Width
Maximum Lot Buildings: 50% Buildings: 60% Buildings: 70%
Coverage Pavement: 10% Pavement: 15% Pavement: 20%
Height Limit* 2 stories or 35 feet** 2 stories or 35 feet** 2 stories or 35 feet**
Front Expressway/Arterial Street: Expressway/Arterial Street: Expressway/Arterial Street:
Setbacks*** 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft
Collector/Major Street: 25 ft Collector/Major Street: 25 ft Collector/Major Street: 25 ft
Minor Street: 15 feet Minor Street: 10 feet Minor Street: 10 feet
Rear Setback 30 ft 20 ft ^ 15 ft^
Side Setbacks#: 1 story: 6 1 story: 6 1 story: 5
2 story: 8 2 story: 7 2 story: 5
Ordinary High
Water Mark 30 ft 30 ft 30 ft
/Wetland Setback
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION
I move that the request to rezone the parcels to R-2, Single Family Medium Density Residential District, as
described on the map be recommended for (approval/denial) to the City Commission.
Hearing, Case 2017-17: Staff-initiated request to rezone several parcels to R-3, Single Family High Density
Residential District. Please see map for a description of parcels to be rezoned.
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION
I move that the request to rezone the parcels to R-3, Single Family High Density Residential District, as
described on the map be recommended for (approval/denial) to the City Commission.
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