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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DATE OF MEETING: Thursday, September 13, 2007
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 meeting of August 16, 2007.
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Hearing; Case 2007-31: Request to vacate the west 200 feet of the dead end
alley in Block 690 of the City of Muskegon Revised Plat of 1903, bounded by
Crozier Avenue, Fountain Street, and Harding Avenue, by Joseph Sidock, 2596
Crozier Avenue.
B. Hearing Case 2007-35: Request for a Special Land Use Permit, per Section 401
(#6) of Article IV, R, One Family Residential District, of the Zoning Ordinance,
for a grocery at 248 Mason Avenue, by Calvin Walker.
C. Hearing: Case 2007-36: Request to vacate a dead end alley in Block 757
bounded by Simpson Avenue, Beach Street, and Watson Avenue, by Kimberly
Mahone, 3692 Simpson Avenue.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Case 2007-37: Request for site plan review for a building expansion at 1221 W.
Laketon Avenue, by Susan Johnson, Every Woman’s Place.
V. OTHER
VI. Adjourn
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Staff Report
CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
September 13, 2007
Hearing; Case 2007-31: Request to vacate the west 200 feet of the dead end alley in Block 690
of the City of Muskegon Revised Plat of 1903, bounded by Crozier Avenue, Fountain Street, and
Harding Avenue, by Joseph Sidock, 2596 Crozier Avenue.
BACKGROUND
The applicant is the official owner of both 2596 and 2580 Crozier Avenue. These two properties
are located at the end of the alley on the south side. The alley ends at the Muskegon Country
Club property to the west. None of the homes bordering on this section of the alley need alley
access, as they all have driveways off of either Crozier or Harding. Since the east half of the
alley is used by adjacent property owners, the request is to vacate only the west 200 feet.
Staff has receive no public comments on this request.
Easterly portion of alley currently used. Westerly portion of alley requested to vacate.
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the request.
DELIBERATION
I move that the vacation of the west 200 feet of the alley located in Block 690, bounded by
Crozier Avenue, Fountain Street, and Harding Avenue, be recommended to City Commission for
(approval/denial), based on (compliance/lack of compliance), with the City’s 1997 Master Land
Use Plan, with the following conditions:
1. All utility easements will be retained.
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Hearing Case 2007-35: Request for a Special Land Use Permit, per Section 401 (#6) of Article
IV, R, One Family Residential District, of the Zoning Ordinance, for a grocery at 248 Mason
Avenue, by Calvin Walker.
Applicant: Calvin Walker
Property Address/Location: 248 Mason Avenue
Request: Special Land Use Permit
Present Land Use: Grocery Store
Zoning: R, One Family Residential District
STAFF OBSERVATIONS
1. The building on this property is the presently vacant, but has been used as a small grocery
in the past.
2. The applicant wishes to operate a small grocery store on the site. The applicant tells Staff
that he has no plans to include alcohol sales as part of his store. The Zoning Ordinance
gives the Planning Commission authority to regulate the sale of alcohol by limiting the
type of license the applicant may apply for, hours of operation and “any other restrictions
intended to stabilize, protect and encourage the residential character of the area.” The
applicant wishes to have store hours from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Staff feels these hours may
be excessive for a neighborhood setting. See conditions of approval for regulation of
alcohol sales and hours of operation.
3. According to the Zoning Ordinance “Previously existing or established commercial uses
not already converted to a residential use may be authorized under Special Permit. . “ for
certain uses, including the sale of groceries if the request meets the “intent. of the
neighborhood Limited Business Zone (B-1)”
4. All the properties surrounding this site are zoned R-1.
6. The site plan submitted with the application shows adequate parking for the building, as
well as a dumpster that will be located on the pavement, which will be screened.
7. The parking lot needs to be striped to show the parking, and the overgrowth removed.
Areas missing pavement need to be repaired.
8. Mrs. Babbitt of 1297 Fifth Street called to say she is opposed to the request. She said that
the last time there was a store located on this property the neighborhood has problems
with “drugs, after hours liquor sales, loitering and noise, gambling, and trash from the
property blowing all over the neighborhood”.
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Front view of 248 Mason Avenue Rear view of the property from Fifth Street.
Rear parking area of the property.
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ORDINANCE EXCERPTS
SECTION 401: SPECIAL LAND USES PERMITTED [amended 2/02]
The following uses, and their accessory buildings and accessory uses, shall be permitted under
the purview of Section 2332 after review and approval of the use (and a site plan, if required) by
the Planning Commission, after Public Hearing, subject to the applicable conditions, and any
other reasonable conditions imposed by the Planning Commission:
1. Private recreational areas, and institutional recreational centers when not operated for
profit, and nonprofit swimming pool clubs, all subject to the following conditions:
[amended 2/02]
a. In those instances where the proposed site is not to be situated on a lot or lots of
record, the proposed site shall have one property line abutting a major
thoroughfare and the site shall be so planned as to provide ingress and egress
directly onto said major thoroughfare.
b. Front, side, and, rear yards shall be at least fifty (50) feet wide, except on those
sides adjacent to nonresidential districts, and shall be landscaped in trees, shrubs,
grass, and terrace areas. All such landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy
condition. There shall be no parking or structures permitted in these yards, except
for required entrance drives and those walls and/or fences used to obscure the use
from abutting residential districts.
c. Buildings erected on the premises shall not exceed one (1) story or fourteen (14)
feet in height.
d. Whenever a swimming pool is constructed under this Ordinance, said pool area
shall be provided with a protective fence six (6) feet in height, and entry shall be
protected by means of a controlled gate or turnstile.
e. The off-street parking and general site layout and its relationship to all adjacent
lot lines shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission who may impose
reasonable restrictions or requirements so as to insure that contiguous residential
areas will be adequately protected.
2. Colleges, universities, and other such institutions of higher learning, public and private,
offering courses in general, technical, or religious education not operated for profit, all
subject to the following conditions:
a. Any use permitted herein shall be developed only on sites of at least five (5) acres
in area.
b. All ingress to and egress from said site shall be directly onto a major
thoroughfare.
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c. No building other than a structure for residential purposes shall be closer than
seventy-five (75) feet to any property line.
3. Churches and other facilities normally incidental thereto subject to the following
conditions:
a. The site shall be so located as to provide for ingress and egress from said site
directly onto a major or secondary thoroughfare.
b. The principal buildings on the site shall be set back from abutting properties
zoned for residential use not less than thirty (30) feet.
c. Buildings of greater than the maximum height allowed in Section 2100, may be
allowed provided front, side, and rear yards are increased above the minimum
requirements by one (1) foot for each foot of building that exceeds the maximum
height allowed.
4. Elementary, intermediate, and/or secondary schools offering courses in general
education, provided such uses are set back thirty (30) feet from any lot in a residential
zone.
5. Cemeteries.
6. Previously existing or established commercial uses not already converted to a residential
use may be authorized under Special Use Permit for the following [amended 12/99]:
a. Retail and/or service establishments meeting the intent of the neighborhood
Limited Business Zone (B-1) dealing directly with consumers including:
1) Any generally recognized retail business which supplies new commodities
on the premises for persons residing in adjacent residential areas such as:
groceries, meats, dairy products, baked goods or other foods, drugs,
drygoods, and notions or hardware.
2) Any personal service establishment which performs services on the
premises for persons residing in adjacent residential areas, such as: shoe
repair, drop-off dry cleaning shops, tailor shops, beauty parlors, barber
shops, dressmaker, tailor, pharmacist, or an establishment doing radio,
television, or home appliance repair, and similar establishments that
require a retail character no more objectionable than the aforementioned,
subject to the provision that no more than five (5) persons shall be
employed at any time in the sale, repair, or other processing of goods.
3) Professional offices of doctors, lawyers, dentists, chiropractors,
osteopaths, architects, engineers, accountants, and similar or allied
professions.
4) Restaurants, or other places serving food, except drive-in or drive-through
restaurants.
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b. Prohibited uses: Activities specifically prohibited include repair or service of motor
vehicles and other large equipment; manufacturing processes which would
normally require industrial zoning; any activity which may become a nuisance
due to noise, unsightliness or odor; and any activity which may adversely affect
surrounding property.
c. Conditions: [amended 8/04]
1) Outdoor storage is prohibited.
2) The area devoted to approved uses shall not exceed 2,500 square feet.
3) All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on the premises
where produced.
4) All business, servicing, or processing shall be conducted within a
completely enclosed building, or in an area specifically approved by the
Planning Commission.
5) Parking shall be accommodated on site or with limited street parking.
6) Hours of operation may be limited by the Planning Commission.
7) Signs must comply with those set forth for the residential zoning district.
8) The Planning Commission may allow a use to sell alcohol, however the
Commission may limit the type of license applied for or obtained for the
sale of alcohol to an SDM, hours of operation, and any other restrictions
intended to stabilize, protect, and encourage the residential character of the
area. The use must gain approval from the Michigan Liquor Control
Commission before alcohol can be or sold.
7. Bed & Breakfast facilities, under the following conditions:
a. The home must be located in the Clay-Western or National Register Historic
District, as identified by the City of Muskegon Historic District Commission map.
b. The owner or operator of the tourist home shall live full-time on the premises.
c. No structural additions or enlargements shall be made to accommodate the tourist
home use and no exterior alterations to the structure shall be made which will
change the residential appearance of the structure.
d. Breakfast may be served on the premises, only for guests of the facility, and no
other meals shall be provided to guests.
e. No long-term rental of rooms for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days shall
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be permitted. No guest may stay for more than twenty-eight (28) nights in any
given year.
f. There shall be a maximum of five (5) guestrooms. No more than two (2) adults
are permitted to stay in any guestroom.
g. Signage shall conform to that which is permitted for home occupation businesses
only.
h. Rental of the tourist home for special gatherings such as wedding receptions and
parties shall be prohibited.
i. The property shall meet all local and state code requirements regarding bed and
breakfast facilities.
8. Accessory buildings and accessory uses customarily incidental to any of the above
Special Land Uses Permitted.
9. Uses similar to the above Special Land Uses Permitted.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the request with certain conditions listed below.
Standards for Special Uses [derived from Section 2332]
Emphasis provided
Prior to authorization of any Special Land Use, the Planning Commission shall:
1. Give due regard to the nature of all adjacent uses and structures and the consistency with
the adjacent use and development.
2. Find that the proposed use or activity would not be offensive, or a nuisance, by reason of
increased traffic, noise, vibration, or light.
3. Adequate water and sewer infrastructure exists or will be constructed to service the
Special Land Use or activity.
4. The proposed site plan complies with section 2330 of the ordinance and has:
a. proper ingress and egress
b. sufficient parking areas, streets, roads and alleys
c. screening walls and/or fences
d. adequate fire and police protection
e. provisions for disposal of surface water run-off, sanitary sewage
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f. adequate traffic control and maintenance services
g. preserves property values to related or adjoining properties.
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION
I move that the request for Special Land Use Permit, per section 401 (#6) of Article IV of the
Zoning Ordinance, to allow for a grocery store in an R-1 zoning district at 248 Mason Avenue,
by Calvin Walker, be (approved/denied/tabled, based on compliance/lack of compliance with the
City’s Master Land Use Plan and conditions set forth in Section 2332 of the City of Muskegon
Zoning Ordinance (based on the following conditions—only if approved):
1. No alcohol sales be allowed.
2. Hours of operation shall be between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
3. The parking lot be cleaned of vegetation and repaired.
4. The dumpster be screened to meet the zoning ordinance requirements.
5. The owner/applicant shall permit the zoning administrator or other zoning staff in the
premises at reasonable times to review compliance with this permit.
6. The Special Land Use Permit affidavit shall be recorded with the register of deeds prior to
beginning construction.
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Hearing: Case 2007-36: Request to vacate a dead end alley in Block 757 bounded by Simpson
Avenue, Beach Street, and Watson Avenue, by Kimberly Mahone, 3692 Simpson Avenue.
BACKGROUND
The alley that is the subject of this request dead ends off of Beach Street, between Simpson and
Watson, into a sand dune. The applicant lives in the home located on the second parcel from the
east end of the alley. The parcel located farthest to the east on Simpson Avenue is actually
located on the sand dune. Although the original request was to vacate the entire alley, it appears
there may be some issues with access for some of the neighbors. Several homes on the west end
of the alley have garages that face the alley. The neighbor at 3700 Beach has his boat stored in
his rear yard. The rear yard is a legal place to store recreational vehicles. He has no other place
to park it, as well as no other access to his back yard except off the alley. DPW requires
unrestricted access in order to maintain the sewer which is located in the alley.
Staff has received no public comments on this request.
View of the alley from Beach Street.
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View of the east end of the alley that would be vacated.
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the request, with the conditions listed below.
DELIBERATION
I move that the vacation of the east 106 feet of the alley located in Block 757, bounded by
Simpson Avenue, Beach Street, and Watson Avenue, be recommended to City Commission for
(approval/denial), based on (compliance/lack of compliance), with the City’s 1997 Master Land
Use Plan, with the following conditions:
1. All utility easements will be retained.
2. No fences or any other structures may be erected in the portion of vacated alley in order
to allow for unrestricted DPW access.
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Case 2007-37: Request for site plan review for a building expansion at 1221 W. Laketon
Avenue, by Susan Johnson, Every Woman’s Place.
Applicant: Susan Johnson, Every Woman’s Place
Property Address/Location: 1221 W. Laketon Avenue
Request: Site Plan approval
Present Land Use: Multi-family Residential
Zoning: RM-2, Medium Density Multiple Family
Residential District
STAFF OBSERVATIONS
1. The site is a 5.63 acre parcel that presently contains a building owned and occupied by
Every Woman’s Place.
2. The property was recently rezoned from R-1, One Family Residential to RM-2, Medium
Density Multiple Family Residential.
3. The agency is bursting at the seams and needs additional room for housing for those in
need. The original building has construction issues that make it impossible to reconfigure
rooms, along with issues with utility services inside the building walls.
4. At the time of this staff report, the site plan was missing much of the important
information for Staff to be able to give a good overview of the plan. The list of missing
information is extensive. Two departments have denied the plan for lack of information.
Staff is meeting with the architect before the Planning Commission meeting to review the
plan in more detail. It’s possible that this request will be tabled until the October
meeting.
5. Staff has received no public comments on this request.
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Building presently occupied by Every Woman’s Place.
Vacant portion of the parcel where the addition is planned.
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Standards for Site Plan approval:
Prior to approving a site plan, the City shall require that the following standards be
satisfied:
a. Schedule of Regulations: The site plan shall comply with the requirements for height, lot
size, yard space, density and all other requirements as set forth in the district regulations.
b. Other codes and standards: To the extent necessarily shown in the site plan, it shall
comply with other applicable City codes and standards.
c. Compatibility with surrounding land use and development: All elements shall be located,
designed and organized in relation to topography, the size and configuration of the parcel,
the character of adjoining property and the type and size of the buildings. The site shall
be developed so as not to impede the normal and orderly development or improvements
of surrounding property for uses permitted in this Zoning Ordinance.
d. Preservation of natural features: The landscape shall be preserved in its natural state,
insofar as practical, by removing only those areas of vegetation or making those
alterations to the topography which are reasonably necessary to develop the site.
e. Landscaping: Landscape buffers and greenbelts shall be provided and designed in
accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance. Fences, walks, barriers and
landscaping shall be used, as appropriate, for the protection and enhancement of the
property and for the privacy of occupants and neighbors.
f. Stormwater management: Drainage design shall recognize existing natural drainage
patterns. Stormwater removal shall not adversely affect neighboring properties or the
public storm drainage system. Provisions shall be made to accommodate stormwater on-
site, using sound engineering practices.
g. Soil erosion control: Appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure compliance with
state and local soil and sedimentation control regulations.
h. Wetlands Protection: The natural retention or storage capacity of any wetland, water
body, or water course will not be substantially reduced or altered in a way which could
increase flooding or water pollution at the site or other locations.
i. Emergency Access: All site improvements and structures shall be arranged so as to
permit necessary emergency vehicle access and to comply with the locally adopted fire
code.
j. Public streets and private roads: All uses must have access to a public street or a private
road. All streets and curb cuts shall be developed in accordance with City specifications,
the Michigan Department of Transportation, and/or private road regulations of the City,
whichever applies.
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k. Access Management: Streets and drives on a site shall be of a width appropriate to the
traffic volume they will carry and shall have adequate paved areas for vehicles. Traffic
mitigation techniques such as on-site parallel access lanes, rear access lanes, deceleration
lanes and traffic calming measures may be required. Shared curb cuts and access ways
may also be required.
l. Site Circulation and Parking: Parking areas shall meet the requirements of this
ordinance. All parking spaces and circulation patterns shall be marked. Curb stops or
curbing may be required to prevent encroachment on required setbacks and screening.
Provisions for on-site maneuvering of vehicles shall be made so as to discourage backing
and movements of trucks on abutting public streets. On site traffic control signs shall be
visible and understandable.
m. Pedestrian safety: The on-site pedestrian circulation system shall be separated as
completely and reasonably as possible from the vehicular circulation system. In order to
ensure public safety, special pedestrian measures such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and
other such facilities may be required for the development. The site circulation shall be
connected to existing or planned streets and pedestrian or bicycle pathways in the area as
appropriate.
n. Site amenities: The site plan shall provide outdoor common areas and associated
amenities for employees, customers and/or residents which may include public trash
receptacles, bike racks, seating areas, recreation areas, shade trees, bus stop turn-outs, and
similar facilities where appropriate.
o. Utility Service: The development must be adequately served by necessary public
services and shall not impose an undue burden on public services and infrastructure. All
utilities for new construction shall be placed underground. Any installations which must
remain above ground shall be compatible with those on adjacent properties.
p. Lighting: Exterior lighting shall be arranged so it is deflected away from adjacent
properties and so it does not impede the vision of traffic along adjacent streets. Flashing
or intermittent lights shall not be permitted. Design of lighting fixtures shall be
compatible with those on adjacent properties. Light poles and fixtures shall be no higher
than twenty-five (25) feet.
q. Signs: The size, location, and lighting of all permanent signs shall be consistent with the
requirements of this Ordinance.
r. Accessibility: All sites shall be designed to comply with barrier-free requirements.
s. State and Federal Mandates: The site plan shall demonstrate compliance with any state
or federal statute, regulation or ruling, whether general or site specific, which is
applicable to the property. This shall include without limitation any legally enforceable
restrictions on development or improvements which have been communicated or required
by a state or federal agency. It shall include, without limitation, requirements of laws,
regulations, rulings or agency requirements concerning environmental protection, waste
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management, floodplains, soil and sedimentation, protection of ground or surface water
resources, soil conditions, and the presence of hazardous materials in or contamination of
soils, air and water pollution matters and provisions which are designed for or reasonably
related to the protection of the public health, safety or welfare. The applicant shall
demonstrate that all said statutes, regulations, rulings, or requirements have been satisfied
by its site plan and that there are no state or federal agencies which have required, or are
in the process of requiring, any additional action, restriction or compliance. In the event
a property is the subject of any governmental regulatory action or requirement, or without
limitation, the property is located in the "facility" as defined by state or federal law, the
state or federal agency responsible for the applicable regulation shall be notified in
writing of the filing of the site plan and any hearing regarding the application for
approval.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the request for site plan approval for a building addition at 1221
W. Laketon Avenue, subject to the conditions listed below.
DETERMINATION
The following motions are offered for consideration:
I move that the site plan for a building addition, located at 1221 W. Laketon Avenue for Susan
Johnson, Every Woman’s Place, be (approved/denied/tabled), based on the following findings
and conditions (if approved):
1. All conditions of City Staff be met.
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