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CITY OF MUSKEGON
PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
January 14, 2016
Vice Chairman B. Larson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: B. Mazade, J. Doyle, L. Spataro, B. Larson, J. Montgomery-Keast,
S. Gawron
MEMBERS ABSENT: F. Peterson; B. Smith, excused; T. Michalski, excused
STAFF PRESENT: M. Franzak, D. Renkenberger
OTHERS PRESENT: Lorin Industries representative
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion that the minutes of the special meeting of December 10, 2015 be approved, was made
by S. Gawron, supported by J. Montgomery-Keast and unanimously approved.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Hearing, Case 2016-01: Request to vacate the remainder of the 16 ft. wide alley in Block 14 of
Continental Addition, north of Keating and South of vacated Nims (east of Vulcan (vacated) and
west of Roberts Street). M. Franzak provided a background on previous alley and street
vacations in this area. In 2014, Newkirk Electric petitioned and received approval to have Nims
Street, Vulcan Street and the alley between Brunswick and Vulcan vacated. In order to utilize
the areas that were once publicly owned, they were required to replat the area through Circuit
Court. During that process, it came to the attention of the State that there is still an alley on the
books between the vacated Vulcan and Roberts Streets, even though there is not a physical alley
there. This “paper alley” is located in the parking lot of Lorin Industries. In order to complete
the replatting process, Lorin Industries has petitioned to vacate this alley and they will join
Newkirk Electric in their suit to replat the block.
A representative from Lorin Industries attended the meeting and concurred with M. Franzak’s
assessment. A motion to close the public hearing was made by J. Montgomery-Keast, supported
by J. Doyle and unanimously approved.
A motion that the vacation of the remainder of the 16-foot wide alley in Block 14 of Continental
Addition, north of Keating Avenue and south of vacated Nims Street [east of Vulcan Street
(vacated) and west of Roberts Street] be recommended to City Commission for approval, was
made by J. Montgomery-Keast, supported by J. Doyle and unanimously approved, with B.
Mazade, J. Doyle, L. Spataro, B. Larson, J. Montgomery-Keast, and S. Gawron voting aye.
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Hearing, Case 2016-02: Staff-initiated request to amend the Master Land Use Plan to remove all
references to Fisherman’s Landing. M. Franzak explained the process of amending the City’s
Master Plan. Staff requested to remove all references to Fisherman’s Landing, so that the City
could keep its options open in the event of a land swap in the future. In September 2015, the
Planning Commission started the amendment process by granting approval to make the
amendments. In October, the City Commission approved distribution of the proposed amended
Master Plan to all of the regional entities, who were given 42 days to comment on the
amendments. Staff did not receive any comments during this time. The final step in the process
is to have Planning Commission hold a public hearing on the amendment, which must pass with
at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote. The staff report listed the areas of the Master Plan where
Fisherman’s Landing was mentioned.
J. Montgomery-Keast asked what protections were in place to ensure the future of Fisherman’s
Landing. S. Gawron stated that state grant requirements stated that if the park was removed from
its current location, it must be replicated elsewhere.
A motion to close the public hearing was made by B. Mazade, supported by J. Doyle and
unanimously approved.
A motion that the proposed amendments to the City of Muskegon’s Comprehensive Master Land
Use Plan be approved as presented, was made by J. Doyle, supported by S. Gawron and
approved, with B. Mazade, J. Doyle, L. Spataro, B. Larson, J. Montgomery-Keast, and S.
Gawron voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER
None
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
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