Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Commissioner Adams. Present. Commissioner Bell, Commissioner Haynes, Commissioner Henry, Commissioner Hensel.

Present.

Commissioner Marshall, Manager Little, Mayor Muhammad, Chairman Reed. You have a quorum.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SUPPORT.

COMMISSIONER ADAMS? YES. COMMISSIONER HENRY? YES. COMMISSIONER HENSEL?

YES.

COMMISSIONER MARSHALL?

YES.

CHAIRMAN REID? YES. MOTION CARRIED.

Motion to approve.

Commissioner Adams? Yes. Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Hensel?

Yes.

Commissioner Marshall? Yes. Chairman Reed? Yes. Motion carried.

I would like to ask the public if you have any comments to make that are not relevant to any of the materials in the discussion that we're gonna have for the agenda. We're gonna call it now. We have three minutes for public comments. When we're done, we'll close the public comments section and we'll move on to the new business. Right there.

At this time, we would like to call or open the session for a public hearing. For a special use permit for 1312 Union, parcel ID is 1153-8300-0002-00-3. And that's for a group daycare home.

Does anyone in the public want to make a comment for or against this special youth program? If there's no one wishing to speak at this time, we'll close the public hearing and proceed on to the presentation. Do you want to make a presentation for your special youth program?

Keep your eyes open. Introduce yourself, please.

Okay. You don't have to push it.

Hello, my name is Shamika Merity. I am the owner of Irresistible Love that's located at 1312 Union. Currently, I am licensed for six children, and I'm looking to increase capacity from seven to 12.

Do any of the commissions have any questions you would like to ask of the applicant?

I WAS READING YOUR PROPOSAL, AND I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN EARLY LEARNING. WHAT'S THE GRADE? I MEAN, WHAT'S THE YEARS? WHAT'S THE AGE LIMIT FOR THAT?

WELL, CURRENTLY, I DO SIX WEEKS TO 12 YEARS OLD.

OKAY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M LOOKING TO ADD, INCORPORATE PRESCHOOL AS WELL.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

Just one question, because I know children, you have to watch children.

Yes.

Being a mother of six and helping to raise so many others. Prior to, how many workers will you employ?

Right now, I have two others besides myself, which is my sister and another one that volunteers. But I will be in ratio with the state.

I just have one other question. Can I stay in touch with you? Yes. Okay, and you'll learn why. But one other question is with this thing about healthy eating as it relates, especially with our children where it really needs to start this day and time with all the recalls and everything. Will you be looking at something in the form of, I was looking at the area for gardening.

We are interested in learning that regard. Okay.

Okay. I'd like your information. There's some things that I've run across in the form of resources that I would like to share out with you.

Okay.

At any time because I've held on to this thing that Obama birthed and, I mean, it starts with you.

Right.

Yeah. Zero to 12. K to 12? Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome.

Just curious about the ratio. I worked in the schools for a while, so I totally understand that. How does your ratio look? I'm not familiar with it off top.

Okay. It just depends on the age group. So just for instance, if I have, right now I have six. You can only have two that are under 18 months for one person. So when that third child come in that's under 18 months, then that's when you have to add a second individual. Yes. Yes.

I JUST GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT YOUR APPLICATION, BUT I'M JUST PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR IDEA AND YOU MOVING FORWARD WITH IT AND WHAT DO WE NEED CHILDREN'S SUPPORT. THANK YOU. I COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING THAT EFFORT AND GROWING.

THANK YOU.

Okay, I'm reviewing the application, and it says here that you currently hold a valid family daycare license for up to six children. And you are requesting that you change, not change it, but add a group daycare license for seven through 12. And have you been approved by the state of Michigan yet, or is that still pending?

It's still pending. I had to wait for this process. So once this goes through, then I would send everything over to them and then they'll move forward.

Okay. Did city staff have anything you want to say right after this?

I just have a question. I don't know why it's in this packet of stuff about your project, but there's the certificate of forfeiture of real property. Is that still something that's... No, that was the current.

I could only find that when I looked online. That was like back in March, I think it was. But those are up to date.

All right, so it just doesn't have to be in here as we usually do things. Okay. I was just confused by it, so thank you.

One last question. Do you long-term have the vision of expanding even? Yes, ma'am. I'm tasked to you to help you to make sure that you succeed. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU.

I HAVE THE SAME CONCERN AS COMMISSIONER .

THANK YOU. ANY MORE COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? We need a motion to approve the application for the special use.

Motion to approve the application for the special use purpose of daycare. Does it need to be in more debt?

I got it.

Okay. The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Adams and supported by Commissioner Marshall. Call the roll, please.

Commissioner Haynes?

Approve.

Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Hensel?

Yes.

Commissioner Marshall? Yes. Manager Little? Commissioner Adams? Yes. Chairman Reid? Yes. Motion carried. Thank you.

Thank you.

Do we have someone that would want to make a presentation for that review? You want to give your name and who you represent?

Yep. My name is Tristan Richardson. I am with Hurley and Stewart. I will be the civil engineer for this project.

Okay. Give us a review of what you have here.

Yeah, so essentially we're looking to seek approval for construction of a new men shelter on the existing site. The construction would be of the single story 3600 square foot building and it would utilize as much as the existing site as we can with the current infrastructure to provide this development.

You're looking to demolish the current building.

Correct, yeah.

You want to build another building.

Correct, yeah. The old building would be decommissioned.

Is there a timeline for the demolition and the construction?

As far as that would be, I have a little more information. I'm sorry, what? Yeah.

Yes. You could sit that to the side.

Sorry about that. Then we would start demolition right afterwards.

How many men would you say right now?

23? Right now I don't know, but it's sized for 24. We have 23 right now.

And what's the age of men?

Oh, by the program, I would say 18, 19, up to... I don't know. I don't know. I'm sorry. Sorry.

Okay. I'm just... I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that we just built some apartments for, I mean, but I can see it all working together for the good.

It does. They transition into it.

Exactly. Exactly. So that's what I'm trying to. Yep. Okay. So how long are we looking at time span wise for demolish, rebuild?

So if we start construction the end of August, we should be wrapped up by, I'd say, late April, early May.

Okay, you said assessment. Has that been done already?

No, we're in the process of signing a contract.

Okay, so are there any other city services or boards that you will be coming forward to? Like Brownfield Authority?

We've already looked into it, and I don't believe you guys have any funding available for it at this time. So we are trying to come up with funds to do that demolition.

Okay, okay, okay. Thank you.

We're trying not to take from the community. Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you. Appreciate that more than you know.

Oh, I know.

Commissioner Henson.

Commissioner Marshall.

I'm a little confused. When you go to the site plan review... Number seven, I see where the new building is to be completed April 1, 2027. I also see where the demolition starts May 1, 2027. That's confusing to me.

AN ESTIMATED TIMELINE OF CONSTRUCTION TABLE?

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION TABLE.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ESTIMATED TIME TABLE.

ESTIMATED. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME WHERE A BUILDING WOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE IT'S DESTROYED.

BECAUSE IT'S A VACANT LAND. NO. WE HAVE VACANT LAND ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE CITY BLOCK. We're building on the vacant land.

You're building on the vacant land.

And then we're going to occupy, and then we're going to move into that new building, and then we're going to demolition the north, east, west section of the city block.

So the new building will be completed.

Yes. If it... BEFORE THE DEMOLITION, YES. YEP. THAT WAY WE TRANSITION THE MEN INTO THE NEW BUILDING AND THEN CAN DEMOLITION THE BUILDING WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE WHERE WE'D, TO LOCATE WHERE POSSIBLY THE HOMELESS MEN WOULD GO TO.

WHAT'S CONFUSING TO ME, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING THE NEW BUILDING BEFORE YOU democracy or ability when you read this. Correct. And it should be made clear for my edification.

Are there any potential like site plans for the once the demolition is completed or would that just be remained in like a vacant lot?

Vacant lot, green space. I like green space.

ARE YOU GOING TO GET LARGER FACILITY FOR MORE PEOPLE? NO.

IT WOULD BE 24, 23 PEOPLE.

NOW, IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD WAY MORE PEOPLE BEING SERVICED BY SALVATION ARMY. AND WHEN THE BUILDING GOT DINGED, ACCOMMODATION GOT LOWER, AND WE'RE GOING TO STAY AT THAT WITH A NEW FACILITY?

THAT IS CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN REFLECTS. THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE NECESSARILY INCREASED IT. THEY SHOULD HAVE FOUND PLACES FOR THE GENTLEMEN TO GO TO.

WELL, WHEN THAT HAPPENED, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE OUT WITHOUT ANYTHING, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING ANY BETTER FOR THE ECONOMY. AND ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WITH NO INCOME. SO THE STATE SAID IT'S OKAY FOR YOU TO STAY AT 23 AND NOT GO BACK TO 38? UH-HUH. WHAT? WELL, OKAY. I'M JUST LOOKING AT YOUR, WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO WITH THE NEW BUILDING. NOT SEEING EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN THERE. BUILDING IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD BUILDING OR THAT IMPROVES THE FACILITIES.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL INSIDE LOOKS LIKE?

YEAH. JUST KIND OF HELP ME OUT BECAUSE I JUST... CAN I GO GET MY GLASSES, PLEASE?

EXCUSE ME. YOU CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD. I CAN'T SEE. You know, as we get older, we gotta wear glasses. I can't read. Okay, I'm sorry. I handle a lot of buildings for the Salvation Army, so it helps me to kind of also look at it at the same time as you. I do apologize. Okay, so in the proposed new site, when you first come in, when you walk into the main door of the site, you're going to have a social services component, which is existing right now. We're just going to transition that to the new building, and the same person who is there will also be taking, will take care of also the new site. She basically has the, takes care of the community as far as food, clothing, and also social services resources. That person will still exist. She'll be there during the day, just like she is currently, and the site in Michigan Avenue right now. You then have the bench behind, yeah, we'll have a pantry in there too, by the way. Food pantry and also a clothing pantry, just like we have right now for the community. And then when you go into the main part of the building, you'll have a nice day of the art like kitchen, warming kitchen for them because all the food is always brought in for us, along with a food pantry for, to feed also to, like if they have wanted snacks or such forth, we do have that in there. We have a director for the men's shelter. He is currently oversees the existing one. He's just transferring over to the new building, so he does have an office space. You then have an open floor plan, which would be a dining, a bunch of tables for them to go to. YOU HAVE AN AREA FOR THEM TO SHOWER ON ONE SIDE, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THEN, LET'S CALL IT MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUCH FORTH IN ANOTHER AREA ALONG WITH LAUNDRY. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BUILDING, YOU HAVE THE KITCHEN, AND THEN YOU HAVE SLEEPING ROOMS. EACH ONE OF THE SLEEPING ROOMS WILL HOUSE... THANK YOU. EIGHT PEOPLE PER BEDROOM. SORRY? EIGHT PEOPLE PER BEDROOM. OKAY. AND THERE'S THREE ROOMS FOR THAT TO DO.

YEAH, YEAH.

OH, HERE, I'M SORRY. I'M ON C2. YEAH, WELL, I HAVE THE CIVIL PLANS WITH YOU GUYS RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M ON C2. And that shows what the inside of the building looks like that I just kind of ran through.

Commissioner Henson? I don't know, but I see a discrepancy between what we got from our administrator and what you're describing. It talks about parking compliance. It mentions 12 beds. And then required parking spots, 12. So how do we get from 12 to 24?

I don't have 12. Oh. Oh, 12 beds. 12 beds per space, maybe? Well, no, that would be not the right math. That would be two rooms.

IT DOESN'T WORK OUT. OH, HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM. I DON'T EITHER.

So in the review that was done with recommendations, it specifically says in the review that based on the submitted plans, it appears that the project meets the parking requirements under Section 4.2.12. Oh, excuse me, 4.2. And then it says 12 beds and 12 parking spots. So... That's part of the requirements. Then you're talking about 24 parking. I don't hear or see anything about parking for employees. We know homeless people or people who generally use the shelter probably don't have cars, but there needs to be a plan that meets the ordinance. And this does not.

In the plans here, that main lot does have spots for 12, but they also own the lot to the south down there. And so what was proposed on there was something that was missed by me. That is a, they're 12 spaces, but they're bunk beds. So that was a discrepancy there. BUT WE CAN ADD THOSE PARKING SPACES IN THAT SOUTH LOT THERE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT'S EXISTING. IT WOULD BE THE... WHERE THE DUMPSTER ACCESS IS SHOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SITE THERE. OH, I'M SORRY.

I CAN'T EVEN SEE THAT.

THAT AREA IS PAVED?

THAT'S THE PAGE NUMBER ON THAT ONE.

OKAY. IT DOESN'T, SO, BUT IT'S NOT MARKED OUT OR INDICATED AS PARKING.

CORRECT, YEP, THAT WOULD JUST NEED TO BE STRIKED.

WELL, WE NEED TO SEE IT. YEP, YEP. BEFORE WE CAN APPROVE ANYTHING. OR YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD ON ACTUALLY ANYTHING.

CHAIRMAN REED, THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION. ARE WE STILL IN THE UPFRONT INFANCY OF THIS? this is the actual plan that you all have. And I'm asking that question because It seems like we're at a place now that the city elected officials, the city itself has done its part in helping to curb homelessness with the apartments that are going up. And we're looking at this as a transitional type of thing, redoing this. And I'd also like to know with what's going on with I'm Saving Myself or Threat of Hopes, that if in fact Ms. Mitchell is still there, I'm not sure, but... If, in fact, we can slow down a little bit and work on that parking that we'll definitely need, as well as some other things, at looking at how, since the state, I'm sure, is funding, no, this is private? Okay, so if, in fact, you, private developers, would work with the city of Benton Harbor to actually help with the endeavor of, transitioning young boys and men into Benton Harbor or wherever they come from. Because I'm very aware of a lot of the things that have gone on. If we can work together somehow to work on some type of something within the facility to not have them out in the cold. If we're working on the mindset of, you know what I'm saying? Oh, yes. If we can, yeah.

Could we stick to the site plan theme?

I just don't know all the logistics of the program. I am the construction hand. So you're asking questions that I know they have in place. I just don't have the answers for you. Does that make sense? Okay. I was just curious.

Any more questions or comments concerning the site plan?

Okay. Mr. Chair.

IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON TWO PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME. IS THAT APPROPRIATE OR DO THEY HAVE TO WORK ON ONE PROJECT AT A TIME AND GET APPROVAL FOR? HOW IS THIS WORKING?

So they can do this. When they build a new building, then they'll have their plan review that will go over with building official with the demolition. And then that will be that part of it. So they can do that because they're just going to be building the new structure right now. And to what I also propose for this parking issue that we've seen with the tall beds. With the old building and the condition it's in, it is not a safe place at the moment. So I would like to see this project get going and we can work on the parking issue as we go. You guys are able to set parking limits, as you were saying. A lot of people there aren't going to have a vehicle. And there is parking on Michigan Street itself right now where they do park. on where the old building is. So there's probably 25 plus parking spots. And then there's the central business area that's city parking also. I do think we should be able to move forward with this, contingencies on parking as we're moving forward. But they can work on both at the same time. And meaning same time it'd be new building first. EITHER DEMO OR, YOU KNOW, OF THE OLD BUILDINGS.

SO THE PART A AND B TYPE OF THING, LIKE THEY START WITH THE RECONSTRUCTION AND ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, THEN DO THEY COME BACK FOR THE DEMOLITION PART OR IS IT ONCE WE APPROVE IT, IS IT ALL APPROVED AT ONCE OR WILL THEY COME BACK AFTER?

So that's one of my main reasons bringing this here also was to talk this out on the demolition part. I'd like to see, I know construction takes different times, you know, getting materials. I'd say once the building is completed and people are moving in, then we have that time frame and a bond or however it needs to work for that old building to either be demoed. Commissioner Henson?

I have a question, but Mr. Little does as well.

position we'd like to get it moving I've been talking with him well over a year on this as a matter of fact when the issue first came up of some of the problems that were within the building and we began communicating with them and we were talking at that time about doing a new building This is not uncommon at all. As a matter of fact, it's the same plan if I'd been able to find the money to build a city hall that we would be doing. We'd be building it next to here and then tearing this one down or putting it to some other use or whatever.

Ms. Reid.

I'd also like to remind everybody about the fact that that's a historic building. That it sits in its context among other historic buildings, which have been recognized by the state as a potential historic district on the National Register. And that is something that the Downtown Development Authority is working on. It's taking a while to get all of the pieces together, but the building itself, if you're not using it, certainly could be reused. We've seen buildings that were on the verge or have collapsed in sections rebuilt and reused and back on the tax rolls. And I can take you through a couple of them if you want to see what a building that was beyond use in some people's point of view. So I'm just concerned that I keep hearing that it has to be demolished, it has to be demolished. I don't believe that's true. And I would like to say that evidence of it is the fact that you're actually using it now. if it were that dangerous, you would not have 24 people spending the night in it because it wouldn't be safe for them.

If I might say this, the building has some special problems and we will have still if we want to pursue trying to find some alternate use between now and the time in May when they finish theirs to talk with them about it. But I have a long history with that building. I remember when it went from Hawaii to my getting the developer from Upward Water of Elite to come in and rework it. I forgot his name now, but then after he finished, that didn't quite do what it was supposed to do. The Y had moved out. He put a lot of money into it, and we still have a lot of problems. I remember When I first started talking with them, our inspections department had come up with a long list of things that needed to be done. And it, I mean, realistically, if you've got enough money, you can take care of just about any problem. But we don't have the money, and I'm not sure where it would come from.

Mr. Reed, if I may, to address the parking with... being aware of a lot of gentlemen that have come through there. Some are fathers. Some have lost, you know, everything. Some come from divorce. Some of them have vehicles. And I think that some type of perpendicular parking, I mean, for employees. If I have a job, but I'm homeless and I need to shelter for a little while and I do have a vehicle, I would like to be able to park somewhere. I don't know how many vehicles it would take, but to me this makes sense. And I live in a house that was built in 48, 46, and it has a musty smell. And sometimes not everything old or historical needs to be saved. Sometimes some things need to be made anew. And I welcome this. I really do. Because I've heard of a lot of complaints. I've never stayed down there, so I wouldn't know. But I know a lot of people that have. Quite a few of them. A lot of them are put out in the cold. that needs a place in shelter to stay. And we get these complaints as elected officials and have for a very long time. And I think that this needs to start like ASAP because to do nothing is not acceptable.

Commissioner, we have an issue here that we have a construction plan And now we want to start all over again by going back to resurrecting the old building. I think what's before us right now is the current plan, and this is what we're looking at right now. The social issues that you keep bringing up don't address what we're trying to do here today. So let us deal with them building the new building. That's what they're here for. This is what you see the designs for. Now, do we have any more comments, questions concerning the current state of this request for the...

My question is, my concern is, it appears to me that they're all put in this document, the old and the new. Be that the case, and Commissioner Henson just made the statement that it's a historical...

What do we do with the current construction plans here today is the question I believe we need to answer.

I'd like to move that we approve them.

What did you say? I'm sorry.

To move that we approve the construction plans that are submitted for the building.

A contingent on the parking money. Oh, a contingent on the parking. Okay. I just want to say this. Because we're getting less service for the people in this project, I'm hearing that there's probably a problem with parking. BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN US WHERE THE PARKING WAS GOING TO BE ON THIS. THE INFORMATION THAT IT'S A HISTORICAL BUILDING, AND IT IS. I KNOW THIS BUILDING WHEN IT WAS A YMCA. IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD UTILIZE THIS OLD BUILDING FOR Is it the work that needed to bring it up way more than it cost to demo it?

It's 1.4 to build a new building.

No, not to build a new building.

I understand what you're saying. I would need multi-million. You know, it's a lot of money to make the repairs necessary to that. You have structural issues with the roof itself on components of the building. There's also infrastructure underneath the building in certain areas of it. There's a lot of money that would be, you're talking probably five, six million dollars. We do not have that. I have about 1.5 million dollars to bring this project for the community.

The motion is still to move forward with the current. A motion to move forward.

It's already been done. Support.

Motion is made by Commissioner Adams and supported by Commissioner.

Would you repeat your motion, please?

I move that we approve the construction plans as presented with the contingency of adding additional spaces, 12 spaces.

Motion is made by Commissioner Little and supported by me.

I already supported his motion. It's the same motion.

We have a motion and a support.

Commissioner Haynes. Yes. Commissioner Henry.

Yes.

Commissioner Hensel.

Yes.

Commissioner Marshall.

I have some questions that I want to be sure. Are we voting on the new construction of the whole project?

The whole project.

But I believe once the reconstruction is done, you guys will revisit coming back to talk about the demolition in more detail, right?

Manager Little?

Yes.

Commissioner Adams? Yes. Chairman Reed? Yes. Motion carried.

OK. MOVING ON TO OLD BUSINESS, WE HAD AN UPDATE ON THE 600 TERRITORIAL ROAD BREAD AND BED AND BREAKFAST. DID WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT?

Yes, so when the bed and breakfast was approved, it was contingent on providing the use of the parking spaces, getting permission to use parking spaces by nearby properties. That has been done, handed into zoning department, so we just need to officially lift that contingency.

i was a portion of the case out may have asked about that uh... is that up official building breakfast or is that a airbeat what well i've seen them advertise that is something else and that's why i asked one and what do we really approve uh... as a bed and breakfast she lives there and she uh... serves a continental breakfast and Did you know that there's some advertisement out that says different?

I don't deal with that.

I know you don't, but I do. And that's something I want to make sure that what we approved is actually what's happening. I know you don't, but that's your job to go and find out what's going on, right?

It can be, yes.

Yeah, okay.

I haven't had any.

Well, I'm just letting you know that there is some advertisement for that particular address that doesn't go along with what we approved.

Okay. If you'd like, send it to me. I'll absolutely check it out.

Thank you.

I'd like to make a motion to lift the contingencies on the property at 600 Territorial Road.

May I ask... It was contingent upon parking, and they're utilizing a property that's nearby for parking. We don't get to see it, or was it a part of the site plan itself when it came forth? I mean, I just need to remember...

I thought we had settled this thing the last time we mentioned. I don't know why it's back again.

Because we haven't met. We haven't had a quorum since. There wasn't enough individuals that last time. Correct.

But they did submit a letter with the approval for the additional parking spaces. Yeah, they did. They submitted a letter. Is that in here or?

No, it was distributed to you the first time it was on the agenda.

So it should be in our, maybe in our emails or something, but there was a letter supporting.

As long as it works for the business.

Yeah. Don't hold me up. Motion was made to lift the restrictions. Support. Supported by Commissioner Adams. Motion by Commissioner Hensel.

Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Hensel? Yes. Commissioner Marshall? Yes. Manager Little? Commissioner Adams? Yes. Commissioner Haynes? Yes. Chairman Reid? Yes. Motion carried.

Did we need to discuss this or is this?

It's still ongoing.

Okay. Okay. Okay, we're gonna move on to

Is that in the packet right now?

Okay.

Oh. So the other thing was AFC homes. In our zoning ordinance, we had it in residential areas marked as special use for one to six for AFC homes or childcare homes. as 1312 just came up. MCL is a permitted use within residential areas, so I was wanting that changed over so that way it doesn't show special use within our permitted use table. Where it turns into a special use is that 7 to 12, like we just did with 1312. That one is a special use. Kids, seven to 12 kids or adults or... No, no, you're okay. But that was just the only other thing was just to change that around to how the state has it.

Do we need a public hearing or something? Very well.

We'll have to have a public hearing in order to do any changes to the zoning ordinance. We just wanted to get it in front of you along with the other copy that you have just to review because it's going to be a standalone ordinance for the food trucks. But we want to make sure that it fits also into the zoning ordinance and gets referenced. So what you're going to start seeing is... Ordinances coming before you to review, they'll be standalone. They're not going to be in the zoning ordinance, but the zoning ordinance will reference them. So for instance, if we have chapter 36.5 and we make a change to that and there's something in the zoning ordinance that references that particular thing, we want the zoning ordinance to make sure it says refer to ordinance 36.5.

UPDATING THE ORDINANCE OR?

SO FOR THE AFC HOMES, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO UPDATE THE ZONING ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED IT TO CHANGE FROM A SPECIAL USE TO A PERMITTED USE FOR THE 1 TO 6 AND ONLY THE 7-12 TO BE A SPECIAL USE.

SO WOULD THAT MEAN THAT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH LEGISLATION AS WELL?

We'll have to hold a public hearing. That'll be the first step.

And if I may, there's several other changes that we're aware of that need to be made to the zoning ordinance that we've got to have time and go through and list those out. We might be able to do that where instead of a number of different special ones, we might be able to put together one or two.

So that's what we're kind of working on is putting everything together to do it at once. That way we're not holding a special hearing every single month to get, you know, one thing done here, one thing done there.

Anything we need to do today?

No, it's basically just for your review and a heads up that we will be having to do a special hearing here in the future.

Okay, moving on to reports. Monthly absence of the members. Commissioner Bell and the mayor are not here. And at this time, if there's no other reports, I'd like to move on to commission comments. I have something to say. If you notice at the bottom of your sheet, it says, note, training will take place immediately following the regular meeting. And this would be our very next meeting in September the 1st. And that'll be at 530. So when that meeting is over, we will have a training session. But no business will be conducted. I want to say I was mandatory, but I don't have that authority to do so. But there are some of you that have no training whatsoever as to what the Planning Commission does. So it is time for those members to step up and voluntarily take this training when it's presented to you.

Well, I would like to plead with those who have not to do that because this planning commission is very important and we really need our people to have the training.

Comments before adjournment?

I just want to thank Tiffany because as legislative chair for eight years, we started working on this type of endeavor with the ordinance because it's no secret. Everybody keeps talking about it. It's so outdated. We know that. I've been down here since 2002, and I give 12 years as an elected official. And even if I go to these courses, I'm probably still not going to get it right because my comprehensive level is different from other normal human beings. I ask questions to try to come up with outcomes that I know to be problematic in my community. So if I go off task sometime, I apologize. is just a part of who I am and what I've learned in the endeavor of understanding my community's needs. And it just comes from some of us having to deal with red tape that needs to be eliminated and understanding how all things need to work together for the betterment of all of our qualities of life. But I want to thank Tiffany for... Manding this down and getting back to the ordinances and putting them online to where they will work better for all committees. And Justin?

I believe part of the reason we haven't been able to complete the training is because we wanted to do it as like a group activity. And you guys know I am a bit new to this. So I just wanted to say thank you. And I would love to be a part of the group activity. But if there's any type of training or anything you guys feel like I should just go ahead and take initiative on and that I can do on my own, on my own pace, I'm willing to do that as well. So just let me know.

I will make that commitment as well.

I just want to say that Every structure we built in this town that owes people, every person represents a vote. What I see, I'm not happy with. I've been on this battlefield since 1983. There are things that I voted for. People couldn't see then. They could see now. What I'm seeing now, I don't like.

There are no more comments. I'll make a motion to adjourn. Make a motion to adjourn. Support it.

Support.

Commissioner Adams?

Yes.

Commissioner Haynes? Yes. Commissioner Henry? No. Commissioner Hensel?

Yes.

Commissioner Marshall? Yes. Manager Little? Yes. Chairman Reed? Yes. Motion carried.