Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay. It's 7:03 and I call to order the January 20th meeting of the Chesfield Planning Commission. Uh ask that everyone silence their phones, which I didn't do either. Okay, let's get this and unmute. Okay. All rise for the pledge of allegiance.

I [clears throat] pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Yeah, I do. I will now take role. [cough and clears throat] Kathy Vosberg, she is excused. Eric Ryderer Haidider, he's excused. Ralph Jorski here. Uh James Clinowski here. Carl Leonard is excused. Um we have um Rick Label here. Uh Brian Carr here. Mark Renault here. Rich Brokart

here. Okay. I will make a motion to approve the minutes from the January 6th meeting. Support. We have a motion. We have support. Any questions or comments? All in favor? I. All opposed? Motion carries. Uh make a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. Support. We have a motion. We have support. All in favor?

I. All opposed. Uh motion carries. Uh public comments. Anyone wishing to speak? You have three minutes. I see no one. Uh, public hearings. We have none. Regular agenda. Oakill LLC site plan number 2025-10. Um, it's parcel ID 15-09-21-20001- 018. Uh, uh, uh, Jonathan, we have some updates to uh what was in our packets. Would you like to go over those?

Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. The the plans that you do have in the packet are up to date. Um, I would like to apologize. as I was working with the applicant uh as they were addressing the concerns from the GIFs Webster review from I believe it was January 6th. Um so they did make the corrections and sent them to me. Um I did make sure they were included in your packet. I did forget to update Jill and Ava on that. So I'm going to go through real quick just on um page two of their review. There was the list for the items for the applicant review. Um and then I'll go through what they did to change it. Um, so the height of the building was corrected uh to the midspan at 25t 3 in. That's corrected on sheets A3 and B2. Uh, the recreation area uh was corrected and shown on the landscape plan LS1. Um and they did also provide um the the um sorry the equation for that 500 square feet um per unit for 44 units is 22,000 square ft required. They are uh proposing 26,630 ft. And then the area to the would be the southeast. They are showing a a pathway in there with some uh picnic tables. Um, see, and they did also state that the this the recreation space was uh more to oriented towards adult recreation since it's a condo complex. Uh, the separation between buildings one and two was corrected to 30 ft. That's shown on C2 and three. Uh, the calculations on the concrete percentage is in the table on C2. a 20 foot wide landscape area corrected on sheet C2. Uh unit trees added to LS1, the landscape plan in front of each unit and

note and a note stated which trees are for units in parking. The clear vision triangles were added to C2 and C3. Uh we I believe do not have the land or the uh lighting plan yet unless they have it with them. Um but I did indicate that would be something I would be comfortable reviewing administratively. Um if the planning commission is okay with that, uh the site criteria was corrected on sheet C2. Uh and bicycle parking spaces were added to C2. And then the trash enclosure states that the finish is brick to match the building. So those were all the the changes that were updated in the plan since the last review. I did verify that all those changes are accurate. Um there was a couple items for planning commission discussion um in the GIFs review uh that I'll I'll turn over to Ava. She wants to go over those. But I will note that um I did cover the um the one comment determined if separate adult and youth recreations areas are needed. That can still be discussed by the commission, but they did put forth the statement that it was geared towards adult recreation.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, Ava, would you like to go over the U further review?

Yes. So, let's see. Uh, for further review from the planning commission, the applicant proposed water and sewer uh for the site, which should be reviewed by the planning commission. Um, and then Jonathan just discussed the adult and youth recreation areas. And I believe, one moment I think besides just the consideration of diversity of the trees for the frontage landscaping as well as the consideration of the applicant for electric vehicle preparation. I believe Jonathan covered everything else from the review, but if there are any other questions for me, I'll be happy to answer. Okay, I'll bring it back to the commission. Uh, Mr. Brokart, anything from you.

Thank you, Mark. I'm not sure I understand the I I understand what you said. Adult recreation area is there. I see 63 50 square feet and I'm thinking it should be larger than that. Am I missing something? It was corrected. Jonathan announced the correct. So what was the correction Jonathan? I'm sorry for the for the adult recreation space. I'm seeing 6350. You corrected that to what to what amount? Uh on the plan on the landscape plan it shows that they are uh providing two separate areas. um one of 22,430 square ft and the other one at 4200 for a total of 26,630.

I'm all set. Thank you. Um Mr. Renault, I was waiting to hear from the applicant, so I'm good for right now. Okay, we'll bring him up. I would. Yeah, you questions for the applicant. Well, doesn't didn't we want the applicant to talk first? Um, okay. I just ask.

This one right here. Okay. Thank you. So, Scott Duffin, I'm a professional engineer with uh project control engineering. Um just uh we've obviously prepared the site plan uh working with Eric on the architecture and landscape architecture. Um whatever questions you have, I'd be happy to answer them. Okay, Mr. Bruno, you had some questions for him now. We'll get it right. Actually, my my biggest question was the recreation area, but that's been resolved and uh based on everything Jonathan said, I'm all set. Okay. You're clear where those were shown on the plans. Okay.

Okay, Mr. Carr. Uh yeah, a few questions. Um I mean overall I thought [clears throat] uh with the corrected plans I I you know that you addressed I thought uh for the most part there's there's not a lot of questions but um the one question I wanted to ask are any of these units um ADA accessible? Like will they be built you know like that handicap like inside or Yeah. Just that one of is are any of them going to be like prep for ADA or is it just all regular? Yeah. Question. If the applicant could come up the name and use the microphone. Hi.

Yeah. Hi everyone. This is Andre Cali, owner of um [snorts] uh this company and I would like to build a couple of those units just to have them. Um all the doors are already 36 in. Um, we're not going to build any ramps or anything to have them there. Um, but definitely thought about it. They're not on the plans or anything like that, but if we ever need to put a ramp up there, it's something that we can come to listen and talk about. [clears throat] But as of right now, we're not on the plans.

Okay. Yeah. I mean, just because that's that's a big trend, you know, trying to for inclusivity and and uh I know there's nothing in the ordinance. I was just asking if you're a volunteer. I can't. Um, but I know I've done a lot of research on it and I and I do a lot of building and and I know that's the big push that a lot of communities are looking at revising, you know, to to incorporate that, right? At least at least one unit or, you know, whatever the it'll end up being. But I was just curious if you're going to do that or not. And um, just because, you know, that was a case, you know, [clears throat] just where the handicap parking spaces were, right? So that they were adjacent to to that type of a unit. But um, but understood. So, um, another question I had was [clears throat] if you look at the the parking, um, so there's a, uh, to the south, you see like there's the parking spaces, uh, to the to the south. Um, yeah, I'll point it out for you. Um, so these right here, right? If you look at those, you can show the owner. So all [clears throat] your other parking spaces um are adjacent so that uh when somebody gets out of their car, they can just walk to the sidewalk and and walk from like the parking lot to a paved area and they're always on a paved um controlled area, right? Those spaces they have to it looks like walk on grass to get to the uh sidewalk which then takes them to their units. And I was just wondering if that was intentional just because like I said the rest of them you have the walkways right up to the parking lot which is nice because you can just get out of your car especially like say in the winter time right now those people are going to go over in theory like a snowbank or have to walk on mud and um so I was just curious to know

which oh these right here these spaces right there. Yeah. Yeah. Those Yeah. Yeah, the ones in the middle there. Well, I mean in m middle there it's the same theory, but I'm assuming the people that are parking there are going to go across the parking lot to buildings four and five, but those in particular, they're going to go right to their units in building three. And I was just curious what the the what the ground material was there so that they can be able to walk uh you know on safe hard surfaces. You know what I mean? So between the parking stalls and Yeah. Yeah. I was just curious.

I don't know if the landscaping plan has addressed that yet, but that's certainly something we can look at as they put that together. Something a little bit more. Can you use the microphone, please? Sorry. Yeah. Sorry about that. Um, yeah. So, I was saying that I'm not sure that's been addressed yet in terms of what that ground cover will look like at this point, but that's something certainly we could address as we go maybe into the construction drawings or or now. Well, yeah. Just because you know uh one of the things we look at right is uh vehicular and pedestrians right and how that traffic flows which you know that um yeah

so yeah just looking at that you know obviously you know going around you can say okay you can see which where where people are going to park for which respective building right and you can tell that the people that are in that uh say southwest corner building three they're going to park in those spots right and so right now uh in particular the winter time right I mean they're going to have to walk over either mud or snow or snow banks, right? Because you know with uh you know um snow management, right? They're just going to push all that snow in that grass area if it's grass. So

I uh just a thought that it would be nice if you could consider you know the the future tenants and and how they're going to walk to their building uh I think would be nice to address there. Um the trail material, what is the material of the trail that you're anticipating right now? You know, for the trail itself, is it like going to be a stone, like a crush stone? Is it concrete? That's a great question. I know that was what Eric his plans. Let me just double check and see if it's stated on here. I think Eric limestone. Limestone. Okay. Like a crushed limestone. Crushed limestone.

Yeah. Cuz it compacts and [clears throat] somewhat pvious. Okay. Um All right. That's good. That was good. That was I was curious what that was. Um and then my last question are the bio swells.

So I didn't see anything in here other than just like you know you pop some trees in there like hey tree type B whatever. So in my experience with bio swells and doing quite a few of them in many states and in particular state of Michigan typically we like uh typically almost everywhere I've ever done it um you use native plants to Michigan right and so a lot of times are filled with wild flowers or grasses things that don't have to be maintained it cleans the storm water right and then eventually goes to the retaining pond and you know and it's cleaning out uh I didn't I didn't see any of that. Is are is that the plan is to try to do something or is it just grass like a swale?

Yeah, I think that's open to uh as we get into the final uh design of it that we could certainly look at that. Um yeah, it could go either way with the landscaping that you know that does occur in a lot of different places. So I hear what you're saying on that front. Well, only because you use the word bioell and not just swell.

Like if you use the word swell, I'd be like, "All right, it's grass, right? It's ugly. It's just a ditch. collects water, moves out. But you use the term bioell, which means typically there's native plants that filter the water. Again, you know the routine. I mean, you do the thing, right? And and it's and I would encourage the bioell because it's attractive. It's great for our native plants, right? It's great for our insects and everything else that goes along with it. It's just good all around, right? That's why bios are becoming really popular. And I don't think we have an ordinance requiring it. But again, you use the term bio swell and so I it would been nice to see if you guys are doing that cuz that's a great thing for the community. That's all. So it'd be great to see it.

It's going to be a mix of landscaping and grass in there. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I mean I would encourage it. I mean it's I think it would be great for your tenants and great for the community and Right. So that's all my questions. So thank you. Okay. You price it up for Yeah, that we can address. That's a pretty simple. Yeah, Mr. Leel. I have uh three questions. Um when do you think we can have the phototric plan for the lighting? Uh the that's been ordered. If you could use the microphone, please. Couple weeks is I think what it is. But

yeah, my name's Keith Pank. I'm actually a real estate broker in the transaction and I've tal talked to the other engineer involved a half hour ago and he said he ordered it from a contractor to specializes just that and to answer your question directly probably within a week to two weeks at the most. Okay. Uh secondly, um I take the uh the letters from Selfridge seriously. The water retention on the property, are they detention ponds or are they actual retention ponds? where there'll be sitting water where ducks and geese and wildlife can live in. The way it's shown on here now is there'll be a a permanent water level at at the bottom of it and then would fill above that

as [snorts] storms come through. Okay. Um lastly, and uh I really looked at your plan. I I just don't know what you can do, but um there's a dumpster in the front of the property and uh we don't like dumpsters in front of the buildings in the front of the property. Is there anything that you can do with that dumpster location? You're talking about one of these. The one on the north. Yep. See, it it's it's it's in front of the buildings.

Mhm. I mean, I looked at, you know, circulation of trucks and how a a garbage truck's going to get in and out of there to empty the dumpster. Is there anything else that you can do? Um I I I do see some landscaping around it, but again we'd like to have the dumpsters out of the way, not in the front of the property.

So the uh the thought process for that was they had to move it back towards into the property because if not it would be within the setback. Now if you look at what's behind that setback where we at exam I'm sorry there's really there's really uh that's the back the set the setback comes up to a retention pond. So we didn't think there was a problem putting it farther towards the retention pond but my discussion with Jonathan it's like well you know that might be something that they you'd have a problem with so we pushed it back outside the setback. I don't think there's a problem for us moving it towards retention pond.

No, no, no. I mean, we we prefer to have it behind the buildings, more into your property, not not when you're um going down 23 Mile Road, you look over and you see a a dumpster. Mhm. Well, I think I think to your point, if if we do it there that there's landscape in there already and there's a pond, so I don't think you're going to see it from 23 for sure, but uh is there any other considerations of for spots? And also, um, you know, when the garbage truck comes in, he's going to he's going to have to go all the way around the the property to get to that dumpster and then spin his truck around and get the other one. We we we tried to pro provide the dumpsters so they were convenient for the to the to the tenants, but I mean,

I think the the owner, Mr. Calli, is open to whatever if anybody has any type of ideas where they'd prefer the dumpster, that's really a kind of a a moot point for for us. If uh somebody's got a better idea, we're we're we're willing to listen to it for sure.

As far as a dumpster go, I'd like to make it a little bit easier also on the tenants. Um that's why we kind of split them the way that they are and I completely understand that. I appreciate

you. Imagine working in the middle of winter, you know, walking from one side. And if you put both of them, let's say, all the way in the back where that one is in the back here, um, you know, building one or whatever building number this is, it would not be fair for this guy middle of the winter to walk all the way up there, especially right now walking in here from my car was not very very fun, you know. Um, [snorts] but there is plenty of trees around it. Um, this pond, I believe it was a dentist office. This guy has a bunch of really big trees um, here and around this whole property. There's no way anyone going to see it from 23 mile. Um, but if you do have any suggestions, we're open to it. We just want to get this, you know,

and you know, and I completely understand and I completely understand it's inside of a lo enclosure, but when you watch the gentleman emptying it, he takes it, he drops it on the ground. He doesn't always put it back. Oh, believe me, he's in a heated truck. He doesn't mind. He's not going to put [laughter] it back. It's going to sit outside. It's going to sit outside the enclosure. So, that's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Jarski. Nothing for me. Uh, from the chair, uh, there was some mention of water and sewer issue. What was what was that?

I'm not sure what I I think um, one of the review comments in there was just making sure that the commission is okay with the system that's out there. That's what I saw in the packet. Um, you know, there's an existing 24inch sewer that goes through the side and then an existing 16inch water line. Mr. Chair, isn't that an engineering issue? I would think so.

Yeah. Uh it is a standard in the ordinance that the there be adequate capacity. Um the engineering department did review and provided the applicant with information where the utilities are located. So they did not have any concerns.

Okay. Thank you. If I may, I the the the engine um the engineering department did send a an email uh with an approval and it's it's kind of a stamp and I talked to the engineering department personally and they said, "Well, we looked at it looks okay, but they can't approve anything till we do a final engineering uh for the whole building." So, but they did the standard stamp. I says, "Well, I I asked Chris at the at the engineering department, is there anything that we're missing on the plans?" He says, "Nope, we're good for right now until you submit engineering plans." But they says there's adequate water and adequate sewer. You know, the capacities are stuff that's going to have to be, you know, checked with the engineering.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh so the location um with the exception I would say of the lighting plan We're just about close. Do we want to act on this tonight? That's the question.

Okay, everybody's okay with acting tonight. Okay, good. Uh, okay, Ralph.

Okay, I will entertain a motion. I'll make a motion. There we go. Mr. [clears throat] Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve uh site plan 2025-10 with the exception of the phototric plan being reviewed by the planning department and approved by them as submitted. support. We have a motion. We have a support. Uh any questions?

All in favor? I. All opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, appreciate it. Okay. Presentation, reports, discussion. Anything from Gles Webster? Jonathan, anything from the planning department?

Thank you. Sorry to keep your so

um I just wanted to touch briefly with the planning commission. Um, if you've been following the the news or saw the board meeting, the last board meeting, um, data centers are a new hot topic item that a lot of communities are being faced with. So, um, it was discussed at the last board meeting. So, um, the planning commission is going to be tasked with looking at our ordinance, reviewing it, making sure that we are adequately prepared. Um so I would just say to start thinking about that and get ready for the very near future for that to become a discussion item. Um and the other thing is that we have um we are due this year for our five-year review of the master plan. So we will uh be coming up with a timetable shortly to kick that off. So five years already. That's all I have. Thank you.

Okay. Um planning commissioner comments Mr. Brokart are there are we going to be uh provided any data center requirements what the objectives are etc

from Goss Webster. Yes, [laughter] we will. We'll give you um some of the background research that we've been working on. We've been working with a few communities on this type of regulation. Um so you won't have to feel like you're coming in just to look at the ordinance and say yes or no. So we'll have some information for you. Um, I know that we did share our newsletter back in October, November, um, after the planning conference. So, that's kind of a basic um, set, but we'll give you some other information soon so that you can have that and then we'll have our our conversations about it.

I'm all set. Thank you. Um, Mr. Renault, I am all set. Thank you, Mr. Carr. Nothing tonight. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Le Bell. Nothing for me. Thank you. And the chair has nothing. So motion to adjurnn. Second. Oh, too quick. We have a motion. We have support. All in favor? I. Motion.