Planning Commission - Special Meeting

Hello. What's that? Yep. Special meeting of the East Point Planning Commission to order. Would the secretary please call the role? Mrs. Hall Raford here. Mr. Stokes here. Miss Naylor here. Miss Jillinsky here. Um, Vice Chair Sassic here. All right. Next, we will go into approval of the agenda. Um, would somebody like to make a motion?

A motion to approve the agenda. Is there a second? Second. The motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Hall Rafford. Secretary, please call the RO. Mr. Stokes, yes. Mrs. Hall Rayford, yes. Miss Naylor, yes. Miss Yolinsky, yes. Vice Chair Sassic, yes. Next, under new business, we will go to uh the action plan objective worksheet. And Mr. Mr. Chair, if I may real quick before you start, I know that I know that the consultants cannot see, but our new deputy building official is here. This is Carlton Witet.

Um, so he brings incredible expertise and experience and credentials. So, we're really really glad that he decided to come with us and uh this I think this is going to be a team to be reckoned with. So, um I just wanted to introduce him. Thank you. Thank you. to this point. We're happy to have you. Thank you. Thank you. So, do we want to turn it over to the planners at this point or I'm saying yes. Okay. It's your call.

Okay. Wonderful. Thank you all so much uh for having us back today. Uh I thought I thought maybe you would lock the doors after last time, but we're to be back with you. Thanks for having us. Um it is uh August today. So we are here to give kind of our monthly update. If you'll remember uh last time, of course, we did a little bit of visioning and just kind of uh talking about expectations and our approach, general approach to the master plan and economic development strategic plan. Um, and today we uh are going to follow up on some of the homework uh that we gave you that again I I want to make sure I I'm clear that Kim made us give you after our last meeting. Um we we gave you some homework. Um, and so what we're going to do today is we're going to go ahead and go through some of the implementation, in fact all I think of the implementation steps, um, that are in the last master plan. I do want to say quickly before we do this, uh, this is not the only time we're going to be collecting any feedback on those action items, on those implementation steps. Uh, but we did want to kind of start, uh, this conversation with you. We have a number of interviews and stakeholder sessions where we're going to be at least exploring some of the same concepts that we're talking about today. So, what I'm going to do here in just a moment is I'm going to bring up on my screen um uh a slide deck that goes through all of those implementation steps. We're going to go through each of them. I'll read each one that's on the slide and then I'm gonna at the end of each slide gonna pass it back to the group and we're going to ask which of these have already been accomplished, which are still in

progress, which are still things that are yet to be started and which of these are no longer relevant. Again, this is not the only time we're going to be collecting this information. So, if you don't feel like you have uh you know, a lot of experience or or knowledge to talk about a specific action item or implementation step, that's okay. But we did want to bring these to you and just collect some information from you kind of about where we stand now in relation to the priorities and goals and action items that were established in the last master plan. So before I get going and I'm going to pull my camera down and we'll put up the slide deck. Any questions about what uh what our activity is for today? Anybody have any questions?

Nope. We're good to go. Thank you. All right. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Give me one second. I think I can figure out the technology here. Okay. Can everybody see the slide deck? Yes, it's loading. Oh, really? Okay. Still nothing.

Okay. Sorry about that. Not sure what to take off. Okay. So, we'll get go ahead and get going. So, the first kind of area, the focus area that we're going to look at today is neighborhoods. Um, we have a kind of quote and just for my correction, this is the the goal that was established part of that focus area. So leading into each of these items from the implementation matrices, they had these kind of little short statements and so these were just um those statements provided here.

Yeah. Um I think uh overall I just want to take a second. We didn't get a chance uh my colleague Aaron Brown was not here on the last call. Just this is Aaron everybody. Aaron Brown. I know it can be comp confusing maybe with us both being named Aaron but we'll figure it out. uh if you do have questions for either of us who you're talking to. So again, this is the neighborhood section that kind of I don't know executive summary I guess if you will about the goals there where we strengthen the quality of the residential character of the community by improving current neighborhoods assuming that growth meets the needs of the community and providing convenient access to supporting activities. So we do have a couple of slides here. um that are focused on the neighborhoods. I'll just go ahead and read these goals just in case somebody can see the screen, read them from the screen. So, first encourage the development of housing including apartments, town homes, senior housing and mixeduse housing in areas where infrastructure is available or would be provided by the development. So focus there on development of new housing also a broad mix of housing and focus those specifically on where infrastructure already exists or would be provided by the developer. Second maintain and upgrade current housing stock throughout the city. Third, encourage the development of cohesive neighborhoods by facilitating rehabilitation of existing homes, encouraging the construction of new homes, and promoting the development of public improvements and open space. So, with those three in front of you, and again, there was a a little bit of a worksheet that maybe you had the opportunity to print out and have in front of you as well. Um so looking at those first three which of these do we feel comfortable we can say has been accomplished.

I might be off base but I had indicated that I thought the third item had been somewhat accomplished because of just the different growth that has been going on uh with residential housing in the city at this time. And the first two items I put were in progress again because of the type of development that's been looked at with PACE the modular home um and those kind of areas that are being utilized some of it being low house cost housing um anybody else in

Alex Stokes I had in progress for three of these three thank Any other thoughts on these three?

I have a couple thoughts on it. Um I would say some of them most of them are in progress. None of them are completed. But um I separate the city into seven different neighborhoods which distinguish the quality of each of these three questions being asked, answered or completed or even started. And uh Erin, these are probably my view of breaking the city down into historical timelines of which neighborhoods were designed, built, or are being maintained. And so there are pro there's two of them that I would say haven't even begun the process of the third one being rehabilitated of existing houses and facilitating a quality life in them. and it should get started, but it's probably not due to the um process of household medium income that we've talked about and then that resource to give them um collective neighborhood ambition to do that. But you're right, in our historic or our our neighborhoods where we have elderlys and and senior development, we see that coming. It's in process to be to be moved in a certain neighborhood. And then we certainly have that um maintain and upgrade current housing stock. Um on certain neighborhoods on the far east side, you see that different structure, but I would say out of the seven neighborhoods I have um the there's probably three of those seven that haven't even begun. Uh number three, um barely if not at all began. Uh, number two, u, so based on the neighborhoods, how I broke the city down in historical timelines of which they would have been built, I distinguish them a little differently.

Thank you. Yeah, thank you, Don. Would we say that as far as the three that we're looking at here um all three uh or or maybe I'll put it this way, are any of the three that we're looking at really no longer priorities or or something that as we think about putting together a new master plan here would not be things that you would still want to focus on? I would say we need to continue to f focus on those to stabilize our communities as we bring new development. We need all of them. I agree.

I would agree also the fact that if we're looking at increased population where we've been stalled for a number of years now at the same rate of of population. If we're going to increase that, then each of those would need to be addressed based on parts of the community and the growth possibility of the city. Wonderful. Okay, great. Well, I'm going to go ahead and move to the next set of neighborhoods if uh neighborhood uh action items uh without unless anybody wants to stop or have any other comments on these two. So next we have a group of four here under neighborhoods. Again, ensure new residential projects preserve the contextual character of the neighborhood. Next, apply the full range of incentives available to assist in the development of additional housing, including public improvements, land assembly, and financial assistance. Next, encourage the development of senior housing options for those 55 years and older to meet the needs of the growing senior population to allow residents to quote age in place. And fourth, enforce property maintenance through code enforcement and the beautifification committee. Of these four, this group here, um do we have um which of them could we say are either accomplished, in progress, to be started or no longer relevant?

I said for the first one, ensuring that our neighborhoods uh preserve the contextual character. Um I think it's not quite started. the some of the developments you have is kind of changing a bit.

Um as far as apply the full range of incentive available to assist with um additional housing including public improvements, land assembly and financial assistance. Um we could definitely stand to use some more support there. Definitely think we are in progress with making sure our seniors can age in place based on some recent projects that's come before the city. And um I think we're doing good with our um enforce our property maintenance through code enforcement. Mr. Chair, that last what was the what was the comments about the code enforcement?

I think it's uh in progress and doing very well. Great. Thank you. If I may, um I don't think the beautifification commission is really a part of that. Um we we actually finally have a building official and deputy that are going to enforce the code enforcement. Um that being said, um I think one of the things that we need to do is find the resources to help people with violations be able to uh repair those violations. Many are seniors or or don't have the income to do it. This is Kip.

Mr. Sure. I and and Erin, I would add to that. I think besides the resources to accomplish those developments, I think we're missing also the manpower that or the the the skilled players to come in and help get some of this done under the table for for developing not under the table, under the the resources. There's a not enough resource financially. there's not enough uh improvement land assemblies that will allow us to grow that population and even putting qualified manpower on the ground to help those in that financial assistance is maybe lacking in the community at this time. Plus, I I think along with that, our ordinances need teeth, too, because

because of the fact that a lot of businesses and residents choose to ignore a lot of the code violations because they know that we don't have code code enforcement officers and they've been able to fly under the radar. So, we we really need to educate our community as well. That's very that's very helpful feedback all of you there would uh any any other comments on these four in front of you uh preserving contextual character neighborhoods applying the full range of incentives to assist in the development of new housing senior housing options or uh enforcing property maintenance.

I had a question about the Fourth one, um, preserving the contextual character of the neighborhood. Is that for each neighborhood or are we talking about overall? I I need some clarity to explain that description.

If you're address if you're addressing it to me, Mr. Sure. It would be neighborhood oriented because there's a very distinctive layout in our city of housings built in one era of time versus a second era of time plus a fourth or third or fifth era of time. So trying to keep the contextual character is really based on that neighborhood in a smaller geographic that it was when it was built when it was designed in um the the layout of the city plans and I'm sorry we were asked to identify ourselves by name prior to

I'm vice sassic and we will try to do better as we proceed. I'm the old guy over 55.

Oh goodness. Of the four that are in front of us, are any of them would would anybody say any of them are either no longer relevant or maybe should not be priorities for the new master plan?

I I think they all need to be in the new master plan as well. Commissioner Naylor uh agree with the chair that we should maintain this. This is John Myers again. I would agree with it on the on the premise that this is not writing a this is not creating a new zoning map, but is creating a roadmap of how to accomplish a a healthier growing community over the next 5, 10, and 15 years. Did they want responsible Mary Hall?

No, I'm sorry. I didn't identify myself before, so I thought I'd drop that little nugget in right now.

Thank you. Um, can I say this is Carlton Witet, the deputy BO building official, and um, are we really considering collaborating or including the uh, commercial district with our property maintenance and enforcement? Because I know that's been a fargone conclusion that has been left out there. And I think if we have healthy neighborhoods, we've got to have these we got to have the resources for these retail and this commercial, too. not just in the downtown district, but as I drive the city, there are other areas that more are deprived and and if we build those up, you know, I think that will help too. Okay. All right.

I'm sorry if that I don't know if that was a question for us. We couldn't really hear it. So, um if that was a question for us, if somebody could repeat it, please. Um, it's in the commercial this this considering the commercial areas, but that's an economic development. My understanding that's not in this portion. Can maybe it would help if he had his turned his mic on and it's on. I have to talk a little bit louder. Can we hear me now? Yes.

Okay. I said that I was asking questions about the commercial districts being included in some portion of the transitions for these neighborhoods, but I'm understanding that is included in the economic development and not in this portion. Um yeah. So the the commercial districts and transition between the commercial districts and neighborhoods would be you said in um considered in in the economic development plan and in the master plan. Am I hearing that correctly? Yes.

Yeah. So I think that the um the economic development um strategic plan and placemaking strategy um that is you know we're working on kind of at the same time right and kind of a a a dual effort in these um some of those strategies if you think about like transitional zones or something like that around commercial districts which I I think I'm hearing maybe you're talking a little bit about that um things that are going to be in the um economic development plan and placemaking strategy will also be represent represented in the master plan but not to the same like level of maybe detail. I think the master plan will have components that align with the economic development strategic plan. Um but um you know in in a lot of ways the the questions you're asking I think are going to be at least worth you know kind of considering and exploring in maybe both plans. Um, but the the goal of course would be for the two plans to very much be in alignment with one another. And so what I think we'll see in the economic development strategic plan will also be in maybe in a in a condensed version also appearing in the master plan if that answers your question.

Yes. Um I just don't want it. It shouldn't be too separate. It should it's going to have to intersect somewhere. So as we I think it really builds the neighborhoods and helps stabilize the neighborhoods when you have that infrastructure and that transition there just from my background as an architect I just believe that yeah thank you it's got to there will be a link somewhere so I appreciate I I understand your answer

yeah and I just want to say also um you know we're going to be looking for having some public sessions uh and some stakeholder engagement ment sessions as well um when we're on the ground uh later next month. Uh so again, sorry I can't see you, but um if you if you do want to bring some of these uh conversations and topics to those sessions uh especially with somebody with an architectural background, we would really be excited to talk to you and and hear your ideas uh at those as well. So hope you have the opportunity to join us for one of those sessions.

He has no choice. Wonderful. Okay. So, without uh uh I'd be happy to move on to our next section. This is the end of neighborhoods. Anything else about the neighborhoods section uh before we move forward? Vice Chair Sassic, again, I don't think so. I think we can move on.

Okay. Thank you so much. So, We're looking uh at the next kind of focus area that we're going be looking at today is the community building uh piece. The uh kind of summary was and the master plan was again to continue to improve city policies and planning processes with input from appropriate stakeholders. So we also have a couple of these in the community building section. A couple of slides here. The first one has five of the action items. The first develop safe and secure recreation facilities and programs that meet the needs of citizens in the community. Next, provide space for active and passive recreation and encourage site development that is sensitive to the area's built and natural environment. Third, provide incentives and here we have as examples density bonuses, creative design, etc. to ensure quality open space is incorporated into new development. Fourth, seek opportunities to share facilities with other public or quasi public agencies. Five, assemble properties that create linkages connecting to interior and exterior parks for pedestrians, bicyclists, or similar uses. So among these five, do we have any that are either kind of to be marked as accomplished, in progress, to be started, or no longer relevant? This is Vice Chair Sassic again. Um, in regards to most of those, uh, the recreational has come a long way, so it's definitely in progress. uh they just completed a five-year recreational master plan that I'm going to recommend that we incorporate with

our citywide master plan because I feel the two should go hand in hand. And I would also be seeking input from our recreational authority for Roseville and East Point because while we worry about the grounds and the physical aspects, they basically do all of the programming. Sure. Yeah. Thank you. Obviously, we're aware of the parks and recck master plan um and want to ensure especially as it's a recent document alignment of course with with the master plan we're working on with the parks and recck master plan as well.

Are there any components from the five that we're looking at? Um again I feel like you know we we are seeing a lot of progress maybe because of that or because of efforts to put together the parks and rec master plan. Do you think any of these five are maybe no longer relevant? Mr. Chair, if I may. Yes.

This is Kim. Um so some of our planning members may not know but we recently received a matching grant of 350,000. So, we're putting 700 something um into Spindler Park. Um a lot of that is also it's ADA and some of the other um enhancements to the park, solar lighting. Um we have of course Civic Point that we received 1 million and are matching. It'll be a $2 million project in the DDA. Um and the the consultants are aware of this, but just to make sure. And then um Kennedy Park splash pad starts the construction starts next week and then we we actually received another $500,000 for enhancing and adding to that too. So we've been really lucky to get money for our parks and recreation.

Absolutely.

And this is Commissioner Naylor. I think these points that we're looking at are definitely um important to maintain. Um I don't know, it's good to hear the report on what's in progress, but um I think public space and placem is critical to community. Um I think it does provide that sense of community when there's a place that people can people can actively engage and go to public spaces and uh connect with other neighbors. So, I would say uh to the items shown that um they definitely are still relevant um and maybe more need to be started, but it seems like we're getting more of a budget for our parks and recreation. So, that is that's a plus to the community. Thanks for sharing, Kim.

Thank you. Anybody else to the next? Go ahead. I'm sorry.

No, please don't apologize. It's your meeting. Um, so one more slide here for the community building component. Uh, we have six uh left. Uh, first up, expand the quality and quantity of local seasonal festivals, shows, parades, and events. Second, encourage bike parking in all new and improved developments. Third, develop a local complete streets policy and support regional efforts to invest in non-motorized transportation and transit. Four, implement a transparent planning process. Five, protect historic properties that have cultural significance and/or adaptive reuse potential. and six, develop a plan for the sale of city-owned property in concert with strategies found in the master plan and zoning ordinance and conditioned upon following future design guidelines. So, there's a lot of them there and they're covering a lot of ground uh any that are accomplished, in progress, to be started or no longer relevant.

This is Commissioner Naylor. Could you uh elaborate on implement a transparent planning process? What does that mean exactly? And who would be accountable for maintaining the transparency? I'm sorry, that's a question for us. Whomever I don't know, Kim, if you have

I think this is a a really critical thing and one of the things that um really is really important in all aspects of planning. Uh, one of the things that we really want to focus on is first off, I think having uh these monthly check-ins with you is part of this the transparency that we want to bring to this, but we also want to make sure that it's not just the planning commission and it's not just the consultants and and Kim and John who are part of this process, but that we do come we do have a opportunities, lots of opportunities to provide updates to the public uh about the information that we're collecting about the process and progress that we're making on this plan. Uh but also to collect information from them. So we have multiple public engagement events. We have stakeholder uh workshops and interviews. Hopefully people who will be kind of representative of community organizations or different aspects of the community. And we also have u a big survey that we're going to be releasing as well, hoping for very wide distribution and a really great response on that to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to not only participate in our process and share their thoughts, but really as a huge part of that is also making sure that the community knows that we're there, the work that we're working on. Sometimes what you will find uh and something we want to very actively work against is that we'll get to the end of a process like this and somebody we hear feedback well I didn't know any of this was going on where did where nobody asked me my thoughts or anything like that. Uh it can be difficult and challenging to make sure that we have a presence and people see what the what we are working on and the importance of the work we're doing. uh but that is really a a primary uh kind of function and thing that we want to make sure that we're doing. So I know we've been spending a lot of time with

Wanita who I saw a little bit earlier. Hi Wanita. Um about making sure that not only do we have the opportunity for people to participate but that people are also aware of the process, aware of what we're working on as well. And just to add one other piece to that to talk about the survey which again we hope for a very wide distribution and great response to one of the things that we do while the survey is open is we try to monitor the uh the responses that we're getting not for the content of them exactly of course we'll process those once the survey is closed but we like to kind of monitor the self-reported demographic information on the survey. So, for example, we're going to ask uh we we don't have a final version of the survey yet. We're working on drafts right now. But one of the things we are very likely to ask, let me say this, and we certainly have asked in other communities as part of our survey. Uh we'll collect information on um the age of of uh people in the household. will uh collect information uh if people are willing to provide it to us about household income uh or rent versus own or a variety of demographic uh information and then we want to at various times while the survey is open pull down that data and match it to the overall demographics of the city and that can help us to understand where there might be some gaps maybe we aren't reaching I'll just uh you know 18 to 24 year olds or or maybe we have a low response rate from individuals uh who are you know renting households or um at different income levels. And so once we see where there might be a gaps in the general distribution of demographics across the city, if there are huge gaps in some of those areas,

we'll try to think about specific distribution tactics that will help us target and maybe fill in some of those gaps. Now, that might be uh relying on some of our partners, community organizations. Uh maybe it's uh thinking about maybe we need to have paper surveys available at the library, for example, or or maybe we need to uh even do something like put a mailer, you know, in the mail with a QR code if if response rates are low. So, we've done a lot of those things over the years. uh we have a lot of different kind of tactics and ways we might want to think about approaching those different gaps as they potentially could occur in our response rates. Uh, and so we're really focused on making sure that while we might not have a perfect representative sample or anything like that of the community, what we want to do is have high response rates and then try to make sure that there aren't any glaring or noticeable gaps in the demographics of survey takers as compared to the demographics of the community. Um, so that's one of the ways we want to make sure not only we're being transparent, but we're also hearing and collecting information from a wide swath of community members.

And if I can, yeah, Aaron, please.

Sorry, just going to hop in here. Um, so I think one of our goals when thinking about putting together this new master plan is to really focus on um things that are kind of actionable for you all. And so to your question, you know, what does implement a transparent planning process mean? I think we would want to if this was something that we were going to include as, you know, part of the implementation matrix for um this upcoming master plan, you know, we would go on to kind of further define that, right? Like does that mean um you know, participating in a certain number of like outreach events? Does that mean like how are we defining that? So I think if this was something we were going to include kind of we would try to go you know I guess the next step further to help you all um in you know ensure that that is happening as we have designed it in the master plan.

Thank you. Does that help answer your question? Yes it did. Thank you. Okay. Great. Yeah. You're welcome. Anything else when we think about these? Yeah, please.

I'm sorry. This is Commissioner Sassic again. Um, I also feel that sources that we should involve along with the process would be PACE, the Chamber of Commerce because again, they're going to know what their needs are and what their plans for the future within the community are. So they should be I would feel an active part of the process whether it's steering committee members or just involved but we should really work to get their input as well.

Yeah, undoubtedly. Thank you. Um so we are having a specific uh focus group and we're going to be there next month targeted very much at the economic development uh components of this. Um and of course that will include uh the chamber employers uh business owners uh as well. So uh there's going to be a kind of a really large effort very specifically focused on the business community and of course the um the commercial districts um as we think about them. So uh thanks for bringing that up. I think that's absolutely critical and and certainly something that we're going to spend a lot of time uh talking specifically to a lot of those stakeholders.

Mr. Chair, if I may.

Yes. as it relates to transparent um we have provided the consultants with um I think most of the um you know the the Anderies Villa um Cloverleaf Derronies um I have some more to add to the project but definitely the businesses that that are committed here um we have included chamber the county some of our state contacts different things um I could probably pull the list down, but any and and share it. But anybody else that this commission thinks should be involved, please let us know. You guys are all on the list, by the way. Um, moving from that, um, no choice. Um, as it relates to historic properties, we really only have the schoolhouse. Um, so I don't know, but I I leave that to planning commission. Um, and to update is sale of city-owned property. Um, recent federal court decisions have really changed or eliminated the ability of municipalities to purchase tax foreclosed properties so as to um

restrict speculators and really um have a voice in who um can buy the properties whether it's houses or commercial property. We've been working closely with community housing network and with Habitat, but um I don't know. We do have a policy for city- owned property, but I don't know that it's something we could even address for the next couple of years due to the uh pending litigation.

Thank you. Uh, Commissioner N again, um, on that topic, Kim, that would um, al do we have a lot of like commercial, you have some, you know, abandoned commercial properties you see on the corridors. Any of those stateowned or I mean city owned or are those pretty much just all

right now we have a registry. This is John Myers building official. Right now we have over 200 vacated uh business uh parcels in the city and we're right now collecting how many more over that that we have and most of them are all privately owned. Okay. And what we have to do is find a way to release those private owned properties so that we would have the ability or the resources back into um the combination of residential and commercial building that we can develop that land uh in the same strategy found in the master plan zoning and ordinances uh with modern future design guidelines. We need to get that under control. Commissioner Naylor, that's a really good question because yes, we do have an issue with vacant commercial properties. Um, and council is aware of that and Mr. Myers is proposing some changes to the ordinance to incentivize people to move their properties along because we have, you know, residential, we have someone who owns a house because they use it once in a while for a picnic. We have people storing their cars in storefront properties. We have um someone who's using uh bought a a commercial property because it's cheaper and better than a PO box. Um so that's something that um that Mr. Meyers is is really working on. we um everything got tabled. So maybe in the next couple of weeks um it's something to if you of course um you guys that that are builders and developers that have ideas, but um our vacant properties might be some that might be a better topic for all of this is vacant commercial and vacant residential that may be in code but it's just sitting there. Yeah, I think they should. I mean, they

both need to apply with um our master plan uh you know, with our residentials complying with neighborhood standards, etc. Uh the commercials, we may have to think of some of those incentives. I knew um one of the things they did was um if they collectively went in maybe to you know reface the front of their stores to update them uh it might give them a chance maybe get some new tenants because some of them are kind of dated in the appearance but again that goes back to our resources and finding those resources to do those things but um they were um I know they did find resources for that um where they did that and like the owner might pay 25% % or 75%. But if they got like five or six other businesses in a certain area, they could maybe drop that down to like only anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 contributions. So, we might look at some other things to incentivize our owners to move forward as the city is planning to move forward. Thank you.

Off. This is John Myers again. We in in the same line of sales of city-owned properties, it's the incentivizing, getting them back into our hands, getting the owners to have a value. It's what we've been talking about. I've just ran into Random Cross, I should say, two historical housing stocks that's been in the city that has been unoccupied since 2011 because the owner now doesn't want to share the backyard with anybody but himself. And so it's such a large backyard, he's refused to put this historically designed, architecturally amazing house on the market, but we need to find a way to incentive the use of a property like this that it could bring the categories that you're describing here about encouraging bike parking and and completing street policies for non motorized transition. Those would be ideal, but we're we're locked in. And so we now need to find the strategy in our master plan and our development of getting these city development properties back available to the society that we live in.

Thank you. Sorry.

Okay. Uh we'll go ahead and and move on. And I know we're um running a little bit out of time here, but we do have the business and industrial, which I think is the largest um section here today. So, we'll try to get through this one and then um I know that u you know, if we have to kind of finish up at our next meeting, maybe that's an option. I don't want to uh take up too much extra of your time today. So the uh kind of summary here was to create an environment that is conducive to development, redevelopment and the growth of businesses, support existing business districts with appropriately cited and attractively designed trail service and entertainment establishments. Um and this will be really kind of interesting to hear what we think about some of these. So the first four here, I think we have four of these slides. maintain and promote the redevelopment, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse of existing commercial sites and buildings within existing business districts. Second, revise signage design standards to ensure future uniformity and architectural character based on each district. Three, capitalize on existing assets and activity centers by creating or expanding mixed use districts. and for increased communication between East Point and its business community chamber and DDA. Um, are are any of these either accomplished, in progress, to be started, or no longer relevant? This is Commissioner Sassic again. Mr. Myers, can you enlighten us in this?

Probably. Um, this is again back to the lack of productive business strategy per business district. Um, we've just kind of collectively put it together without distinctive um, uh, overlays based on the neighborhood in which the business district might be relocated. And and so that's what's wiping out some of these. We saw pictures earlier today about needing new pictures for plazas that are just out marketed, aren't registered. The signage issue in the city is uh deplorable at its at its best description, if I could be kind in saying that. We have historical signs that haven't been used, but they're still in place. Um we have designs and that. So, their question of of getting started and moving forward is is essential. But, uh, I'm looking forward to seeing the business and industrial um, actually meet the neighborhood that they they live in. If I can say what we see on north on the east side, I mean on the yeah the east side of 10 mile should be different than what we see on the south the west side of 10 mile in businesses because of the neighborhoods that are developed and operating in those versus what we would see in the DDA district versus some of the sections on NMI. Just as it's changing for the neighborhoods, it should be changing for our business usage. And uh that's what I I I think is wonderful. There's very few, but there are some north sides of Crashet that has some mixed vis districts, but they're not being published. They're not being advertised, and they're not being maximized. So, between here and and 10 mile, you you'll see some of those mixed use uh buildings, but really not we're not really exploiting the use and

opportunity that we have available to us. This is Commissioner Sassic again. I think the Kelly corridor would be an ideal spot to be concentrating on too because it's a wonderful mix of residential business green space and I think it could be developed into something even more appealing to surrounding communities as well as our own community.

Agreed. Very much so. It could it could increase a business structure that we'd have missing from about to uh from um where's the house just put up to um north. There's a lot more that we could add to that section with all the business all the housing that we have there.

So, Commissioner Ufort, my name is too long. Forget who I am. Um, with regard to um attempting to synchronize building facads and whatever, are we talking about resources to be found for the current businesses if that were going to be um relevant for for instance uh Kelly? Because I think sometimes when we see buildings that look similar, there's some uh sort of symmetry with the bu with the facades of the building. It makes everything a little more appealing. But I don't know how we could do that with existing businesses if they don't have the resources to do it. And how would we go about trying to find it? Again, I think that's part of that roadmap that needs manpower, needs resources, financial resources in the strategic planning for the development in the next five-year plan. It can't be just dreamed of. It has to be strategically built into the program. And and I'm still voting for a zipline across uh Grashet just for easy access. So that's that's my vote for a new modernday what did science say? creative expansion, mixed use. We could come from the apartment right across Grashet to to um Clover Leaf right for lunch on a zipline. It wouldn't have to worry about traffic.

That would be interesting. Commissioner Rayford again thinking, Commissioner Rayford again, could you clarify increased communication between East Point and the chamber? that last one up there. What type of communication are you referencing? Mr. Chair, if I may. Sorry, Erin. If I No, please. Um I think that um again being something from the former former plan that the city and the chamber and and the DDA have done an incredible job

um starting to communicate. not even starting they are communicating everything is being um coordinated um and not just in the DDA but u the business community in the chamber in terms of new businesses coming in and do they have their business license are they ready for a grand opening um we've had a number of you know businesses ready for grand opening according to themselves and the chamber says no the city says you don't have everything you need so let's work to get this accomplished so that you can have this event on time. Thank you.

Okay. So to look at the next three here under business and industrial. Uh first of undertake streetscape improvements within the business districts to create cohesive districts that residents and visitors recognize as district areas with elements of green design and low impact development. in parenthesis. Second, develop a zoning district or overlay district for nine mile road corridor to proactively encourage redevelopment that is consistent with the local commercial and neighborhood mixeduse designation on the future land use map. And uh third, work with county, state, and federal agencies to identify programs and offer incentives to businesses looking to establish within East Point. any of these accomplished, in progress, to be started, or no longer relevant.

This is Commissioner Naylor. I would say we definitely need to be starting all of those bullet points if we're not I know Kim stepped away for a minute. Um I think undertaking this the top one, the streetscape improvement within the business district. We've often talked about like the nine mile grass and how much more appealing that could look. Oh, I'm sorry. He might see you behind the thing. Sorry, I just saw the mic there sitting. Um, where if we like took the rope street lights down look more like a nine mile and and what were where the lights are coming from a post. It just makes for a more modernistic look. So, I would say that's to be started. Um, and then developing a zoning or overlay, you know, the nine mile corridor. Um, we definitely need to do something there. I think nine mile is just enriched with you know automotive type businesses and um and I don't say that lightly it's just like you can get anything you fixed on 9 mile but um yeah I think we should you know definitely need to be starting something there uh for a master plan so any any new thing that come you know maybe some you know mixeduse destination or building on top of existing buildings um some housing with commercial open in the front so I think that could really be um ideal for our 9 mile and it's definitely in our 9 mile aggression um intersection and of course it relies on bullet number three finding some of those incentives

anybody else

um just as a newcomer this is Carlton deputy building official um the south side Nimo, I was introduced to that and let's not forget that. That needs to be a priority. Small businesses are there. I talked to a couple business owners today and they're thinking of they've been there like 10 years, 12 years, and they're thinking of closing because it's just trying to maintain. And you can tell those very nice people. They're they take stock in their business, but they might be on the lower end of resources to be able to do some things in that area. And most of them that area I know there's this I think that's 10 mile the schools, but that's it's a heavily dense neighborhood and you don't want it dropping off, which that's what I see currently when I drive down. it just declines as you go towards born and I think that should be very very much looked at to be included as a priority and not drop off.

Thank you.

This is John Myers adding to Carlton's concepts. It's it's back to the last um page we were at. It's about this communication skills part of the the communication and some of you on the commission know it's about developing the knowledge they need to even run small mom and pop businesses and the developing of communications between the DDA resourcing and the the chamber resourcing and collectively gathering it and even at that communication bridge that you were asking about originally it won't be as only as important for these small businesses on nine mile to learn about what's happening to develop the five-year plan, but more importantly, how to implement it over the next one, two, three, four years, and that they're highly involved in the communication gap that may be done in the implementation of the five-year plan more than only the in the development of it.

Thank you. Um, and another four here on business industrial. Develop and maintain an inventory of all vacant properties. We talked a little bit about this already. And evaluate and prioritize redevelopment depending on location, size, future land use, and potential revenue generation. Next, encourage innovative design consistent with smart growth principles, including mixture of uses in large multi-partial development projects. Third, market the unique attributes of the city as a means of attracting new and retaining existing businesses, including location. And four, promote retail office and mixed use core redevelopment at and near the intersection of 9m and Grash Avenue. Here we can list as accomplished, in progress, to be started, or no longer relevant. I uh Commissioner N I think we have some uh progress where we had the big boys that finally came down and it's lending to some new development. So that we can say but um a good bit of this is um to be started. It's definitely relevant to our future uh city but I I guess just goes back again into, you know, finding those resources to incentivize our business to make those investments. Um, but I think it definitely um is something we will want to maintain as part of what we want to see in our master plan as the city grows. Thank you,

Commissioner Stokes. I think the um the point of market the unique attributes of the city as a means of attracting new and retaining ex existing businesses including location would be great to prioritize. I think that East Point does have a lot of unique attributes and I think that a focus on marketing those unique attributes being located uh on Grashet. This is a main thoroughfare. is very close to lots and lots of densely populated areas. It's a it's a clean slate for a lot of different businesses. So, I think that'd be good to prioritize and I'd say that that would be um maybe in progress, but definitely to be started.

I agree, Mr. Chair, if I may.

Yes. One of um the things that we did love about these consultants is that the idea that we need to rebrand um we're a family town. We're the gateway to Mcome, but I agree with Mr. Stokes that um and and also um Miss Naylor that we're not highlighting. We need to identify and highlight the city and the unique attributes. Um I think that's really important. um as it relate to the vacant properties. Yes. And prioritize redevelopment. It's something that that we're working on and I feel we're very behind unfortunately, but that is critical. Um and again then incentivizing some of the owners of these properties that are just sitting whole blocks just sitting um and not being used. So those that's also very important.

This is John Myers. Were you suggesting more car shops? I was just kidding. Just kidding. Sorry. In those vacant businesses, get your car fixed in East Point. That's be a commercial, right? Yeah. Need to get your car.

And if I can add to the subject in point, I agree with Mr. Stokes in point one. We really need that high level of development or redevelopment of our lands and the uses of our lands and and grass really as as I would have said to you before as we are a gateway to Mcome we will and are whether we like it or not a gateway to Detroit and so that's why we get that vulnerable privilege but number two is I think we also have an opportunity to plan develop the the uh including mixture of use of large and multiple parcels for developing projects. When you think of the south side of K Grashett and 8 mile, we have some land available that could be planned for that has been really stalled and stagnated for quite some time and we could address some innovative work being developed over the next number of years on that whole region of the of the city uh as as open land that it is in a commercial district and residential combination. This is Commissioner Sassic again in that same vein. It would just cleaning that corner up would change the whole outlook of entering our city as well. Mhm.

But we also have to consider the landlords that during the crash of ' 07 and '08 came in, bought up a bunch of foreclosed properties and are quite content to sit with houses for months on end being empty and not doing anything to maintain the property. Not doing anything to see that that

the property is being lived in and creating an environment that's appealing to the whole city. I I'm sure other every one of us up here can think of a few houses in our neighborhoods that have been eyes because they're empty and nobody moving to do anything with them.

Yeah. I I think one of the things that you bring up and something certainly that we when we think about economic development, we think about placemaking are the kind of gateways, right? the kind of opportunities to kind of create. I think uh to the point here about kind of marketing the unique opportunities and the unique location that East Point has. I think gateways to the city are going to be a really kind of important thing to think about. Um we can simultaneously kind of uh establish, you know, that that sense of place uh so people know when they're in East Point as opposed to when they're just outside or something like that. um but also um you know create a little bit of kind of excitement and and part of that is thinking about we we've talked a little bit about vacant properties. We've heard a lot in these two sessions now about kind of um some of the long-term impacts from the financial crisis in 08 09 um uh and you know the ways that kind of uh a lot of that has continued to shape or kind of stagnate in a lot of ways uh some things about East Point. So, um, some of these are tricky problems to solve, but certainly ones we want to think, uh, a lot about, um, and and, you know, we're excited to kind of also think about those things as well. But I do think those gateways to those cities, those opportunities to do that, uh, can go a long way to accomplishing a number of these goals that we're thinking about.

So, it is 7:03. Um, do we want to pause here and pick it up at the next meeting or would the commission prefer to cover a few more areas. Did we complete this section? Were there more bullets on the business and industrial? Was that it? Might be the stopping point there. Yeah. Okay. So, I have a number of them. We'll try to move somewhat quickly through business industrial. Is I'm sorry. Was that the decision or do we need that? I can pause. Yes. That's agreeable with everybody. Sure.

Okay. Great. So, I'll try to move quickly because there are a number of slides here. I think at least three, but uh with only a couple, one or two or three on each slide. Allow for denser development of office uses to create a critical mass of knowledge workers. Second, permit retail and office expansion or redevelopment into adjacent residential parcels that are no longer viably used for residences. There's a lot going on in this one. So, let me read that again. So, to permit retail and office expansion or redevelopment into adjacent residential parcels that are no longer viably used for residences. And third, develop the downtown by providing businesses with incentives such as streetscape improvements, low interest rate loans for facade improvements, create public parking and annual events. I think a lot of these in this last this third one here are kind of things that we're seeing again that maybe been brought up in a couple of the other action items. Anything here that feels accomplished in progress to be started or no longer relevant? I'm Commissioner Nagler looking at the first allow for dental development of office use and um yeah

unless there's some kind of tech center coming in uh office use is not like a top priority because we're seeing so many other cities converting that to housing and I don't think we have a huge office area in this city. So that might be one of those things that um may not of our city to do that of our city to do that. Thank you. Is there some level of agreement um about uh the denser development of office uses? Do we think that that's still a priority or something that maybe we should uh not focus so much on this round? And Commissioner Raford, if we don't have the interests of other companies coming in to establish offices, um, and I haven't seen that to be true. Maybe I haven't seen everything, but um, I don't think that would be a priority at this point. And maybe some of the vacant office buildings now could be converted um, into else that you're a little more useful other than cannabis.

Thank you.

This is John Myers again in that subject. There's a number of vacant multi-story buildings, one or two story buildings that are even on Kelly that are empty now that would have been or could have been or could continue to go back into office space that could be dense populations in the corner of of of nine and Kelly and and some of those. Uh we just vacated one under a a um foreclosure a year this last year and it's still part of of a a structure. So, there's a few of those, but I would agree it's probably not going to be your your priority list of of the city at this point. We we talked about business and industrial um cleaning and balancing out the kind of businesses you have on your thorough affairs uh so that it's it becomes much more viable used to the community at large. Yeah, we need something besides fixing anything we want on N mile

as has already been stated, but yes, I think that's viable as well. Uh, Commissioner Naylor, again, also um one of the things I've seen when I've traveled is some of these office like the two and threetory ones are being converted to co-l livingiving co-working spaces and so um housing upstairs and people have shared housing and conference space in the basement. So, if we have some of those on Kelly, those are some opportunities that could be bringing some um you know, some use to that land. Uh somewhat repurposed. Um I don't know what the zoning requirements would be because it's quasi mixeduse housing and

it's not retail, but it is um offices, but I've seen that happen and a lot of people are looking for that type of space because so many more are working from home environment. So, that's one way we could think of bringing some more density and still taking advantage of some of those abandoned properties.

And depending on which zoning you're talking about, what ends of the districts you're talking about, 9, 8, or 10, and and some of those, you could be talking about that same thing as walkable, bikable, non-motorized neighborhood, split bottom for a business, and the second being the family that runs the business living in upstairs. There are a number of those in some of these outlining edges of the city's trackable distances. You think of nine mile has a number of those past Grash on the west side that would be valuable to take a parcel that turns it into office or or neighborhood business and still have residential livable to maintain that financial instability that might come from running a business independent in its own building. I like the idea,

Mr. chair, if I may. Yes. Um I I started here just over five years ago, and when I got here, the city was very excited because on NMI, they had the first uh two-story building that was they allowed to have retail and or office on the first floor and housing on the second floor. So, um we need a lot we have a lot a long way to go. Yeah, that was uh Commissioner Yulinsky, that was a um in the prior master plan, we had implemented that exact thing that we wanted to see more of. So, not a new idea, just need to Yeah. get it going forward.

Continue. Correct.

Thank you. Just going to say anything else.

All right. Um, so the penultimate slide here, business and industrial, we have two action items. recognize Kelly Road as a draw for the community and evaluate strategies for the surrounding neighborhood to capitalize on increased activity in the area and encourage diversified industrial base by acknowledging the changing economy and permitting the growth of high technology low impact green business and life science and knowledgebased industries. Anything here that seems accomplished, in progress, to be started, or no longer relevant?

Uh, Commissioner Naylor, it's probably a to be started. I don't recall seeing any of that in and around the city as yet. Um, is it still have relevance? I think so because we all know the growth of technology and and green infrastructure and renewable energies are you know taking a new um you know low of priorities in many communities. So we may have to put some more focus on how we can incorporate that where um you're not seeing that as added as Kelly. Those are two separate bullet items. Correct. These are two separate bullets. Okay. Just want to make sure I don't want to see a solo firm on Kelly or anything. Thank you,

Erin. You might, this is John Myers, you might for the benefit of this commission give a brief definition of your second bullet point of growth in high technology versus low impact in green business. Kind of give them uh what you're what that's looking like from a planner's perspective. Sorry, what was the definition you're looking for there, Joe? The last the the second bullet point in in in bold print the growth of the high technology low impact green businesses.

Yeah. Kind of give us um a commentary of what that means in in this day and age.

Sure. Well, actually, I mean, I think one one of the things that um actually one of the projects that we worked with MEEDC on a couple of years ago was kind of thinking about some of these knowledgebased um uh kind of life science. We talked about, you know, in that case like biomed, bioengineering and these kinds of things. I think in general um the kinds of businesses that we talk about here um are a bit of a new wave of um smaller kind of engineering. uh they're low impact because uh it's a lot of kind of uh what do they call them R& uh R&D sorry rather kinds of uh engineering firms that we worked with MEEDC to try to chart the asset map for those kinds of things. um they tend to be in a lot of cases um uh opportunities that have a little bit um uh I don't want to say low overhead necessarily. I'm trying to think um but situations where there are growing kind of technology based uh businesses that have a lot of focus on kind of green and innovation and these kinds of things. Um, we, like I said, we worked with MEDC trying to think about how they could expand supports for a lot of these, um, kinds of businesses. Um, I think they tend to be, um, a little bit of a move away from some of the, uh, more kind of engineering and that kind of automotive engineering and those kinds of things that were popular and kind of big for Detroit as they grew their economy. um

over you know decades uh and a little bit more of a move into these kind of innovative engineering kinds of spaces. Is that what you're talking about John? think about and it might be a part of our branding five years down the road when you're thinking about we have Detroit and we have um Warren to the west of us that has a lot of engineering and a lot of development and a lot of technology on both directions. But we could be a green belt in this new generation of technology in low lot low impact if we if we marketed ourselves and found the facilities to do that in our development. uh and that would draw a young generation and I'm very creative but as as Kimbley has said we probably don't have any start on that in this city at all at this point

Commissioner Rafort with the Kelly road Kelly quarter conversations that have already taken place isn't that part of the abil has us having the ability to draw the community evaluate strategies for around that I know there's been some talk we've started work in that direction but I'm not sure where we are as far as the city is concerned in u following up on that partnership or collaboration with Harvard Woods. Mr. Chair, if I may, this is Kim.

Yes. Um, so yes, a couple of things. And as I went through this exercise, I realized that we administration do not do a a very good job of communicating everything that's going on unless um so Kelly Road, we did do the um the initial planning for the corridor. Um the consultants have that. Uh I have a list of things I'm going to actually email to all of you. Sorry, you're going to be overwhelmed. Um and to uh Aaron and Aaron. Oh, actually they already have that on their site. Um we continue to apply for grants to continue the next steps for Kelly Road. Um we've done step one of at least five that have to go. So it's it's nothing concrete, nothing to worry. I mean it's it it is again to continue to research it. So we have that. Um and then the other thing is um the Stevens Road. We've we're working um we recently got a a planning grant again an initial planning grant with Centerline Warren um St. Clair Shores, is it the four of us? Um to explore the Stevens area for uh a bike path, you know, different transportation. So again, this would be only step one in many steps, but um but we're really pleased that we got that from SAMCOG. So these are the kind of things that we need to do, administration, we need to do a better job of um letting everybody know about. But we just got that one, too. So that's that's a really good one.

Thank you. Thank you. All right. And this is our last one in the business and industrial. We've got three left here. Um identify incentives and flexible mechanisms to permit the conversion of existing industrial sites to office research use. Two, remediate potential brownfield contamination to make land available for development. And three, encourage owners of industrial property to improve property appearance and provide buffering screening to protect neighbor I'm sorry, neighboring residential properties. Mr. Chair, if I may. Yes.

To shorten this, I'm again I was not here for the other master plan, but we have so few industrial sites. Um the only brown field we did was for the CVS in terms of in incentives for financing. Ideally we could do that for the big boy property. Um so and again we have um our new building and officials and deputy who are working very hard on uh encouraging all commercial properties to provide buffering that is required by the zoning ordinance. Um so I think this personally as a non- voting member of this group I don't know how um how applicable this is any of this. Um the other thing if completely aside we call it popcorn here in our office. Um, one of the things that I we were talking about internally is we have a couple of different properties that that are sitting. The Big Boy, the former Big Boy property is now a vacant lot. Um, thanks to John and working with the owners to get that down. Um, we have some um, and again, I'm going to share it with planning commission members in case you didn't have it. Uh, the MEDC provided us assistance to do a whole plan and proforma for that property. Um, but we have a couple of different properties that it may be worthwhile to use as okay, here's an actual example of how do we want to implement what we're looking at to to fit to to make this property work as opposed to just theory. So, we'll get some of that information out to you guys. There's a couple others. Same sort of thing.

If I can add to that, this is John Mayers, the building official. Um that big boy's property is now brought to my table. Uh they're looking for financial bankers to sell the property the whole property. So maybe we would be able to find the resources to develop it ourselves, but they're ready to sell. Yeah. Res business, local business. Thank you. That's I guess I should communicate better. Yes, we're all learning it, right?

All right. Is there anything else?

I think we'll go ahead. I know it's Thank you for your extra time today. We really appreciate it. If you do have any followups, we have just a couple of the transportation slides. I'm looking one, two, I think we have about four. Oh, I did want to bring up one last thing here. One moment, please. Okay, just really quickly before we go, uh we have begun, as we talked about, started planning for the open houses. Um these are going to be the kind of public engagement sessions. So, we hope uh not only can you all attend, but bring some friends uh all the and and we're going to have some more details about the specifics that'll be going on. Um with these as well, uh we do have our spec our subject specific focus groups are also scheduled for those same days, the 23rd and 24th of next month. Uh again, we're going to be focusing these two focus groups on housing and land use for one and economic development for the other. Uh I think we're going to have a number a whole crew there in town. I think we're looking at probably four or maybe even five of us coming in since there's a lot of activities and a lot going on. We'll also be doing site tours of the um really the whole community, but also some specific ones for uh the um commercial districts as well. Um, so that's a lot to look forward to, but we will have an opportunity to touch base with you, I believe, uh, before we're there in person. Um, so for our next meeting, we will cover the transportation components from last master plan, but we do have some more homework for you. Uh we asked to have you take a look at some of your neighbors, I think, master plans as well, uh in Harper Woods and of course Roseville. Take a look at some of their

master plans. Just kind of look to see how maybe they're structured as compared to maybe the master plan that we looked at before. Take a pull out some takeaways. What do you think is particularly effective or maybe not as effective in some of these other master plans? Uh and then also we ask and and we'll provide a link to it as well. Um but also look at the RRC plan. Um the acronym is escaping me immediately.

Uh this was um the intention here was the uh recreation plan. Um and as far as those master plans go, they're very long. So, our expectation isn't that you, you know, read every word of them, but just kind of um to gain more familiarity with, you know, you'll look through them and you'll be, you know, sometimes you're like, "Oh, I really like how this one's laid out, or this one I find difficult to navigate." Even things like that is helpful for us um kind of as we move through this process.

Yeah, there won't be a pop quiz. uh you won't necessarily have to have memorized anything from those plans, but always helpful when you're putting some of these together to see, you know, some other examples of of some work that's being done out there. Uh I think some of these are somewhat recent if I'm remembering correctly. I think more recent than uh the one that we just reviewed, some of the action items from today. So with that, um and then of course um we will, like I said, we'll touch base with you. We'll follow up maybe with some links uh to some of these plans so you can take a look at them uh and with the slides from today. Although again uh you have most of that in the worksheet that was provided. Uh any questions? Anything um we can cover before we head out of here this evening?

Anybody have any questions? Mr. Chair, if I may. Yes. We will work, we the three of us will um get um all this information together and make sure it gets out to the I have a long list, sorry, to the planning commission members um and and to Carlton who's brand new. Um but we'll make sure we send all that out so that you guys don't have to look for anything. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Thank you. We will see you next month. Yes. Great to see you. Thanks so much. Have a great rest of your day.

Thank you. Thank you. Moving along, I will now open the first hearing of the public. You'll have three minutes. There's anybody that would like to speak, please sign in.

Okay. Hi, Jennifer Nicholas, East Point resident. Um, very interesting. Um, I do agree with Miss Homeman though. Um, a lot of this seems theoretical. Um, it's hard for me, you know, for me personally, a lot of this could be condensed or more concise. A lot of these action items seem to overlap and I think it would be easier for me, but you know, I'm not a planner. Um, if things were more concise and um better explained instead of broad theoretical things. Um, you know, all of these are from the current or old master plan that was done a few years ago. And you know, with this a lot of things that they're talking about, um, we want this to be a family town and encourage families to move in and, uh, we're supposed to be gearing housing toward families and affordable housing. And then what we came up with or what we've come up with, just as an example, is the uh, quadplexes at Kelly and Topur. Um the last meeting uh that we had with TPMA, they were speaking to us about um that your housing should be no more than 30% of your income. So if you're looking at like this affordable housing here, the one-bedroom apartments at 946 a month, you would have to be making $37,840 a year. For the two bedrooms, which are 36, excuse me, 1376 a month, you would be needing to make $55,40 a year for it not to be burden burdensome to you. according to the

figures that they were giving us and from what I understand when they were looking at the statistics for East Point um rental incomes at least back in uh 2023 should be around between $1,000 and $1,100 where at that point they were around $1,300. So to me, this doesn't seem affordable. And an example, too, that it doesn't seem to preserve the contextual character of that specific neighborhood. You know, Kelly Road is all brick. It's brick houses. It's brick buildings, brick retail, both sides of Kelly, and and going eastward. And this housing, it serves a purpose, but in my opinion, it's completely out of place for that area. would be much better suited somewhere else in the city. So, those are just thoughts that I have, you know, going forward with the master plan, maybe getting things more specific and more concise so there's not this broad um action plan that's open to different interpretations. Thank you. Good meeting, Chairman.

All right. Since there's nobody else, I will close the hearing of the public and we will move on to commission comments. I will start with Mi Commissioner Yulinski. Carlton, welcome. Um Kim, as I actually they had it, I was going to ask about it. Where are we? How are we doing with the RC? Are we Thank you. We're in compliance and we're we're working continuing to work forward, but yes, we are absolutely in compliance and the master plan is going to be a huge part of that. Great. That's all I have. Commissioner Stokes,

welcome Carlton and I have no other comments. Commissioner Naylor, of course. Welcome. We're always glad to see our building department grow. Um, I don't have any other comments. I'm hoping everyone is enjoying the remainder of their summer. Thank you, Commissioner Rayford. Uh, welcome, Carlton. U, good to see you always. Good to see everybody in good spirits because I think if I couldn't have fun here, I wouldn't be here. But I guess fun is a matter of perspective. That's it,

Mr. Myers, I've already talked enough tonight and I have nothing more to say. Carlton, glad to be here and u I'll be here for a while. I'll be under your skin. Excellent. Miss Homeman,

um I just want to thank you all for you guys. Just an incredible conversation and the knowledge that you have and that you bring to this table and that you're expressing is just incredible. I'm so glad to be here and and just a little part of this. Um glad to have Carlton here. I think Carlton and John are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Um different personalities, different styles, but the same beliefs and the same mission. Um so we are are really really looking forward to moving this department ahead if we could just get them a couple more inspectors. Thank you. Thank you. I've told you before you can deputize me.

Mr. Albert, thank you. Uh, chair. Welcome, uh, Carlton. I haven't had a chance to meet you yet, but I'm looking forward to working with you. And I want to thank everybody. I enjoy working with all of you. And at this time, and yes, welcome, Carlton. Um, would somebody like to make a motion that we adjourn? So moved. Is there a second? I'll second. Motion was made by Hall Rayford, seconded by Miss Commissioner Stokes. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Nay. Threw you a curve, didn't I?

100%. It's those curveballs that get you every time. Unless it's a sinker. You want to call the I'm good.