Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Brelick present. Quincy Harrison present. Paul Breakman present. Stuart Waters present. Thanks for that. Pete Alec present. Jeremy Warner present. Linda Novak present. Awesome. So, um we'll do an adopt Well, before we do an adoption of agenda, actually, I have the um they're able to complete the um

the budget for the last several months. Um and we can if we if we feel so someone would like to um make that as part of the motion, we can add it to just a review. I don't think that there's any substant anything material that we'd have to be worried about, but it's worth us going through it. So um that's the only change in agenda that I would recommend for tonight. Any motion to add the budget to the agenda? Second. Okay. So um motion to the motion to add the um budget to the agenda and and it's been seconded. So all in favor I I any opposed? Okay. I'll pass this out. Thank you.

You are then I think is that enough? Is that three? All right. So, um just adoption of the minutes from last meeting. Um thank you uh Evan for pulling that together. Just uh one small change is my last name was spelled incorrectly in the top there. Oh, it is. Can you spell it? W E R N R. You had it. It's right. It's in the minutes. In the minutes. Oh, I thought you meant the plan. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. We're good. Yeah, there other places it's right. So, that's not that bad. All right, you're testing me. I like it.

Um, any other comments on the minutes? Everyone feel like it's a representation of So, I do have one. Didn't bring my mark up. I thought I did, but um the uh the statement at the beginning of the minutes, maybe if I could look at them. Um I think normally what we do when we have like revisions to the minutes is that we just modify the the minutes from the previous month. And I I you know, at least that's my understanding that we don't need to actually state that it was changed. Um now, uh I do have the one on Thank you.

You're right.

Page, um looks like it's on page three. So, under discussion, new business, Hock expressed concerns. Um if we could, I'd like to modify this sentence. He also mentioned possible negative social impacts if the building and I would change it in this fashion um is not used in a manner that allows public access to our cultural heritage. Hope that's not too ornate, but that's kind of the point I was trying to get across.

Yeah. I mean the whole your your point was that it's historically significant. So right and that and that by closing the building, not having it be retail, not having it be a gathering place of sorts in any fashion that we will no longer be able to go inside the building. And I don't know if um Quincy, was that you who asked whether the potential coffee shop location would require an accessory building? Yeah.

Does that capture the meaning of what you were asking about? I was looking at that. I was like, what? I was just asking if it was if this building would also serve to, you know, provide more opportunities for other buildings that may not have the the, you know, culinary capacity that would um allow that. So, it's close enough. I think that's fine. Okay. It's hard to get the meaning of what that what that one is. All right. I think I think that was all I had. Okay. Do you want to make a motion, Chief? So, I'd make a motion to um revise the minute minutes um as we just discussed. We can do it that way. Second.

All in favor?

I I opposed. Okay, good. Uh so, um we'll have our official reports. Uh council, unfortunately, is not going to be able to be with us tonight. He had another um conflict that came up on him. Um so I as far as uh chairperson minute u minutes or discussions um so uh last council meeting there was a good discussion with regards to the inquiries the council's making on the deer population and what possible options we have as a village to help um alleviate the um the the large deer um out of I guess out of out of size oversized deer population we have in the village. um and what could we do to help maintain the uh the herd in a way that's um beneficial to them and to us um as as being part of the same ecosystem. Um so they're still investigating on that. Um that took up most of the meeting. Um they also had a um they they also discussed a little bit about reviewing the noise and then the nuisance ordinance um but we don't have anything just yet from them um to they're going to go and mark it up and then give us a prioritized list of nuisance items. Once we get that, then um they'll ask us uh to reorganize any of the nuisance items into a single section so it's an easier lookup for uh members of the village as well as the code ordinance officer um so that they can um point to it in an easy location um since right now all of our nuisance ordinances are scattered throughout. I mean, generally they're in the section that they were written in, but um it's um it's harder to find for some people just to kind of go it's easier for people to go right through it. Um and whether or not we and then they'll prioritize what we need to bolster or

what we need to um either relax or what is just fine um from an ordinance standpoint. Um they also uh um discussed the site plan review that we um recommended to them. Um was was that was that was in the first reading I believe for the site plan review or is that just the discussion to approve it? Yeah. Oh so they'll do a they'll do they'll do a finalization of that I believe next month um for the Franklin the Oyster Bar um the site formally the second reading. Yeah. You don't you don't need a second reading. So then it was the formal

Was that a formal approval then last? It was the formal approval building of initiative. Okay. So then the formal approval was made. Good. I'm glad you're here to call clarify that for me. Um that was a long meeting. It was really long. Those of you who watch online, watch at 2x speed if you're going to save yourself some time. Um learn a lot about deer.

You did learn about a lot of deer. Yes. um and also our neighbors um thoughts and and uh opinions about it, which is good to to know ahead of time. Um okay, those are the main things I wanted to bring up. Um uh also uh there's an OP Melzer stepped down um from council last um Monday um and um his there's a spot open for um um for nomination. that the council is going to nominate someone in the next month or so, probably by next council meeting um to to be uh to run or to to take to take Michael's spot until the end of

the ne this election cycle. So until the next election happens, then then that person will suck here. So when's the next cycle be 28? No, it's 26. Is the 26th? Yeah. Even though it's midterm for Mike, apparently the way the or the um the bylaw bylaws are written um if you have an election um for someone if you have an election during the time that someone's replaced another person on their term that that per that that position is actually up for election. Okay. So, and that's why Dan Ferris um what didn't have to run because there was no ballot um this this year. Okay. So um he he was able to continue that term for until the end of till 26.

Okay. So when is the deadline for the uh applicants? Do you know when we have we just extended it? Right. December 4th. What is it? December 4th. Okay. So that would uh allow them to to to act in December for their December meeting. Yes. Yeah. Mhm. Yep. So, um, okay. I was going to say something about the last meeting. The other discussion was about these flock cameras. Um, they did talk about it. They did talk about flock cameras.

I'm not sure I'm confusing my meet my meetings, but um, and there has been a fair amount of, um, you surprised I wasn't mentioned, but there, you know, there's been a fair amount somehow it started coming up in my feed and I've been following it. Um, there have been there's been law. there's been recent law, you know, and significant issues with these cameras being mounted. Um, so I just thought I would mention that that if you do a little research, you'll see it. I mean, so there was talk about the privacy issue, but it seemed like skip over the thing about that it's all about like access to the data. Like there's been communities where you can do a foyer request and they will let you look at all their camera information. And I I think there was a Supreme Court finding that said, "Yeah, technically you should let them look at all the camera data." And so there were communities that say, "All right, then we're not going to have them." So, but I thought I would share that just uh as a point of interest.

Okay. Any other commissioners have anything else to share from during the

I will I don't have a spot for Main Street Franklin, so I will use this time now. Um, since our last meeting, I went to the Main Street Franklin meeting last month, I attended Franklin in partnership with them. I learned a lot. I got to see the wonderful things that were happening. Got saw Linda there. It was wonderful. We had a great day throwing pumpkins down the hill with children running. It was fun. Um, I will be at the next meeting on Friday at 10:00 um, in the church parlor. And there is also the upcoming Friendsgiving celebration the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Um there is a sign up I believe that went out in the village newsletter. It's from 4:00 to 7:00 the Sunday um before Thanksgiving and they're not only looking for people who want to attend, but they're also looking for kitchen help for that day as well. So if anyone is available or would like to attend, that is an opportunity to

Which event is that?

That is the Friendsgiving in at the church. Yep. Um, we did talk about opportunities for, um, I know that they're looking at some grant opportunities right now and expanding sort of some of those opportunities and maybe what that means for sort of reframing the church hall as like a community center more um, and looking at opportunities to sort of bring people back into the heart of downtown to sort of have some of those better business relationships and and get Franklin villagers into downtown in easier accessible ways. So, we're looking into those right now, but um I appreciate the opportunity and they were incredibly welcoming and warm and I have really enjoyed working with them so far. So, yeah,

guess I could ask a question or follow up a little, but Linda and I had an opportunity to go to a meeting with Mark Cooper and the church people Gary Roberts attended. Rick David was able to make it. Um, but it was a good discussion on that very topic of, you know, can the um, basically that assembly area be be a sort of a a hall, some kind of hall. So, and got a lot of potential. It could be really neat possibility. Yeah, that's good.

Thank you guys. Uh, any other commissioner updates? Okay. Uh, zoning. Yes, we did have a meeting last month. We have another one tomorrow evening. Um, we had two cases on the agenda. One of them, nobody showed up. Nobody did anything. So, that was dismissed. That was on Hawthorne. And there was also um a variance request for a property on Rosemont Court um for a shed that was put onto a sideyard and uh it was placed in an area that was not allowed by zoning and uh it was denied so they will need to move it. Oh, well,

how would it I mean, how do they get that far with the shed and but Well, you don't need a permit, right? It's less than All right. Um, it is on a cement pad and some neighbors complained about it. Yes. I figured interesting. I figured we'd have to get any sort of permit for cement pour. No. Really? 100 square feet. Oh, well. Yeah. Yeah. They should have checked but but also they should check to see for impermanmeable surfaces how much

No, that that was not an issue with that particular property. There was multiple acres of Yes. multiple acres and the hardship was that they would have to grade and do a lot of work if it was um moved to the correct part of the property. But the zoning board, those are hard decision decisions to make. So, but I'm I'm s I'm a little surprised, too. But so much of that is discretionary of of you know, it's a lot of carpentry, a lot of concrete pouring. It's actually like one of those um pre pre-made deals. Oh, okay. All right. Um

different story. It was in the wrong place. Yeah. Yeah. Got it. And the one for tomorrow, what's that meeting on? Uh the one tomorrow is for a swimming pool that is also on a sideyard that's existing but they need to replace it and so to replace something they will need a variance. Okay. If so in that case just questioning in that case if they receive a variance then they would never wouldn't have to go back to zoning if they had to replace that pool later either or is it every time they have to fix the pool. I'm I'm saying in just in general for for people to understand if you get a variance I know it depends.

Yeah. Yeah. But it also depends on you know zoning changes. That's you know when that pool was put in zoning changed. That's why they had to come back. I got it. It could very well change again. So, yeah, that makes sense. Um, who knows?

Okay, makes sense. All right. Um, okay. So, uh, public comments. We don't have unfortunately anyone from the public. Um, though they are welcome anytime. Um, new business. Okay. Uh, Chris, do you mind kind of giving us an overview? Um, at least for for those that don't have that are Oh, I'm sorry. You know what? We never said when we were going to add um the treasury the um the finance. We you we usually do that before new business is look at the look at um our budget. So, do you mind if we interject now and and just No, that's fine. Do our budget first.

Um I forgot to mention where to put it in our agenda. So, normally it's before we're good.

Yeah. Before public comment, but it's all right. Um okay. So what you're looking at is um several like year to date essentially since for those just a reminder our fiscal bud our fiscal year starts um in July. Um and uh we have we haven't had an update since basically since October I believe um not October since July actually since the new fiscal year. So, if you look on the last page, um we have the latest for the last 3 months um of July, August, September, and we're waiting on and we're usually a week a month behind. So, we wouldn't have October normally anyway. Um but so far, we're doing okay. Um McKenna is running a little high for the beginning of the year, but we also have a few things for master plan that they were doing and that are coming up as well. Packets.

Packets. If I'm not mistaken, I think some of that's reimbursed through the uh applicant. Okay. Uh for uh what period? Um I could be wrong, but which line item is this? on the second page for years 2526. So that's a summary, right? Which applicant are you referring to for the uh well the McKenna expense? I I'm Yeah, I'm just curious. I don't have my my invoices, but

there were expenses related to the Franklin Oyster Bar. Okay. Review, for example. So we uh the first three months are on here. That's the first quarter of the year and we've spent 25% of our mechanic budget by um by by the first quarter of our fiscal year. So lines up pretty good, huh? It does line up almost exact. So quarter quarter. Um yeah. And then public hearings. I'm a little surprised that we don't have any budget items for public hearings because we've had several public hearings. Yeah. um might need to okay

find out where those should be. Yeah, that so that's all of the um newspaper um cost to get it published in the is it Oakland Oakland Press press and which I don't even get that so I don't get those notifications. I don't know how many of our villagers do. Um, but yeah. And then, uh, it's an old way. What? It's an old way of It is putting it out there. Um, yeah, there's no online way to do it. I know we talked about this not too long ago. I think there were more than one. We do post the agendas online, but by state law,

the notifications have to be placed in the most widely circulated newspaper for the community. And that would for us be the open press. It happens to be the open thread. I get the eagle, but I don't get the press. Oakland press, which is surprising to me that that's considered the most widely spread because I think every most every eagle. Okay. Well, I I can look into that. Yeah, I I think I've mentioned it before, but I don't think it's a large enough distribution to account for the state or there was some reason why the eagle wouldn't work, but it makes the eagle have a classified section. I don't recall that it does. I think bigger. Anyway, if you don't mind looking into it, that' be greatful cuz I think Yeah, it'd be more effective.

I think it would be a lot more effective and hopefully Yes. Sorry. Open press. Any other questions about the budget up to date? Thank you for pulling this together and thank the U treasure um treasure for doing this for us. What is the um traditional membership fee in November? I guess I just don't know. The one that's from $725 last year. What is that for just entail? It's a mag. It's a It's a membership for um for planning that each of us get you. We were getting I get I Yeah. Well, I get it more online than I think I do,

but for a while we were getting the actual physical magazine in our packets. We do get it. Oh, we still get the magazine. And we still Yeah. What is it like a quarterly magazine maybe? Jeez, that's expensive for a magazine. I mean, there's Well, it's also it's supposed to make give you opportunities for training and things of that nature. So, um maybe we could look utilize more fully then as I have no idea what that was, but I don't think I would have probably joined. Oh, no.

Some I wasn't here. you weren't you weren't here but um it is worth looking into um when you have a chance to to look at the information you can sign up for conferences um I believe there's reimbursement as well available for doing some of the trainings as well um just that's part of our budget so well thank you I've been to those trainings I just didn't know what they were all right um any other questions about the budget budget, right? All right. So, let's now we can move to new business um for the master plan review. Chris, thank you. Sorry to

Okay. Well, um just to recap, um as everybody knows, we uh finished the draft of the master plan after uh quite a long period of diligent work on the part of the planning commission and by state law. It had to go out for 63 days of review by various agencies and surrounding communities. And um as was expected, we got one review back and it was from Oakland County Planning and that was from Scott Cree who's a principal planner and he gave quite a thorough review and u it went before the Oakland County coordin uh coordinating zoning committee. Uh that's a uh committee composed of three county commissioners that's also established by state law. And um I attended that meeting by Zoom and um Scott gave um an overview of the plan and presented his recommendations and we had a nice discussion and uh he had five recommendations which uh all seemed pretty reasonable. So I incorporated them into the revised plan that you have before you and I'll go through those five recommendations. Uh the first one was acknowledge that the village of Franklin is adjacent to Southfield Township in the northwestern corner of the village uh villages boundaries. So, all the maps in the plan, there's 11 of them I think, have been revised to show that little triangle of Southfield Township in the northwestern corner of the villages boundaries.

And then, uh, he suggested number two, update map three, uh, the periphery properties map. And so, we um went out and looked at periphery properties. Those are the properties on on the perimeter of the town of the village and uh also did some aerial photography work and figured out which ones have been built on and so we updated that map. Then number three, he suggested adding Michigan natural features inventory information to the master plan. Uh the village has a designated priority three area along the Franklin branch of the Rouge River which is also a FEMA flood plane. So, uh, we added, um, about a half page of discussion about the Michigan Natural Features Inventory on page 34, and we also added a map on page 35 that shows that priority three area. Then number four, um he suggested incorporating information related to the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, the SISMA. Uh this one was a little bit um iffy in my mind, but nevertheless um we thought that the most appropriate place to address this recommendation would be in chapter 8, the trees and vegetation management where coordination with sysma has been added as a recommendation number nine on page 105. Then the final recommendation was to expand the village's uh limited development opportunities by including brownfield redevelopment

information. Uh the um Oakland County has a um brownfield redevelopment um consortium set up um that the village or any community in Oakland County can work with. they don't have to set up their own brownfield authority in other words and they can get the benefits of the uh brownfield act the state brownfield act and um and uh which has certain tax incentives and things of that nature. So we added that as recommendation number eight on page 88. And where this would come into play in the village of Franklin, there is at least one brownfield, I think, and that's related to the um cleaners uh property.

Hasn't been that been remediated? Apparently, it's still on the list according to Scott as a as a property that's not fully remediated. They've done containment. I don't know if they've done full remediation. Yeah. I mean, I think full remediation is dig all the soil out. I mean, they have uh pipes in the back. They've got some kind of uh you know, vapor capture system, as I gather. That's what it looks like. It's quite an elaborate piping system next to the uh condominiums and I would assume that that's like I don't think it has a termination point where they say it's all fixed.

Yeah, I don't think it is. So um in fact um if you look on the county's website uh they give examples and one of uh the work that the brownfield authority or consortium has done and one of them is I forget which community it's in. It is a uh cleaners uh that uh in uh this particular community that has been cleaned up, pardon the pun, and um been fully remediated and redeveloped for a different use. So, um that's something that I I think is worthwhile keeping in uh the back of our minds. So, um, if you're comfortable with all these revisions, uh, the next step in the process is to schedule a public hearing. I forgot that the next the December meeting is on the, uh,

is on the 10th. Yeah. And in my uh, letter, I said December 17th. I think we can still make the public hearing. Uh there's 15 days notice that's required. I think we can still make it. And so if you're comfortable, uh a motion would be in order to schedule the public hearing for December 10th. And um we can keep it moving forward. Any discussions on the

only that I know I'm not going to be here for that next meeting and Are there other people that know that they will not be there? Just to make sure there's a quorum on I will be here. I'll be here. I'll be here. I'll be here. Carry on, folks. Sorry. We'll make sure your name's still on it. Go get Chris. Um I think Good work, Chris. Um Jeremy, you have Yeah. No, my only questions. Um we have post office in there a few times. Do we want to I don't know. Do we still have a post office? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're stay. Yeah. Post office right there. Yeah. Post office. Post office. Oh, yeah.

I know. It's a nice little part of the community. Yeah. So, we have um So, this it took us several years to make this, but it's a um every 5 years after making the last one, you have to make the next one. So, so when this was actually originally um upgraded, that's So, if we lose our post office between the now and well, I guess when council adopts it and then and then um in the next 5 years, then we'll have to update with post office. Yeah. I mean, whether or not the people are in the post office when you try to show up, that's another story sometimes. Now, I do it for something happen at the post office. What's that? Did something happen? Were you concerned that now I am? I know that was a great

No, I mean there's been no we all I remember I mean Roger not long ago was like no far as we know no one's ever you know cuz it's like yeah the clock is probably ticking on our post office which we've had since you know Enezer Ray Nail or whatever opened it the first one yeah 1835 Franklin has always had it and um you know but yeah clock clock is ticking in some sense probably on that building.

Um just just a few things for uh so do we have a motion to um um to uh to accept accept the changes and um and um have a public hearing next month. I make a motion to accept the changes as provided from Chris and Scott Creed and motion to have a public hearing next month on December 10th uh for our special meeting for December. All I second

any further discussion points on this? Um the only thing I would point out is those that go to the public hearing. Um look at the maps. They're really interesting. Um the uh on map 7 that talks about um environmental features. It has the 100-year flood plane um which you might not have realized when you were um when you bought your home, but it's those are cool features to look at. Um and as well as um the other uh the five homes that are adjacent but are not part of the village. Um I guess they just follow under Southfield Township bylaws and they're good to go do whatever they want to under Southfield Township. That's that's a great great place to live cuz it's right on that little ravine and Yeah.

So the corner is not Franklin. It's Southfield Township. Corner. Yeah. Kind of cool. It's not like that white house that sits up on the hill. Yeah. There's like three or four. I mean, we just did a review. Cuts right through it. They're adding a pool back there. So, Southfield Township has a planning commission just like Franklin. Yep. And you're on it. But it's about four houses. And the mall that used to be the borders books at Southfield and 13 Mile. Couple other unusual properties.

I think it has to do with the uh you know the because of the way the river runs uh 14 mile road drops south of the actual 14 mile line. And I think that had something to do with how those guys ended up in that goofy spot. But I I was going to mention too because there's there's another great map here that shows um that shows where these historic homes are in um outside of the village cuz we do we have a bunch of them where they're

they're out in the you know 13 milei road the old farms that were there corner of scenic in Wellington. There's an incredible house from 1835 which you would never know. That's an interesting map. It's page 26 if you ever look at it. And Gary Roberts and the historic district district commission did a great job of getting some of these houses included in the historic district. I think the one on Romani and Franklin was added. I think uh the Lamont house on Scenic was added. So like boy, it's wonderful to have these homes added, you know, added into protective protective things. But I I guess I was going to mention because the brownfield thing was on here, you know, I I and this would be a future revision, but it I think I think because I know that not everyone's aware, I think it would be worthy of putting into our master plan. Um some statements regarding that that we're aware of it and we're you know what what should be done. I mean, this is good, but it you know, it doesn't address what our actual relevant property is,

especially those that aren't well down in town. that are close to the plume. Um, yeah, to have that make sure they're checking their well and the and the value of the property itself because of that and how that could impact us years to come. I know there was talk one time where like some point the state or the federal money will stop coming to keep that right in place and then it will fall on the building owner, you know. Well, let's make sure in 5 years planning commission is aware of that. Yes. Yes. Keep I'll take a note of that. I'll set a reminder. Awesome. Okay. So, um thank you. So, we'll go ahead and get a public hearing scheduled. Chris, you'll be able to provide the Yes, I'll do that tomorrow. Awesome.

Could you Did you have a vote on We didn't We just said Okay. So, could um all in favor for um um public hearing and accepting these changes say I

Any opposed? All right. All right. Thank you. All right. Uh consider the um meeting dates for 2026 um for the planning commission. It's on the very last page of our packet. Um so again, we're going to do the second Wednesday December. Um I just I know we don't have control over this, but the music on the green always falls on planning commission night. Is there is do they just pick the middle middle Wednesday? I I was looking through the history trying to find out like which Wednesdays and we do music on the green

often. It's often on ours. Um I mean we could move it to like six o'clock so that we could try to not overlap, you know. Well, and sometimes it starts at six though. So, Mhm. Um, what I would propose is in March when they go to apply for a public use permit for the village green um that we consider it in our April meeting of changing the date so that we can also participate. I like that. I I would say change it to like the Tuesday before so we can or whatever makes sense or Wednesday or Yeah. Well, Thursday they they have zon in so we can do Thursday or yeah we can do a week before a week after but

but yeah so I think in March we should put it on our calendar when when once they kick off the public use permit then we let us know in our meeting and so in the official outgoing would you recommend for April, May and June we put next to those dates currently tenative so that way when we have a go out it just says July and August or yeah whenever yeah whenever ever it's supposed to be. Make a little note asterisk. Yeah. Tenative to change in accordance with music in the ring.

Is that okay? Um and then um for Ash Wednesday um I know that that's a significant holiday for um several of our villagers. um it might make sense to move that February up a week um and do the second Wednesday of February instead of the third. Any concerns or questions about that? I'm okay with that. Doesn't matter. I just know that when people come home from work, if they want to try and take advantage of of any services that go on on Wednesday um after work or outside work hours, then they would probably um we would be bumped right into that.

And what I guess the uh cuz I get I think what do we have planning is Monday every first or council? Council. Yeah. And then historic district is every first um Wednesday. I thought historic on Monday. Well, first Wednesday on there always is information. First Wednesday of the month. You're right. Yeah. All right. Monday. Yeah. So, we're flexible being the second or the or the third Wednesday of the month. Yeah. So move it to the 11th. Okay.

All right. Yeah. Any other comments on the schedule for next year? Thanks for pulling us together. We have make a motion on that. Um yeah, we do uh make a motion uh to adjust the schedule for planning commission for the year 2026 with the amended changes proposed at the moment. I'll second. All in favor? Any opposed?

Okay. Um the next meeting will be December 10th um at 7 p.m. Do we have a motion to adjourn? Make a motion. All right, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I Any want to hang out? in it.