Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Yeah. Can I get a roll call, please? Jordan here. Frank is absent. Johnson here. Mooney here. Parker here. Roand here. And chair Beal here. All right. Could I get a motion to approve tonight's agenda, please? Motion from D. Any seconds? All those in favor? I I excellent. All right. We have approval of the minutes from February 2024th. Um I think we might have an amendment though. So make a motion to amend. Yeah. Or you could maybe we could do approval of the minutes as amended and we can state the amendment. Yeah.

That one is fine by me. Um what is the amendment that you have, Megan? Okay. Under old business, um there was a motion by Parker, second from Mooney to approve the special use request by Randy Ross to construct a 28 by 6 foot deck. And it should be 28 x 5 foot deck as that was existing. Okay. Could I get a motion to approve the amended minutes to change to five feet by someone? Change to five feet, right? Changed to five feet. Yes. Okay. So moved. Thank you, Kelly. I'll second. Thanks. All those in favor? I.

Thanks for the detailed look. All right. Any correspondence tonight, Harrison?

We did receive two correspondence regarding the application that we have before us today for a short-term rental at 917 West Savage Street, unit number 10. One from Lori Anne Butler, um a resident located at 940 West Savage Street, unit 8. um she stated that she is not in agreement uh for the approval of a short-term rental. And then we had another piece of correspondence from Sue Hunt, the president of the Lakeoint Condo Association, and she stated that she um was uh in agreement with the approval or the tenative, you know, future approval, um and that the condo association would approve this rental if he met all other village requirements. That's it.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, at this time, we will do statements of citizens for agenda items only, but we also have a public hearing about the short-term rental. So, you also have a chance to speak that. I'm assuming you guys are the applicants. I'm actually on the board. Okay. I wrote a letter to you as well. Oh, good.

Two screens. I can find it. Okay. Oh, okay. Yeah, you guys can speak during the public hearing. That's totally fine. Sorry. What's your What's your email?

Um s USA finding it in my email. You to me, right? Well, if you don't mind, you could always read the letter during the public hearing and we would love to hear from you. Yeah, sure.

All right. Um, do you want me to We're good to open it now. Harrison, open. All right, let's open this public hearing for short-term rental at 917 West Savage, Unit 10 at 6:04, excuse me, 6:04 p.m.

All right, thank you, Madam Chair. So, the application in front of the board today is for a short-term rental at 917 West Savage Street, uh, unit number 10. Uh Joseph and Carla Pace are requesting a special use permit for a short-term rental at the uh property at 917 West Savage Street, number 10 on behalf of uh JC Pace Properties LLC. Um and this unit is located within the Lake Point Condo building. Um this unit was previously a short-term rental um and then obtained a long-term rental certificate in 2024. And in doing this, uh, the town or the sorry, the village staff, uh, believed that it it was the the short-term rental use was abandoned and, um, the property lost its grandfathered status and now they're looking to rejoin the short-term rental program. So, for this, uh, there are no lot size or setbacks or outdoor congregating uh, areas in question because this is a condo building. Um and then per the provided floor plan, there are two bedrooms. One is labeled den. Um bedroom number one has 152 square ft which equals out to three occupants. And then bedroom number two, the den has 102 square ft, which um gives them two occupants for that room. And based on a maximum occupancy of five people, two parking spaces are required. um placed in front of the in front of you guys when you came in was this sheet of paper. Um it was just outlining in their the condo legal documents that uh the unit number 10 does have one space uh deed to it. And

then also included in your packet was a sub lease agreement um between uh Joe uh the applicant and Brian Hearn, the occupant or owner of unit 11 to um give unit number 10 sub lease the unit 11 spot because as you can see on the on the legal document, unit 11 has two spots. and uh they are leasing subleasasing uh one of the spots to unit 10 so that they meet that two spot requirement.

Yeah, I'm here for any other questions and uh the applicant is here as well. Excellent. Yeah. How about the applicant comes up now if you'd like um just if you'd like to speak on this. Um if not, we're happy to discuss or start to ask questions. Yeah. I mean, and if you do, yes, please come up to the podium. Um, you can say your address, but we know what your address is. So, yeah. All right. Uh, this is for um Okay. Unit uh or 917 West Savage Street, Unit 10. Um yeah, we purchased this place back in 2021. Uh you know, realtor and everybody said, "Yeah, you you were allowed to do short-term rental." And that's how we had it.

Oh. Then my daughter uh she's a traveling nurse and she had a uh rotation out of Children's Devos Hospital. So I figured, hey, you know, it's a little bit of a drive, but it's free stay for her. And then when I renewed, um I had spoken to the office and they said, "Well, yeah, you can check the long-term rental." And that's what I did, not realizing it's not you can't revert back, right?

Once you give up that, right? And um I didn't find that out till uh this year when there was a letter that went out that said, "Hey, short-term renters, you got to you got to put out a letter to the the neighboring uh residents that you are, you know, renting the place so they know that, you know, uh I'm sure this to see if there's strangers hanging out." So, um that's when all this just kind of came about. I came up and I put that letter in the mail to the 35 well 34 be bless me

at our facility and then I started uh communicating with um Harrison uh regarding this issue and that's when I found out yeah you cannot um revert back to short-term rental once you've checked long-term mental. So the main thing was there. I did not realize you can't revert back and forth. Okay. Right. So that's and that's what we're here for. So the intention going forward will be that it's going to stay a short-term rental. Yeah. That's the intention. Okay. You That's it. Thank you.

Oh, was it? Oh, I would wait. Don't leave. Mr. Pace, don't leave. Okay. Sure. Sure. Okay. So, you you got this lease for uh the extra parking space. Yes, sir. And you got that before you found out that you weren't going to qualify or you said, "Well, let me give it a try. I'm going to

No, I was told I was told that you needed two parking spaces, which which to me was a bit of a surprise because I'm saying myself, well, if you're, you know, again, if you're a proven building with two bedroomedroom, you get one spot and two, threebedroom, you get two spot. I, you know, that's the way I bought it. It wasn't something that I I was aware that was going to be an issue. Okay. So, but but now so you can get the lease, you you've got two spaces. Yes. Yes. Yes. And Brian is a gentleman. He's a neighbor uh that you know was was willing to to do that because he only needs one spot. Okay.

Thank you, Brian. Willing to do that. Okay. Okay. Just wanted to clarify that. Thank you. Yeah. Questions for the applicant while he's up here so we don't make you come back. Oh, I'm trying. Sorry. And the condo community is okay with this. I mean, we've had a couple other applicants from there that we've denied. Uh, so I want to make sure that

uh, you know, we can only do so much. We You're going to you're following the rules we have set forth, but you know, for you, I just want to make sure you're going through all the things down the street. So, you're okay. I have been, you know, ever since I moved in there, I've obeyed, you know, followed the rules and everything and and I I heard because I got the letter saying that this gentleman, somebody else had applied and apparently things didn't go well. Um, somewhat disrespectful and so yeah, that kind of made me worry about it, but I, you know, just coming up here being transparent with the with the board here and uh, it's all I can do. Appreciate that. Just want to make sure you're okay on down the road, too. Okay.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. I did find it. It was in my spam filter. Oh, no. If you want to read it, I'm sorry. I apologize. It gets up tight. Okay. Is tough. Yeah. Tough filter. You You can read the letter now if you'd like. Or you can read the letter. Okay. Yeah. If you don't mind coming up

Yeah. Coming up to the podium be up. Okay. Okay. So, Susan Nur, I am the treasurer at Lake Point Condo Association. I've been on the board for approximately three years now. So, Harrison, I'm emailing on behalf of 917 West Savage Street, Unit 10. The unit's owner, Joe Pace, is grandfathered in to short-term rent with Lake Condominium Association. He has always intended to short-term rent. It is my understanding that he accidentally checked long-term instead of short-term with the village. In addition, he is one of only two owners who short-term rent who actually notified everyone in this building of their intent to rent per your village requirement. I should have received eight letters from all the owners who short-term rent. All the rest are in violation of your requirement to have a permit. And I'm kindly requesting that you issue Joe Pace in unit 10, the short-term rental permit. I also hope to keep a breast of those that are in violation. Since I serve on the board, I do have residents to answer to sincerely Susan Ner.

Susan, though we have a lot of short-term renters in that building that did not meet the requirements of notifying us. Only two people did and Joe was one of them. Joe and Sue Hunt. Enforcement letters have gone out. Jordan, it's nice to meet you. And then when you talk to you on the phone question, how do we enforce? How do you know if someone receives a letter? cuz I got a letter too from my neighbor and I was like, "How does the village know that?"

Cuz I call that's why I've been talking to Jordan. Um because there are people in the building that are pretty up in arms about it because we do have people that have bought in after we are capping our short-term rentals at six um due to like a lot of issues. We are becoming uninsurable at some point. Okay. Um, and insurance companies are less likely to, you know, um, I guess give us a a better rate like due to them. But Joe is grandfathered in. So, some of these other people that have bought knowingly into the building were told, "You're not allowed to short-term rent. There's a waiting list." And that was what that hearing was about, I don't know, a couple months ago.

That guy knowingly bought and knew that he couldn't was trying to get a permit. Um, Joe is a completely different situation. He has he's already grandfathered in. has been paying like us the annual rental fee and he's done everything above board. I know with us and with you guys. Thank you. You're welcome. Just to clarify, I was looking through the packet and uh there's an email from Sue Hunt, president of the Lakeoint Condo. Was that mentioned earlier? I did mention I just missed it. Okay.

Y I will make sure to include yours in the in the meeting packet and update that. and Harrison, I can't remember. Do you want me to close the public hearing and then we can talk or do you want me to talk? Yes, please. Okay, I'm gonna close this public hearing if no one has any other comments at 6:15 p.m. Okay, so moving on. Old business for the short-term rental at 917 West Savage, Unit 10. Um, planning commission members, um, who wants to start with what they're thinking, any comments that they have, um, so we can get a motion going. Jennifer, I mean, I guess for me it, you know, it's been set up this way. It was just, it seems like a a an issue of checking the wrong box.

Yeah, I don't see why we don't. Yeah, I would I would uh motion to approve it. Personally,

yeah, I'm thinking the same, especially if the HOA and the property managers are okay with it. My concern is that when we grant this, this is for the life of the property. So we as the planning commission really like there the board rules and regulations kind of don't mean a whole lot to me as long as the property meets what the village has set forth in short-term rentals. So, one of our short-term rental criteria is that there is two parking spaces. My concern is with the lease of the parking space in that that is only good through 2029. Um, it's not tied to the space itself. So, we're granting permanent short-term rental status. And so, who's to say in two or like three years the parking space lease isn't renewed? and all of a sudden then it doesn't meet the requirements.

Yeah, good point. Um that's my only that's my only hesitation. I'm wondering if this um short-term rental could have just a flag in its account like in the folder um in the village network and you guys could look at it in a couple years and make a note or we could Jordan for that specific situation. I wonder too how long how long is our short-term rental certificate good in Spring Lake? Is it just a year? So then he would have to reapply. The registration compliance certificate is good for a calendar year from January to December. And then the short-term rental certificate they'll get following an inspection is an every two year. Okay. Oh,

so it could be put on the file to just check in maybe every two years for this like a good idea to name the parking spot to or number. you know, if P-58 goes with it, which of the other ones are going to be named as, you know what I mean? So, that can be versus just one of these. It I think it needs to be named as

Oh, I that was the one thing Megan brought up the which is the you know, I see an expiration on this and it's for the life of the of the owner or who owns the unit. So that'd be my only concern. And it sounds like Mr. Pace has tried to abide by everything else and the treasurer and the president of the association are in favor of it. So that sounds very affirming. So

I had a concern about the lease of the parking space because that seems to be an issue for us. So um just want to make sure we have some stop gaps in there to make sure we're checking that along the way. Um, and I want to be equitable to to everybody else as well that may be in or out of that building or any other building and make sure we're paying attention to what we are supposed to pay attention to. So, like in this condo building in particular, if there are units that have two parking spaces and they meet our short-term rental, we can approve it as a short-term rental, but they still have to abide by their board rules above and beyond what we've discussed here. So, correct.

Um, so that's I mean, we could run into that, but that's their prerogative if they want to do that and like they sign they bought the condo, whatever. We don't have to get into that. Like, but that is interesting. Like, it's a it's a funny situation. So, I have no issue approving this. It seems like a miscommunication of the box. I would have checked it, too. So,

and I I appreciate the transparency and communication. I talking to people's always the best instead of just assuming things and showing up at meetings. So, thank you. We don't have any other comments. We can move forward with a motion. Um Jordan or Harrison, do you recommend that we should put some language in that motion about a followup in a couple years? Or just maybe you guys can make a note as part of your procedures for your every two-year certification just to check in on this one since it's a lease space and not like an owned property space. I'm fine with either method, but it seems more of an administrative thing. Yeah, because the the motion would require two parking spaces, right? So, I believe that's, you know, if one was lost, then this

approval wouldn't be valid. At least in my mind, not a lawyer, but um you could put a condition to have the subleasase agreement rewritten to name a specific space if that was a concern. Oh, was that everyone's I thought it was more the timing. It was, but that was another space is tied to the Yeah, it's both like it's I feel like that's a necessary point of it because you know if something's going to change and even if a different person wanted to at another time I feel like that should also be named specifically. Well, I can't ask questions now. I guess ask questions. Fine.

Um I I guess if Mr. pace. If you were to sell this um and u sell this unit, would that then then it would would it lose its um connotation as a short-term rental? Oh, and then the new owner does not get rental. They would have to get on a waiting list. But we are turning over but at the village it does. Yeah. At the village level, it does stay. It does stay. Yes. Yes. Oh.

So, it is for the life of the property until you declare a different use or abandon the short-term rental. So, my understanding is say that you are an individual. You buy a short-term rental, but you want to convert it to single family permanent residence. If you haven't leased it as a short-term rental in a year, it automatically like defaults back. Okay. and it loses the short-term rental. But for our So, well, Susan, you said there was something about ensuring your property. Um, that's that's neither

that has nothing to do with anything. Exactly. Right. our board, you know, follows. Okay.

Okay. Because of of your guidelines yesterday. Okay. Nor does the sub lease of the parking parking lot either. He does have Sure. Yeah. Don't sell. Seem to like you. Look. So, are we asking for a specific number or is that just We could do the motion and

we just work it out. Um, we could add after like requires two parking spaces, one of which is parking space P 28 as leased by this P5. P58 is one. We don't know which of 47 48. Oh, okay. 48. How about I don't think we can dictate which one because that's a that's a contract between uh the applicant and the tenant. Okay. I'm assuming they are right next to each other and you will the other one.

Yeah. So we could if someone is comfortable making a motion. Um All right. I'll make I can make the motion. Right. I don't think you're supposed to. I I will make a motion to conditionally approve um with named parking spots P58 48 48 P48. Yes. Okay, cool. Question. Why don't we just approve it? Why do we have to conditionally approve it?

Well, there's other conditions on there, right? So there's the maintained in compliance with the site plan and the floor plan and all the other ones written on there. Okay. Yeah. So that's like that for any short-term plan. Okay. Okay. We're waiting on a second. Yes, I'll second. Who want to roll call this one or we could do all those in favor? Just No. Okay. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Anyone? Okay. Motion passes. We'll just look at the minutes and make sure it's what we like next month. So, okay. Thanks, Harrison. Okay. Any new business tonight? No.

Any statements of citizens for non-aggenda items? No. Okay. Any comments from the commissioners? Oh. Um, there is one comment that I had about the tearing down of the bank building in Grand Haven and I just felt very saddened by it. Was built in 1911 and instead of trying to save something from it or save a portion of it, it was just torn down for a hotel and I'm hoping that I'm with the historical conservation committee so that we would be mindful of that when we have historic buildings, not to just

replace them. I thought the demolition company they kept some of the columns and then the emblem because I saw it on they like posted about it. They they salvaged the column pieces and some I saw them all in the sidewalk. That's why I didn't pick up on that. Oh yeah, they kept them. But I mean they're probably going to sell them or like that's what they're going to do with them. It's their property now. Well, I there are other ways to be doing it. So I agree. I just was saddened by that and I bring it up that we look for it in our own community. So yeah, good point. Thank you. Anything else?

Yes. Uh just a thought that I want to put out there. Um I was walking down South Street and have been looking at the road end at Meridian and South Street. So if you're going down Meridian, you're looking toward the uh Grand River there. And there's a I guess a a gas pipeline interface there off to the side. Uh but I believe that road end is public property. And I again I'm not sure who would look into this. The DDA is not in that area. Uh but even just to clear that brush out to open up a view to the water and you know maybe get that planted in grass and make it kind of a pocket park of some sort. It wouldn't need

Michigan Gas is actually we're actually working with them. They're going to be putting in they have to put in a new pipeline because what's sitting currently is sitting above the ground. So that whole thing is going to get that's going to get hooked into there. So my guess is they'll be out there like clearing it, but I don't know how much of that is actually going to be required for what they're doing now. Well, the the Michigan gas facility is adjacent to the road. Okay. It's to the west and they do keep that clear and I understand even with them moving the pipelines that that whole interchange is still going to be kept.

Is that water then that you're talking about or what's U if you drive south on Meridian, you come to the end. South Street is there. There's a little duplex road that goes back. That's private property, but the road end is just overgrown with brush, not Michigan gas property. It's village property. I believe road ends are village property unless they've been right away, aren't they? I wonder if it's in the rightway. Yeah. Does that make them village property of the rightway? Well, I'm I'm not 100% sure. Okay. But I don't believe it would belong to any private owner. Right. Well, there's a park in some of the other ends of the rightways. So, yeah, that Yeah. Along along Spring Lake, we've got

Right. little spots at the end of every road. Right. Right. This just looks like a pretty lowcost opportunity to add a new little enhancement to my neighborhood to be closed. Yeah. I drive by it every day and like it has so much potential. So like this this area out here. Yeah. County

that private road that goes back facility here. Okay. And so I'm talking about this road. Okay. And you can see those are trees, weeds. I will echo David's sentiments. Um I see it in terms of residential, you know, um like there's a lot of homes in the village that are being torn down to build bigger and better. And uh it's very reminiscent of Neighborville when I lived there. And who Neighborville? I don't know. It just makes me sad, you know, that

not that we can do a whole lot to discourage homeowners, but Well, you know, we're as historic conservation committee, we're trying to educate, we're going to have a little booth at the uh Spring Lake Heritage Festival June 10th to better educate the the citizens of what the historic conservation commission is about And yeah, see if we can get some more plaques out there. Yeah, nice.

Um, I emailed the village manager about applying for a safe streets for all grant. I haven't heard back from him. It is open right now. Um, it's a grant program to study the safety of your streets for pedestrian mobility. Um, I do a lot of them for community. So, I have this grant with the city of Grand Haven right now. I'm not asking to do this work in any way. I don't care if any engineer does it. Um I haven't heard from the village manager, so I know that you're on the council, Jen. So, I don't want to be that pesky person. But also, it's an 80% grant and it's dollars that if you study and walk the area to increase safety, you then can be eligible for construction dollars. So, I just see a lot of potential on Exchange Street and crossings on River. like it's pretty dangerous when I walk and people just don't really stop for me, fly through and we have a ton of schools. So, um you might see me at a future council meeting, but it's due in like a month. So,

if Yeah. So, I just probably have to follow up again, but it was something I wanted to bring up because Nathan and I were chatting about it since you're principal. Um I can't remember like what juris what city your school system falls under. Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids. Huh. Grand Rapids. Yeah. So, I would encourage too um for you guys to apply to that. So, it's a great it's a federal program. It's really great. Yeah. There is one thing I've noticed about the uh we live near Fruitport and M104

and when the uh green light goes, the uh pedestrian light goes green. And we even have this the sheriff cut people off as they're trying to cross. Uh so um if you notice when you're in Grand Rapids, the pedestrian green light goes on about two two to five seconds before the other green light goes on. And I'm wondering if as a village we can change the timing on our um uh intersections so that the pedestrian starts walking way before the green light happens.

That would be part of this grant. You would do like you'd work with traffic engineers on the signal timing of that. Be Yeah. Super eligible. might be a good time too because I know MDOT's coming in to study M104 because we're talking about like just such a good time like a good opportunity for us. So yeah, with with the new purchase on M104 of the buildings we're looking at, you know, what we need to do to get everything ready to add the new development. So I think that would be a good idea.

What when you say what is the date because I know like we don't have village. You have to get a motion if you're providing a potential match of a grant like oh we if we win this we will commit $20,000 to it like to apply for a grant. Do you need that? There's no motion necessary unless your the village states you have to. I don't think so. Then you can just applying it. I think it's the end of May or something. Okay. So I think I emailed like a week ago. So I'll follow up again. So, anything else that anyone has? Okay. Anything from staff? Don't have anything. No. Okay. Can I get a motion to adjurnn then? Motion. Second. All those in favor?

I. All right. Meeting adjourned at 6:33