Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Chairperson Houston, member Brown here, member Anderson, member Clyde here, member Leovic, member Selixson here, member Steinberg here. We have a corn sir. Can I have a motion? Uh, move to approve the minutes. Second. Okay, it's been properly moved and second that the minutes be accepted. Can we have a roll call on the subject? Say all in favor.

All in favor? I I I Okay. So, all right. So uh the uh any communications received? None. No communications. Any old business? None.

Okay. So the new business is case number 258. It's uh we'll presented by Mike will be presented by Michael Gordon on behalf of Duncan McKe of 21790 Koolage Highway. So artic the the reason for the the the zoning deviation is that section in in section 212 of the provisions applicable to residential districts requires the minimum floor area per standard one-bedroom unit for multiple family dwellings to be 650 square ft. The applicant is requesting a variance to allow the proposed one-bedroom units to range between 52 square ft and 556 square ft. So that I don't still don't have anyone other than the requesters in attendance. So who's uh who's going to be presenting the case? State your name and and address, please.

Good evening. I'm Gordon 435. Turn on the mic. Okay. Repeat it again. Very good. Is it working now? Yes.

Okay. Mike Gordon, 4351 Delmare Court, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073. Um, many of you are probably familiar with this. We've been before you before. Uh in the last iterations, we worked out all the other details. Uh while working on our budgets and working on our demographics, we noticed that we felt from the marketing that a one-bedroom unit fit the demographics of the people that we were targeting. A slightly older population. Um so it was a request of the people we were working with. They were designed for his efficiencies originally, but our market review showed the likely renters would prefer the traditional one-bedroom unit. We're dealing with an existing building. We also uh compared minimum square footages in several adjoining suburbs. Royal Oak has a minimum a minimum of 450 square feet. Royal Oak Township is a minimum of 500. Hazel Park is 400 square feet. Verndale has no specific minimum, but I did a we did a study. There's units in the 500 range throughout the community. and many of them new. Our earlier approval, like I said, addressed all the other challenges of renovating. This is a really unique building that's a challenge to renovate and to do so efficiently. We also feel that keeping the units smaller will increase their affordability by keeping costs down, translating into lower rents. We hope you look favorably upon this and we'll answer any questions.

Okay. Does anyone have any questions? Any comments? I assume as as you suggested, I just want to reiterate that the rents will be therefore lower because it's a smaller apartment and therefore more affordable to people who might be looking, right? Less less money to renovate, less translates into a more affordable unit. Okay. Okay. Any more questions? Anything to add? Okay. Can we have a a motion on the subject?

I'll do it. All right. Um based on the information presented in the staff report and additional findings of fact discussed during the review of case number 25-08. I move to approve the request of Michael Gordon on behalf of Duncan Muku 21790 Kooage Highway for a waiver to allow the proposed one-bedroom units to range between 502 square ft and 556 ft. Article two, Division 2, Residential District, Section 212. Provisions applicable to residential districts require the minimum floor area per standard one-bedroom unit for multiple family dwellings to be 650 square ft.

Second. Okay, it's been uh properly moved and second that that the request be approved. Uh can we have a roll call on the subject? Yes. Celixson, yes. Steinberg, yes. Clyde, yes. Houston, yes. Brown, yes. Motion carried. Okay. Is there uh any other um topics that the that the board would like to be discussed or be presented? None. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Yes.

All in favor? Thank you. Question of Yeah.