Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

clock. So, we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order and we'll start with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. So, happy to welcome everybody to the July meeting of the Union Township Planning Commission. Uh, we've had pledge of allegiance. Roll call, please. Here. Bradaw here. Here. Hayes is excused. Lap here. McDonald here. Here. Shingles here. Barry here. We have a form. Okay. Thank you. Um, so next item is approval of the agenda. We have a short agenda tonight, but is there anything anyone is aware of that needs to be on tonight? Anything else that needs to be on tonight's agenda or any corrections or changes to the agenda? Move to approve the agenda. I'll second. Okay. Okay, there was a motion by Olver, second by uh lap to approve the agenda as prepared. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Okay, so agenda's approved. Next item is the minutes from July or June 17th, starting on page three of your packet. Are there any corrections to the June 17th minutes? Move to approve the minutes. Support. Second.

Okay. There was a motion by shingles and a second by Olver to approve tonight's or the June June 17th minutes. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Um all those in favor please say I. I. Any oppose? Okay. So our minutes are approved as prepared. Uh next item is correspondence board reports and presentations. We always start with commissioner the updates from board of trustees. Thank you sir. uh on our board of trustee meeting on 6:25 um we went over from what I have on my notes two two different things uh we go over the governance policy um throughout the year we pick certain parts of the policy we review it we make changes it's how we operate so we did some of that um the one we worked on that particular day was meeting meeting assignments meeting pay, what you're eligible for, what you're not eligible for. Um, talked a little bit about the things that we should be doing. Um, and we we do that a lot too on the other governance policies. The other thing that we discussed is a um it's a right of way for a sidewalk on Bud Street. Bud Street is if you take Pickard, just beyond the next door food store, just beyond the heart doctor, you can take a left to go into Jameson Park. Uh on the east side of the road there, the township was uh proposing a sidewalk there. We are kind of at a standstill. Maybe there's some new developments. Uh uh Mr. Nanny had said there was some discussion today about that. Um maybe not, but uh there was some uh difference in opinion on where the right of way was. So the

township did a survey and they feel the right of way is for the sidewalk is, you know, we'll just say here and maybe the county feels they're not sure about that. So we're kind of just working through that at this point in time. On the 79 uh board of trustees meeting, we approved uh sidewalk construction along Blueg Grass from Mission to the entrance of Indian Hill Shopping Center, which is right in front of uh Red Lobster. There'll be about a a 7 foot sidewalk put there. And then there is a sidewalk from that entrance to the other entrance or exit, you you might want to say that takes you right to Dick Sporting Goods. And then we will pick up and do another section of sidewalk from there continuing to the east just behind basically to the next property line. So it'll probably take you just behind the store. Um did some other governance policy review. Um that's what we did on the 9th. And the last but not least, uh Union Township is in partnership with the Care Store. The Care Store is affiliated with the Strickler Center. Uh, Union Township will be hosting a care store drive July 1st through the 31st. All donations can be dropped in a box or dropped in a dropbox located at the Union Township Hall Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. here at the township hall. If you would prefer to do cash or checks, those are are welcome. If you do a check, make the check payable to the care store. Um some of the items toothbrushes, deodorant, body wash, cleaning product, laundry detergent, those types of items. Um this care store provides personal and hygiene items and household cleaning

products that are not eligible for real retail purchase through bridge cards to anyone in Isabella County that has a referral from one of their partnering partnering agencies. Sorry, that was just got stuck there for a minute. Anyway, this has been going on. This is our second or third year. Our third year. Every year's been successful. So, I know we all are excited about that. So, let's make this year even more successful. And that is all I have. Okay. Any questions for Commissioner Theing on board of trustees related matters? And this was started by our very own Tara and Amy. So, let's not let him down. All right. Thank you. Thanks for the report. Um, next item is Commissioner McDonald. Updates from ZBA. I don't know if there are any. There hasn't been a meeting. Okay. Uh and next item is the community and economic development monthly report. And so that is that report is always in your packet. It starts on page nine of the packet and has essentially all the entries on pretty much everything that's taken place over the last month. And so, uh, we always give commissioners an opportunity to ask any questions that they might have regarding anything that might be in the monthly report. There is um some statistical information in there in answer to a question that was raised last month regarding uh numbers of uh

permit applications for single family homes that were approved over the recent period of months. Any questions from commissioners on the monthly report? Okay. Well, hearing none, uh, you're always welcome to direct any questions that you might have to to Rodney. Um, okay. Are there any other reports or correspondence that anyone has that needs to come before us tonight? Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to public comment. We have two public comments at every meeting. One is towards the beginning of the meeting and this one is for agenda items that are not on tonight's agenda. So, if there's anyone either present in person or online who wants to address the planning commission on any item that is not on tonight's agenda, they're welcome to do so at this time. If you're here in the room, come to the podium, give us your name and address for the minutes. Uh if you are online, make your presence known and we will uh make arrangements for you to be uh able to speak. Uh give us your name and address for the minutes and we ask that you limit at least your initial comments to three minutes. Public comment is open at 7:09. There's nobody in line. Okay. The online room is empty tonight and the folks that are here appear to be here for other purposes. Uh last call for public comments at this time. There's an extended public comment towards the end of the meeting which is unrestricted as to topic. Okay. Seeing none, we'll go ahead and

close public comment at 7:09. And so we're ready to move on to our new business. We have one new business item tonight. It is a preliminary site plan review PRESPR25-03 for the new Cold Wind Brewing located at 2705 South Isabella Road. We'll have introduction from Rodney and then we'll hear from the applicant and then we will take it up. Thank you. Uh you should have in your packet our our report dated July the 8th. As was mentioned, this is a new micro business uh going into an existing building. Currently has been a floor covering business at that location for many many years and supposed to be converted over to micro brewery. They are the current floor covering business essentially occupies one of three lots there uh two vacant lots and then floor covering business lot. This business would would use all three uh including expanded parking area and also some outdoor uh activity areas on the site district. So uh as I said you have our report dated July the 8th. I just like to have a few of the highlights. Uh one is related to sidewalk. There is a sidewalk uh existing sidewalk uh right out near the edge of road. uh in conversation with with the project engineers, we're looking at early versions of this uh determined that was really best to relocate that sidewalk a little further from the road. It helped with their uh their activities or crossing point, the driveway. It also moves the sidewalk back away from the road, so it increases pedestrian safety. Uh and so for a number of reasons uh the plan you see uh essentially for a new sidewalk along the front of the property uh is pulled back.

It'll be out of the existing rightway. It be a separate easement. Um and it it you'll see on the plan it curves back in to to connect to the existing sidewalks at at the north and south ends. uh that does uh affect we'll talk for a in a minute about landscaping that does impact uh the landscaping front yard landscaping requirements uh because that sidewalk would be in the in that area where landscaping would normally be. So we'll we'll we'll talk a little bit more about that. Um the the only other uh detail really uh that that we noted was uh the issue with the trash enclosure. very minor uh issue. Our ordinance says that trash enclosures have to be in the rear yard. Uh and it defines a rear yard as basically between the rear of the building and the rear property line. And uh for the existing building, the floor covering building, of course, it's a long narrow building. It uh it goes well back on uh to the back of the lot and it creates a fairly narrow space, 60 ft wide uh to uh to put that that enclosure. So talking to the engineer they they're able to make that adjustment which shows room to do that but it will require that that enclosure to slide a little further to the east than it is now towards that rear lot. uh the uh uh the landscaping item. If you look uh turn to page 34 of your packet, page four of our report, uh looking at final site point items. Um the applicant has asked for uh consideration of an the ordinance calls an alternative landscape design. Uh this is really section 10.07 7 which is type modification to landscape requirements and allows you as a planning commission to accept a an alternative design if you find it still is consistent with the intent of the

ordinance and the other criteria there in section 10.7. Uh in this case the uh uh one of the main reasons for making this change is because of the need to uh and the preference to slide that sidewalk back. It does limit what landscaping in the front. There is still some landscaping along the front u that's proposed but it will be less than than what would otherwise be there. That that landscape essentially is proposed to be added to the back of the property along the the the east or rear lot line which is the part of the site that abuts residences. There are residences further to the east there. Uh and the proposal is essentially is to beef up the landscaping screening along the back of the lot. Uh so uh you'll see uh the double row of shrubs. These are biting shrubs for growing evergreens that proposed to help create a shrub buffer that exists there. Um and then you see a number of deciduous trees folks there. Uh we noted in our report uh so administrator noted that we'd like to see uh or there's need to see four additional trees in order to be consistent with section 10.07. Um and again we talk to the engineer if they can take care of that uh add those in those wall be in that rear area there. Um so with that that comment we're we're comfortable with recommending uh acceptance of the alternative landscape design. We do believe it's a good fit for the lot fit for this site which is partially a reuse of an existing building plan. So it's a good fit for layout. There are some other housekeeping items. say we'll need to combine the lots

together. Um but that is later in the the process. So what we've done in in a recommendation we we recommended this plan for approval plary site approval uh subject to four conditions and and the four conditions include exceptions to the alternative landscape design with the addition of those four trees. Uh, and these are all designed essentially to to set the applicant up to be able to uh perhaps get administrative approval of the final site plan. You know, last year we we amended our our zoning ordinance to allow the option for an administrative approval of the final site plan when the zone administrator finds it everything it meets all the requirements. No conditions, no questions. Uh and so by having these conditions in the preliminary set, these would be part of what they would meet. Uh and if they beat them, then they could consume they have administrative. Um so with that in mind, I'm happy to answer a question. We are not allowed to accept any samples uh of proposed business products. You you absolutely are are allowed to enjoy going to the grand open and I'm sure we will. Yes, you are now invited. I tried to get chicken from somebody earlier and I couldn't get that either. However, if if a quorum of the members are going to be there, we're going to have to put a notice out front that Oh, yes. Open meetings. I've noticed that there's no no planning condition business while alcoholic beverages be considered. Questions for other questions for Rodney? Can I just confirm with you? Am I correct that uh based on our ordinance that no screening is required to the south because the next lot further south is still B5? Correct. Even though it's occupied by a home, I

believe it it is, but it's it's zone B5, so it does not require. All right, questions. Okay, thank you. All right. So, we'll hear from the applicant at this point. Anything you'd like to anything you'd like to say and then stand for questions. Most important thing that I need to say is I'm not too sure. No, thank you. My son goes there. But, uh, I'm Tim BB with Central Michigan Surveying and Development. Address is 2257 East Springfield Road, just down the road here. Uh there were really only two items and we had discussed them prior to the meeting and we've had no issue with making those modifications. So uh the trees will be added the dumpster adjustment. Uh we understand that we've got to get all our outside approvals and appreciate the consideration for administrative review. So with that, if anyone has any questions, I happy to try and answer anything that's on the site plan. We have the the construction manager here and also the the owner. So if uh if you have any questions for them, happy to try and address it. Okay, it's open for questions from commissioners. I do have a question in regards to the uh the dumpster enclosure. So, you guys had initially planned to have it in the I'm guessing this is the southoutheastern portion of the lot. Is that correct? It's going to be slid approximately 15 ft or so farther to the east towards the residential to get it behind the building line. Ah, I see. I see. Because yeah, I I

guess I had some confusion there uh with with Rodney saying that it had to be behind the uh the building and land, but that the way that the current existing building is makes that kind of awkward. I I see that the front of the building basically faces the almost the back of the the side. Yeah. So, okay. Um Rodney, would that that would conform then even though it's technically like in front of the building, but because it's behind the line of the building, it would be considered the rear, right? I I know the entrance faces to this to the side, but our ordinance call the the side facing the road to the front. Gotcha. Okay. So, as long as it's behind the the line of the rear building line, okay, as it extends across the lot, uh would be fine. I agree about 15. I think I said my report about 17, but It just has to be slid back just that little bit. Okay. It'll be slid east and and rotated a bit to to align. Okay. That's all I wish I had. Okay. Can I ask a question about the bathrooms? Are they unisex or I didn't I didn't I don't quite understand the bathroom configuration. If approved with the conditions, then they would be set up with the opportunity to not have to come back. Correct. Uh that is correct. Yes. the the amendments that were adopted last year allow for basically the zone administrator does his normal review with the site plan and if he finds in that review the final site plan that everything is in good order all the conditions have been met all the ordinance requirements have been met all the outside agency permits are in place

essentially there's there's no there's nothing for planning commission to review normally what we bring to you are things that you need to make a judgment on um and uh if everything's in good order and meets all the requirements Then the ordinance as it's written now would allow for the zone administrator to approve the monite plan. And then just to make you're you're satisfied with the requirements that are the the requirements that we talked about. The requirements would be the same whether you right but I mean you have you don't have you're not asking us to make any judgment on that. You're you're saying you're satis you're fine with them. We're working through uh utility discharge, how much water we need, things of that sort. So, DPW uh fire department has already done their initial review. So, I I don't I don't foresee any any issues. We we have some things that are outstanding and that's why we're not fin. But uh obviously put together but no we just appreciate the opportunity of not having to wait for a meeting and kicks and get I would like to be able to do that for you as well. Just out of curiosity, is Coldwind an extension of Fourleaf or is it partner or separate entities? I mean, it is there. I joke that they're siblings. Um, but it is separate and it is uh bigger and better from Mount Pleasant. Cold. Um, I'm the owner of Corley Brewing in Clare, Michigan. And it's a great to be downtown and in a great small downtown, but this is going to be the emphasis is going to be for outside. So, siblings, but um not related. I mean, totally different. And and what is the origin of of Cold

Wind as far as the naming? I joke it's because my business partners are hockey players, but um there there isn't a whole lot of origin to it, but what I can tell you is that it is about having a lot more outdoor space and really being um what I found as a business owner in COVID is that people want to be outside and three seasons, if not four seasons, needs to be the emphasis. And your drink seen. That's mine. Very cool. Thanks. Do you have you know who that is in terms of the minutes? Can you identify yourself for the minutes? Sure. Yeah, absolutely. I'm not shy. My name is Amy Shindorf. I live in Claire. Um I am the owner of Cold um Wind Brewing as well as Fort Lake Brewing in downtown Clare. Celebrating our 10th year this year. So if you need some samples, uh Steve Sweeney is one of my business partner as well as Bill Scott. So I'm coming with a powerhouse of great uh brewing ability and knowledge to uh create cold wind brewing very pleasant. So I'm looking at the uh the last page with the landscaping and other things. The area that's marked outdoor recreation area, the note on page three says it will be used for outdoor activities. What sorts of activities? To be determined. Uh, you know, lawn darts and horseshoes aren't allowed anymore, but uh, you know, I do eventually think that there might be a possibility of having cornhole or, you know, botchi ball is what I always romanticize about having, but uh, those will definitely be future plans. Again, the emphasis being outdoor space. People really do crave to be able to sit outside, which is nice because for us, it's at the back of the building, which means you're not sitting next to a major

road or having that kind of interference of uh noise. We'd have no definite plans. Okay. But that is also the closest spot to the residential just on the other side of the proposed shrubs. The nice thing about owning a brewery, and I have for 10 years in FourLE and in uh Claire, is that a brewery isn't a last call location. Uh Four Leaf closes at 10:00 a.m. or 10 p.m., sorry. We don't open till noon. And um that's the same thing about this brewery is what's nice about it is that it's not a late night sort of location. So, I think it would be really nice for those uh neighbors. We plan to be good neighbors, especially since they're kind of they have deeper lots and we have kind of a deeper lot as well. So, you'll close at 10 even on Saturday night. We I think we proposed between 10 and 11 depending on the season. Uh you know, uh the interestingly enough in Mount Pleasant, which is totally different from Claire, the 11 p.m. is more of a winter time when you're not going to be sitting outside where Claire it's in the summertime. Well, Claire is busy in the summer. M Pleasant is busy in the winter. They're very opposite even though they're only 13 to 15 miles apart. Got a good menu planned? Yes, we do. We really do. Good. What about outdoor lighting? Outdoor lighting uh is going to be a combination. Outdoor lighting is going to be a combination of wall packs and lighting

in the parking lot. Uh as part of our final site plan, we'll be turning in a full photometric for uh for review. Okay. So, nothing on a nothing on a pole then? Uh, no. There's in in the parking lot area where the the grass areas are. In fact, I think we show that on the on the in the central part of the parking. Yeah, I guess I'm looking at the Okay. So the just one quick comment on the ordinance the the exterior lighting ordinance has has maximum light levels at basically 10 foot candles within the site. It's a comfortable level. It's not not too bright. Um but uh it does require that at the property lines that it drops essentially to zero. I can't remember zero one but it's essentially zero at the at the property line. So the the lighting has to be designed so at that at that five park back there that that that drops down to very low level. Yeah. The outdoor areas was mentioned is essentially for natural light or artificial light. Yeah. But if you have people outdoors in a in a in that grassy area, I mean, there will be times where it'll be, if not pitch dark, it'll be no longer sunlight. So, there presumably will be some outdoor light in the back there, I would think. Yeah, there's there will be wall packs on the back where that patio shows.

Sometimes I jump in with a motion too early. I wanted to make sure there weren't any more questions before I did. So, I'll just ask one more. Um, the immediately to the south of the parking lot is the is the catch basin, right? Drainage basin, retention basin. Is that completely lined in stone or just a portion of it? Now, it's a strip that that has an underrain in it so that it keeps that dry. It doesn't turn into a marsh. So, it is it is not completely lined with stone. It's going to be a grass area with a stone ribbon up the center right. Okay. Lowest part. Okay. And there'll be a I guess I'm not it's hard to interpret from the pictures, but once that's in, once everything is in, how far down to the property line will it go? Is it going to be pretty much using all the space or will there be still be some green space to the south that isn't used at all? No, the the upward slope will come up and then blend into the natural. So, There's not much room left to the south once the bas other questions from commissioners. Okay. Like to move to approve the PBR2503 preliminary site plan for the proposed Cold Wind Brewing at 2075 South Isabella Road. P ID 14-146-0000-20-0000-21-

0 and 022000 0 in the northeast quarter of section 13 in the B5 highway business and B7 retail and highway service business zoning districts finding that the site plan dated June 24th 2025 can comply with applicable zoning ordinance requirements for preliminary site plan approval including sections 14.2P required site plan information and 14.2 standards for site plan approval subject to the following conditions. One, the alternative landscape design is accepted per section 10.7 modifications provided that four large deciduous trees are added to the design to be planted further to the east between the existing red maple trees and shrubs as shown on the plan. Two, adjust the trash enclosure location so that it is fully within the rear yard area. Three, the applicant shall provide the zoning administrator copies of the asrecorded sidewalk and cross access easements and storm water maintenance agreements prior to issuance of a building permit for the project. And four, township approval of a land combination application by the applicant is also required prior to issuance of a building permit for the project. support. Okay. So, the motion was made by Olver with a second by Bradshaw. Further discussion. Okay. Hearing none, I'll ask for a roll call vote, please. Lap, yes. Cuadrio, yes. Brown, yes. Older, yes. Shingles, yes. Yes. Bradshaw, yes. McDonald, yes. Motion cars. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Good luck.

Can't wait. All right. So, that's been approved and uh hopefully if all goes well, we won't have to see it again, but if we do, we do. It's not a problem. Um that was our one new business item tonight. So, we're ready to move to extended public comment. If there's anybody who would like to address the planning commission on any item, whether it was on tonight's agenda or not, you're welcome to do so at this time. If you're in the room, come to the podium, give us your name and address for the minutes. If you're online, make your presence known, and we will make arrangements for you to be able to speak. Extended public comments open at 7:34. Nobody's online. Nobody's online. Our audience has departed for greener pastures. So, uh, we'll go ahead and close that back up for another month. Uh, next item is final board comment. Any comments from board members? Just a procedural question. When it comes to public comment, is that open to anyone or is that restricted to Union Township residents? No, I think it's legally open to anyone. Correct. Okay. Yeah. When uh hadn't thought of it before when we have a public hearing, if I remember, I usually try to dissuade the applicant from using the public comment portion because they always get an opportunity to speak anyway, but sometimes I forget and sometimes they do speak and I generally don't, you know, don't attempt to silence them. But yeah, open to anybody. Yeah. That popped up when she said she was a Clare resident and I just wondered what the the protocol was there. So, thank you. Yeah. Other comments from board members, commissioners. Okay. If not, then well, let me just ask uh because I typically ask, what's our August agenda looking like? Anything

exciting coming along the pike? Anything we should be aware of? Uh we do have uh Leo's Coney Island and Big Chicken Restaurant that is moving along towards their final site plan. Uh, we'll see if they have it submitted in time for next month's meeting. That's the one down on blueg grass. That's correct. Okay. Okay. In front of front of the Walmart, right? And we will have master plan. There's like an empty office to to be determined later type thing. Yeah. Uh, one of the elements of our master plan project was uh, a housing assessment where we working with the East Michigan Council of Governments, a regional planning agency uh, that covers this county and and 13 others. U, and they put together a regional housing housing study and they offered the to have a consultant do a more detailed study of individual communities for a remarkably small fee. Um, and so we did agree to do that. I had no idea when it was going to get done. Uh, I have the draft. Uh, and the updated draft because there were some corrections had to be made. U will be available around the end of this month. So, we'll have uh definitely have master plan material including this on on the August agenda. Okay, sounds good. Was there any particular resolution to the Mid Michigan College question in terms of the utility usage? I'm sorry. I apologize. Sure. Yeah. There you all were slated to have a meeting with Mid Michigan College about the event center after our meeting and I was just curious of the outcome of that. Oh, yeah. Thank you. Uh yeah, we noted the report but we didn't say anything about outcome. Uh so uh the process is moving forward. Uh the u uh the college

and township have agreed to to uh step the steps taking forward uh looking at at essentially addressing the sewer capacity issue through through some funding put in escrow to cover uh future upgrades to the to a pump station uh as as that becomes necessary. U so that process is is is moving forward. plans are currently in the hands of our public services department. They're reviewing them for water and sewer uh in detail. Uh and Peter is also reviewing plans informally for for zoning issues. U basically once we have uh the public services department's approval, they are the last outside agency we need. Mhm. So once they they complete their review and and let us know that they have approved the plans as presented, then they will actually formally submit a final site plan uh for for review. And I expect and my understanding is that that will be something we can we can address administratively. The the project engineer has made clear that that is his intent is to make sure he he dots all the eyes and crosses all the tees so that it can be approved administratively. Great. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Okay. Well, thank everybody for their participation tonight. We've completed our agenda, so we'll stand in adjournment until August. I was going to say, is that some sort of record?