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Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes
March 7, 2002

Meeting called to order at 5:02 p.m. by Chairman Steiner.

MEMBERS PRESENT:
Joe Bridgman
Ronald Griffith
Gene Levengood
Bill Steiner

MEMBERS ABSENT:
Jim Zdanek

OTHERS PRESENT:
Mark Lewis, Chief Building Official
Alice Geletzke, Recording Secretary
14 members of the public

ITEM NO. 1 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Special Meeting – February 21, 2002

Moved by Mr. Bridgman, seconded by Mr. Levengood to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting of February 21, 2002, as corrected by the addition of "Special Meeting." Ayes all, with Mr. Griffith abstaining. Motion carried.

ITEM NO. 2 – NEW BUSINESS

1. Application No. 1297 – LaBelle Management

405 S. Mission

Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858

Location – Bennigan’s Restaurant

40441 Ann Arbor Rd

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-066-99-0001-002

RE: Zoning ordinance No. 83.87, Article 34 ARC – Ann Arbor Road Corridor District

Sec. 34.10 Signs

Definitions

Pole sign: A ground sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole(s) or other support(s) with a clear space of 8 feet or more between the bottom of the sign face and the grade.

Signs Prohibited

Off-premises advertising signs

Any type of sign not expressly permitted.

Area, Height, Placement and Other Regulations for Permitted Signs

Ground signs

On a premises with a street frontage of 200 feet or greater, ground signs shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet, and shall not exceed a maximum height of twelve (12) feet or maximum area of sixty (60) square feet.

The Planning Commission shall review all ground sign applications to assure compliance with the design, placement and dimensional standards of this Article. The following design standards shall apply :

Monument signs shall have brick or decorative masonry block base that complements the materials and architecture of the building. Signs shall harmonize with the Ann Arbor Road streetscape materials.

The base of any ground sign shall be landscaped to create a year round buffer for the sign.

Lettering style shall be clean and simple to assure readability and shall be in harmony with the style of architecture of the building. No more than two (2) different type styles shall be used on each sign.

Wall signs

Projecting signs

Marquee signs

Window signs

Flags bearing the official design of a corporation or award flags subject to the following:

Directional signs intended to assist vehicular traffic flow subject to the following:

Menu and/or order board for a drive-thru facility subject to the following:

Temporary construction signs subject to the following:

Nonconforming Signs

Any sign lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this amendment which does not fully comply with all provisions shall be considered a legal nonconforming sign and may be permitted to remain as long as the sign is properly maintained and not detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the community.

Continuance:

Nonconforming signs shall not:

be expanded or changed to another nonconforming sign;

be relocated, or altered so as to prolong the life of the sign, or so as to change the shape, size, type, placement, or design of the signs structural or basic parts;

be enhanced with any new feature including the addition of illumination;

be repaired, except if such repair brings the sign into conformance with this ordinance, if such repair involves any of the following:

expense which exceeds fifty (50) percent of the sign’s appraised value as determined by the designated municipal official;

necessitates the replacement of both the sign frame and sign panels;

replacement of the signs primary support pole(s) or other support structure;

for signs without framework for sign panels, requires replacement of the sign panels;

be replaced

be re-established after the activity, business, or use to which it related has been discontinued for ninety (90) days or longer;

Permitted Modification:

The following modifications may be permitted:

a change solely in the wording of the copy; and

routine repair to maintain the sign in a safe and aesthetic condition exactly as it existed at the time of the enactment of this amendment.

The applicant is requesting one variance:

The existing pole sign is considered as a non-conforming sign for the ARC zoned area, the applicant desires to expand this existing twenty six (26) ft. height pole sign with a forty four point five (44.5) s.f. off-premise advertising sign, below an existing sixty six point five (66.5) s.f. sign; requesting a variance to expand an existing non-conforming pole sign and to allow for an off-premise advertising sign.

Mr. Tim Wright of LaBelle Management spoke to the group and answered questions. Mr. Bridgman presented the view of the Planning Commission.

Moved by Mr. Griffith, supported by Mr. Levengood, to approve Application 1297 requesting a variance to expand an existing non-conforming pole sign and to allow for an off-premise advertising sign. Ayes: Griffith, Levengood, Steiner. Nays: Bridgman. Motion carried.

2. Application No. 1298 – Mr. Don Ray

45101 Brookside Ct.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Location – Mr. Don Ray

45101 Brookside Ct.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-057-04-0286-000

RE: Zoning Ordinance No. 83, Article XVI R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S and R-1 One Family Residential Districts. Schedule of Regulations 16.1, z, minimum rear yard setback – 50 feet.

(z) The rear yard in an R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S and R-1, Single Family Resident District may be reduced after approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals finding that the following specific requirements have been made.

The single-family structure may not extend more than 10 feet into the required 50-foot rear yard.

The rear yard of the residence must back to the rear yard of the adjoining residence and not a side yard.

The width of the single family structure extending into the required 50 foot rear yard shall not exceed forty percent of the width of the portion of the single family structure, which must comply with the 50-foot setback.

The proposed penetration into the rear yard setback is the only practical location for the proposed addition.

The completed structure will be consistent and compatible with the other houses in the immediate area in overall size, construction, quality, and finish and aesthetic appearance.

The proposed extension into the rear yard shall not have a substantial negative impact on expected vistas for adjoining properties.

The rear yard setback otherwise required is not less than 50-foot, due to a consent judgment or other exceptions.

The proposed structure shall comply with all other requirements of the ordinance.

The applicant is requesting one variance:

The existing primary R-1-S residence has an approximate fifty (50) feet rear yard setback, at the location of the proposed addition. With the proposed twenty two (22) feet, six (6) inch wide x four (4) feet, zero (0) inch deep addition, the proposed rear yard setback would be forty six (46) feet, zero (0) inches, requesting a variance of four (4) feet, zero (0) inches.

Mr. Joe Phillips represented Mr. Ray and addressed the Board. Since it is possible for the property owner to request additional variance, it was requested the matter be tabled.

Moved by Mr. Bridgman, supported by Mr. Levengood, to table Application 1298 for up to 60 days. Ayes all.

3. Application No. 1299 – DeMattia Group

James Capo

45501 Helm St.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Location – New Morning School

14501 Haggerty Rd.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-008-01-0007-000

RE: Zoning Ordinance No 83, Article XVI Schedule of Regulations, Zoning District R-1 One Family Residential District

 

Zoning District

Maximum Lot Coverage

in Percent

Minimum Yard Requirements

in Feet

Non-Residential Uses

 

 

 

 

Front

Sides

 

 

Rear

Side Yard Abutting a Street

Rear Yard Abutting Side Lot Line

 

Side Yards

 

 

 

Min.

Total of Two

 

 

 

 

R-1

25

25

5

(w)

16

50

25

(g)

(h)

25

Sec. 16.2 notes to Schedule of Regulations Article XVI:

On every parcel which is erected a principal building or structure for non-dwelling purposes, such structure, other than their accessory building, shall have a side yard on each side of such parcel, and each such side yard shall not be less than twenty-five (25) feet with an increase of one (1) foot in width for each five (5) feet or part thereof which the said principal building or structure exceeds thirty-five (35) feet in over-all dimensions along the side yard and also an additional one (1) foot for each two (2) feet in height in excess of thirty-five (35) feet.

Article XX Parking Requirements, layout, standards and off-street loading and unloading pi

Sec. 20.2 Requirements for the development, maintenance and layout of parking facilities:

13. Plans for the layout and striping of off-street parking lots shall comply with the following minimum requirements:

 

 

Parking Pattern

 

Maneuvering Lane Width

 

Parking Space Width

 

Parking Space Length

Total Width of One Tier of Spaces Plus Maneuvering Lane

Total Width of Two Tiers of Spaces Plus Maneuvering Lane

0° (parallel parking)

12 feet

9 feet

23 feet

21 feet

30 feet

The applicant is requesting three variances:

With the proposed one hundred twenty two (122) feet long x eight one (81) feet nine (9) inch wide addition, the total building would be two hundred forty one (241) feet long.

Side Yard Setbacks:

241’. 0" along the side yard – 35’. 0" (allow in Sec. 16.2.h) = 206’. 0" ÷ 5 ft. = 41’. 0" + 25’. 0" (required in Sec. 16.2.h)

66’. 0" required side yard setback per side per ordinance.

Requesting a north side yard setback variance of twenty two (22) ft. zero (0) inches.

Requesting a south side yard setback variance of forty four (44) ft. five (5) inches.

Parking Lot Space Width:

Providing parking spaces 10’ in width rather than 9’ in width would reduce the total number of spaces, present practical difficulties and hardship for the project’s expansion.

3. Requesting a variance of one (1) foot in width for the approximate 61 parking spaces at the New Morning School.

Mr. James Capo of DeMattia Group addressed the Board and answered questions. Mr. Roger Nicholson, 40767 Breckenridge, the property owner adjacent to the school, registered his objections; and Mr. Anthony Wisniewski noted the opposition of Mr. Daken who is also an adjacent property owner who was unable to attend the meeting.

Moved by Mr. Bridgman, supported by Mr. Levengood, to grant Application 1299 for a north side yard setback variance of twenty two (22) ft. zero (0) inches, a south side yard setback variance of forty four (44) ft. five (5) inches, and a variance of one (1) foot in width for the approximate 61 parking spaces at the New Morning School. Ayes all.

Moved by Mr. Bridgman, seconded by Mr. Griffith, to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 p.m.

Ayes, all.

Respectfully submitted,

Joe Bridgman

Joe Bridgman, Secretary

Zoning Board of Appeals

NOTE: Upon granting a zoning variance, a building permit is required.

If denied, the applicant may appeal to Circuit Court.

The Charter Township of Plymouth will provide necessary reasonable aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon two weeks notice to the Charter Township of Plymouth. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Charter Township of Plymouth by writing or calling the Supervisor’s Office, Charter Township of Plymouth, 42350 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, Michigan, 48170, (734) 453-3840, TDD users: 1-800-649-3777 (Michigan Relay Service)-