Planning Commission Minutes 08.16.05

The special meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Planning Commission was called to order by Chair Fortress at 7:30 pm at the Township Office.

Members Present:   Fortress, Holton, Melville, Poleski, Roth, Short, Williams.  

Members Absent:   Evans, Jacobson.

Guests Present:   Mick Barney (Triangle Associates), Gayle Beebe (SAU), Harold DeCann, Stuart Franzen (Fanning/Howey Associates), Michael Holdwick (Wolverine Engineers), Indra Jha (Elite Engineering), Doug Jones (SAU), Ken Logeman, James Schineman (Wolverine Engineers). 

ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION OF COMMISSION SECRETARY:  

Ken Melville has submitted his resignation as Secretary of the Commission.   He wishes to remain a member of the Commission.   Motion by Holton, seconded by Williams, to accept with regret Melville’s resignation as Secretary of the Commission, and to thank him for many years of faithful service.   Motion carried unanimously.

ELECTION OF SECRETARY:

The Chair opened the floor to nominations for Secretary.   Short nominated Poleski.   Motion by Williams, seconded by Roth, to close nominations.   Unanimous voice vote resulted in election of Poleski as Secretary of the Commission.

NEW BUSINESS:

The purpose of the evening’s meeting is to discuss Spring Arbor University’s plans for a new dormitory and a new parking lot.

It was noted initially that the new dormitory is of sufficient height that a variance will be required.

Douglas Jones of SAU presented information concerning the new dormitory, which will be in the shape of an L and located at College and Second Streets.

Discussion followed.

Motion by Al Short, seconded by Roth:

That action on the dormitory site plan be delayed until the Commission’s regularly scheduled September meeting, and that the University update its plans consistent with this evening’s discussion, such updates to include:

     •  University officials have represented that the 4 th floor of the new dormitory would be used solely for storage and mechanical purposes.   The plans should reflect this.

     •  In the event of fire, the Township fire chief anticipates his command post to be within the elbow of the L of the building.   To facilitate fire suppression, a post indicator valve should be located inside the elbow of the L of the new dormitory.

     •  A service drive within the elbow of the L is required, of at least 14’ width.   The drive should include a cul-de-sac of sufficient diameter to permit the largest fire apparatus to turn around.   The drive should be asphalt or concrete, and should be approximately 25’ away from the building.

     •  Fire suppression plans will be facilitated by locating fire hydrants on the same side of each street as the new dormitory.   This will prevent assisting fire apparatus from having to cross fire hoses.   To that end, fire hydrants are to be located on the south side of Second Street (i.e., the same side of the street as the new dormitory).

     •  A 30’ area surrounding the building should be substantially free of barriers (such as walls, planters, etc.) that would inhibit fire suppression efforts.

     •  Drainage from the building should be slowed by the use of a restrictor or other mechanism that would prevent the overload of the existing County drain.   Sufficient retention should be provided.   

Motion carried.

Mr. Jones then presented the University’s plans for a parking lot on the old Harbottle property and Lot 3 of Ogle Subdivision.

Discussion followed.

Motion by Short, seconded by Roth, that action on the parking lot site plan be delayed until the regularly scheduled September Commission meeting, and that the University’s plans be updated for the following issues:

     •  Issues raised in Township engineers’ OMM letter of August 12, 2005 .

     •  Potential update of parking lot plan to increase the number of spaces through usage of one-way lanes and other techniques.

Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 pm .

Respectfully Submitted,

Earl J Poleski, Secretary