Planning Commission Minutes

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
Bloomfield Township Hall

PRESENT: Mintz, Salz, Stefanes, Wittbold, Swoboda, Reisinger, Goldberg

ABSENT: None

Staff Present: Patricia McCullough, Planning and Building Director, and Robin Carley, Development Coordinator

Mr. Dave Payne, Township Supervisor, was also present.

The Commissioners discussed the amount of detail required in the written minutes of the Planning Commission meetings. It was determined that the minutes were to be considered "vignettes" of the meeting and not a verbatim transcript. The motions made by the Commissioners were to be very detailed, followed by the vote of the Commissioners. Mr. Mintz noted that any interested party would be allowed to bring a court reporter to the meetings for actual transcripts of the meetings.

Motion was made by Reisinger and supported approving the Planning Commission minutes of August 15, 2005, with two corrections.

YEAS: Mintz, Salz, Stefanes, Swoboda, Reisinger, Goldberg

NAYS: Wittbold

Ms. McCullough introduced this item to the Commissioners for a Class C Liquor License request for the existing Fuddruckers Restaurant located in the southern most tenant space within the shopping center at the southwesterly corner of Woodward Avenue and Square Lake Road, within a B-3, General Business zone district. Applications, aerials, floor plans, site plans, and site photos were provided to the Commissioners and submitted to the file. Ms. McCullough reviewed all the criteria listed in the Ordinance, which was provided in her staff report to the Commissioners and submitted to the file, along with the Departmental reports. She noted that this was an existing restaurant and that there were no proposed changes to the floor plan. The shopping center was previously approved by the Township Board of Trustees, with a parking variance granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Ms. McCullough stated that the Ordinance Department had required removal of the existing window signage and noted that letters and comments received from the adjacent neighbors were provided to the Commissioners and submitted to the file. She also commented on a phone call that she received from Mr. Stephen Till, Colonial Hills Association representative, who expressed concern regarding parking and traffic issues, including cut-through traffic entering the subdivision from Woodward onto Roswell Drive. She noted that Mr. Till stated he would submit an e-mail, however, one was not received prior to the meeting.

Mr. Mintz asked for questions or comments from the Commissioners to Ms. McCullough.

Ms. Reisinger questioned the location of Roswell Drive.

A map was presented showing that Roswell Drive was located approximately one-quarter mile to the south of Fuddruckers Restaurant.

Mr. Swoboda questioned if further review would be required if the interior of the restaurant was altered to include a bar area.

Ms. McCullough stated that review and approval would be required if the square footage was altered, affecting the required parking.

Mr. Salz questioned what happened to a liquor license when an establishment went out of business.

Ms. McCullough stated she did not have this information readily available.

Ms. Stefanes questioned why two applications were submitted, signed by two different individuals.

Ms. McCullough noted that the license would be held by Bogart’s, Inc., doing business as Fuddruckers. Two applications were submitted identifying the two individual stockholders, with their individual information supplied on each application.

Mr. Wittbold questioned the required parking for the shopping center, including the parking needed for the restaurant use.

Ms. McCullough noted that the restaurant was an approved use within the shopping center with a certificate of occupancy issued for the existing restaurant.

Mr. Mintz asked for the presentation from the applicant.

Ms. Kelly Allen, attorney representing Bogart’s, Inc., was present seeking approval for a Class C liquor license for the existing Fuddruckers Restaurant. She confirmed that two applications were submitted to provide individual information for each shareholder, but that the license would be held by Bogart’s Inc. Ms. Allen stated that there would be no change in use, no change in the hours of operation, no bar was to be added, and that the license would be for beer and wine only, a tavern license. She also noted that there was no history of violations issued to the applicants. Ms. Allen stated that the window signage, in violation, would be removed and would not return. She offered to meet with the residents to address their traffic concerns.

Mr. Mintz asked for questions or comments from the public.

Ms. Valjoan Myers, 2663 Colonial Way, was present objecting to the parking and traffic issues and with the type of crowd that might now be attracted to the shopping center. She also commented on the height of the existing wall at the rear of the restaurant, noting that it was lower than the remainder of the wall at the shopping center.

Mr. Bill Vouharas, 2654 Colby Drive, across Woodward Avenue from the restaurant, was present expressing concerns regarding traffic issues and congestion on Woodward Avenue.

Mr. Mintz closed the public comment portion of the meeting.

Mr. Mintz asked for further questions or comments from the Commissioners.

Traffic conditions were discussed, including cut-through traffic within the Colonial Hills subdivision and it was noted that these issues might addressed by the Township’s Police Department.

Dr. Goldberg commented on the height of the existing wall behind Fuddruckers, noting that this was an existing condition, but questioned if the issue could be readdressed. He also questioned if the ingress/egress at the southerly end of the shopping center could again be addressed.

Ms. McCullough stated that she was not aware of the history of the approval for this project, including the existing height of the wall behind Fuddruckers, but that the Commissioners comments would be passed along to the Township Board of Trustees.

Ms. McCullough reminded the Commissioners that the parking and height of the wall were existing conditions.

Mr. Mintz called for a motion.

Ms. McCullough reviewed the proposal for Building B within the proposed Bloomfield Park Development. She highlighted her staff report, as provided to the Commissioners and submitted to the file, along with the various Township Departmental reports. The proposed mixed-use building was reviewed relative to setback and floor area requirements, loading and screening, landscaping, architectural design standards, as well as lighting, building elevations, and building height. Aerials, site plans, floor plans, elevations, and colored renderings were provided to the Commissioners and submitted to the file. Ms. McCullough noted the concerns as expressed by the various Departments. Mr. Jeffrey Werner, Police Chief, was present to review the Police Department’s concerns relative to traffic and safety issues, and stressed the need for more detailed plans to allow a more thorough and complete review. A report from Mr. Michael Labadie of Tetra Tech, the Township’s consultant traffic engineer, was provided to the Commissioners and submitted to the file.

There were no comments from the public.

Mr. Mintz commented on the inadequacy of the plans submitted and stated that much more detail was required in order to perform an accurate review. He stated that the comments of the Planning Commissioners would be provided to Mr. Dan Devine, Township Treasurer and the Township’s representative to the Joint Development Council.

The Commissioners discussed the proposal and stated that they felt the plans as submitted were inadequate and lacked the necessary information to conduct a proper review. They expressed the same concerns relative to Building B that were previously provided relative to Building A and the Master Plan advisory review:

Mr. Mintz noted that the Planning Commissioners comments would be forwarded to the Township Board of Trustees and to the Joint Development Council, along with the Township’s Departmental reports, staff reports, and consultants’ reports.

The next Planning Commission was scheduled for Monday, September 19, 2005.

The Planning Commission Meeting of September 7, 2005 was adjourned at 8:25 P.M. P.M.

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P.O. Box 489
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-0489
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