Planning Commission Minutes
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Bloomfield Township Hall
I. ATTENDANCE:
PRESENT: Salz, Stefanes, Mintz, Reisinger, Stark
ABSENT: Goldberg, Swoboda
Staff Present: Patricia McCullough, Planning and Building
Director, Robin Carley, Development Coordinator, and Chris
Gruba, Assistant Planner.
Dave Payne, Township Supervisor, was present in the
audience. Also present was Police Chief Don Zimmerman, Police
Lieutenant Dan Edwards, and Michael Labadie, Consultant
Traffic Engineer.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The Planning Commission minutes of April 17, 2006 were
accepted as written.
III. SITE PLAN REVIEW:
A. St. Regis Parish – 3695 Lincoln Drive – Traffic
Circulation and Signage
Ms. McCullough introduced this request to the Commissioners
and reviewed the previously approved site plan for the phased
renovations at the St. Regis Parish site located on the
southeasterly corner of Lincoln Drive and Lahser Road. She
also reviewed the previous discussions and recommendations of
the Planning Commission during the site plan approval process
regarding the existing and proposed traffic circulation. Ms.
McCullough noted the conditions of site plan approval, which
included a mandatory follow-up meeting with St. Regis /
Brother Rice and the Township’s Police Department to review
the traffic circulation issues. The outcome of those meetings,
including letters submitted by St. Regis and the Township’s
Police Department, was noted by Ms. McCullough and included in
her staff report to the Commissioners and submitted to the
file.
Ms. McCullough introduced Mr. Michael Labadie, the
Township’s consultant traffic engineer. He reviewed his
letters that were provided to the Commissioners and submitted
to the file, including his most recent letter dated April 19,
2006. His findings included a traffic count and vehicle speed.
His summary stated that….
Mr. Salz asked for questions or comments from the
Commissioners to Mr. Labadie.
Ms. Reisinger questioned why the traffic count was extended
to 5 P.M. rather than 4 P.M., as requested by signage.
Mr. Labadie stated that the study was extended to include
traffic patterns after the last posted hour on the sign, for
comparison purposes.
Mr. Salz asked for a report or comments from Police Chief
Zimmerman.
Chief Zimmerman stated that the Police Department concurred
with the findings of the traffic consultant and that the
Police Department would send letters to St. Regis and Brother
Rice, after approval from the Township Board of Trustees,
informing them that the sign was in place and that the Police
Department was granted powers to enforce the signage.
Mr. Salz questioned the legality of the signage in relation
to its proposed location and granting of police powers for
turning right out of private property onto a public road
right-of-way.
Police Chief Zimmerman and Dave Payne commented that the
signage was placed on private property, and that the traffic
was exiting from private property.
Ms. Reisinger questioned if the Police Department could
provide copies of tickets to St. Regis and Brother Rice, for
further action to be taken with the students in violation of
the signage.
Mr. Payne stated that the Township could not volunteer
copies of the tickets to the schools, but that the schools
could obtain copies of the tickets through a Freedom of
Information request.
Mr. Stark questioned if signage could prohibit everyone but
residents.
Chief Zimmerman stated that the "no right turn" would apply
to all vehicular traffic, with the exception of school buses.
Mr. Salz asked for the presentation from the applicant.
Mr. Ken Karch, Administrator of St. Regis Church, referred
to the minutes of 07-12-04, and the minutes of 04-19-06,
including the findings of Tetra Tech, noting the number of
vehicles on the subdivision roads. He requested that the no
right turn signage request be removed completely. He did not
feel that the sign was needed.
Discussion followed regarding the volume of traffic, when
the traffic counts were taken and the dismissal times of
Marion, Brother Rice and St. Regis.
Mr. Salz asked for questions or comments from the
Commissioners to the applicant.
Ms. Stefanes stated that the original site plan approval
included a no right turn from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. and noted
that if they recommended amending the signage to state no
right turn from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., they should also
include recommending a revision to the original site plan
approval.
Mr. Payne noted that the Township Administration and Police
Department had several meetings with the St. Regis
representatives regarding the lack of enforcement by the
Parish and thus the request for granting of police powers to
enforce the no right turn signage.
Ms. Reisinger stressed the need to make Brother Rice more
responsible for enforcing the no right turn signage, with
repercussions for the violating students.
Discussion continued regarding the traffic circulation and
the number of cars exiting before 3:00 P.M. and before 4:00
P.M.
Mr. Salz opened the hearing for public comment.
Mr. Bill Mennick, 6936 Windham, stated that the traffic has
been drastically reduced with the installation of the no right
turn signage. He commented on the existing easterly exits,
reserved for bus traffic, that are being utilized by parents
dropping off students at St. Regis, who then use his driveway
as a turn around. He stated that enforcement of the no right
turn sign would help alleviate his situation.
Ms. Carolyn Fascetti, 3259 E. Breckenridge, stated that her
children do attend St. Regis, and requested that the no right
turn sign include the 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. time frame to
allow for her to pick up her children at their dismissal time
at 3:15 P.M. and turn right into her subdivision. She stated
that 23 families with children attending St. Regis live within
the immediate vicinity and need to turn right onto Lincoln to
return to their homes.
Mr. Jeff Sylvia, 3471 W. Bradford, stated that the majority
of their traffic issues are regarding speeding, specifically
along Lincoln, from Lahser Road and proceeding easterly
approximately one quarter of a mile.
Ms. Patti Sylvia, 3471 W. Bradford, was in support of
allowing the St. Regis parents to turn right into the
subdivision, but felt that the speeding issues are the main
concern and must be enforced. She supported the no right turn
signage with the hours of 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Mr. Salz stated that the Township’s Police Department had
always been very responsive to the Westchester Subdivision’s
traffic complaints.
Lieutenant Dan Edwards, previously serving in the capacity
of the Traffic Sergeant, handled this traffic issue during the
site plan approval phase. He stated that the Police Department
routinely received numerous phone calls from the residents
within the Westchester subdivision during the dismissal times
of the school campus, with traffic exiting the campus and
turning right in to the subdivision.
There were no additional public comments.
Mr. Salz closed the public hearing and called for a motion.
Motion was made by Mintz to recommend to the Township Board
of Trustees the establishment of an ordinance to support a no
right turn sign from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday through
Friday. The motion died due to lack of support.
Mr. Salz called for another motion.
Motion was made by Stefanes, seconded by Stark and was
unanimously supported to recommend to the Township Board the
establishment of an ordinance to enforce a no right turn sign
with the hours of 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., Monday through
Friday, exiting onto Lincoln Drive. The motion included a
recommendation to the Township Board to amend the previous
site plan approval granted on July 12, 2004 to include the
change of hours for the no right turn signage.
YEAS: Salz, Stefanes, Mintz, Reisinger, Stark
NAYS: None
IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. Items Not on the Agenda
Mr. Salz asked for any comments from the Commissioners
Mr. Mintz commented on the e-mail sent by William Stark
regarding his questions with the Township’s liquor license
policy.
Mr. Stark stated that he had spoken with Ms. McCullough and
that they would meet with the Township Supervisor to develop a
document for the Commissioners to discuss.
Mr. Payne stated that the Township has 28 liquor licenses
available, based on its population, with only 14 currently
being used. He noted that the Township’s revised liquor
license ordinance, combined with the Township’s parking
requirements, was very limiting as to where restaurants could
locate, thus limiting the number of liquor licenses that could
be approved. He also commented that even if a license were
transferred to another community, it would not affect our
quota. Our quota was currently 28 licenses, and would remain
the same if the population remained the same.
V. GENERAL BUSINESS:
A. Next Commission Meeting Date
The Next Planning Commission Meeting was scheduled for
Monday, May 15, 2006.
VI. ADJOURNMENT:
The Planning Commission Meeting of Wednesday, May 3, 2006
was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia McCullough, Director
Planning and Building
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