The meeting was called to order at or about 7:00 PM.

Present: Member Anthony, Member Baratta, Member Greco, Member Gutman, Member Lynch, Chair Pehrson

Absent: Member Prince (excused)

Also Present: Barbara McBeth, Deputy Director of Community Development; Kristin Kolb, City Attorney; Mark Spencer, Planner; David Campbell, Planner

Member Gutman led the meeting attendees in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moved by Member Gutman, seconded by Member Lynch:

Chair Pehrson asked if there was anyone in the audience who would like to address the Planning Commission at this time, please step forward. Seeing no one, Chair Pehrson closed the first audience participation and asked if there was any correspondence.

Member Gutman stated that there was no correspondence regarding the public hearing, but there is one letter that was presented to us from Governor Snyder.

Deputy Director McBeth that was an item of interest staff provided to the Planning Commission as a message from the Governor’s office related to transportation issues.

There were no Committee Reports.

Deputy Director McBeth stated that at the meeting of December 5, 2011, the City Council considered and approved the Suburban Low-Rise Overlay District text amendment and Zoning Map Amendment. The City Council decided to rezone all of the properties that were reviewed and recommended by the Planning Commission with the exception of the property on the south side of Eleven Mile and west of Beck Road, commonly referred to as the Bosco parcel. The Sign Ordinance Text Amendment for the Suburban Low Rise provisions was also approved.

Additionally, the City Council approved the Site Plan and Development Manual. The updated manual is available on the City’s web page for anyone who is interested reviewing in the development procedures and applications.

Public hearing for Planning Commission’s recommendation to the City Council to amend the City of Novi Zoning Ordinance as follows:

Planner Spencer explained to further the implementation of the Adopted 2010 Master Plan for Land Use, the Planning Staff has asked the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing tonight and to consider and make a recommendation to City Council on a proposed Retail Service Overlay and Office District Zoning Ordinance text amendment.

During the 2009 and 2010 Master Plan Review process, the previously designated "Office" future land use definition was evaluated and the Review recommended creating a new set of office land use definitions generally coinciding with the current office zoning districts to establish a stronger vision for the future use of these areas and to make them more appealing to investors. The review did not contemplate a use area to coincide with the OS-2 district since the only area zoned OS-2 was the residential Knightsbridge Gate development. The Master Plan incorporated the Review’s office future land use recommendations and the OS-2 district was eliminated from the Zoning Map in May 2011 when City Council rezoned the property to R-4. This action made the OS-2 district obsolete.

Planner Spencer stated that the proposed text Amendment will eliminate the text of the obsolete OS-2, District and add the uses currently permitted by reference in the OS-2 District to the OSC and OST districts.

The Master Plan Review also studied the properties along Grand River and east of Beck Road in detail. The review concluded that a limited amount of retail uses could be placed near the intersection of Grand River and Beck in a manner that would be compatible with the nearby office, commercial and light industrial land uses. The review proposed that by limiting the amount of land available for retail, limiting the types of retail uses and limiting access to the properties, the impact on nearby existing and planned retail uses and the road system would be minimal.

Planner Spencer explained that the 2010 Master Plan incorporated the Master Plan Review’s recommendations and includes a set of objectives and implementation strategies related to the Grand River Avenue and Beck Road Study Area, including a new limited Office Research Development and Technology Retail Overlay future land use area.

Planner Spencer stated that as recommended on the Master Plan’s Grand River Ave. & Beck Road Study Area Transportation Plan, the proposed ordinance will to the extent possible, prohibit retail properties within the retail overlay area to access major roads and require them to be accessed from new local roads that loop between Grand River and Beck. Thus the traffic impacts of any new retail development will be reduced. The initial road work modeled after the Grand River Ave. & Beck Road Study Area Transportation Plan was begun with the USA2Go project.

Allowing for a limited amount of retail services to serve the employees and visitors of Office, Research, Development and Technology use areas may make the prospect of developing new businesses in the area more attractive and thus create greater potential for additional development and redevelopment in the nearby OST District.

Planner Spencer stated that the property owners in the retail service overlay area were notified of the proposed zoning changes and no negative comments were received.

At this time, the Planning Staff recommends that the Planning Commission review the proposed amendments and make a recommendation to City Council.

Chair Pehrson stated that this is a public hearing and if there is anyone in the audience, who wishes to address the Planning Commission, please step forward.

Chair Pehrson stated that seeing no one, and seeing that there is no correspondence on this matter, we will close the public hearing and turn it over to the Planning Commission for their consideration or a motion.

Motion made by Member Baratta, and seconded by Member Lynch.

Chair Pehrson complimented staff and thanked Planner Spencer and the City for their continued coordination of how best to address the Master Plan and the ever-changing landscape of the businesses coming in. Chair Pehrson said he thinks this text amendment should be well received.

Motion made by Member Lynch, and seconded by Member Baratta:

There were no Consent Agenda removals.

There were none.

Deputy Director McBeth stated that our city attorney has an announcement that she would like to make.

City Attorney Kolb stated that this is her last meeting with the Novi Planning Commission since she is leaving her employment with Secrest, Wardle and has been offered the position of Township Attorney in Canton. Ms. Kolb stated that she has been coming to the Planning Commission meetings for 5 years and has enjoyed working with everyone at the City of Novi.

Chair Pehrson thanked Ms. Kolb for everything she has done for the Planning Commission and wished her the best of luck.

Seeing no one, Chair Pehrson closed the last audience participation.

Moved by Member Lynch and seconded by Member Baratta:

The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 PM.

Transcribed by:

Juanita Freeman, Account Clerk, December, 2011

Date Approved: January 25, 2012

Richelle Leskun, Planning Assistant