ANN ARBOR CHARTER TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES OF MEETING

MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005

This regular meeting of the Ann Arbor Charter Township Planning Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Township Hall, 3792 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan by Kris Olsson, Chair.

Commissioners present: Chair Kris Olsson and Commissioners Richard Mitchell, Diane O’Connell, John Allison, Randolph Perry, James Snyder and Peter Kotila.

Also present: Township Supervisor Michael Moran, Township Attorney Sandra Sorini Elser and Wetland Consultant Gene Jaworski.

Citizen Participation

No citizens signed up to speak.

Approval of Minutes

The last two sentences on page 2 under the paragraph Father Gabriel Richard High School…should be removed. Also on page 2, the date for the public hearing for JJR NSF should be corrected to April 4, 2005 not April 5, 2005. With those correction Ms. O’Connell moved to approve the Minutes of the March 7, 2005 Planning Commission Meeting. Mr. Perry seconded the motion which was adopted unanimously.

Communications

Mr. Allison reported on the March 21, 2005 Board of Trustees Meeting. The Board of Trustees released 109 acres for annexation for the Maple Road High School. The Board also asked for a speed evaluation on Newport Road from Washtenaw County Road Commission. A PDR application was submitted on the Cap Kapp Park property. The Board of Trustees is also working with Pam Byrnes office regarding developing tax abatement legislation for farmland.

Flemming Creek Planning Summit, April 26, 2005-Several ordinances will be updating what is being done with Flemming Creek. One of the subjects that will be touched upon will be Mallett’s Creek and coordinating counsel within the townships.

Public Hearing

NSF Public Hearing Natural Features Permit – NF-1-05

789 N. Dixboro Road 32.10 acres Zoning RRA

Presentation by Applicant

Mr. Dale Sass presented the petition for the Natural Features Permit. 8.5 acres of steep slopes exist on the current site. Only 1.8 acres would be impacted by the expansion. Also, 17 trees will be removed with the expansion for a total of 90 caliber inches. These trees will be replaced by 36 trees with a diameter of 2 ½ inch. In addition, a total of 18 dead ash trees will be replaced primarily in the parking lot area. Mr. Sass also addressed the issue of the parking lot light that the neighbors had complained of. In the plans for expansion, a parking lot and headlight screen of shrubs will be planted to absorb some of the light and act as a visual buffer. Another remedy to the lighting pollution is to change the type of lighting used in the parking lot and the wattage used. Meadow grass will be planted between Dixboro Road and the edge of the parking lot. The planting of the meadow grass will help improve storm water infiltration into the ground.

Consultant Comments/ Commission Comments

Dr. Gene Jaworski, Township Wetland Consultant commented that the site plans presented tonight have been changed and he hasn’t had enough time to evaluate the new plans. The added forebay should improve the trapping of sediments and in addition to help protect the wetland. Dr. Jaworski would like to see a drawing of all plans, but what Mr. Sass is presenting seems like a good idea. Mr. Allison wanted to know if any thought was given to turning off the lights in the bottom tier of parking lot at night. Mr. Sass stated that the wiring of the lights would not warrant permit such a request.

Public Comment

No public comment was offered.

Public Hearing Closed

Planning Commission Discussion/ Action

The natural features permit encroaches on the steep slopes. Attorney Sorini Elser suggests that the natural features permit be included in the approval of the final site plan. Mr. Allison made a motion to table the request for a Natural Features Permit and Ms. O’Connell seconded the motion. The Commissioners adopted unanimously.

Old Business

NSF Preliminary Site Plan Review. Expansion of existing building SP-1-08.

Approval of the site plan was tabled at the March 7, 2005 meeting. Mr. Sass discusses the reduction of the 100 foot setback to a 40 foot setback. In a previous meeting with the Commissioners a concern over the curve in the parking lot was raised. The drives cannot line up because of curve in road. Trucks and emergency vehicles will only be allowed to use the South driveway. Because of the limited use of the South driveway, cars will not be turning against other cars in the parking lot. Mr. Sass gives a status report on Washtenaw County submittals. The WCRC should have comments to JJR between April 5 and April 12, 2005. Mr. Sass states that he has received comments from the Drain Commissioner. Some technical things in nature but nothing serious in the stormwater management. According to MDEQ regarding the lower detention pond, they have determined that it is not regulated as a wetland. The pond will be considered a “regulated detention pond.” This brings the detention basin under the MDEQ jurisdiction. Improvements have been made to the stormwater management system. The first thing is to add a forebay at the southern end of the north south infiltration trench. Second, changing the landscape surface at the east end of the site to meadow grass to increase infiltration. Another change is to alleviate erosion on the infiltration trenches by using “gabion mattress” to help with erosion protection. The plans also include adding check dams on the swale above the southern infiltration trench to prevent surface erosion across steeper slopes. Dr. Jaworski made the suggestion of replacing the North forebay and putting it at the top of South basin. He would also like to see other alternatives to drainage. Mr. Allison would like to see no net increase in volume of waterMr. Allison would like to see less volume of water, and raises the question as to putting a conservation easement on the other part of unused land. Mr. Allison made a motion to table approval of the preliminary site plan and Mr. Kotila seconded the motion. The Commissioners adopted the motion unanimously.

General Development Plan

The General Development Plan is being revised. The Commissioners will meet on April 13, 2005 to discuss further changes.

New Business

With the upcoming election on May 3, 2005, the Planning Commission needed to change the date of their May meeting. Ms. O’Connell made the motion to conduct the meeting on Monday, May 9, 2005 with a submission date of April 20, 2005. Mr. Allison seconded the motion which was adopted unanimously.

Public Comment

No public comment was offered.

Adjournment

On a motion made by Mr. Kotila and seconded by Mr. Allison, the Commission adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:10 p.m.

________________________

Kris Olsson, Chair

Minutes Prepared by Mary Volger