Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes
March 1, 2001

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00 P.M. BY CHAIRMAN STEINER

Members Present: Ronald Griffith

Gene Levengood

Donald Sprogell

Bill Steiner

Jim Zdanek

Others Present: Ted Kloc

Barbara Barna

ITEM NO. 1 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Regular Meeting – February 1, 2001

Moved by Chairman Steiner_________________________ Supported by __Mr. Griffith______________

Action taken: Approved minutes as submitted; everyone in favor and minutes were accepted.__________

ITEM NO. 2 – OLD BUSINESS

Application No. 1250 – Heileman Signs

22901 Stadium

St. Clair, MI 48178

Location - Sunshine Honda

1205 Ann Arbor Rd

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-059-03-0062-300

RE: Zoning Ordinance No. 83:87, Article 34 ARC – Ann Arbor Rd Corridor District

Sec. 34.10 Signs

Area, Height, Placement and Other Regulations for Permitted Signs

Ground signs

On a premises with a street frontage of 200 feet or greater, ground signs shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet, and shall not exceed a maximum height of twelve (12) feet or maximum area of sixty (60) square feet.

The Planning Commission shall review all ground sign applications to assure compliance with the design, placement and dimensional standards of this Article. The following design standards shall apply:

Monument signs shall have brick or decorative masonry block base that complements the materials and architecture of the building. Signs shall harmonize with the Ann Arbor Rd streetscape materials.

The base of any ground sign shall be landscaped to create a year round buffer for the sign.

Lettering style shall be clean and simple to assure readability and shall be in harmony with the style of architecture of the building. No more than two (2) different type styles shall be used on each sign.

The applicant is requesting four variances:

The proposed ground sign shall have a setback of one (1) foot requesting a variance of nine (9) feet, zero (0) inches.

The proposed ground sign shall have a maximum height of twenty one (21) feet, seven (7) inches, requesting a variance of nine (9) feet, seven (7) inches.

The proposed ground sign shall have a maximum area of one hundred seventy three (173) square feet, requesting a variance of one hundred thirteen (113) square feet in area.

4. The proposed ground sign shall not have a brick or decorative masonry block base, requesting a variance of a brick or decorative masonry sign base.

Moved by Mr. Griffith_________________________ Supported by Secretary Sprogell__________

Action taken: Item No. 2 – Old Business – Application 1250 tabled for further study.__________________

ITEM NO. 2 – OLD BUSINESS

Application No. 1251 – Petros & Carol Moschouris

9821 Beck Rd

Plymouth, MI 48170

Location – Petros & Carol Moschouris

9821 Beck Rd

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-049-99-0007-002

RE: Zoning Ordinance No. 83, Schedule of Regulation, Article 16, 16.1 – Zoning District R-1-H, Minimum lot area 21,780 sq. ft.

The applicant’s proposed landsplit with the proposed Ann Arbor Rd & Beck Rd right-of-ways, the size of each lot to be 0.45 – 0.46 acres vs. the required 0.50 acres.

The applicant is requesting two variances:

The applicant is requesting one variance for parcel 1 of 0.04 acres or 2,006 square feet.

The applicant is requesting one variance for parcel 2 of 0.05 acres or 2,126 square feet.

Moved by __________________________________ Supported by __________________________________

Action taken: Item No. 2 - Old Business Application 1251 tabled for further study.______________________

Application No. 1252 – Michigan Theological Seminary

41550 E. Ann Arbor Tr.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Location – Michigan Theological Seminary

41550 E. Ann Arbor Tr.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-030-99-0026-000

RE: Zoning Ordinance No. 83, Schedule of Regulations, Zoning District R-1, Article 21 Sign Regulation

Sec. 21.1 Definition:

As used in this article, the following words shall have the meanings as set forth in this section.

Item of information: Any word, abbreviation or symbol used as part of a sign.

Marquee sign: a sign attached to a marquee, canopy or awning projecting from and supported by the building.

Sec. 21.5 Signs permitted in specific zoning districts:

Zoning Classification	Ground	Wall	Projecting	Marquee	Window	Portable	Total Items of Information Allowed per Single Street Frontage
AG, R-1-E, PL, R-1-H, R-1-S, R-1	yes	yes	no	no	no	no	Three

The applicant is requesting two variances

The applicant is requesting a marquee sign in a residential zoned area, where the ordinance does not allow for them.

The applicant is requesting a variance on the total items of information allowed. Existing, ground sign has five (5) existing items of information, the proposed marquee sign with two (2) additional items of information, for a total of seven (7) items of information, requesting a variance of four (4) items of information.

Michigan Theological Seminary stated their case. Chairman Steiner asked for discussion. Secretary Sprogell asked what the physical hardship was. He said he had no problem with the awning itself. Chairman Steiner asked exactly why they needed a variance. Michigan Theological wants to put a logo on awning and a stripe on the edge, which is the reason for coming to zoning board.

Mr. Levingood and Secretary Sprogell asked if they were changing the size of sign. Chairman Steiner said the verbage has increased and so has the height of the awning. Michigan Theological stated the awning was only in the back of building, and the symbol requested on the awning is a duplicate of the one that was on the original canopy. The awning is located in the rear of the church facing the parking lot and the wooded area, which is shielded from off-site property, and as such constitutes a unique situation.

Moved by Mr. Levingood ________________________ Supported by _Mr. Griffith___________________

Action taken: All were in favor and Application No. 1252 was granted.______________________________

Application No. 1253 – Compuware Sports Arena

14900 Beck Rd.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Location – Compuware Sports Arena

14900 Beck Rd.

Plymouth, MI 48170

Tax I.D. #78-010-99-0006-700

RE: Zoning Ordinance No. 83.

Section 23 – Special Provisions

Fairs, carnivals and similar uses shall be allowed in any district where permitted on approval of the Board of Appeals.

The applicant is requesting the approval to run the Compuware Sports Center Carnival/Fair with both adult and children’s rides.

Mike Vellucci stated he wanted to have a carnival from June 13, 2001 to June 17, 2001 at Compuware. Chairman Steiner asked for discussion. Ted Kloc said the building department had no objection, and asked if a type of flammable certificate would be attached to the tent.

Gwenyth Smith from TRAM, Inc. is the manager and director of Plymouth Corporate Park Association. Ms. Smith talked about the letter that was sent to the zoning board with their concerns about litter, vandalism, and break ins during the carnival. Mr. Vellucci said there would be proper security. Ms. Smith stated there is no fence between properties and was concerned about the carnival being an ongoing thing. Secretary Sprogell asked Mr. Vellucci what the hours were for the carnival. Carnival would begin on Thursday, June 13, at 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday all day until 10:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday. Mr. Griffith compared the carnival to ones that have been held at Schoolcraft College, and said that mostly families attend and they have had no problems. Mr. Vellucci said the area would be properly secured. A snow fence was suggested and Mr. Vellucci will look into that option.

Mr. Zdanek suggested Mr. Vellucci and Ms. Smith exchange business cards in order to discuss this event. Mike Watts who works on the Plymouth Ice Festival stated this would be a great event with craft show, and entertainment for children and adults. Secretary Sprogell suggested they check into medical assistance. Compuware will have parking attendants, and Mr. Vellucci has talked with Chief Carey.

Chairman Steiner asked for a motion. Mr. Griffith wanted to approve Compuware’s carnival June 13 through June 17, with the understanding that there would be proper security; no problems for other properties; they would liaison with Plymouth Corporate Park owners association; and coordinate with the police department regarding traffic and safety.

Moved by Chairman Steiner___________________ Supported by Mr. Griffith_______________

Action taken: All in favor of Application No. 1253; ayes all. Motion granted._________________________

Chairman Steiner made the motion to adjourn at 5:20 p.m.; Mr. Zdanek supported and all were in favor.

NOTE: Upon granting a zoning variance a building permit is required.

If denied, the applicant has five (5) business days to appeal.

The Charter Township of Plymouth will provide necessary reasonable aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon two weeks notice to the Charter Township of Plymouth. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Charter Township of Plymouth by writing or calling the Supervisor’s Office, Charter Township of Plymouth, 42350 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, Michigan, 48170, (734) 453-3840, TDD users: 1-800-649-3777 (Michigan Relay Service)-

Respectfully submitted,

 

Don Sprogell, Secretary

Zoning Board of Appeals