CITY OF HUDSONVILLE
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

October 24, 2007

FORMAL – Approval of Minutes of August 15, 2007 meeting
Downtown Master Plan
INFORMAL – None
Present: 
 Baker, Leatherman, Leerar, Luben, TenHarmsel, VanDenBerg, VanDoeselaar, Westrate and Strikwerda
Absent: 
 Raterink

FORMAL SESSION:

1. Chairman VanDoeselaar called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. A motion was made by Luben, supported by VanDenBerg, to approve the minutes of the August 15, 2007 meeting.
Yeas 5, Nays 0
3. Downtown Master Plan

Chairman VanDoeselaar opened the public hearing.

Rick Pulaski of Nederveld gave a slide presentation and reviewed the steps taken to update the City of Hudsonville’s Master Plan. The last update to the Master Plan was in 1999. In December, 2004, a Market Study was done by the Chesapeake Group; February, 2005 the City received a grant from Michigan State University for the Small Town Design Initiative project. Hudsonville was selected for the Ottawa County Urban Smart Growth Demonstration Project and then the Architectural Design Elements Portfolio was completed by Nederveld.
It was felt that the downtown area should first be considered for the proposed Master Plan. The different aspects of the Downtown Master Plan were covered. Lake Forest, IL. was used as a model. It is a “Village Green” centered concept, inviting street presence.

  • Questions from the audience:
    Resident – 32nd & Prospect St. – The traffic is heavy and she asked why the road was so close to her house. What about easements?
    Chairman VanDoeselaar – That situation would go back many years ago when the road was widened.
    What is the timing for this plan?
    Chairman VanDoeselaar – The intent is to adopt the Master Plan for the downtown area at the 11/21/07 Planning Commission meeting and to forward it for approval at the 12/11/07 City Commission meeting.
    Will MDOT work at keeping M-21 in better shape prior to 2010?
    Chairman VanDoeselaar – MDOT has been involved with the update to our Master Plan as it applies to Chicago Drive.
    Luben – When MDOT upgrades the classification of Chicago Drive to M-121 they should keep the road in better repair.
    What type of businesses will be considered for the updated downtown area?
    VanDoeselaar – They expect it to be market driven and have a variety of businesses located downtown.
    Luben – The Chesapeake Market Study identified many types of businesses that would fit in.
    Strikwerda – read a letter received from Mr. Daniel McCarter
    After all present were given the opportunity to speak, Chairman VanDoeselaar closed the public hearing.

Strikwerda – Many people, including everyone that has property within the downtown Master Plan area, received a special notice of this meeting. If there are no major changes recommended, we will adopt the downtown plan at the 11/21/07 Planning Commission meeting. We will then seek an endorsement from the City Commission at the December 11, 2007 meeting.

INFORMAL SESSION:

4.
 Strikwerda – Recently the idea of a building moratorium in the downtown area came up. A building moratorium would allow the downtown plan and zoning to be in place so that when a building is proposed it will be sited correctly.
Westrate – What is the amount of time needed?
Strikwerda – Approximately 3 – 4 months, when the zoning is completed.
Leerar – Would this affect new construction only?
Strikwerda – Yes.
Westrate – It seems like a logical step.
VanDenBerg – It could be foolish to allow someone to construct a new building when we are this close to completing the downtown portion of the Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
Mark Miller of Nederveld stated that the Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance should be completed by the end of March, 2008 at the latest.
Leatherman – Developers should see the proposed Master Plan as a positive step.
TenHarmsel – Should the streets be in place before development begins?
Strikwerda – Many streets will not be relocated.
VanDoeselaar – Suggested that Dan check with the City’s legal counsel. Developers may work with our Master Plan.
Luben – A moratorium seems negative. We should try to work with any developer that approaches us.
Leatherman – Developers should cooperate and work with the City.
Leerar – Agrees that a building moratorium appears negative.
VanDoeselaar – A moratorium would be OK if we can grant an exception if an applicant agrees to comply with the new Master Plan. He suggested that Strikwerda check with our legal counsel. The consensus was to put a building moratorium in place if we can make an exception as was suggested by the mayor
5.
 Strikwerda – Another item to discuss is a gymnastics facility that would like to use the building at 3400 Highland Drive. It doesn’t meet the current zoning. They have looked at a few commercial sites in the City, but they don’t work very well. Do we want to allow this use in an industrial building? No changes are needed to the building. The consensus was acceptable to present the application at the 11/21/07 meeting.
6.
 Strikwerda – Noted that he received a revised set of plans for Summer Creek Condominiums. However, the applicant is considering presenting this as a PUD.
7. Strikwerda – Mentioned training opportunities for members of Planning Commission.
8. A motion was made by Leerar, supported by VanDenBerg, to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.
Yeas 8, Nays 0
Susan Dykema
Recording Secretary

Dan Strikwerda, AICP
Planning/Zoning Administrator

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