| Mr. Vestevich responded to comments from the public. Hearing all the comments, he |
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| sympathized with the people. The subject property can't just go away, and it can't be |
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| unzoned. A lot of misinformation seems to be circulating through the community that |
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| he hopes can be cleared up. The March 1985 Planning Commission minutes reflect |
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| that the subject site was considered and understood to be a future building site. And |
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| the Master Plan consultant at the time endorsed the existing screening. He |
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| emphasized that the existing berm will remain and will not be reduced. The berm |
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| prevents drainage onto residential properties. Development of the subject site will |
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| control the water by sending it to new pipes and will facilitate the transmittal of water |
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| to Meijer's detention ponds. The present drainage inlets are not maintained; they are |
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| plugged up, which explains the accumulation of water. There will be no drainage of |
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| water from the subject site to homeowners' sites on the east side of the berm. |
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| Regarding trees, there are 97 existing trees; 33 will be removed for the construction of |
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| the screening wall and relocation of the drainage line, and will be replaced with 42 |
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| trees. He was disappointed to hear that residents perceived their attitude as |
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| condescending. They were respectful to everyone who expressed an opinion during |
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| the meetings with residents, even in the face of the drug comment. They have never |
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| had a drug problem in the gyms they operate. Regarding comments made that they |
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| are only complying with minimums required, the Type 'A' screening proposed is the |
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| maximum. They propose a combination of buffer, berm, trees, and wall. Normally a |
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| 5.8 acre parcel might justify the construction of a 50,000 square foot building; the |
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| proposed building is only 26,000 square feet well below the maximum. He clarified |
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| that the side yard setback proposed is 75 feet and includes a 50 foot buffer. There |
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| will be a screening wall that will capture material blowing around before it can get to |
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| the fence, so the area would actually be cleaner. |
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| Continuing, Mr. Vestevich explained that the gym will occupy about half of the |
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| building and is the only tenant at present. A number of restaurants have expressed |
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| interest in the other portion of the building, but no restaurant has been leased at this |
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| point. The tenant mix is in flux, and a liquor license is a separate process. There will |
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| be no food service and no kitchen in connection with the gym, only bottled water and |
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| packaged health food. The Chair added that the location of the dumpster becomes |
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| more critical if there will be food service. |
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