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1000 ‎Rochester Hills Dr‎. ‎

Rochester Hills, MI ‎

48309‎

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Rochester Hills

Minutes

Planning Commission

7:00 PM

1000 Rochester Hills Drive

Tuesday, November 18, 1997

CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Eric Kaiser called the Regular Meeting to order at ‎7‎:‎30 ‎p‎.‎m‎. ‎in ‎

the Auditorium‎.‎

ROLL CALL

Present PC‎: ‎Chairperson Eric Kaiser‎

John Gaber‎

Eugene Nowicki‎

Christian Ramanauskas‎

James Rosen‎

Audrey Ruggiero‎

Absent PC‎: ‎William Boswell‎

Paul Krupa‎

Quorum present‎

Also present‎: ‎Paul Rizzardi, Planner‎

Steven Dearing, Traffic Engineer‎

Gene Franchett, BRW, Inc‎.‎

Dick Wolsfeld, BRW, Inc‎.‎

Susanne Vergeldt, Recording Secretary‎

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

2000-1808

October ‎21‎, ‎1997 ‎Regular Meeting‎

MOTION‎ by Nowicki, seconded by Rosen, that the Minutes dated October ‎

21‎, ‎1997 ‎be accepted as printed‎.‎

Ayes‎:‎ All‎

Nays‎:‎ None‎

Absent‎:‎ Boswell, Krupa ‎MOTION CARRIED‎.‎

Approved

COMMUNICATIONS

A‎.‎ Planning & Zoning News, October ‎1997‎

B‎.‎ Letter received from Member Gerald Robbins regretfully submitting his ‎

resignation from the Planning Commission in light of his election to ‎

City Council‎.‎

C‎.‎ The Chair has received a letter requesting the closure of Cross Creek ‎

Blvd‎. ‎at Sheldon Road in connection with the proposed new high ‎

school‎.‎

D‎.‎ The Chair has received a letter to the Mayor of the City of Rochester ‎

from Rochester Hills Mayor Kenneth Snell regarding the proposed ‎

Stony Pointe North development by Pulte Homes in Rochester‎.‎

E‎.‎ A packet of letters distributed to all members regarding the Transportation ‎

Plan Update, Agenda Item IV‎.‎A‎.‎

F‎.‎ Letter to Paul Rizzardi from Johnson & Anderson regarding proposed ‎

lighting standards, Agenda Item V‎.‎A‎.‎

G‎.‎ Letter from A‎.‎R‎. ‎Decker and Associates dated November ‎17‎, ‎1997‎ ‎

regarding the dumpster location at Rochester Hills Mirror & Glass, to ‎

be discussed under Any Other Business‎.‎

H‎.‎ The Chair asked for all speaker cards to be submitted at this time for the ‎

scheduled Public Hearings and announced that speakers will be ‎

limited to two minutes each‎.‎

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

2000-1755

Transportation Plan Update Study‎

To receive public comments regarding the City of Rochester Hills ‎

Master Transportation Plan Update as a component of the City's ‎

Comprehensive Plan‎.‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Patricia Goodwin dated November ‎12‎, ‎1997 ‎

has been placed on file and by reference becomes part of the record hereof‎.)‎

For the benefit of people in the audience the Chair introduced Mr‎. ‎Steve Dearing, City ‎

Traffic Engineer, and Mr‎. ‎Paul Rizzardi, Planner‎. ‎The Chair announced that no ‎

decision would be made this evening by the Planning Commission regarding the ‎

adoption of the Master Transportation Plan Update‎. ‎The Chair was glad to see the ‎

auditorium filled with citizens interested in the Transportation Plan‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing stated he was substituting for Ms‎. ‎Goodwin who has taken ill and has ‎

sent her apologies for not being able to attend‎. ‎Mr‎. ‎Dearing did not have a formal ‎

presentation to make but laid the groundwork for the ensuing discussion‎. ‎The Master ‎

Thoroughfare Plan is but one component of the City's Comprehensive Plan‎. ‎It is ‎

reviewed every few years to make sure it is still viable in terms of promoting safety ‎

and the orderly development of the infrastructure‎. ‎The last review of the Master ‎

Thoroughfare Plan was in ‎1987‎. ‎Because of the technical nature of the review, the ‎

city hired BRW Inc‎. ‎to assist with the update‎. ‎BRW also assisted in the preparation ‎

of the ‎1989 ‎revision of the plan‎. ‎Mr‎. ‎Dearing would anticipate another update in ‎

about five years to reflect demographic changes‎. ‎The proposed update is based on ‎

the most current census of ‎1990‎. ‎The proposed update is intended to ensure a safe ‎

and orderly growth for the community, to continue to reflect community values, and to ‎

continue to support the needs and wishes of the entire community‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing reviewed the fundamental policies upon which the Master Thoroughfare ‎

Plan Update is based‎: ‎1‎) ‎Six‎-‎lane major arterial roadways should generally not be ‎

built because of sensitive land use and environmental adjacencies and the high capital ‎

cost of such improvements; ‎2‎) ‎The community must accept some degree of congestion ‎

along particular roadways; ‎3‎) ‎A strategy to intercept through‎-‎traffic originating outside ‎

the city and divert it to selected identified routes should be developed; ‎4‎) ‎Priority ‎

transportation projects should be scheduled for immediate implementation‎. ‎All ‎

roadway upgrades should be done in a manner that is sensitive to adjacent land uses ‎

and environmental characteristics; ‎5‎) ‎Alternative modes of transportation and ‎

management of travel should be pursued as alternatives to roadway construction‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld explained that transportation plans require trade‎-‎offs ‎-- ‎mobility, respect ‎

for the environment and adjacent land uses, balanced with money‎. ‎It is not possible ‎

to provide all the mobility needs for a community without some negative impact on ‎

adjacent land uses or environmental resources and with a minimum amount of money‎. ‎

Adjacent communities were considered in the development of the proposed update‎. ‎

Meetings have been held with the public to receive public comments as well as with ‎

staff‎. ‎The general transportation planning issues that have been identified in the update ‎

are based on that input‎: ‎road safety; increase in east‎-‎west traffic filtering through ‎

Rochester Hills; north‎-‎south traffic a major factor in congestion; an adequate ‎

transportation infrastructure to support and retain the nonresidential tax base; linkage ‎

to the regional arterial system ‎(‎I‎-‎75‎) ‎and access to and from that system; congestion ‎

on street segments and capacity problems at major intersections; growth in student ‎

and faculty populations at Oakland University affecting east‎-‎west traffic; congestion in ‎

terms of traffic volume occupying more hours of the day; current east‎-‎west movement ‎

of traffic between Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills currently poor; more preservation ‎

and less expansion of roadways; Rochester Hills should be kept as a bedroom ‎

community‎.‎

As the employment base in surrounding communities continues to grow, people will ‎

eventually migrate to those areas, causing travel patterns to change‎. ‎That's why a ‎

five‎-‎year review of the plan is important‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld identified two major deficiencies in the city's roadways‎. ‎The typical ‎

spacing for highways ‎(‎principal arterials‎) ‎is every three to six miles‎. ‎With M‎-‎53 ‎(‎Van ‎

Dyke‎) ‎and I‎-‎75 ‎at ‎11 ‎miles apart, Rochester Road fills one gap, causing conflicts ‎

between commercial and residential traffic‎. ‎Also, there is no major, high‎-‎capacity ‎

east‎-‎west major arterial roadway to the north, so roads not designed to handle large ‎

traffic volumes are overburdened, such as Auburn Road‎. ‎The second deficiency ‎

relates to north‎/‎south major arterial roadways which are generally spaced every one to ‎

two miles, such as Livernois, Crooks, etc‎. ‎Railroad tracks, bodies of water, etc‎. ‎

create additional deficiencies in east‎-‎west mobility‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld further identified deficiencies in roadway continuity‎. ‎Continuous ‎

north‎-‎south roads in Rochester Hills include Adams, Livernois and Rochester; ‎

continuous east‎-‎west roads are Auburn and South Boulevard‎. ‎Deficiencies in ‎

north‎-‎south continuity exist with Brewster, Old Perch, Crooks; and John R and ‎

Dequindre‎. ‎Deficiencies in east‎-‎west continuity include Avon, Walton, Tienken, ‎

Dutton and Mead‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld reviewed the goals and objectives established for the transportation plan ‎

update based on the foregoing analysis and input from the public and the Planning ‎

Commission‎. ‎The identified goals include‎: ‎promote a safe transportation system as an ‎

overriding consideration; protect and enhance the environment and adjacent land uses; ‎

preserve the existing character of the community; serve efficiency and effectively the ‎

travel needs of the city; make prudent investments in the transportation infrastructure‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld summarized committed roadway projects currently in design or ‎

construction‎: ‎Hamlin Road from Crooks to Livernois, widen to ‎4‎-‎lane boulevard; ‎

Crooks Road from Square Lake to Hamlin, widen to ‎4‎-‎lane boulevard; Adams Road ‎

from Avon to ‎½ ‎mile north of Walton, widen to ‎4‎-‎lane boulevard; Adams Road‎/‎M‎-‎59 ‎

Interchange relocation‎. ‎The standard of ‎4‎-‎lane boulevards was adopted as a part of ‎

the previous transportation plan update‎. ‎The recently completed widening of ‎

Livernois Road was part of the previous plan update‎. ‎Roadway intersections are ‎

graded on the Level of Service they provide in terms of how well they clear all ‎

vehicles through the intersection during one cycle of the traffic lights, from ‎"‎A‎" ‎where ‎

all vehicles clear the intersection and move at the speed limit, to ‎"‎F‎" ‎where it takes two ‎

or three signal cycles to clear vehicles‎. ‎If one were to assume that the committed ‎

projects are built and no other improvements are made to the roadway system, by the ‎

year ‎2015 ‎most of the roads throughout the city would be functioning at an ‎"‎E‎" ‎or ‎"‎F‎" ‎

Level of Service‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld outlined several options to address these deficiencies ‎-- ‎widen the ‎

roads; divert the pass‎-‎through traffic around the community; stagger start‎/‎stop work ‎

times; change travel habits to utilize buses, car pools, etc‎.‎; accept the congestion and ‎

live with it‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Franchett briefly described the Planning Commission's concerns with the ‎

forecasting model utilizing ‎1990 ‎Census data rather than more recent information‎. ‎

During the summer staff took traffic counts at same locations throughout the city to ‎

obtain more up‎-‎to‎-‎date figures‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Franchett described the identified options and elaborated on the preferred option‎. ‎

Alternative scenarios not included in the proposed Transportation Plan Update ‎

included Alternative Scenario No‎. ‎1 ‎involving major arterial status for Tienken ‎

between Adams and Rochester; Walton, Hamlin from the western city limits to ‎

Rochester, Adams, Crooks from South Blvd‎. ‎to Hamlin, Livernois, Rochester, and ‎

Dequindre; Alternative Scenario No‎. ‎2 ‎with major arterial status assigned to ‎

Tienken‎/‎Washington, Walton, Avon, Hamlin between the western city limits and ‎

Rochester Road, Adams, Crooks from South Blvd‎. ‎to Hamlin, Livernois, Rochester, ‎

and Dequindre; Alternative Scenario No‎. ‎3 ‎with major arterial status designated for ‎

Dutton, Walton, Avon, Hamlin from the western city limits to Rochester, Adams, ‎

Crooks from South Blvd‎. ‎to Hamlin, Livernois, Rochester, and Dequindre‎. ‎The ‎

preferred scenario selected by the Planning Commission involves major arterial status ‎

for Tienken, Walton, Avon between Livernois and Dequindre, Hamlin between the ‎

western city limits and Rochester Road, Adams, Crooks from South Blvd‎. ‎to Hamlin, ‎

Livernois from Hamlin to Tienken, Rochester, and Dequindre‎. ‎The preferred scenario ‎

emerged from all previous meetings and accepts a certain level of congestion as ‎

opposed to widening all roads‎.‎

A capacity deficiency analysis has been done at the Planning Commission's request ‎

which shows where congestion still would exist under the implementation of the ‎

Preferred Alternative Scenario‎. ‎A Level of Service ‎"‎F‎" ‎would exist on Rochester ‎

Road from South Blvd‎. ‎to Orion Rd‎.‎; Adams Road from Tienken to Dutton; a short ‎

stretch of Walton just before the Rochester city limits; and a stretch of Tienken east of ‎

Rochester to Washington‎. ‎A Level of Service ‎"‎E‎" ‎would show up on Livernois from ‎

South Blvd‎. ‎to Hamlin and from Avon to Walton; John R between Auburn and ‎

Hamlin; Walton between Squirrel and Adams and from Old Perch to Livernois‎.‎

The Chair stated that the purpose of tonight's meeting was to gather information‎. ‎

Tonight will not resolve any particular issues‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing translated the Preferred Alternative Scenario into the number of lanes ‎

proposed for each road‎. ‎Dutton‎/‎Mead would remain at ‎2 ‎lanes as collector roads; ‎

Tienken west of Rochester ‎4 ‎lanes and ‎2 ‎lanes east of Rochester; the same for ‎

Washington and Runyon; Walton Blvd‎. ‎west of Adams ‎4 ‎lanes and from Adams to ‎

Livernois ‎5 ‎lanes and ‎4 ‎lanes into the City of Rochester; Parkdale in the City of ‎

Rochester at ‎2 ‎lanes; Avon between Adams and Livernois to stay at ‎2 ‎lanes and ‎4 ‎

lanes to Dequindre; Hamlin Road from Auburn Hills to Rochester Road at ‎4 ‎lanes ‎

with the balance at ‎3 ‎lanes; Auburn Road ‎2 ‎lanes; South Blvd‎. ‎2 ‎lanes‎. ‎Adams Road ‎

4 ‎lanes for the entire length; Brewster to stay at ‎2 ‎lanes as will Old Perch; Crooks ‎

from Hamlin to Avon ‎2 ‎lanes and the remainder ‎4 ‎lanes; Livernois from north of ‎

Dutton to Tienken ‎2 ‎lanes and ‎4 ‎lanes down to Hamlin and ‎2 ‎lanes south of Hamlin; ‎

Rochester Road to remain at ‎5 ‎lanes; Sheldon ‎2 ‎lanes; John R to stay at ‎2 ‎lanes; ‎

Dequindre at ‎4 ‎lanes‎.‎

The Chair ‎opened the public hearing‎.‎

Jerry DiMaggio, ‎992 ‎E‎. ‎Tienken,‎ a resident of the Historic District, ‎

mentioned traffic congestion on Washington Road‎.‎

Pam Bennett, ‎2735 ‎W‎. ‎Avon,‎ suggested reducing speed limits to ‎

discourage drive‎-‎through traffic, and not expanding the road in front of the cider mill‎.‎

John Shaffer, ‎971 ‎Runyon Rd‎.‎,‎ a resident of the Historic District, ‎

concerned with increased traffic pouring into the District and safety concerns, ‎

suggested reducing the speed limit in the District‎.‎

Brenda Savage, ‎1765 ‎Northumberland,‎ speaking as vice president of the ‎

Rochester Hills Interassociation Council of Homeowners Associations, it would seem ‎

worthwhile evaluating alternatives to road widening to retain the residential integrity of ‎

the city‎.‎

Ed Baron, ‎3310 ‎Greenspring,‎ president of the Rochester Hills ‎

Interassociation Council of Homeowners Associations, urged maintaining the ‎

residential character of the city and not cater to pass‎-‎through traffic‎.‎

Elsie L‎. ‎Cislo, ‎954 ‎Medinah,‎ protested the widening of Tienken and like it ‎

to remain closed‎.‎

Nancy K‎. ‎Rice, ‎1470 ‎W‎. ‎Tienken Rd‎.‎,‎ protested the widening of Tienken‎. ‎

Kathy White, ‎1939 ‎Washington Rd‎.‎,‎ requested the mailboxes be moved to ‎

the other side of the road if it is paved‎.‎

Theresa Wilson, ‎182 ‎Vreeland,‎ did not come forward to speak‎.‎

James Everlove, ‎991 ‎Runyon,‎ protested the widening of Tienken, ‎

suggested creating a master plan in conjunction with surrounding communities‎.‎

Phil Barker, ‎950 ‎Van Hoosen,‎ expressed safety concerns throughout the ‎

Historic District, and is opposed to his tax dollars being spent on widening ‎

Washington Road‎.‎

Ahti Petaja, ‎202 ‎Winry,‎ it's inevitable that traffic will increase, progress ‎

cannot be stopped‎. ‎Heavy trucks should be limited in the city‎. ‎

Barry Boardman, ‎2915 ‎W‎. ‎Tienken Rd‎.‎,‎ believed Tienken did not need ‎

widening, does not want a highway going by his front door‎. ‎

Melinda Schulte, ‎1481 ‎Mill Race, ‎speaking as a tax paying resident, ‎

extremely concerned about the designation of Washington Road as a minor arterial‎. ‎

The required ‎120 ‎foot right‎-‎of‎-‎way is not available in the area‎. ‎Asked that the road ‎

be reduced to a collector road‎.‎

Frank Booth, ‎964 ‎Bridgestone Dr‎.‎,‎ believes the issue is diverting traffic ‎

around residential neighborhoods‎.‎

Terry Lanker, ‎583 ‎Snowmass,‎ supported the widening of Tienken Road‎. ‎

Do not let history get in the way of freedom‎.‎

Chuck Slattery, ‎3130 ‎Palm‎-‎Aire Dr‎.‎,‎ ‎4 ‎lane roads do not promote safety, ‎

a master plan should be developed with neighboring communities‎.‎

Ray Contrucci, ‎873 ‎Augusta Dr‎.‎,‎ opposed to the widening of Tienken‎. ‎He ‎

suggested paving Dutton Road and Oakland Township roads‎.‎

Nancy Van Wormer, ‎986 ‎E‎. ‎Tienken Rd‎.‎,‎ a resident of the Historic ‎

District, mentioned traffic concerns in the Historic Village, urged looking at this as a ‎

county problem rather than a local one‎.‎

Vincent Robinson, ‎1487 ‎Antler Ct‎.‎,‎ did not come forward to speak‎.‎

Roy Salisbury, ‎1280 ‎Washington Rd‎.‎,‎ concerned about traffic in the ‎

Village and suggested a stop sign at Runyon Road‎.‎

Alan Sheidler, ‎1650 ‎Washington Rd‎.‎,‎ would like the road to remain ‎

unpaved and a local road to preserve the historic and residential nature‎.‎

Jim McKean, ‎1102 ‎Barneswood Ct‎.‎,‎ chose not to speak as all his ‎

concerns have been mentioned by other speakers‎.‎

Clement Piantkowski, ‎2969 ‎W‎. ‎Avon,‎ suggested lowering the speed limits ‎

to force drivers to use alternate routes rather than building roads for them‎. ‎Was ‎

opposed to the plan‎.‎

Kevin Boes, ‎2022 ‎Oak Leaf Ct‎.‎, ‎was opposed to the proposed Hamlin ‎

Road widening for the safety of children‎. ‎Suggested installing a wall between the road ‎

and the residences‎.‎

Carl Bloom, ‎2030 ‎Oak Leaf Ct‎.‎,‎ urged the commission to keep safety in ‎

mind‎.‎

Letters have been received from the following persons‎:‎

John and Barb Shaffer, ‎971 ‎Runyon Rd‎.‎,‎ opposes the widening of ‎

Tienken as it will destroy the historic village‎.‎

Mrs‎. ‎Nellie Hutchison, ‎255 ‎W‎. ‎Tienken Road,‎ does not want the roads ‎

widened, it's not necessary and would cause a tax increase‎. ‎Requested Planning ‎

Commission not approve the plan‎.‎

Leanne Lallone, ‎(‎248‎) ‎375‎-‎9845‎,‎ letter to Brenda Savage, Chairman ‎

RHIAC Road Committee,‎ ‎wants to preserve the rural atmosphere of the city, feels the ‎

current widening of Hamlin Road should relieve some of the congestion on Avon ‎

Road‎. ‎Residents should not have to pay for road improvements that benefit ‎

nonresidents‎.‎

Phyllis Letts, ‎2670 ‎W‎. ‎Tienken,‎ does not want Tienken widened‎.‎

Ron and Toni Royer, ‎1086 ‎Hackberry Ct‎.‎,‎ do not want Tienken Road ‎

widened‎.‎

Emily Ferry, ‎1081 ‎E‎. ‎Tienken Rd‎.‎,‎ does not want Tienken widened as it ‎

would severely impact the Historic District‎.‎

Darryl Stawinski, ‎1102 ‎East Avon Road,‎ suggested other alternatives not ‎

mentioned‎.‎

Phillip Barker, ‎950 ‎Van Hoosen,‎ safety and property rights of Historic ‎

District residents should be first considerations‎. ‎He opposes road widening through ‎

the Historic District‎.‎

Dave and Elizabeth Andrzejak, ‎1498 ‎Mill Race,‎ do not want any roads ‎

widened to preserve the nature in the area of Tienken Road‎.‎

Mrs‎. ‎R‎. ‎D‎. ‎Luchsinger, ‎1830 ‎Washington Road,‎ opposed to widening of ‎

Tienken and traffic congestion on Washington Rd‎.‎

Nathaniel and Bryn Brock, ‎6425 ‎Winkler Mill Rd‎.‎,‎ want to preserve the ‎

charm of the Historic District‎.‎

David L‎. ‎Tripp, ‎960 ‎E‎. ‎Tienken Rd‎.‎, ‎resident of Historic District, ‎

vehemently opposed to the widening of Tienken Road‎.‎

Linda Pannuto, ‎1375 ‎Hathaway Rising, ‎favors widening Avon Road if it is ‎

necessary to widen any roads‎.‎

David and Dianne McKinnon, ‎1870 ‎Washington Road,‎ vehemently ‎

opposed to the Master Thoroughfare Plan Update‎.‎

The Chair ‎closed the public hearing‎.‎

[ ‎Recess ‎9:30‎ p‎.‎m‎. ‎to ‎9:44‎ p‎.‎m‎. ]‎

The Chair encouraged residents to send letters and other forms of written ‎

communication after tonight's meeting‎.‎

From this point the consultants, staff and Planning Commission responded to the ‎

questions raised during the Public Hearing‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing explained that coordinating with surrounding communities was part of the ‎

plan, such as the City of Rochester, Macomb County, SEMCOG, Road ‎

Commissions for Macomb County and Oakland County, Troy, Auburn Hills, Shelby ‎

and Oakland Townships‎.‎

Regarding the funding of roads, Mr‎. ‎Dearing explained that funding is always a ‎

problem and road construction and maintenance always falls behind the needs and ‎

desires of a community‎. ‎That is why the Capital Improvement Plan is a valuable tool ‎

for prioritizing road projects‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing stated that the adoption of the Transportation Plan will not trigger takings ‎

of any land‎. ‎When it becomes time to implement a part of the plan as a specific ‎

project, then it may be necessary to acquire additional land‎. ‎The city would put ‎

property owners on notice that more land may be required‎. ‎There are requirements ‎

and expenses that the city would be responsible for‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing explained that speed limits are determined by the road agency that has ‎

jurisdiction over a road, in conjunction with the State Police‎. ‎A reduction in speed ‎

limits will not substantially change the demand for driving on a particular road‎. ‎Speed ‎

limits play a relatively minor role in impacting traffic behavior‎. ‎The only roads ‎

controlled by the city are John R and Hamlin, Old Perch, Brewster, and small portions ‎

of Tienken‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld discussed alternatives to widening roads such as the Fast‎-‎Trac System ‎

currently in operation in the city‎. ‎If you achieve a five‎-‎to‎-‎ten percent increase in ‎

capacity, the system is doing great‎. ‎Traffic in the city is growing at the rate of ‎2 ‎

percent to ‎4 ‎percent per year, and the city is realizing a ‎5 ‎percent to ‎10 ‎percent ‎

increase in capacity‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld explained the rationale for widening Avon from ‎2 ‎lanes to ‎4 ‎lanes is to ‎

provide continuity with the proposed widening of Avon Road in Macomb County‎.‎

Regarding traffic through the Historic Districts, Mr‎. ‎Wolsfeld explained that there is no ‎

good east‎-‎west route with any continuity in the northern half of the city‎. ‎All of the ‎

major east‎-‎west roads have some type of interruption at some point‎. ‎A compromise ‎

was chosen to preserve the two‎-‎lane roadway through the Historic Districts‎. ‎Since ‎

the ‎120 ‎foot right‎-‎of‎-‎way for Tienken Road already exists ‎-- ‎except for a very short ‎

segment just east of Adams Road, it is very unlikely that any homes would need to be ‎

taken in order to widen Tienken‎. ‎The industrial development to the west and ‎

residential development to the east of the city demand an east‎-‎west route‎. ‎Given the ‎

geography, parks, Historic Districts, and travel demand, this will always be a problem ‎

for which there is no good solution‎. ‎The next update of the Transportation Plan will ‎

wrestle with this situation also‎. ‎The best alternative appears to be to divert traffic to ‎

other routes‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing added details about various roadway plans in response to public ‎

questions‎. ‎The extension of Sheldon Road as Letica Road in the City of Rochester ‎

should aid in diverting traffic away from the Historic Districts‎. ‎This is another example ‎

of inter‎-‎city coordination of road construction projects‎. ‎Retaining Tienken and ‎

Washington Roads at two lanes in the Historic Districts is in keeping with the ‎

character of the area‎. ‎The Rochester school district has been asked to conduct a ‎

traffic impact study as part of the proposed new high school at Sheldon and Tienken ‎

Roads‎. ‎This information should be available in the next few months and will be ‎

valuable for the next Transportation Plan Update‎. ‎Dequindre Road is very heavily ‎

traveled and the city is encouraging its use as a means of diverting traffic off other ‎

more congested roads‎. ‎Plans are currently under way to reconstruct Dequindre ‎

behind the Yates Cider Mill to ease the existing bottleneck at that site‎. ‎Regarding the ‎

barricade on Tienken Road at the Auburn Hills city limits, it would be in the city's and ‎

the region's best interests for it to be removed‎. ‎The Planning Commission could ‎

request the traffic consultant to study and report on the traffic impacts of removal and ‎

nonremoval of that barricade‎. ‎The city recognizes that pedestrian safety issues ‎

currently exist in the Historic Districts‎. ‎Mr‎. ‎Dearing suggested that the Planning ‎

Commission consider these in terms of the sidewalk ordinance and site constraints in ‎

the area‎. ‎Regarding vehicle weight limits, school buses and garbage haulers cause ‎

more road damage than trucks‎. ‎It would be unreasonable to expect school buses to ‎

be redesigned, and he questioned whether or not the citizenry would be willing to bear ‎

the cost of smaller garbage haulers making more frequent visits to do less damage‎. ‎

There are very few complaints of truck traffic in the industrial areas of the city; most ‎

complaints emanate from new development activities in the northern portion of the ‎

city‎. ‎This is not perceived as a long‎-‎term problem as the trucks disappear when ‎

development is completed‎.‎

Regarding the expansion of roads outside the city's boundaries, even from a regional ‎

perspective ‎

no good east‎-‎west connections through neighboring communities or counties have ‎

been identified‎. ‎Rochester Hills has no control over other communities' transportation ‎

plans; they can only address their own problems and attempt to work with other ‎

communities to the extent allowed‎. ‎

In response to comments made regarding the location of mailboxes in the Historic ‎

Districts and associated pedestrian safety, Mr‎. ‎Dearing and the Chair discussed that ‎

the location of mailboxes fell under the purview of the U‎.‎S‎. ‎Postal Service‎. ‎Mr‎. ‎

Dearing offered to contact the Postmaster regarding this issue‎.‎

The Planning Commission members preferred to have time to digest the information ‎

presented this evening in light of the proposed draft before discussing in great detail‎. ‎

General discussion ensued on various aspects of the plan‎. ‎

Member Gaber commented on the ‎1997 ‎city survey of residents‎. ‎In response to the ‎

question of what respondents considered to be the biggest problem facing the city, the ‎

highest ranked issue was traffic congestion, with local roads being the second highest ‎

ranked problem‎. ‎Preserving the character and aesthetics of the community was also a ‎

primary concern‎. ‎Regarding garbage haulers, Member Gaber believed a better ‎

answer would be to limit the number of waste disposal companies operating in the ‎

city‎. ‎City Council will inevitably address this issue next year‎. ‎Member Gaber ‎

believed it would be overly optimistic to expect all the improvements in the Preferred ‎

Alternative Scenario to be completed by the year ‎2015‎, primarily due to funding ‎

constraints‎. ‎Member Gaber urged his fellow commissioners to not foreclose the ‎

possibility of wider boulevard cross‎-‎sections to the exclusive use of narrow residential ‎

boulevards‎.‎

Member Ramanauskas said that the information presented tonight is good food for ‎

thought, but he will base his decision on what is good for the city as a whole‎. ‎He ‎

personally foresees the eventual widening of Tienken‎. ‎The transportation issue ‎

deserves a lot of serious, careful study‎. ‎He would be happy to see the Historic ‎

Districts area left undisturbed in terms of road widening‎. ‎

Member Nowicki was somewhat disappointed that the public responses seemed to ‎

focus on the roads in the Historic Districts to the virtual exclusion of all other areas of ‎

the city‎.‎

Member Ruggiero echoed Member Nowicki's comments and added she was very ‎

pleased with the public response‎. ‎It makes a decision much more meaningful‎. ‎She ‎

acknowledged significant improvements at some intersections in terms of extending left ‎

and right turn lanes, flashing arrows‎. ‎She would be interested in studying additional ‎

techniques such as these, and others, as ways to improve traffic flow through the city‎. ‎

They would be less costly and less intrusive in people's lives‎. ‎She urged the ‎

commission to take the time to study these methods‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Dearing concurred with previous statements regarding doubts that the plan could ‎

be fully implemented by the year ‎2015‎. ‎The city must compete with other townships ‎

and communities for the limited funding dollars available‎. ‎A reasonable expectation ‎

would be the completion of one‎-‎third of the proposed projects by ‎2015‎. ‎The next ‎

update of the proposed plan would occur around ‎2004‎, at which time the ‎2000 ‎

Census would be available‎. ‎

Member Rosen described the city at a ‎"‎cross‎-‎roads‎"‎, in that the city must ask the ‎

crucial question ‎"‎Where and what do we want to be when we are old?‎" ‎Whatever is ‎

done with the transportation system will determine, in a very fundamental way, what ‎

our city will be in the future‎. ‎He has witnessed the changing character of ‎

neighborhoods as roads have been widened from two to four lanes, and the change ‎

cannot be reversed‎. ‎The Level of Service ‎"‎D‎"‎ "‎E‎" ‎appears to be a reasonable ‎

expectation that is possible to achieve, even if some residents are unhappy with it‎. ‎

Member Rosen believes that may be as good as it can get‎. ‎The city has already ‎

decided not to support commercial ‎development‎ demand from outside the city ‎

boundaries beyond what currently exists‎. ‎He ponders whether a similar approach ‎

should be taken with the transportation plan‎. ‎It would seem to Member Rosen that a ‎

prime strategy should be to divert traffic to M‎-‎59 ‎since current traffic volumes are ‎

under capacity and are anticipated to continue under capacity for many years‎. ‎He ‎

suggested focusing on what can realistically be added to the plan that would have a ‎

reasonable chance of success in the same time frame‎. ‎It would make sense to ‎

Member Rosen to widen Crooks Road first as that would probably provide the ‎

greatest benefit to the city as a whole, then do Hamlin second, the Adams interchange ‎

third, Dequindre next, and so on‎.‎

The Chair responded to one comment made during the public hearing about not giving ‎

enough thought to people's homes‎. ‎He reviewed one of the stated goals is to preserve ‎

the residential character of the community‎. ‎The Chair believed it was possible to ‎

update a transportation plan and preserve the residential character of the community ‎

also‎. ‎The objective of reducing the negative effects of a transportation system on ‎

households and neighborhoods does not necessarily preclude the widening of roads‎. ‎

He reflected on other comments from citizens regarding not being able to stand in the ‎

way of progress, and not letting history stand in the way of liberty‎. ‎Regarding the ‎

wishes of some residents to not provide an adequate transportation system for ‎

persons who are not residents, he wondered how those people would feel if the cities ‎

they travel through on their way to work did not update their systems to accommodate ‎

drive‎-‎through traffic‎.‎

The Chair asked that this topic be placed on the Special Meeting agenda for ‎

December ‎9‎, ‎1997 ‎for further discussion with a draft of the minutes from this meeting‎. ‎

The Chair invited the consultants to attend the Special Meeting if they so wish‎.‎

The Chair suggested saving all corrections and revisions to the draft document until the ‎

December ‎9‎th meeting so that all can be made at one time‎.‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Patricia Goodwin dated November ‎12‎, ‎1997‎; ‎

Draft of Master Thoroughfare Plan Update for Rochester Hills, November ‎1997 ‎

prepared by BRW and dated received November ‎17‎, ‎1997 ‎by the City of Rochester ‎

Hills Planning Department‎.)‎

Albert Teller, Tienken Road, ‎25‎-‎year resident, ‎suggested Dutton Road ‎

as a thoroughfare‎. ‎

Discussed

NEW BUSINESS

2000-1809

Request to consider an amendment to Section ‎21‎.‎05‎, Off‎-‎Street Parking ‎

Requirements of Zoning Ordinance No‎. ‎200 ‎of the City of Rochester Hills to ‎

delete an inconsistency, clarify off‎-‎street parking space dimensional ‎

requirments, repeal inconsistent ordinances, and prescribe a civil fine for ‎

violations‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Paul Rizzardi dated October ‎16‎, ‎1997 ‎has been ‎

placed on file and by reference becomes part of the record hereof‎.)‎

Mr‎. ‎Rizzardi clarified the proposed ordinance amendment‎.‎

The Chair ‎opened the public hearing‎. ‎No persons coming forward to speak on this ‎

matter, the Chair ‎closed the public hearing‎.‎

This item has been postponed to another meeting‎.‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Paul Rizzardi dated October ‎16‎, ‎1997‎; Letter ‎

from John Staran dated October ‎3‎, ‎1997 ‎and Proposed Ordinance Amendment ‎

dated ‎10‎/‎3‎/‎97‎.)‎

Discussed

2000-1810

Discussion regarding Exterior Lighting Proposed Ordinance Amendment‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Paul Rizzardi dated November ‎10‎, ‎1997 ‎has ‎

been placed on file and by reference becomes part of the record hereof‎.)‎

This item has been postponed to another meeting‎.‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Paul Rizzardi dated November ‎10‎, ‎1997‎; ‎

Second Draft dated November ‎10‎, ‎1997 ‎of proposed ordinance amendment ‎

prepared by Paul Rizzardi; Letter dated October ‎2‎, ‎1997 ‎from Beth Hibner Subject‎: ‎

Review of Draft Exterior Lighting Standards; Memo from Paul Rizzardi dated ‎

September ‎11‎, ‎1997 ‎to Gary Wilson; Exterior Lighting ordinance requirements of ‎

West Bloomfield and Sterling Heights‎.) ‎

Postponed

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

2000-1811

Banquet Facility Use Discussion‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Patricia Goodwin dated November ‎10‎, ‎1997 ‎

has been placed on file and by reference becomes part of the record hereof‎.)‎

Mr‎. ‎Rizzardi referenced the memo from Patricia Goodwin and stated he had nothing ‎

further to add at this point‎. ‎He pointed out one person in the audience who may wish ‎

to speak on this item‎.‎

Member Rosen mused that banquet uses in office zoning districts at first glance seem ‎

odd but he could not think of a better zoning classification in which to place this use ‎

other than B‎-‎2‎, General Business or B‎-‎3‎, Shopping Center Business‎. ‎SP, Special ‎

Purpose would not seem appropriate for a commercial use‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Rizzardi looked at the scale of intensity of uses and stated that a banquet facility is ‎

less intense than a restaurant; therefore, it would appear appropriate in the O‎-‎1‎, ‎

Office Business zoning district‎. ‎Also the Rivercrest banquet center is used as a ‎

conference center for daytime business meetings, complementing the O‎-‎1‎, Office ‎

Business zoning district in that sense‎. ‎He believed that was the basis for the previous ‎

use determination‎. ‎

Jim Butler, Professional Engineering Associates, ‎engineer for The Ritz ‎

Banquet‎/‎Conference Center, stated that the banquet use is proposed as a secondary ‎

function of the facility‎. ‎The owner's vision for the facility is more of a professional ‎

conference center, of which banquets would be a part‎. ‎Typical uses would be ‎

professional seminars with groups of ten to ‎200 ‎or ‎300 ‎people‎. ‎It would be used as a ‎

banquet center on weekends‎.‎

Member Ruggiero questioned the appropriateness of the zoning classification, ‎

envisioning a large banquet center next to a smaller medical facility‎.‎

Member Rosen added that before conference centers were available, hotels were the ‎

sites of these business meetings because attendees were not bothered by phones‎. ‎It's ‎

a type of cross between an office conference room and a restaurant‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Rizzardi pointed out several options available to the commission‎: ‎The Planning ‎

Commission could ask staff to draft an ordinance amendment to include banquet ‎

facilities as a conditional use in O‎-‎1‎, Office Business when located on a major ‎

thoroughfare, or a permitted use in O‎-‎1 ‎when located on a major thoroughfare‎. ‎An ‎

ordinance amendment could be prepared fairly soon‎.‎

The Chair believed that would be the preferred method of approaching this matter‎. ‎

He did not want to rely on a previous staff determination permitting a banquet center ‎

in the O‎-‎1‎, Office Business zoning district for future site plan approvals‎. ‎Several ‎

commissioners concurred‎.‎

MOTION‎ by Rosen, seconded by Nowicki, to ‎consider‎ allowing ‎

Banquet‎/‎Conference Facilities as a conditional use in the O‎-‎1‎, Office Business zoning ‎

district when located on a major thoroughfare, and ‎request‎ that staff prepare a ‎

proposed ordinance amendment to that effect‎.‎

Ayes‎:‎ All‎

Nays‎:‎ None ‎MOTION CARRIED‎.‎

Mr‎. ‎Rizzardi asked if the Planning Commission felt the staff determination dated ‎

October ‎16‎, ‎1995 ‎is correct and the current project for The Ritz should proceed, or ‎

would the Planning Commission prefer an ordinance amendment to be adopted first‎. ‎

The consensus was for an ordinance amendment to be adopted first‎.‎

(‎Reference‎: ‎Staff Memo prepared by Patricia Goodwin dated November ‎10‎, ‎1997‎; ‎

Letter dated October ‎16‎, ‎1995 ‎from Patricia Goodwin to Ban Kizy, M‎.‎D‎.‎; Letter ‎

dated received ‎8‎-‎23‎-‎96 ‎from Diaa Mechal and Ban Kizy to Ms‎. ‎Goodwin; Consent ‎

Judgment dated March ‎28‎, ‎1984‎.) ‎

Discussed

2000-1653

Discussion ‎- ‎File No‎. ‎94‎-‎438 ‎- ‎Rochester Hills Mirror and Glass, located at ‎1156 ‎

W‎. ‎Auburn, on the north side of Auburn, west of Rochester, Parcel No‎. ‎

15‎-‎28‎-‎477‎-‎058‎, zoned B‎-‎1‎, Local Business, Rod Brown and Paul Yearwood, ‎

1180 ‎W‎. ‎Auburn Rd‎.‎, Rochester Hills, MI ‎48309‎, Applicants‎

Mr‎. ‎Rizzardi refreshed memories on the site plan approval granted for the subject site ‎

approximately one year ago‎. ‎A condition of the approval was that staff must approve ‎

the relocation of the dumpster‎. ‎The Planning Commission at that time suggested the ‎

dumpster be moved from its proposed location along the eastern property line at the ‎

end of the maneuvering lane to an off‎-‎site location behind the building‎. ‎It has been ‎

learned that the dumpster cannot be located off site because of some problems with ‎

that off‎-‎site parcel‎. ‎The site was subsequently developed with the dumpster located ‎

as originally proposed‎. ‎Staff questioned the actual intent of the condition of approval ‎

and felt it best to bring it back to the Planning Commission for clarification‎. ‎The ‎

applicant has submitted a letter indicating that the approved construction plans show ‎

the dumpster located on‎-‎site‎. ‎This matter is delaying issuance of their final Certificate ‎

of Occupancy‎.‎

The Chair recalled that the Planning Commission did not approve the dumpster ‎

location along the eastern property line because it would be right next to a residence ‎

on the other side of the wall‎. ‎It appears that the applicant has placed the dumpster in ‎

an unapproved location‎. ‎The consensus of the Planning Commission was to not ‎

approve the dumpster location selected by the applicant‎. ‎

Mr‎. ‎Rizzardi will inform the applicant tomorrow that the Planning Commission did not ‎

authorize staff to approve the revised site plan‎. ‎The applicant will be required to ‎

return to the Planning Commission if they want to change the site plan‎. ‎Otherwise, the ‎

dumpster can be relocated to the western portion of the site, to meet the intent of the ‎

Planning Commission's original approval in February ‎1997‎. ‎

(‎Ref‎: ‎Letter dated November ‎17‎, ‎1997 ‎from A‎. ‎R‎. ‎Decker and Associates‎.)‎

Discussed

NEXT MEETING DATE

Chairperson Kaiser reminded Commissioners that the next Regular Meeting is ‎

scheduled for December ‎2‎, ‎1997‎.‎

ADJOURNMENT

Hearing no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chairperson ‎

Kaiser adjourned the regular meeting at ‎11‎:‎32 ‎p‎.‎m‎. ‎Michigan time‎.‎