|
Work Session
Discussion Items
·
Discussion on the Sign Ordinance
Moratorium Recommended by the Planning Commission
The recommended
moratorium from the Planning Commission was for 60 days and would apply to
all signs. They were motivated by the
need to take more time to consider sandwich board and pylon signs proposed by
the staff and by the potential for new computer generated signs to be
constructed and installed on Savidge.
As Manager, I support
the moratorium if it is for a very short period and if we
understand that temporary signage without the usual time limits is
permissible. There is too much
happening in the Village to put the brakes on all signage.
I requested Village
Attorney Sullivan to research the legalities of a moratorium and attached are
his findings. I also discussed the
following alternatives.
Options
A. The
first alternative would be to not enact a moratorium. This is the
preference of the sign manufacturer and developer community that contacted
Village Hall.
B. A
second option is to establish a moratorium for solely the type of signage of
most concern – electronic message board signs.
Village Attorney
Sullivan reports that a legal rationale exists between the Village’s concern
for protecting the safety of travelers on M-104 from distractions provided by
such signs; the recent problems with flashing from the McDonald’s sign,
contrary to existing ordinances; and the Village’s newly adopted Design
Manual. Such a specific
moratorium is a valid option. The
moratorium would not preclude placement of such signage but would enable the
wider community to think through appropriate limits for the purpose of protecting
the public health, safety and welfare.
C. A
third option is the 60 day moratorium requested by the Planning
Commission;
D. Although
the six months originally listed in the attached resolution is a realistic
time frame normally needed, the East Village, Five Ten properties, West
Savidge street and other business redevelopment projects need to be able to
construct permanent signs sooner.
Further, although
governmental signs are technically exempt, the Village’s wayfinding signs
should not be installed during this period either out of respect for the
inconveniences that others are experiencing. This delay would also apply to the East Village/Central Park
Sign archway sign. For this reason,
a 35-day moratorium would be more appropriate.
If the Council would
like to proceed with this shorter moratorium, the clock could begin tonight
by Council setting a public hearing on a sign ordinance amendment for the
June 20th meeting. The
Planning Commission would need to provide a recommendation no later than June
10th for the ordinance to be properly discussed and disseminated.
·
Review of Sanitary Sewer Connection
Plans for Alden Place
Driesenga is working
with Norm Beebe on this development.
Driesenga attended the last Council meeting and were asked to present
several alternatives tonight, including ones that do not involve disruption
of Savidge.
The engineer
signified there is no such option.
The Engineer’s alternatives are:
1) a detour onto Exchange for one day, plus or minus, or 2)
alternating one way traffic on Savidge.
Two to four days is feared. No
lift station option has yet been developed as of press time. Village staff instructed Driesenga to
develop this option prior to the Council meeting.
Another option is for
the Village to hire an engineer to provide a second opinion on a non-Savidge
street alternative.
John Hansen is
charged with reviewing these alternatives and will be making a
recommendation. He will review the
pros and cons for Council tonight.
If the Council is
satisfied with one of the options, but if that option is likely to disturb
the public’s peace, it should go on the Consent Agenda for notice of a public
hearing at the June 6, 2005 Council meeting.
·
Review of the Band Shell Plans at Mill
Point Park
The Spring Lake Rotary
Club is funding the bulk of the band shell structure. Spring Lake Township is helping to fund a
construction crew. The beams are
larger than volunteers alone can handle.
The Village is handling the foundation design, relocation of the
electrical and the concrete pad.
Stakes were placed
last week. The MDEQ permit is
expected to be completed in a matter of days. Work could begin when the soils and other engineering is
completed (May 20th). We
remain hopeful that the June 2nd first concert deadline can still
be met.
The total amount
budgeted is $5,000 in the Public Improvement fund. The actual costs will be greater however: $3,500 for engineering and soils,
$4,000-10,000 for the concrete pad and $3,500 for extending the electrical
and moving a light post.
The concrete pad is
large (40’ by 80”). The concrete cost
options are $4,000 for plain concrete; $6,000 for colored or brick-like; or
$10,000 for slate-like. Another
option being researched is to score and stain ($4,000-6,000).
Since the site is
very visible and the pad is pretty large, a special concrete design approach
would be more in keeping with the Village’s long-term aesthetic goals.
The slate-like option
would appear like the exterior of Duer’s Construction office on East Savidge. Such an option would discourage
skateboarding. A tinted and scored
concrete would look like Prueblo’s new patio. The tinted or colored concrete seems like a good balance of
cost and aesthetics.
If Council concurs,
the total Village cost would increase to $13,000. The additional $8,000 would be taken from fund balance. (This amount assumes tinted or colored
concrete.)
If the Village
Council wishes to proceed, an additional agenda item will be added on the
June 6th agenda to make this a budget adjustment for FY 05. The new estimated year-end fund balance in
the Public Improvement Fund would become $152,000.
·
Review of the Award Nominees for the
Annual Chamber of Commerce Business Awards
The nomination voiced
most often is Westwind Construction/Five Ten Properties for their work on the
development that spawned Prueblo Restaurant, Curves, Marco’s and Beans A
Brewin. If Council concurs, the
Chamber Award will recognize the business owner, as well as these tenants.
Miscellaneous
Announcements or Status Reports
o
Memorial Day Parade (Trolleys, walk,
candy or other?)
o
Applications to Historic Conservation
District (Need one more)
o
Applications to Lloyd’s Bayou Lake Board
Upcoming Agenda Items (Tentative)
June 6
Public hearings on
CDBG Lake Pointe/West Savidge grant project
Budget Public
hearings
Budget Approvals
Schedule for Storm
Watershed Permit and Public Hearings for required ordinances
Manager evaluation
June 20
TIF Hibernation
July 6
Possible Cancellation?
July 18
Council On Aging Report
Brownfield Tax Capture Request
Groundwater Protection ordinance
|