Advisory Parking Committee Meeting
May 20, 2013
City of Birmingham
ADVISORY PARKING COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING
Birmingham City Hall Commission Room
151 Martin, Birmingham, Michigan
Monday, May 20, 2013
MINUTES
These are the minutes for the Advisory Parking Committee special meeting held on Monday, May 20, 2013. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Lex Kuhne at 5:45p.m.
Present:Chairman Lex Kuhne
Anne Honhart
Steve Kalcyznski
Judith Paskewicz
Vice-Chairperson Susan Peabody
Absent:James Esshaki
William Ley
Paul Stanczak
Al Vaitas
Central Parking:Jason O’Dell
Principal Shopping
District (“PSD”):Bob Benkert
Administration:Brendan Cousino, P.E., Asst.City Engineer
Paul O’Meara, City Engineer
Carole Salutes, Recording Secretary
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS(none)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 30, 2013 MEETING(not discussed)
DINING DECK REVIEW – SWEET EARTH
141 W. MAPLE RD.
Mr. O’Meara advised in his report that the Engineering Dept.’s comments on the plan are as follows:
1. This request is to take one space out of service for the duration of the outdoor dining
season (April through October) in an area of the City with a high on-street parking
demand.
2. This deck is located nearly directly across from the deck at Dick O’Dow’s.
3. The deck is designed to accommodate the existing City tree located in the right-of- way infront of the premises.
4. The proposal as shown seems to meet the intent of the Ordinance permitting outdoor
dining decks on the City sidewalk and/or in the parking lane. The applicant had submitted a revised plan prior to the meeting, and it showed the proposed deck being built around the existing City tree in this frontage.
Mr. Jim Baumbaugh, General Counsel for Sweet Earth, LLC, said their proposed setup is very similar to the existing Dick O’Dow’s structure and it takes up one parking space. Sweet Earth will sell frozen yogurt. Mr. Cousino clarified the proposed seating is seven two-tops along with a bench built into the railing. Mr. Baumbaugh thought that placing seating on the sidewalk would impede the flow of pedestrian traffic.
Discussion considered that most of the other decks are meal and server related and this is the only one that is of a self-serve nature. There was a question as to how the deck would be controlled. Mr. Baumbaugh did not believe the seating would be self-serve. It will be monitored. In general, the outdoor deck will prevent people from congregating in the walkway. It increases capacity to sell product without increased square footage in the store. Also, outdoor seating adds to the vibrancy of the City.
The chairman asked for comments from the public at 6:15 p.m.
Mr. Benkert inquired whether it has been established how many decks will be allowed on a block, and it was determined that no policy has been set in this regard. Mr. Cousino noted loss of this one parking space isn’t so particularly harmful because it is centrally located between several parking options close by.
Motion by Ms. Paskewicz
Seconded by Ms. Peabodythat the Advisory Parking Committee has reviewed the proposed outdoor dining deckproposed in front of W. Maple Rd., according to a plan received May 10, 2013 withrespect to its impact on the parking system. The Advisory Parking Committeerecommends that the Planning Board approve the request, contingent upon the applicantmeeting all other relevant requirements.
Motion carried, 5-0.
VOICE VOTE:
Yeas: Paskewicz, Peabody, Honhart, Kalczynski, Kuhne
Nays: None
Absent: Esshaki, Ley, Stanczak, Vaitas
It was noted that even though it is not under the purview of the APC, the committee would like to see some landscaping on the deck.
The chairman mentioned that since the applicant wants to be green they should have a recycling container for their plastic water bottles.
550 W. MERRILL – VARIOUS REQUESTS
Mr. Jeffrey Surnow,the developer of the current Birmingham School District Administration building located at 550 W.Merrill St., requested review of three items by the APC related to thisdevelopment:
1. Inclusion of the subject property in the Parking Assessment District, which will remove therequirements for off-street parking on the development site.
2. Reservation of 50 monthly permits to be set aside for the use of the tenants of this buildingwhen they are prepared to occupy the building in April, 2014. If the tenants change their minds and don’t want the spaces, the permits would be opened back up to the market.
3. Removal of the parking access control equipment from the vacated Martin St.right- of-way outside of the building.
Chairman Kuhne summarized the informal discussion at the last meeting. It was concluded that including the property in the Parking Assessment District is no problem. Second, there was a concern that the reservation of 50 monthly permits has never been done before and it might set a precedent. Thirdly, they talked about moving the mechanicals into the structure. That would be an expense this committee may undertake. The equipment would last longer, and there isn’t a capacity problem. However, there are issues regarding rights-of-way with the Baldwin House that the City would have to work through.
Mr. O’Dell advised the group that as of today, the Chester St. Parking Structure is on a waiting list.
Suggested Resolution A:
To recommend that the City Commission include the property located at 550 W. Merrill St. (Sidwell # 19-36-126-018) in the Parking Assessment District contingent upon the signing of the pertinent agreement, and receipt of $30,282 or installmentsthereof, as spelled out in said agreement.
Motion by Ms. Honhart
Seconded by Ms.Peabody to approve.
There were no comments from the public at 6:35 p.m.
Motion carried, 5-0.
VOICE VOTE:
Yeas: Honhart, Peabody, Henke, Kalczynski, Paskewicz
Nays: None
Absent: Esshaki, Ley, Stanczak, Vaitas
Suggested Resolution B:
To recommend that the City Commission approve reservation of 50 monthly parkingpermits for use by the property owners and/or tenants of the property located at 550 W.Merrill St. The permits will be reserved until April 2014, at which point if they are unsoldto the property owners and/or tenants of the property located at 550 W. Merrill St, theycan be again offered for sale to the general public on a first come – first served basis.
No motion was made.
Mr. Surnow was informed that he should again request the reservation by the first of next year.
Suggested Resolution C:
To recommend that the City Commission increase the number of monthly permits
authorized for sale in the Chester St. Parking Structure by 100 permits, for a total of 1,040permits authorized for sale.
Motion by Ms. Honhart
Seconded by Mr.Kalczynski to table the request until it is appropriate.
Mr. O’Dell announced that most of the people coming to the Chester St. Structure right now are looking at other structures, primarily Park and Peabody. That will increase the turnover.
There were no comments from the public at 6:50 p.m.
Motion carried, 5-0.
VOICE VOTE:
Yeas: Honhart, Kalczynski, Henke, Paskewicz, Peabody
Nays: None
Absent: Esshaki, Ley, Stanczak, Vaitas
Suggested Resolution D:
To direct the Engineering Dept. to research the current status of the Martin St.
easement on the Baldwin House property, and report back to the committee about the feasibilityof obtaining the land required to reconstruct Martin St. into a public through street.
Motion by Ms. Peabody
Seconded by Ms. Honhart to approve.
There were no comments from the public at 6:45 p.m.
Mr. O’Meara indicated the Engineering Dept. will incorporate some rough cost estimates as part of the study and include some access from Mr. Surnow’s building into the structure.
Motion carried, 5-0.
VOICE VOTE:
Yeas: Peabody, Honhart, Henke, Kalczynski, Paskewicz
Nays: None
Absent: Esshaki, Ley, Stanczak, Vaitas
PARKING STRUCTURE LEVEL SIGNAGE (not discussed)
CENTRAL PARKING FINANCIAL REPORTS – APRIL 2013(not discussed)
PARKING SYSTEM REPORTS – CENTRAL PARKING (not discussed)
MEETING OPEN FOR MATTERS NOTON THE AGENDA(not discussed)
NEXTREGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
June 19, 2013
ADJOURNMENT
No further business being evident, the chairman adjourned the meeting at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul O’Meara
City Engineer
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