May 13, 2024
City of Dexter City Council
Public Hearing and Meeting
Monday, May 13, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
3515 Broad Street, Dexter, MI 48130 and via Zoom
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Meeting ID: 827 1693 8464#
Meeting Agenda: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Agendas/2024-05-13-CC-A.pdf
Meeting Packet: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Packets/2024-05-13-CC-P.pdf
Final PUD Site Plan for The Pelham Under Consideration: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Packets/FPUD.SPR.CC.PH.COMBINED.pdf
Official Public Hearing Notice: https://files.dextermi.gov/Public_Notices/2024/PHN.FSR.ThePelhamPUD.pdf
PRE-ARRANGED PARTICIPATION
Pre-arranged participation will be limited to those who notify the City office before 5:00 p.m. Monday of the week preceding the meeting, stating name, intent and time requirements. (10-minute limit per participant)
None
NON-ARRANGED PARTICIPATION
Non-arranged participation will include those in the audience not listed on the agenda that wish to speak. At the Mayor’s discretion, members of the audience may be called on to speak at any time. Those addressing the Council will state their name, and address. This section is limited to 5-minutes per participant or 10-minutes for group representative.
As always, there are two opportunities for non-arranged public participation: one near the beginning of the meeting and one near the end of the meeting. See the agenda for details. Just state your name and address and then share your thoughts–it’s that easy!
PUBLIC HEARING: The Pelham Condominiums Planned Unit Development Final Site Plan
Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposed item (in-person or virtual comment welcome). Action on each public hearing will be taken immediately following the close of the hearing unless otherwise indicated.
On Monday, April 1, 2024 the Planning Commission considered the above referenced Planned Unit Development Final PUD Site Plan Review Application for The Pelham Condominiums. The Final Site Plan for The Pelham PUD proposes a 28-unit, multiple-family residential condominium development consisting of two (2) 4-story buildings, each with fourteen (14) owner-occupied dwelling units; forty-three (43) below grade and surface parking spaces; landscaping and creekbank stabilization; and the extension of nearly 600 lineal feet of public watermain.
According to Section 19.05(I.2), following the public hearing, the City Council shall review the final site plan and proposed PUD agreement, together with the recommendations of the Planning Commission, city staff, consultants and other reviewing agencies. Upon completion of its review, the City Council shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny a planned development proposal. In taking action, the City Council shall state its conclusions, its decision, the basis for its decision, and any conditions imposed on an affirmative decision.
VARIOUS UPDATES
Council will review (1) minutes of its most recent meeting(s) and (2) the upcoming meeting list. We will also hear various updates from staff, including the City Manager and the Mayor (note that corresponding written reports are included in the meeting packet).
Updates that might be of interest:
Public Input on 3045 Broad Street Redevelopment. The public workshop for the 3045 Broad Street Redevelopment Project area is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11th, at 6:00 pm. The workshop will take place at the Dexter District Library.
Planning Commission Updates
The Planning Commission conducted 3 of 4 public hearings on schedule for May 6th:
Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) FY 2024-2029 – The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommended approval to City Council. Staff anticipates this item being scheduled for Council’s May 28th meeting.
Amendment to Master Plan Future Land Use Map – The Planning Commission voted (6-1) to recommend approval to City Council. Council is scheduled to consider the recommendation on May 13, 2024.
Dexter Community Schools Rezoning Request for 2505 Baker Road – The Planning Commission voted (6-1) to recommended conditional approval of the rezoning request to City Council. Staff anticipates this item being scheduled for Council’s May 28th meeting.
Preliminary Site Plan for the Kentwood Place Planned Unit Development – At the request of the applicant, the Planning Commission postponed the public hearing to its June 3, 2024 meeting.
On May 6th, the Planning Commission discussed the Master Plan goals for the Baker Road Corridor and the regulations established in the Zoning Ordinance to achieve those goal, in light of the comments and concerns voiced last month, during the review of the Dexter Senior Center site Plan. The consensus of the Commission was not to change the ordinance.
Dexter Crossing Commercial Outlot – Staff anticipates a proposal will be submitted in the near future for a drive-thru coffee café, on an outlot in front of the Dexter Crossing Commercial Shopping Plaza.
Spring Clean-up Day. The City’s annual Spring Clean-up Day through WM will be Monday, May 20th. On that day, residents will be able to place out additional bulk items as a part of the expanded pick-up.
Sheriff’s Office Work Session Request. Staff received a request from the Sheriff’s Office for time as part of a work session to present information related to the upcoming public safety millage renewal request. Attached to this report is a copy of the e-mail request from Commander Keith Flores.
All Committees Meeting. The annual All Boards/Committees Meeting was held on Monday, April 29th. There was an attendance of approximately 30 people, with representation from all invited boards and committees. Each board presented on projects that they have been working-on an d topics relevant to the entire group. Attendees had good conversations on several important topics, including but not limited to the Bicentennial, planning initiatives, developments, connectivity, and parks projects. A recording of the meeting has been posted to the City’s YouTube and website (see video here).
Notice of Filing Deadline for the Election to be Held of Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 for the City of Dexter (as will appear in forthcoming Spring Newsletter)
To the qualified electors of the City of Dexter, Washtenaw County, Michigan:
In accordance with City Charter Section 4.10, notice is hereby given that the filing deadline for candidates to be included on the November 5, 2024 General Election Ballot is Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 4:00pm. The following City offices will be included on the ballot:
THREE (3) CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS The qualifications for these offices are as follows:
(1) A candidate must be a registered elector residing within the boundaries of the City of Dexter for a minimum of one year prior to the date of the Election; and
(2) Submit an Affidavit of Identity in duplicate and City/Township Nonpartisan Nominating Petition(s) bearing the signatures of a minimum of 15 (maximum of 30) qualified electors residing within the boundaries of the City of Dexter.
All petitions and forms may be obtained by appointment at the Dexter City Hall, 3515 Broad St., Dexter, MI 48130; 9:00am to 5:00pm. Requests for appointment or for more information, please contact the Dexter City Clerk at jbreyer@dextermi.gov or (734) 426-8303.
CONSENT AGENDA
Following the presentation and any discussion of these reports, Council will consider (i.e., take formal action on) the following items as part of the Consent Agenda. Unless Council votes to do otherwise, these items are voted on as a single bundle without Council discussion.
Bills & Payroll in the amount of: $537,263.42
FY 2023-24 Budget Amendments
Setting a Public Hearing for FY 2024-25 Millage Rate and Budget on June 10, 2024
Each year Council is required to hold a public hearing on the budget and the millage rates that will be used to support that budget. This year, the public hearing will be held on June 10, 2024. The public hearing notice will be posted in the Sun Times and sent out via the e-mail update. The draft ad is provided with this memo.
Setting a Public Hearing for FY 2024-25 Water, Sewer, and Rubbish Rate Ordinance on June 10, 2024
Summer Concert Series Road Closures Request from May to August
A road closure permit request has been submitted by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce to close Central Street from Main St. to 5th St every Friday from May 24th to August 30th (8/9 and 8/16 are excluded due to the Dexter Summer Festival and Paint Dexter). Per their permit request, Central St. would be closed from 4:00pm to 10:00pm (concert would still end at 9:00pm).
When staff met with the Chamber of Commerce in April, Chamber President Becky Cobler indicated that the Chamber is willing cover the cost for the overtime that the DPW will incur over the course of the summer.
Memorandum of Understanding with Teamsters Local 214 for Amendment to Classification and Wage Tables for Pre-2011 Employees
The City executed the most recent Agreement with the Teamsters Local 214 employee union on June 30, 2023. Through contract discussions, City representatives worked to update all sections of the contract with modernizing or clarifying language, eliminating duplicative language, and reorganizing for the sake of clarity and brevity. During that effort, the Classification Table and Wage Table for pre-2011 employees was consolidated because all employees were at their maximum step within their range. However, the negotiated change to the Agreement’s wage table did not anticipate employee promotions or employees moving into a new classification. It was not the intent of the change to limit or preclude pre-2011 employees from promotions or moving into a new classification.
The City has an employee who applied for a posting that would result in a promotion and movement into a classification that is not currently shown in the Classification Table or Wage Table. The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to update Article 37 – Wage and Classification Tables in the Agreement expiring February 28, 2026 to include all available occupation codes (15 - 20) and steps (A – G) available to pre-2011 employees in a manner similar to the Agreement that expired on February 28, 2023.
The pay amounts as they exist in the current contract’s Classification and Wage Tables were excerpted from the greater Classification and Wage Tables. The Classification Table and Wage Table proposed to be reinserted remain in-line with, but expand upon, the tables that were included.
Award of Pavement Marking Services to M&M Pavement Marking for an Amount not to Exceed $33,255.14
On an annual basis, the City hires a vendor to re-stripe street markings and re-apply street stencils. In February 2023, the City issued a bid for pavement markings and awarded the bid to M&M Pavement Markings as the low bidder. Staff was satisfied with the work performed by M&M, and they have agreed to hold their 2023 pricing for the 2024 season.
Sale of Equipment via Online Auction
The City’s purchasing policy stipulates that City Council must approve all sales made through auction. Staff plans to place multiple pieces of equipment up for auction on Govdeals.com the week of May 6th with a bidding deadline of June 1st. The equipment up for auction is as follows:
2013 Kubota RTV
Multiple traffic signals (out of date and no longer in use)
Set of LMI Pumps (mechanical metering pump - replaced)
DISCUSSION AND/OR CONSIDERATION ITEMS
In addition to any items described under Consent Agenda (above), Council will consider (i.e., take formal action on; “C”) or discuss (i.e., take no formal action on; “D”) the following business:
Resolution to Amend the Future Land Use Map in the 2019 City of Dexter Master Plan to Designate Properties Located at 2505, 2521, and 2537 Baker Road as Village Residential 1 (C)
Consideration of an amendment to the Master Plan was prompted by a request by the Dexter Community Schools (DCS) Board of Education (BOE), for an expedited rezoning of the property, located at 2505 Baker Road (subject site) from PF Public Facilities to Residential use. The property is currently zoned PF Public Facilities. Residential uses are not allowed as a permitted use or special land use in the PF district. This presents an issue for the DCS because of its desire to sell the property for residential use.
When considering a rezoning request (a/k/a Zoning Map Amendment), the Planning Commission and City Council must consider the requests 1) Consistency with the Master Plan, 2) Compatibility with the Environment, 3) Return on Investment, 4) Use Compatibility, 5) Impact on City Services, 6) Demand for Use, and 7) other factors deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission and City Council.
With the update to the City of Dexter Master Plan in 2019, the Future Land Use classification of all properties owned by DCS was changed to Public Facilities, including the subject site. The two properties adjacent to the north of the subject site, 2521 and 2537 Baker Road, were also Master Planned Public Facilities, due to their proximity to other DCS owned properties.
When the Zoning Ordinance was updated in 2023, all DCS properties were rezoned to PF Public Facilities, including 2505 Baker Road, since it had not been used as a single-family residence since the schools purchased it in 2013. However, the two properties adjacent to the north, 2521 and 2537 Baker Road, retained their R-1 single-family zoning designation because they were (and currently are) privately owned and were (and currently are) used as single-family residences.
Based on the Intent, Appropriate Use, and Compatible Zoning District identified in the Master Plan the Planning Commission and the City Council determined that Village Residential 1 was the most appropriate future land use designation because the VR-1 Village Residential Form Based zoning 1) is the compatible zoning district to the Village Residential 1 FLU and 2) encourages a wide variety of housing types, including single-family detached and two-family dwellings as permitted uses, and single-family attached and multiple-family dwellings as special land uses.
Submitting Request to Planning Commission to Hold Public Hearing and Provide Recommendation to Council for a Proposed Change to Zoning Ordinance, Section 11.11 Design Standards Regarding Primary Building Entrance Fronting Public Roads (C)
An item was submitted by Council Member Semifero to send a request to the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing and provide a recommendation to City Council for a proposed change to the Zoning Ordinance related to primary building entrances fronting on public roads to allow a waiver to be granted by Planning Commission or City Council.
To accomplish the goal of a “walkable corridor”, the Baker Road Corridor Form Based Code was created when the ordinance was updated in 2023. According to Section 11.01, the intent of the Form Base District recognizes that the Master Plan identified areas within the City where regulating urban form and character of development is needed in addition to regulating use and intensity of use. Within these focus areas the City encourages development with a mix of uses, including public open space, in order to provide development in a sustainable way, while preserving the historic character of the City. The Form- Based Districts are intended to implement the vision, goals, and objectives of the Master Plan and any other applicable Plans.
According to Section 11.07, the Baker Road Corridor District (BRC) is intended to be a walkable corridor that is a gateway between the downtown area and adjacent neighborhoods. New development and redevelopment should be in accordance with the “Baker Road Corridor” goals and objectives as described in the City of Dexter Master Plan.
However, during the site plan review process for the proposed Dexter Senior Center (2740 Baker Road) staff, the Planning Commission, and City Council discovered that the while the Baker Road Corridor Form Based Code regulations aligned with the goals established in the Master Plan for the Baker Road Corridor, application of the regulations has some challenges. For example, the Building Placement and Orientation Standards in Section 11.11.B.2.b.i-iv requires that i) primary building entrances to front on the public roads; ii) sidewalks must be provided along the full length of the front of a building with a public entrance; iii) building entries must be located so that they are easily identifiable with convenient public access and each project must provide a well-defined entry sequence for pedestrian and vehicular uses from the road to the building; and iv) all additional public entrances, regardless of location, must provide direct pedestrian access of the same quality and design as that required for the main entrance.
On May 6th, the Planning Commission discussed the Master Plan goals for the Baker Road Corridor and the regulations established in the Zoning Ordinance to achieve those goal, in light of the comments and concerns voiced last month, during the review of the Dexter Senior Center site Plan. The consensus of the Commission was not to change the ordinance.