At a recent Planning Commission there was but one Agenda Item.
If that sounds familiar to regular readers there is a reason. This publication did an article on January 6th based on the following notice that appeared in the on line edition of the Eccentric Newspaper.
PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting of January 8, 2013
The regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 in the City Commission Room, 45 East Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304-2322, Phone (248) 644-1520, FAX (248) 644-4813.
• The Board will consider the request of the property owner at 161 Canterbury,
Tax Parcel No. 19-23-226-003. The petitioner is requesting the following:
• Approval for construction of accessory recreational structures in a front yard.
(Sec. 24-211)
• Approval for front yard fencing. (Sec. 24-242)
Complete copies of the proposal can be reviewed at City Hall during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Amy L. Burton
City Clerk
Publish: December 23, 2012 OE08792676
Our article was entitled Serendipity is the key to communicating with City Government in the City of Bloomfield Hills. and our point was was that getting information about upcoming meetings, was hard to come by unless one prowled through seldom read publications.
We also noted that the neighborhood in question was the newest in the City, with large homes, and acreage arranged in a wild topography that is unequaled elsewhere in the City.
As it so happened the request was not heard at the January Planning Commision meeting but was ready for the April 9th meeting. By then "the accessory recreation structure in a front yard, and front yard fencing" had become "two accessory recreation structures (A pool and unclosed domed structure with outdoor fireplace) in the Burnham front yard per section 24-211 (10) and "Fencing surrounding the pool/ project area which is located in the Burham Road front yard and a small portion of the easterly side yard in accordance with section 24-242 (b) (3).
By the time the meeting started the unclosed domed structure had been ungraded to a "Pergola. "
| A birds eye view a fairly basic Pergola. Not the one being discussed. "As Shakespeare wrote "Would a pergola by any other name....... |
Planning Commissioner Walter Cuetler who has at times been criticized using eight words when three will do, in reality does a fine job articulating the issues being discussed for particiapnts, as well as visitors and newcomers to the Planning commission meetings.
The land parcel in question is what is called a through lot. It has a City address on one street and a "back yard" which is deemed a "front yard because goes all the way back to another City street. Thus in City parlance it is a street with two "front yards." Structures like a pool or a pergola which would not be allowed in the front yard of your average lot become possibilities on a lot with "two front" yards.
If and how exactly are up to the Planning Commission. The Pergola is for example a "permanent structure other than a garage." As such it requires specific approval from the Planning Commission. The placement of those objects on the property is more the realm of the Zoning Board of Appeal which regularly meets the the Tuesday following the Planning Commission at 4 pm. It is here the Pergola applicant will go for approval of what is called a dimension variance.
Applicants to the Planning Commission or Zoning are often represented or appear with Architects or Lanscapers who describe the project in detail.
The Public is also welcome and the format of the meeting is that of a Public Hearing which allows for public comment rarely seen elsewhere in City governing bodies. Attending last Tuesday's Planning Commission was a lady from Eton Court who's property abuts on part of the property in question. a lady from the Trowbridge Homeowners Association and a resident who lives on Burham Rd.
The Boards and Commissions are interested in the viewpoints of all residents. Who knows when one's better half might become interested in a Pergola.
Once one gets the hang of when the meetings are scheduled, you can find the agenda pack on the City web site. That will tell you what is being discussed and provide you all documents pertinent to that discussion.
You may be surprised to find that just showing at the meetings works better than serendipity. You don't have to dress up and it will only take a couple of meetings for you to become a Planning Commission insider.
Of note: Arial Photographs of the property discussed at the April 9th meeting shows it to be heavily wooded. The placement of the Pergola and Pool will result in some tree removal. It was reported at the meeting that the Landscape Company, Great Oaks, has already met with Building Department and got approval for tree removal and replacement that will be in compliance with the City's new tree ordinance.
The whole point of an ordinance is benefit all concerned.
Here the property own can develop his lot the way he wants
and the City maintains it's greenness with (if necessary) replacement trees. There was never any question that the ordinance would work with iandscape developers. The question was would it be too draconian with individual home owners. So far that has not been the case.
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