City Council Minutes

Mayor Pro Tem Ayers called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

Present: Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne, Jerome Mittman, and Thomas Swigart.

Absent: Mayor Christopher Johnson (excused).

A. Citizen Comments None.

"Receive Planning Commission Minutes dated 11/20/01 and 12/18/01" was removed from the Consent Agenda, as further clarification is needed on the meeting date noted on each set of minutes.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to approve the agenda and consent agenda as amended. Consent agenda as follows:

Approve City Council Minutes:

Special Joint Meeting of December 10, 2001

Regular Meeting of December 17, 2001

Approve Bills List: Checks #24841 to #25044

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Board of Zoning Appeals: 11/7/01, 12/4/01

Historic District Commission: 01/17/01, 11/21/01, 11/28/01

Planning Commission: 11/6/01

Receive Departmental Reports:

Fire Department: 10/01

Economic Development Corporation: Alfred Qualman (reappointment)

Historic District: Ross Worley (reappointment)

Parks and Recreation: Nancy Darga (reappointment)

Senior Advisory Council: John Rae (new appointment)

Youth Assistance: Michele Fecht (new appointment)

2002 "Welcome to Northville" Sign Requests

Call for Public Hearing / FY 2002 Wayne County CDBG Funds

At its regular meeting on October 1, 2001 the Northville City Council received a request from local real estate agents to approve a moratorium on the placement of temporary "open house" signs. Following deliberations, the City Council rejected a moratorium and directed that City staff and the Planning Commission review the current ordinance and recommend possible changes to accommodate the concerns of local realtors. Currently, the City’s sign ordinance prohibits the placement of signs within the public right-of-way without City Council approval, as well as the placement of real estate signs on property other than property listed for sale or rent.

Don Wortman, Planning Consultant, prepared an ordinance amendment providing for the restricted placement of real estate open house signs on private property. The intent would be to allow up to two portable real estate open house signs not greater than six square feet. The signs would be allowed on private property only and with permission of the property owner.

James Bress, Remerica Hometown One in Plymouth, expressed concern with the proposed ordinance amendments, which included enforcement, prohibiting signs in the public right-of-way, the limit on the number of signs allowed, and the limitation of signs to a period of six hours and a one-day per week period. Further comments suggested allowing temporary signs within the right-of-way and requiring realtors to obtain a permit prior to placing open house signs. Mr. Bress questioned whether it was allowable for realtors to use an A-Frame sign for open houses as they are allowed in the right-of-way. It was noted that A-Frame signs are only allowed in the right-of-way within the Central Business District. A final comment stated that the proposed amendment is too restrictive.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was noted that the intent of the ordinance amendment was to find a solution that satisfied the realtors and the residents. It was expressed that the proposed amendment allows limited placement of temporary real estate open house signs, thus avoiding a proliferation of signs in the community. It was suggested that the area real estate brokers be notified of the City’s ordinance on temporary real estate signs.

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Mittman to introduce for first reading an ordinance amending the City’s Zoning Ordinance for the Purpose of Establishing New Regulations for Real Estate Signs, with second reading and possible adoption scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, 2002. If adopted, the ordinance would become effective in ten days upon publication. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Hartshorne to call a special meeting to review the proposed FY 2003 budget as follows:

Session #1, Monday, April 8, 2002, 7:30 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers

Session #2, Thursday, April 18, 2002, 7:30 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers

Session #3, Monday, April 22, 2002, 7:30 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers

Mittman raised questions relative to the disposal of Christmas trees, with a request for the DPW Director to review the procedures to allow recycling of Christmas trees for the 2002 holiday season.

B. Staff Communications None.

There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa

City Clerk