the-compact
Planning Commission Tuesday, July 21, 2026 · 16 min

Bloomfield Township Planning Commission Meeting on July 20, 2026

Transcript

Click any timestamp to jump the video to that moment. Auto-transcribed; expect occasional errors on proper nouns.

  1. Welcome everybody to the July 20th meeting Bloomfield Township Planning Commission. For anybody who's maybe watching in or get online, the Planning Commission, you know what? I don't know if this is on. Here it is. Okay. All right. The Planning Commission, it's a seven-member body. It's appointed by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees pursuant to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. The Planning Commission is a recommending body only, recommending body to the Board of Trustees with Board of Trustees, which has the final approval and authority of any matters that we see here, whether it's a site plan, special land use or whatever. So whatever happens here, it's not a final say. This now then, whatever happens here has to go to the Board of Trustees. It takes a vote of four members of the seven for a motion to carry. So anyway, with that, we have one item on the agenda, a site plan and special land use request for Birmingham Country Club. And first item of business, the attendance, we have a quorum. We have six out of seven, so we're good. And then we have the, we need to approve the minutes from the June 15th meeting that we all got a copy of. So I need a motion for the approval. So moved. Moved and second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay. We have, we still have on here a public comment. This is the next item. And so we'll leave it there this time, but that's for anything that's not in the agenda. If anybody here wants to say something, have a comment or something that's not on the agenda, this is the time. So I don't see anybody, so we'll just move on. Okay, so the site plan review. Tom's going to present tonight. Mr. Tom Hayes, our planner. Okay, great. Good evening, Commissioners. Today we'll be looking at a site plan and special land use request from the Birmingham Country Club, located at 1750 Saxon Drive in our R3-1 Family Residential District. For an overview of the project, the Country Club is proposing a kitchen and snack bar addition, in addition to the renovation of their outdoor terrace. Opposed improvements are located within the interior of the property, several hundred yards from the nearest residential property. Because country clubs are considered a special land use, any modifications require review by the Design Review Board,

  2. So I need a motion for the approval. So moved. Moved and second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay. We have, we still have on here a public comment. This is the next item. And so we'll leave it there this time, but that's for anything that's not in the agenda. If anybody here wants to say something, have a comment or something that's not on the agenda, this is the time. So I don't see anybody, so we'll just move on. Okay, so the site plan review. Tom's going to present tonight. Mr. Tom Hayes, our planner. Okay, great. Good evening, Commissioners. Today we'll be looking at a site plan and special land use request from the Birmingham Country Club, located at 1750 Saxon Drive in our R3-1 Family Residential District. For an overview of the project, the Country Club is proposing a kitchen and snack bar addition, in addition to the renovation of their outdoor terrace. Opposed improvements are located within the interior of the property, several hundred yards from the nearest residential property. Because country clubs are considered a special land use, any modifications require review by the Design Review Board, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Trustees. And I'll note that there are no variances associated with this proposal at the time. For the kitchen addition, we're looking at a 1,000 square foot addition that is proposed along the southerly portion of the clubhouse, where the loading dock is currently located. A portion of the existing loading dock will be converted into kitchen space to better accommodate club operations. And we're looking at a piece of equipment. As the next part of the building the new buildings have been in a struggle with the new buildings, exist kitchen is going to be, part of this is going to be modernized. And then moving forward to the snack bar will be 312 square feet proposed on the northerly portion of the clubhouse and will be providing additional space for serving patrons. And then this slide we have a partial floor plan. I'm going over the terrace renovation. The renovation will expand the terrace to better accommodate events during peak hours while maintaining access for golf carts. The existing car path

  3. Because country clubs are considered a special land use, any modifications require review by the Design Review Board, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Trustees. And I'll note that there are no variances associated with this proposal at the time. For the kitchen addition, we're looking at a 1,000 square foot addition that is proposed along the southerly portion of the clubhouse, where the loading dock is currently located. A portion of the existing loading dock will be converted into kitchen space to better accommodate club operations. And we're looking at a piece of equipment. As the next part of the building the new buildings have been in a struggle with the new buildings, exist kitchen is going to be, part of this is going to be modernized. And then moving forward to the snack bar will be 312 square feet proposed on the northerly portion of the clubhouse and will be providing additional space for serving patrons. And then this slide we have a partial floor plan. I'm going over the terrace renovation. The renovation will expand the terrace to better accommodate events during peak hours while maintaining access for golf carts. The existing car path will be enhanced with decorative pavements. This will be the lower terrace here. I'll pull and then a new alternate path will be constructed north of the existing pavilion here. The alternate car path will primarily be used when the lower terrace is serving as an event space. Existing walls will be replaced with decorative metal fencing and 40-inch tall piers. There will be four existing trees that will be removed and replaced. A total of 69 dbh replacement inches is required. at the end. applicant is proposing 72 caliber inches of replacement trees. Here we have some site photos of the kitchen addition snack bar and terrace of how it looks today and here we have a rendering of what the terrace will look like. Township departments have reviewed the proposal and have recommended approval based on the site plan. The primary concern during review involved a fire hydrant coverage

  4. events during peak hours while maintaining access for golf carts. The existing car path will be enhanced with decorative pavements. This will be the lower terrace here. I'll pull and then a new alternate path will be constructed north of the existing pavilion here. The alternate car path will primarily be used when the lower terrace is serving as an event space. Existing walls will be replaced with decorative metal fencing and 40-inch tall piers. There will be four existing trees that will be removed and replaced. A total of 69 dbh replacement inches is required. at the end. applicant is proposing 72 caliber inches of replacement trees. Here we have some site photos of the kitchen addition snack bar and terrace of how it looks today and here we have a rendering of what the terrace will look like. Township departments have reviewed the proposal and have recommended approval based on the site plan. The primary concern during review involved a fire hydrant coverage and the location of the fire department connection. These issues have been adequately addressed through revised plans which show the addition of a fire hydrant adjacent to the service area and dual landscape architecture reviewed the plan and concluded that it meets the intent of the zoning ordinance. And with that we have the applicant here who can add anything else to the presentation and we can answer any questions. First let's see if anybody has a question for you. Sure. Yes, can you just go back in the pictures to the existing lower terrace photo please. Right, it's the upper right and the bottom, yeah. And then show the new one please. Okay, thanks. Okay, thanks. Very nice. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anybody else? No, I'm just going to say that. First of all, it's extremely attractive. It's done a great job on the design. It really enhances the Country Club property, like the landscaping. I certainly like the cart path.

  5. the site plan. The primary concern during review involved a fire hydrant coverage and the location of the fire department connection. These issues have been adequately addressed through revised plans which show the addition of a fire hydrant adjacent to the service area and dual landscape architecture reviewed the plan and concluded that it meets the intent of the zoning ordinance. And with that we have the applicant here who can add anything else to the presentation and we can answer any questions. First let's see if anybody has a question for you. Sure. Yes, can you just go back in the pictures to the existing lower terrace photo please. Right, it's the upper right and the bottom, yeah. And then show the new one please. Okay, thanks. Okay, thanks. Very nice. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anybody else? No, I'm just going to say that. First of all, it's extremely attractive. It's done a great job on the design. It really enhances the Country Club property, like the landscaping. I certainly like the cart path. Just in general, it's really a tremendous upgrade. And in addition to that, it doesn't impact the neighbors. So that's really nice not having to deal with that. And so you've done a great job. I'll just also note that this went before the Design Review Board on July 15th, and they recommended approval to the Planning Commission. And then for tonight, the Planning Commission recommendation is whether the application should proceed to the Board of Trustees subject to compliance with the requirements of the Township Departments and requirements of the Township's Landscape Architect. I just have a question. And Neil kind of touched on it. I'm sure we were here multiple times for a bunch of other work that they wanted to do with the courts. So we're not talking about anything except the kitchen, snack bar, and the terrace. Yes. Okay, thank you. Just making sure that I'm not missing something. Very far away from the road. Yeah. Is that kitchen an indoor kitchen, or are you making more outdoor kitchen? It will. Tim Gardella, general manager, Birmingham Country Club. It will extend.

  6. Just in general, it's really a tremendous upgrade. And in addition to that, it doesn't impact the neighbors. So that's really nice not having to deal with that. And so you've done a great job. I'll just also note that this went before the Design Review Board on July 15th, and they recommended approval to the Planning Commission. And then for tonight, the Planning Commission recommendation is whether the application should proceed to the Board of Trustees subject to compliance with the requirements of the Township Departments and requirements of the Township's Landscape Architect. I just have a question. And Neil kind of touched on it. I'm sure we were here multiple times for a bunch of other work that they wanted to do with the courts. So we're not talking about anything except the kitchen, snack bar, and the terrace. Yes. Okay, thank you. Just making sure that I'm not missing something. Very far away from the road. Yeah. Is that kitchen an indoor kitchen, or are you making more outdoor kitchen? It will. Tim Gardella, general manager, Birmingham Country Club. It will extend. our current kitchen it will be indoor space both both the snack bar and the kitchen itself anybody else okay do you want to present do you want to talk to what you say give us any more information or it's up to you yeah no it's a beautiful space it allows us to meet the demands of members in the country club the additional mobile ordering additional space for the lower terrace so the kitchen space is needed snack bar ventilation and equipments 30 years old and the additional space is really needed to handle what activity at the pool so okay okay all right thank you all right bring it back here then anybody from anybody else want to have any comment on this project okay let's bring it back here unless there's any discussion I'm ready to make a motion I just did automatically I just did it yeah I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm ready to make a motion unless there's any discussion I know I see yeah I was gonna ask is anybody have any discussion on on this project other than the fact that it's really nice very very nice doesn't make a motion quick question does it change the

  7. our current kitchen it will be indoor space both both the snack bar and the kitchen itself anybody else okay do you want to present do you want to talk to what you say give us any more information or it's up to you yeah no it's a beautiful space it allows us to meet the demands of members in the country club the additional mobile ordering additional space for the lower terrace so the kitchen space is needed snack bar ventilation and equipments 30 years old and the additional space is really needed to handle what activity at the pool so okay okay all right thank you all right bring it back here then anybody from anybody else want to have any comment on this project okay let's bring it back here unless there's any discussion I'm ready to make a motion I just did automatically I just did it yeah I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm ready to make a motion unless there's any discussion I know I see yeah I was gonna ask is anybody have any discussion on on this project other than the fact that it's really nice very very nice doesn't make a motion quick question does it change the capacity of number of people you have at any event you know outdoor dining it's going to improve that a little bit but you're it's a busy space base anyways and we're trying to handle all the capacity in the kitchen that's going to help us do that. I think we'll ask one last question for Tom. So there's a zero impact with this addition to the parking? That's right no changes to the parking. I mean no no changes to the requirement for parking right? No changes. Okay thank you. Okay okay make a motion that we make a positive recommendation to the Board of Trustees subject to compliance with the requirements of the Township Departments and compliance with the requirements of the Township Landscape Architect. Is a motion on the table? Is there a second? Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion on the motion? All right call for vote. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Very good. That was easy. All right next item is general business items not on the agenda. Does anybody want to bring up anything at all? I just want to note that we do have some staff members from the Planning Building

  8. really nice very very nice doesn't make a motion quick question does it change the capacity of number of people you have at any event you know outdoor dining it's going to improve that a little bit but you're it's a busy space base anyways and we're trying to handle all the capacity in the kitchen that's going to help us do that. I think we'll ask one last question for Tom. So there's a zero impact with this addition to the parking? That's right no changes to the parking. I mean no no changes to the requirement for parking right? No changes. Okay thank you. Okay okay make a motion that we make a positive recommendation to the Board of Trustees subject to compliance with the requirements of the Township Departments and compliance with the requirements of the Township Landscape Architect. Is a motion on the table? Is there a second? Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion on the motion? All right call for vote. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Very good. That was easy. All right next item is general business items not on the agenda. Does anybody want to bring up anything at all? I just want to note that we do have some staff members from the Planning Building and Ordnance Department. We have a new member Kelsey Massimery. She came to us from the Detroit Land Bank and we're proud to have her down as a planner, Associate Planner in Planning Building and Ordnance. So please everybody I think had a chance to meet Kelsey. Happy to have her and then also just want to make a note that we've recently had a promotion in Planning Building and Ordnance that we've had our building official Chris Fox who many of the residents are already familiar with within Township and contractors. So it was kind of... of it made a lot of sense to promote him to deputy director and he's doing a great job so i just want to share that they'll be attending planning commission meetings and um tom good job on your first presentation so we've got a lot of great things going on at the township and uh many of you may have received an invitation that we will be hosting a study session coming up on july 30th to share a presentation regarding um what's going on across the country with pickleball and also an opportunity to get input from the various board members um and suggestions on drafting a ordinance for bloomfield township as it relates to um pickleball um so that we can uh hopefully address some of the concerns that are out there so hopefully you've received that invitation as well well the the moratorium that we have on is on sports courts sports court not just pickleball

  9. at all? I just want to note that we do have some staff members from the Planning Building and Ordnance Department. We have a new member Kelsey Massimery. She came to us from the Detroit Land Bank and we're proud to have her down as a planner, Associate Planner in Planning Building and Ordnance. So please everybody I think had a chance to meet Kelsey. Happy to have her and then also just want to make a note that we've recently had a promotion in Planning Building and Ordnance that we've had our building official Chris Fox who many of the residents are already familiar with within Township and contractors. So it was kind of... of it made a lot of sense to promote him to deputy director and he's doing a great job so i just want to share that they'll be attending planning commission meetings and um tom good job on your first presentation so we've got a lot of great things going on at the township and uh many of you may have received an invitation that we will be hosting a study session coming up on july 30th to share a presentation regarding um what's going on across the country with pickleball and also an opportunity to get input from the various board members um and suggestions on drafting a ordinance for bloomfield township as it relates to um pickleball um so that we can uh hopefully address some of the concerns that are out there so hopefully you've received that invitation as well well the the moratorium that we have on is on sports courts sports court not just pickleball but sports courts is that so are they too set we look dealing with them separately or what are we doing with that no i think that's a good point i think we would look at them we've never um in the past sports court it was never contemplated that pickleball would be will come to fruition right so i think more of the concerns relate to the noise and impacts of pickleball but i think that i think that that would definitely be we'd be looking at them interchangeably like we have in the past because oftentimes if people want to switch something from tennis to pickleball then we have to be aware of that as well because that can also change the impact of that use right because the invitation i got was specifically pickleball and i know the moratorium okay so we'll talk about it together we have a moratorium on sports courts correct when did that happen january uh the township board adopted it so it's it's it's at least a year um but as part of that moratorium this is our opportunity now to be looking at language best practices um from across the country so we have a really good presentation that griffin grava who's been a intern down in our department this summer um pulled together a nice presentation that he will be putting on for the for the boards and then we'll have an opportunity to kind of discuss sort of what's going on across the country and what we think would be things that we should consider for our

  10. as well well the the moratorium that we have on is on sports courts sports court not just pickleball but sports courts is that so are they too set we look dealing with them separately or what are we doing with that no i think that's a good point i think we would look at them we've never um in the past sports court it was never contemplated that pickleball would be will come to fruition right so i think more of the concerns relate to the noise and impacts of pickleball but i think that i think that that would definitely be we'd be looking at them interchangeably like we have in the past because oftentimes if people want to switch something from tennis to pickleball then we have to be aware of that as well because that can also change the impact of that use right because the invitation i got was specifically pickleball and i know the moratorium okay so we'll talk about it together we have a moratorium on sports courts correct when did that happen january uh the township board adopted it so it's it's it's at least a year um but as part of that moratorium this is our opportunity now to be looking at language best practices um from across the country so we have a really good presentation that griffin grava who's been a intern down in our department this summer um pulled together a nice presentation that he will be putting on for the for the boards and then we'll have an opportunity to kind of discuss sort of what's going on across the country and what we think would be things that we should consider for our community thank you thank you for that okay anybody have anything else not on the agenda i just got one one item that i and i called andrea i called you a couple of days after that last meeting and i apologize for not what i did but what i didn't do um she took some big heat from the folks out here and um i didn't i didn't i apologize i didn't come to your defense on on there and i want to be on the record that what you do is invaluable here you do a great job and whatever they said about what you didn't do was just irrelevant it's not it's not pertinent i know you you said something about it i know i know you did but i should have and i didn't and i apologize to you personally but i wanted on the record that i should have and i didn't so i just want to let put that out there anything anybody have anything anything else just want to remind that we talked about the liquor license for the fuel stations and maybe looking into not allowing the product being placed on the floor but only behind the counter so if we if we ever do work on that amendment or whatever you have to call it technically I also want to add the fact

  11. going on across the country and what we think would be things that we should consider for our community thank you thank you for that okay anybody have anything else not on the agenda i just got one one item that i and i called andrea i called you a couple of days after that last meeting and i apologize for not what i did but what i didn't do um she took some big heat from the folks out here and um i didn't i didn't i apologize i didn't come to your defense on on there and i want to be on the record that what you do is invaluable here you do a great job and whatever they said about what you didn't do was just irrelevant it's not it's not pertinent i know you you said something about it i know i know you did but i should have and i didn't and i apologize to you personally but i wanted on the record that i should have and i didn't so i just want to let put that out there anything anybody have anything anything else just want to remind that we talked about the liquor license for the fuel stations and maybe looking into not allowing the product being placed on the floor but only behind the counter so if we if we ever do work on that amendment or whatever you have to call it technically I also want to add the fact that again I noticed the mobile station that had the second license has the Hennessy signs in the windows and the bourbon and I don't think we like that so if we could get rid of that too okay at the same amendment okay thank you for that well we'll look forward to drafting a draft amendment to come before you I sent an email to Kelly just to remind if they can get us these agendas as far ahead of time as possible we appreciate it and do we do we know if the third meeting is going to happen August 3rd it'll be August 5th oh okay then you know whatever is it gonna do we have people on the agenda yes we did send out notices for that meeting do we know when so it's gonna be on a Wednesday yeah I get it correct because the election we've been told about that yeah that was the original schedule that's just I'm sorry it's incorrect on the agenda but you're right in terms of the public meeting schedule that's been published on the website it was noted for the August 5th due to the election

  12. or whatever you have to call it technically I also want to add the fact that again I noticed the mobile station that had the second license has the Hennessy signs in the windows and the bourbon and I don't think we like that so if we could get rid of that too okay at the same amendment okay thank you for that well we'll look forward to drafting a draft amendment to come before you I sent an email to Kelly just to remind if they can get us these agendas as far ahead of time as possible we appreciate it and do we do we know if the third meeting is going to happen August 3rd it'll be August 5th oh okay then you know whatever is it gonna do we have people on the agenda yes we did send out notices for that meeting do we know when so it's gonna be on a Wednesday yeah I get it correct because the election we've been told about that yeah that was the original schedule that's just I'm sorry it's incorrect on the agenda but you're right in terms of the public meeting schedule that's been published on the website it was noted for the August 5th due to the election Okay? I think that covers it then. Thank you. Thank you. I guess we can entertain a motion to adjourn then. Motion. It's been moved and seconded. All right. Thank you all very much. Thank you. I don't think it's fair that their first meeting was... Stay tuned.