Planning Commission approves rezoning for health facility

The Flint Planning Commission March 8 recommended the Flint City Council rezone a property for a health rehabilitation facility on Clio Road and tabled site plans for a auto parts store on South Dort Highway.

They also discussed outdoor dining in Downtown and medical marijuana.

The group recommended that a parcel at 5928 Clio Rd. be rezoned from D-3 (community business) district to C-2 (multifamily, high-density apartment) district.

Applicant Benson Ekong said that the 70-foot high building's architectural design meets every requirement for D-3 except height.

Ekong said the five-story building at 528 will have 120 beds — 40 for brain and spinal injuries, 40 for behavioral problems and 40 beds with ventilators — and other features such as treadmills, a rehabilitation pool, a cafeteria, a barbershop and salon for patients.

The group approved the request on the condition the applicant bring in site plans with key items. It also approved a conditional use permit for professional offices and approved an accessory conditional use permit for patients use only.

Site plans for O'Reilly Auto Parts, 2520 S. Dort Highway, were postponed because architects forgot to put in elevation and landscaping items.

Architect Miles Gatlin said the new store is a 10,000-square-foot store north of the existing building.

The group discussed medical marijuana regulations from other cities and townships. Members looked at a variety of regulations such as one from Traverse City where the city does not allow dispensaries in residential areas and one from Muskegon where use and receiving of marijuana is restricted to inside of a building and out of public view.

Members proposed regulations for Flint that included signs that declare the dispensary as a clinic or hospital with no neon displays, to limit them to heavy industrial zones and not allow a dispensary within 500 feet of another dispensary.

Outdoor business in the D-4 (metropolitan)  district (downtown) and the D-5 (metropolitan commercial service) district (adjacent to downtown) were discussed.

The group proposed to eliminate the public hearing requirement for restaurants with less than 10 outdoor seats, but a review of site plans would be needed at $75 per hour. Furniture location must be in the plans and the chairs and tables must be durable and safe. The umbrellas must have weights.

The city's proposed master plan was discussed. The city has accepted a $1.5 million federal Department of Housing and Urban Development grant to pay for the project.

President Robert Wesley (5th Ward) and member Elizabeth Jordan (9th Ward) were appointed to a steering committee that will meet in the middle of April, May and June.

The group will meet next at 6 p.m. April 12, April 26 and May 10 in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 S. Saginaw St. Call 766-7355 for details.

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