[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6259789,"mediaKeyId","3137215-37e9e4841d3a14f39a0caae0f1925b60","parentId",3137215,"title","Planning Commission advances draft zoning ordinance to public hearing, rescinds tiny‑home mandate and agrees to study rental overlay","audioSeconds",1298,"startMs",1304000,"endMs",5196,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3137215-37e9e4841d3a14f39a0caae0f1925b60&start=1304&end=5","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3137215-37e9e4841d3a14f39a0caae0f1925b60/thumbnail_1304000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6259789/Saginaw/Saginaw-County/Michigan/Planning-Commission-advances-draft-zoning-ordinance-to-public-hearing-rescinds-tinyhome-mandate-and-agrees-to-study-rental-overlay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259789-ab6c20f65f9e6612887a57468f48e85c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776567285&Signature=QjiBDzTJSCKDVkrfIGCI17RN5XEN69KT~bSuLcrq3JjeG7RTAp6Dw~BBBDH68e-sTyHT58ver~H7WASj9-YpM1g-xEnAoHNoZSvJMwQPmhISeoR0YcUGNPdIYf7cfkSL~J8WSycsgjrAIOSCrJRx3elfc~iizdx1m0VpQLYuAMqVgpL-neEIHVkWIObo6GdNoqPQgxonC2zjiElevZvRuL7-cf3D5v0blFQLaOwEGqfY6bmzLXU3nbPCvUMdKUTwnSZ3PaQOyUZt~BpMdBWWn3vBOqc3wsZ8FrYr1EPh8f8Pv6xcculpRMGggxT~MHlPXdN840m5I0gHbJM2-oEESA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Saginaw, MI","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","The City of Saginaw Planning Commission completed a final review of a draft zoning ordinance and directed staff to publish the consolidated document for a public hearing at its next regular meeting. During the session commissioners discussed revised definitions, use‑standards and district changes prepared by consultant Andy Amott of Kiffels Webster and by city staff. Two formal actions followed: the commission rescinded an earlier request that tiny‑home language be included in the draft and approved a staff request to research rental‑restriction overlay options for neighborhoods.

Consultant Andy Amott reviewed substantive changes carried forward from earlier drafts, saying the revisions clarify use definitions and align zoning districts with existing development patterns. “We revised definitions for, mostly what were mostly use related definitions,” Amott said, and described edits to definitions for dwelling, family, boarding houses, group residences and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). He said the draft distinguishes boarding and rooming houses from group residences and clarifies that a detached single‑family dwelling does not include mobile or manufactured homes but may include modular homes.

Key changes covered in the review include:
- Definitions revised or added for boarding house, dwelling, family, accessory dwelling unit (ADU), group residence and kennel; the draft differentiates pet boarding (daytime care) from kennels (overnight boarding, breeding, runs).
- New or clarified standards for places of assembly versus private clubs, with private clubs proposed as a special land use on the primary ground floor in some downtown subdistricts.
- Dimensional and parking standards updates, including a reduction of required front yard depth for single‑family dwellings from 26 feet to 20 feet in R‑1 and R‑2; minimum lot size increases for conversions to 3–4 unit buildings (7,200 sq ft minimum) and clarifications that small multiunit residential conversions may rely on driveway‑style parking rather than engineered lots for 4 or fewer units.
- Riverfront and double‑frontage rules requiring a 30‑foot landscaped buffer between parking and the frontage for certain lots to preserve river orientation and pedestrian character.
- Clarifications to vehicle fueling and repair standards; the draft allows EV charging infrastructure and the planning staff indicated parking standards already address EV charger construction and signage.

Public commenters raised housing‑related concerns prior to the staff presentation. Scott Nazinski, a former city building inspector, urged caution on tiny homes’ placement and compliance with building and egress codes, noting minimum room and foundation requirements in Michigan. “Those are not code compliant sleeping areas. They’re less than 7 feet in any direction. That’s a fire hazard,” Nazinski said. Beth Van Simren, a long‑time Northmore District homeowner, said she opposed ADUs in R‑1 districts and urged the city to consider rental‑restriction overlays, citing what she and neighbors view as a correlation between rental concentrations and increased blight and crime in parts of the Northmore neighborhood.

Commissioner Clark, invoking an earlier motion he had made, moved to rescind the prior direction that required tiny‑home language be included in the final draft. Commissioner Moore seconded that motion. The commission voted to rescind; a roll call captured at the meeting recorded one no vote (Commissioner Faust) and a majority in favor. The chair confirmed the motion carried and staff will exclude the tiny‑home directive from the ordinance to be published for a public hearing but will bring the tiny‑home subject back later at staff’s recommendation.

Separately, after public comment from residents about rentals, the commission approved a motion to have staff investigate rental‑restriction overlay options and return findings. The motion passed by roll call; commissioners agreed staff would compile existing research and provide an initial summary at the next meeting so the commission can consider further steps. Staff noted the draft ordinance must be posted publicly at least 15 days before the public hearing and that the consolidated draft will be posted to the zoning rewrite project webpage.

Commissioners emphasized the draft is a work in progress. Several members asked staff to ensure the full consolidated ordinance and map are posted with enough time for review prior to the hearing. Staff confirmed the document will be available on the city’s project page and that the public hearing and subsequent recommendation to city council will follow the hearing schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Saginaw Planning Commission April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Saginaw Planning Commission completed a final review of a draft zoning ordinance, voted to rescind a prior directive to include tiny‑home language in the final document, set a public hearing on the consolidated ordinance at the next regular meeting and asked staff to study rental‑restriction overlays after resident concerns.","taxTitle","Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan","taxId",3479,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6259794,"Planning Commission approves site plan for 7‑Eleven/Speedway at 409 West Genesee Ave.",808,99000,907000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3137215-37e9e4841d3a14f39a0caae0f1925b60&start=99&end=907","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3137215-37e9e4841d3a14f39a0caae0f1925b60/thumbnail_99000.jpg","/articles/6259794/Saginaw/Saginaw-County/Michigan/Planning-Commission-approves-site-plan-for-7ElevenSpeedway-at-409-West-Genesee-Ave","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259794-0ba203f99b60aa26172b69a3a8b5c939/orig.mp4?Expires=1776567285&Signature=WjtiCl6PMwcq8GSdADceVMS9QhQRzztUW8gLeV--CNxSnVpRVW~MEndTSkwEqBi78k~i4HA-LIrULq29i54oSqsD2XoFIMwbVdP2mqz1dVupBGgDFmjQRdb-szjuGKmUNFEUhp2YBvITcEOoTan~3GvfS9m6PWddfjfiYOOh2qhnZg6YzdpENOedU~0V0JdXrslg~C75zbD6DIA7p21Ntueiu09wCtZC~ee-wqj576KZypYPQjpmqcF5QMJ6Dr325bUp0S1Dq4tnvBxCGtXZWvrLaye~Bns5Nn-JauOS8Cws7FySqldm-ioopJGBqZDS-iL8rgS6tpLwWvAmnCnJow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Saginaw Planning Commission on the evening of the meeting approved a site plan for a proposed 7‑Eleven/Speedway prototype store at 409 West Genesee Ave., authorizing construction to proceed with conditions including a floodplain permit and engineering department approval of all utility connections.

The applicant, Nathan Denha, said the proposal would redevelop a former vacant Walgreens into a 4,853‑square‑foot building with Nichiha wood finishing and CMU block. “This store will feature a 4,853 square foot building composed of CMU block, as well as Nichiha wood finishing,” Denha said. He told commissioners the site plan calls for six pumps and 12 dispensers and meets the B‑2 general business standards required by the city code.

Commissioners questioned operational details and site design. Commissioner Clark asked whether the use would include automobile repair; Denha replied, “That’s correct. It’s not a repair station.” Clark also raised concerns about light pollution; Denha said the development would use downward‑facing fixtures and a canopy and that “there’ll be a photometric plan submitted, that will show 0 candlelight in through neighboring properties.” Commissioner Clark and others sought clarification about landscaping islands and the truck route shown on different plan sheets; the applicant confirmed the final landscape plan shows a planted island and the submitted sheet reflects the intended vehicle flows.

Commissioner Platt said he was “not very fond of the location,” calling the intersection an awkward fit even though the project satisfies zoning requirements. Commissioner Moore asked about staffing levels; planning staff advised employee counts are not an element of site plan approval.

The commission moved to approve petition J25‑2824 PC with the conditions noted at the meeting: issuance of any required floodplain permit and engineering department review and approval of utility connections. The motion passed; the commission chair announced the petition is approved. The applicant may proceed to construction permitting once the conditions are satisfied.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting include the building size (4,853 square feet), fueling equipment (6 pumps, 12 dispensers), the applicant’s statement that the prototype is the second in Michigan (20 nationwide), and that a photometric plan and landscape plan will be submitted before final permit approval. The agenda initially referenced the site by a different address (409 North Michigan Avenue), while the applicant repeatedly identified the project location as 409 West Genesee Ave.; that discrepancy was discussed during the review and should be reconciled in permit documents.

The commission’s approval does not require the store to install electric vehicle chargers; Denha said future EV infrastructure “would be added to the site” only if required and at the operator’s discretion. Engineering and floodplain permit requirements must be met before building permits are issued.","The City of Saginaw Planning Commission approved a site plan for a new 7‑Eleven/Speedway prototype, authorizing construction to proceed subject to a floodplain permit and engineering approval of utility connections.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning Commission advances draft zoning ordinance to public hearing, rescinds tiny‑home mandate and agrees to study rental overlay

Planning Commission approves site plan for 7‑Eleven/Speedway at 409 West Genesee Ave.