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Commission forwards draft master plan to council after debate over parking‑under‑buildings language
Summary
After debate, the Planning Commission voted to forward the draft master plan to city council for distribution and a statutory public comment period. Commissioners expressed concern about adding general language to permit parking at ground level with occupied stories above and asked that detailed ordinance work be done before including such policy language.
The Clawson Planning Commission voted Feb. 11 to forward the draft master plan update to city council for distribution and public comment, after a lengthy discussion about whether to include implementation language permitting ground‑level parking with occupied stories above.
Planner Joe explained the city manager had asked the commission whether to add a general implementation item that would allow the commission to consider permitting ground‑level parking with the same number of inhabited stories currently allowed. Joe said the language was intentionally general so the administration and commission could "explore how we can have quality development and still maintain the same parking standards." He noted any detailed ordinance would still be drafted later.
Several commissioners urged caution. One commissioner said he was not comfortable placing the language into the master plan without further exploration, warning that vague master‑plan language could be used by developers as leverage in PUD or rezoning discussions. Another commissioner proposed delaying inclusion and instead studying the idea with the commission and staff and possibly drafting an ordinance that precisely limits where such an approach might be allowed.
Commissioner (speaker 3) moved to forward the draft master plan to council for distribution to neighboring communities and agencies and to set a public hearing for the next available Planning Commission meeting after the statutory review period; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call. Staff said council will authorize distribution, after which a 63‑day public comment period opens; the plan will then return to the commission for a public hearing and further action.
