Zoning Report Called Confusing

Members of the City Planning Commission were challenged last night to explain the R4 Multiple Family Report. The special report, which recommends changes in the multiple-family zoning ordinance was attacked by planning commissioner John Laird as being too complicated and hard to understand. Laird, who refused to approve the report which has been in preparation since 1964, said that the report was so complicated that it would create problems in interpretation. "I challenge members of the Planning Commission and anyone else who is not on the planning staff to explain to me what is on page 31, for example," Laird said. "When even the dean of the Minnesota School of Architecture says he can not understand this report, then I say that it should be made simpler," Laird said. Commissioner Richard Lavely differed with Laird. Lavely stating that the subject was a complicated one and that the recommended charges were no simple matter, supported the report. Despite the fact that none of the commissioners took Laird's challenge and tried to explain one particular page, the commissioners voted to approve the report and forward it to Council. In other business, the commissioners approved a petition submitted by Y. A. Investors Inc., to annex .21 of an acre of land on Miller Rd. The site was then given a zoning fix of R1C (single-family). Deferred was a -rezoning petition submitted by 1700 Geddes Corp. to rezone. a site on S. University and Linden St. from two-family to multiple-family, and from multiple-family to parking. Approved was the petition submitted by Albert Duckek to rezone 8.67 acres on Devonshire and Geddes from "AG" (agriculture) to R1A (single-family). Amendments to the sign ordinance and technical amendments to the Sign Board of Appeals were deferred last night because the Chamber of Commerce and other departments in the city government were in the process of recommendingl changes and reporting inequities of the ordinance, and it was felt that City Council should not be burdened with additional amendment recommendations at this time. Approved was the Robert W. Pagel petition to annex .20 of an acre of land on Archwood and Hollywood. The site was given a zoning fix of R1C (single-family). Also approved was the petition of Robert C. Dixon to annex 10.18 acres of land on Maple Rd. The site was given a zoning fix of R1C (single-family). Deferred was the Courtelis zoning petition for 34 acres on Traver Rd. The deferral was because an amended annexation and zoning petition was yet required. Under new business, the commissioners approved the petition of the Huron Valley National Bank to rezone its .42 of an acre on Pauline Blvd. from R4A (multiple-family) to O (office). Approved as technically conforming was the Shell Oil Company's site plan on .99 of an acre on Maple and Jackson Rds. Also approved was the Earhart final plat for 137 acres on Earhart and Glacier Way. Absent last night was Planning Director Raymond Martin who was attending a systems analysis symposium in Philadelphia as the guest of the International City Managers Association and the American Society of Planning Officers. City Planner Donald Byard took Martin's place.