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City Planners Re-elect Laird

City Planners Re-elect Laird image
Parent Issue
Day
23
Month
July
Year
1969
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

Following a deadlock between two other contenders, John R. Laird was re-elected chairman of the City Planning Commission last night. Prior to Laird's election, commissioners John R. Kurkjian and Mrs. Eunice L. Burns had both received four votes for the top position One member - John P. Crecine - was absent last night. Casting votes for Kurkjian were Charles R. Reinhart, Robert Kerschbaum, Laird and Kurkjian. Voting for Mrs. Burns were Robert G. Faber, David Byrd, Ronald R. Edmonds and Mrs. Burns. After this indecisive vote, Reinhart asked that Laird be reelected chairman and four other commissioners voted with him to give Laird the necessary five votes. Laird is a local attorney and a former City Council member. It is unique on the Planning Commission that a person serves two consecutive terms as chairman. Mrs. Burns was given unanimous approval to serve in the post of vice chairman, and Edmonds was unanimously elected secretary. Much of last night's commission meeting was devoted to the Maple Village Shopping Center on the city's northwest side. After lengthy debate, which included angry exchanges between commissioners and shopping center representatives, the commission turned down a request that an amended site plan for the center be approved. In a report to' the sion, Planning Department Director Raymond Martin said the owners had not as yet conformed to the site plan in terms of landscaping, and also said the center was seeking incompatible land uses. An attorney for the center claimed the city was beino restrictive on the lamÉs requirements and askedKt there be some flexibility. He said the present owners had inherited the center and were faced with a site plan which was not economically feasible. Center representatives are seeking permission to build another store between K-Mart and A & P Super Market, construction of six restaurants and installation of a "jet-slide" to the rear of K-Mart. The Maple Village issue will now go to City Council with the i commission's recommendation for denial.