Novi City Council tables decision on new Best Buy store

March 17, 2008 by Sami Khan

Today's Novi City Council Meeting began with a Public Hearing regarding Novi's ITC Community Sports Park. The applicant wants to apply for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant in order to upgrade the facility, turning it into a universally accessible park.

The park would be equipped with additions such as ramps in order to make it usable by all citizens, regardless of disabilities. After the applicant explained its plan, a Novi citizen spoke at the Public Hearing, also encouraging the use of a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Grant. However, the citizen felt that the funds would be better spent on improving Novi's Ella Mae Powers Park. The citizen cited the park's urban location as a plus factor; its location makes it more likely to receive grant money from the State of Michigan.

In the end, Council approved making the request for ITC Community Sports Park.

After the Public Hearing, Novi City Council discussed an upcoming event: its Mobile Workshop Exchange with the city of Dublin, Ohio. The Columbus suburb is acclaimed for its impressive City Office as well as its excellent city park system. Novi City Council hopes to learn from Dublin in these respects, while reciprocally providing the city with advice about other aspects of city government and city management. This Mobile Workshop Exchange is currently scheduled for May 5th.

Next, Novi City Council discussed Best Buy's request for a Preliminary Site Plan and Special Land Use approval. The franchise wants to build a store to the east of Novi Road, in between I-96 and 12 Mile Road. Building the new store will involve demolishing the stores currently at the location, a closed bank and a furniture store.

Member Capello was hesitant to approve of the plan because of the proposed location. He feels that a Best Buy is much better suited to an Open Retail area like West Oaks or West Oaks II. Capello stated that building a Best Buy at the proposed location will result in traffic problems.

Member Gatt agreed with Member Capello with regard to the traffic situation; additionally, he believes that the building's proposed color scheme will be a problem. Because it will be a bluish color, it may constitute a violation of a Novi City Ordinance. The city forbids excessively large commercial signs and, due to the fact that blue is so readily associated with Best Buy, the entire building might be considered one large advertisement.

After much deliberation regarding the building's color scheme, dimensions, and potential impacts on local traffic, Novi City Council decided to table the issue. The matter will be brought before Council again in the near future.

CONSENT AGENDA:  The Consent Agenda was approved as follows:  All Approved.

A.       Approve Minutes of: March 3, 2008 – Regular meeting    

B.         Approval of the Oakland County Interlocal Agreement establishing a new Oakland County Mutual Aid Association and to approve the membership of Novi Fire Department. 

C.        Approval of a construction engineering fee increase to FTC&H for the Walled Lake Diversion Sewer project in the amount of $12,945.35.

D.        Approval of a resolution authorizing waiver of certain performance guarantees associated with Novi Public Schools elementary school expansion project.

E.        Approval of a revised traffic control device maintenance agreement with the Road Commission for Oakland County for the existing traffic signals at the intersection of Novi Road and Flint Street/Main Street. 

F.         Approval of Ordinance No. 08-99.14, an amendment to Chapter 15, Fire Prevention, of the City’s Code of Ordinances, in order to adopt the 2006 International Fire Code, as amended, as the City’s Fire Prevention Code.  Second Reading

G.        Approval of Ordinance No. 08-173.03, an amendment to the Novi Code of Ordinances Chapter 26.5, to allow an applicant who has posted performance guarantees and suspends work on a project or development to request a waiver of the requirements of Section 26.5-5.  Second Reading

H.        Approval of merchant ticket sales agreement with TIX, Inc. for the purpose of implementing a comprehensive theater ticketing program.

MATTERS FOR COUNCIL ACTION – Part I

1.         Consideration of the request of Best Buy for Preliminary Site Plan and Special Land Use approval.  The subject property is located in Section 14, on the east side of Novi Road, between I-96 and Twelve Mile Road.  The subject property is approximately 3.3 acres and the applicant is proposing to remove the closed bank and furniture store and construct a 30,891 square foot Best Buy store.  POSTPONED

2.         Approval of Ordinance 08-37.34 for the change in delinquent water and sewer charges to be added to the tax roll when account is three months (previously six months) delinquent.  First Reading APPROVED

3.         Approval of resolution for Massage Business and Massage Therapist fees and amendments to Chapter 20, Massage, Ordinance No. 08-120.05, amending Article I, In General, Article II, Business License, and Article III, Massage Therapist Permit.  First Reading  APPROVED

4.         Approval to submit a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Grant with a 25% match commitment of $50,000 for the design and installation of a universally accessible playground at the ITC Community Sports Park.  APPROVED

5.         Approval to award a contract for design and construction engineering services for the 2008 Neighborhood Road Program to URS Corporation for a not-to-exceed study/design fee of $55,871 and a construction engineering fee equal to a fixed 8.21% of construction cost (estimated to be $114,940) for a total of $170,811.  APPROVED