[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6485305,"mediaKeyId","5440302-a7bedc1640348deb7e169ffd4609381a","parentId",5440302,"title","Planning commission clears five Omni Fiber cabinet sites with conditions; staff sign-offs required","audioSeconds",1893,"startMs",2854690,"endMs",4748000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440302-a7bedc1640348deb7e169ffd4609381a&start=2854&end=4748","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440302-a7bedc1640348deb7e169ffd4609381a/thumbnail_2854690.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485305/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Planning-commission-clears-five-Omni-Fiber-cabinet-sites-with-conditions-staff-sign-offs-required","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485305-a6bf8dc950c90e5f87ee52071ee815fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133280&Signature=EwA7QxVuHiTx4ZAb0-kZjiZAAKfkx3FwuTj5F6DcDPqbbQ-7g1C~Gjlwfe5w32nbTeYaZKvfx3WNg2tqVPDExCeIMoj0mxLK7us15JiXSKH68LcLr1Bdn12ssyPPGegslu8MYrotQTh3bfFwR6lmHMZReA7GoFW0fPPWmZYYN1Bud5C4XcbsXeSPgFQY5nlN1XSEAY9jOXuv1SSOKuBkAzQe1EhJJBGMsOB6fXHZAUWRcT0zJcPzlKB6fAAsiGU05ocsAVKkQKYH5Sj6vhP~CK6PRYtaQlhqPZC1~Y8U~E2ak776X5s~D9CDPqWLbYeh5ns0xJoQDqq8MShqWpF1Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-22T19:40:06.803Z","article","The Bay City Planning Commission on July 16 approved five separate site-plan review cases from Omni Fiber to place utility cabinets in public rights-of-way across the city, subject to a set of departmental approvals and conditions tied to the city's permitting process.

Planning staff said the company originally proposed a larger batch of locations but the city processed five cases for the meeting after confirming addresses with the assessing office. Staff noted the cabinets submitted for approval are larger than the “passive” units shown in some applicants' illustrations — the applications list cabinet dimensions of 48 by 27 by 18 inches (4 feet tall) — and raised concerns about visibility, clear-vision triangles at driveways and intersections, and proximity to hydrants, sidewalks and utility poles.

Commissioners discussed standards in the utility-cabinet ordinance (a separate city code chapter referred to in the staff report) and the need to route each proposed cabinet through inspections by public safety, public works, electrical and other city departments before an electrical permit would be issued. Commissioners repeatedly asked staff to confirm that each proposed location is not within the 10-foot clear-vision area at sidewalk/street intersections or the 20-foot crosswalk buffer when applicable; staff said they would verify those measurements as part of departmental review.

For one location (SPR25-04, on the west side of North McClellan Street near an alley), the commission explicitly conditioned approval on the cabinet being placed within the alley right-of-way and not within any clear-vision zone; staff said the placement must also be documented to ensure it is in the public right-of-way and not on private property.

The motions for each case approved staff recommendations and made issuance of any electrical permit contingent on receiving approvals from all relevant city departments and on meeting the conditions of issuance listed in the city code for utility cabinets. Commissioners also asked staff to confirm that cabinets near driveways and alleys will not obstruct sight lines to the extent prohibited by the clear-vision standards in the zoning code.

The five approved site-plan-review cases recorded at the meeting were SPR25-03 (North Side of First Street, between Washington and the Empire building rear), SPR25-04 (alley area between Jackson and Van Buren on Third Street area / North McClellan block), SPR25-08 (North McClellan Street), SPR25-09 (Third Street location), and SPR25-11 (Adams Street near the Salvation Army/Taco Bell area). Each approval was carried conditionally, pending departmental and permit reviews and compliance with the ordinance's conditions of issuance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PC Meeting 7-16-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Bay City Planning Commission approved five site-plan reviews from Omni Fiber for utility cabinets across the city, unanimously voting to approve each case with conditions that the company obtain departmental approvals and meet permit issuance requirements; one location must be placed in alley right-of-way and avoid a clear-vision zone.","taxTitle","Bay City, Bay County, Michigan","taxId",5009,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6485312,"Bay City panel conditionally approves bed-and-breakfast plan at 1001 Center Ave., sends parking variance to ZBA",2610,144360,2754605,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440302-a7bedc1640348deb7e169ffd4609381a&start=144&end=2754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440302-a7bedc1640348deb7e169ffd4609381a/thumbnail_144360.jpg","/articles/6485312/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Bay-City-panel-conditionally-approves-bed-and-breakfast-plan-at-1001-Center-Ave-sends-parking-variance-to-ZBA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485312-3d84cc9b8ecb350603910cbe128fad8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133280&Signature=VV2dR-Tg9g5jub-qMuT4ipTF3LJ1IRJi6mcx4OE5brUaBcHgiNbWSmPY75aDbjsubEQJUAAvQeMmM0IIbBiwOoRi2j7B36wXi7MtlIUeY3c8GCo0cv3Ap-UewfTNIuH2Dh6fJuGbTXbhn7tLNYJPGWdlCq6rDhW6ctJ-VpXC3Tyrrp6n6M~n2Bf25BLMjeTacSsVfGx3RXc2vvbI8kJ-r3MrTtI~LxvdBjKvQrllSzyNr8dLeAVC~-fQXlZA5dJ3sxY5~wVs~bFWZHJGXxgGmEtko2umjemOpHEc780XqEetnzJEdX~qLLQYc7nJq7eIMB1hfSfyrPK-NoRQoFfWmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bay City Planning Commission on July 16 approved a special-use permit and site plan for an eight-room bed-and-breakfast at 1001 Center Avenue, subject to several conditions and a required dimensional variance review by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The commission's approval followed a staff presentation and a discussion about parking, Americans with Disabilities Act access and historic-district review. The applicant's site plan shows eight parking spaces, one of which is designated as an accessible (ADA) space; the ordinance requires a total of 10 spaces for the proposed use, including owner/innkeeper spaces, so the applicant will pursue a dimensional-variance application to the ZBA.

Commissioners and staff pressed several technical points. Commissioner Dennis Sponacek said 90-degree parking in the submitted layout requires a 24-foot travel or “cruise” lane under the city ordinance and raised concerns that the plan lacks adequate cruise-lane width and could permit vehicles to circulate both directions through the lot. He also questioned the placement and configuration of the ADA space and whether the adjacent striped area meets the required 8-foot width for a van-accessible stall. Planning staff noted the spaces are labeled 9-by-19 feet on the drawing and the accessible striped area is shown as 5-by-19 feet but said the applicant could revise striping so the accessible area meets the 8-foot requirement.

Applicant representative (owner) Edmonds said she is the property owner and plans to hire an innkeeper who would sleep on site when guests are present; she told the commission she is prepared to modify the parking layout or angle spaces if that will help obtain ZBA approval. Staff and commissioners agreed the small, historic lot and a desire to keep existing screening and the historic structure limit how many spaces can fit without variances or redesign.

Terry, planning department staff, flagged additional procedural reviews that will be required: handicap ramps and any work visible from the street likely must go before the Historic District Commission for a certificate of appropriateness, and the site plan will be routed to building, public-works and other departments for technical sign-off. Commissioners agreed to make the site-plan approval conditional on ZBA approval of the dimensional-variance request and on bringing the parking dimensions and cruise lane into compliance with section 122-382 of the zoning ordinance (dimensional requirements for parking), as well as adding directional signage to make the driveway one-way and refuse/lighting requirements to the administrative permit review.

The motion to approve the special-use permit and site plan carried with no recorded opposing votes; the commission recorded the approval as contingent on (1) ZBA approval of the dimensional variance for the number/configuration of parking spaces, (2) compliance with section 122-382 parking dimensionality (angle, cruise lane, stall dimensions), (3) historic-district review as required for visible ramps and screening walls, (4) required directional signage to prevent entry from Center Avenue, and (5) administrative review of refuse, exterior lighting and emergency access.

Next steps for the project are a formal variance application to the Zoning Board of Appeals and follow-up technical reviews by building, public-works and other city departments before permits for ramps or electrical work are issued.","The Bay City Planning Commission granted special-use and site-plan approval for an eight-room bed-and-breakfast at 1001 Center Avenue on July 16, 2025, subject to conditions including compliance with parking dimensional requirements and Zoning Board of Appeals action on a dimensional variance.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission clears five Omni Fiber cabinet sites with conditions; staff sign-offs required

Bay City panel conditionally approves bed-and-breakfast plan at 1001 Center Ave., sends parking variance to ZBA