Should Birmingham Rezone 404 Park Street? Commissioners to Decide Tonight

Final plans for Crush — the resturant looking to move in at 555 S. Old Woodward — as well as the rezoning request at 404 Park Street return to the Birmingham City Commission Monday night.

Commissioners will meet at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. Stay tuned to Birmingham Patch all week to hear what happened, or watch the meeting live either on Public Access Channel 15 or at the city's website.

Appointments

Commissioners will consider appointing Matthew McAlear to serve on the city's Cablecasting Board for a term expiring in March 2014.

Consent Agenda

All items listed on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion and approved by a roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of the items unless a commissioner or citizen so requests.

• Approving the city's 2013 annual flower purchase from Prielipp Farms & Greenhouse for a total of $14,887.50.
• Approving a request to hold the 2013 In the Park Concert Series in June-August, as well as the Band Jam on June 14 in Shain Park.
• Awarding the Cole Street paving project contract to DiPonio Contracting, Inc. for a total cost of $1.4 million.
• Setting a public hearing of necessity for the installation of lateral sewers within the Cole Street paving project area on March 18. A public hearing of confirmation would also be held on April 8.
• Setting a public hearing on March 18 to consider approving the final site plans and special land use permit for the medical office building looking to move in at 2400 E. Lincoln St. Another public hearing would be held on that date to consider splitting the property at 2400 E. Lincoln as well.

New Business

Park Street Rezoning

Commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday to consider approving a conditional rezoning request for the vacant lot at 404 Park St. A developer is looking to build townhomes on the lot, located at the corner of Oakland and Woodward Avenue, and would like the lot to be rezoned from single family residential to general business.

Revised plans passed the Planning Board in early January after dozens of neighbors fought back in November.

Crush Approval

Crush — a restaurant looking to move in at the 555 Building on South Old Woodward — returns to the City Commission on Monday. The group is seeking approval of their final site plan and special land use permit with an economic development license.

Crush was originally was one of three applicants for a 2013 bistro license, but admitted earlier this year during Planning Board hearings that they would rather receive an economic development license instead — a form of liquor license for businesses looking to develop the Woodward corridor.

Crush was passed over for a bistro license two weeks ago, though several commissioners admitted they liked the idea of giving Crush an economic development license.

Baldwin Library Building Program

City Commissioners will consider accepting the "Baldwin Public Library Building Program" Monday night, a plan that outlines the library's upcoming renovation plans. Commissioners will also consider accepting a "Proposed Scope of Work" so that library officials can begin looking for architects.

Other Monday night resolutions:

• Public hearing to consider dividing the property at 740 N. Adams Rd.
• Public hearing for the installation of lateral sewers within the Pierce Street and Merrill Street paving project area.
• Approving a request from Crush to include 36 on-street parking spot as part of the restaraunt's off-street parking requirements. 
• Directing DTE Energy to order the necessary hardware for the Pierce Street and Merrill Street repaving project, including metal halide fixtures used in other downtown projects.

For more: To see the agenda in detail, or download a copy, visit the city's website.