• Aerial View of 1998 Jolly Road

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the September 28th Planning Commission Meeting, the Commission addressed the concerns from Meridian Township Resident, Ghula Sumbal.

In August of 2015, Sumbal had a rezoning request of approximately 1.4 acres addressed as 1998 Jolly Road from RR (Rural Residential) to RA (Single Family-Medium Density) Property.

The property located on the north side of Jolly Road, west of Summergate Lane was approved by the Planning Commission. It is described as "beginning at the southeast corner of Section 33, Town 4 North, Range 1 West, Meridian Township, Ingham County,Michigan, thence West 66 feet, thence North 333 feet then east 198 feet, thence south 330 feet, thence west 132 feet to the point of beginning."

Sumbal currently resides in the main house on the property and owns the vacant house to the rear. Neighboring lands near his residence include:

- North: Single-family residence
- South: Single-family residences and Agriculture
- East: Hiawatha Elementary School
- West: Single-family residences

After the August approval, a letter was submitted requesting a rezoning be reconsidered with a condition that would allow the property to remain RR if variance to share the driveway was not obtained.

At the Sept. 28 meeting, that letter was addressed.

Sumbal's request was to modify his existing approval to keep RR zoning if a variance for a shared driveway is not granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

One Planning Commissioner stated, "Under RR zoning, such a land division would be impossible without variances due to the site dimensions (198 feet wide x 300 feet deep) not complying with the minimum lot width of 200 feet along a public road and minimum lot area of 40,000 square feet. Meanwhile under the proposed RA zoning, there is the potential for both resulting parcels to be in compliance for lot width (80 feet) and for lot area (10,000 square feet)."

Sumbal defends with, "The Association of Summergate owns 20 feet of his property in front o ft he main house. Due to school traffic too close to the curb, it is impossible to get a driveway from that side. And a driveway from Jolly Road is too steep. In order to use the rear house, there has to be a shared driveway; there is no other way. I need one driveway that would serve both houses so public utilities can be connected to the rear house and it can become a residential unit again."

And after a friendly debate among the Planning Commission, the Commission reached a decision.

"I think the consensus is to approve it," states Meridian Township Principal Planner, Gail Oranchak.

To be continued ...

There Planning Commission is expected to revisit Sumbal's zoning request at their October 12th meeting.

Sumbal owns Industrial Commercial land in Dewitt, Lansing, Perry, and Okemos.

He has lived in Okemos for the past two years and is patiently waiting for a final answer.