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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 11 2011 PC Meeting MinutesPlanning Commission Meeting Minutes July 11, 2011 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 11, 2011 1. Call to Order: Chairman Fleming called the July 11, 2011, Planning Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Those present were Commissioners Fleming, Roszak, Perez, and Billington, Planner Jeff Matzke, Assistant City Manager Jane Kansier, Finance Director Jerilyn Erickson and Development Services Assistant Peter Aldritt. Commissioner Howley was absent. 2. Approval of Agenda: MOTION BY BILLINGTON, SECONDED BY PEREZ TO APPROVE THE JULY 11, 2011 MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED. VOTE: Ayes, Fleming, Perez and Roszak. The motion carried. 3. Consider Approval of June 13, 2011 Meeting Minutes: MOTION BY FLEMMING, SECONDED BY HOWLEY TO APPROVE THE JUNE 13, 2011 MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. VOTE: Ayes by Howley, Billington, Perez and Roszak. The motion carried. 4. Public Hearings: A. 11-119. Consider an Amendment to Section 1108 of the Zoning Ordinance Updating the Variance Provisions. Asst. City Manager Kansier presented the request To Amend Section 1108.400 to 1008.423 of the City Zoning Ordinance. This Amendment changes the criteria for consideration of a variance to the provisions of the Zoning Code Questions from the Commissioners: Billington asked Jane as a long term member of the staff here, what is your assessment of the impact of this change? We have had the old language for quite some years I am assuming. Kansier answered Commissioner Billington in my opinion the standard that is being set is not as difficult as undue hardship. Practical difficulties give the city a bit more flexibility and allows us to grant variances where the hardship standard could not be met. Billington asked this could be advantageous in some cases for the applicant, where we have had issues in the past. With the new definition we could be better off in the long term? Kansier answered it does work to the benefit of an applicant. A MOTION WAS MADE BY BILLINTON AND SECONDED BY PEREZ TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. VOTE: Ayes by Billington, Perez, and Roszak. The motion carried. 1 L:\11 FILES\11 PLANNING COMMISSION\11 MINUTES\MN071111.doc Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 11, 2011 The Public Hearing began at 6:05 p.m. Comments from the Public: None. A MOTION WAS MADE BY PEREZ AND SECONDED BY BILLINGTON TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. VOTE: Ayes by Perez, Billington, and Roszak. The motion carried. The public hearing closed at 6:10 p.m. Commissioner Comments and Questions: Roszak stated these changes would be in the best interest of the public and the community at large. I will support them Perez stated we are trying to be consistent with the state and as they change their standards we need to follow suit. I do see advantages to being more flexible for the applicant and also for the city. As staff stated this change does meet to ordinance amendment findings. I will support it. Billington stated I too will be supporting this. It is an effort to be consistent with the change in the states statutes. I am encouraged by the fact that the applicant will have more flexibility and a little more leeway in these matters. Fleming stated I too will be supporting to amend section 1108. I do wonder when this will come before the planning commission again with a need to interpret the word practical. I particularly like finding number 3 which makes sure we are consistent with federal and state laws. A MOTION WAS MADE BY BILLINTONG SECONDED BY PEREZ TO APPROVE VOTE: Ayes by Perez, Billington, and Roszak. The motion carried. 5. Old Business: A.None 6. New Business: A. Consider a request to vacate the existing drainage and utility easements located on Jeffers st Pond 1 Addition. Planner Matzke presented the request to consider a request to vacate the drainage and utility st easement located within Jeffers Pond 1 addition. Ryland Homes plans to replat this area as th Jeffers Pond 4 Addition. The new plat would allow the development of this site for 38 single family lots. With the new configuration the designated drainage and utility easements are no th longer necessary. The new plat of Jeffers Pond 4 Addition will dedicate necessary easements for this area. 2 L:\11 FILES\11 PLANNING COMMISSION\11 MINUTES\MN071111.doc Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 11, 2011 Commissioner Comments and Questions: Fleming stated that this seems holy consistent with the goals and objects of the Comprehensive Plan, and seems to be the natural thing to do. A MOTION WAS MADE BY PEREZ SECOND BY BILLINGTON TO APPROVE VOTE: Ayes by Billington, Perez and Roszak. The motion carried. B. Consider the 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Program Finance Director Erickson: proposed the approval of the capital improvement program Commissioner Comments and Questions: Fleming asked looking at page 4 of 4 projects by department worksheet, could any of these projects be affected by the current state budget issues. Erickson responded the state actually contributes a number of funding sources to the city and the ones that are shown here that would be impacted would be the municipal state aid and that is actually constitutionally protected so we will still receive it. Roszak asked on the fiber optic connection could you explain how that will work. Erickson : responded this particular project was actually moved up one year, the city staff has been meeting with the county on this project. The purpose of the project is to connect the water treatment facility and the maintenance center to increase their communications ability. We do currently have a SCADA system which monitors our wells. We want to make sure that this has the best connectivity. Roszak asked is it for remote monitoring? Kansier: responded part of it is remote monitoring and part of it is for the fire station and maintenance center have little wireless card almost like dial up connection. This is to better connect them and to connect with city hall. Perez stated in regards to the street construction it is good to see the city staying on top on the maintenance it really shows. Good job on keeping up the street maintenance. Billington asked fiscally is this kind of a wish list? We are bonding for percentage of this expense? Erickson answered we actually bond for a certain percentage sewer and water funds a portion of the expenses, dealing with sewer and water replacement. There are certain expenses that are picked up through special assements on property owners. We asses about 40 percent of the project to the home owners that we can. The other part is picked up by sewer and water bonds and then the city picks up the rest. Billington asked is there a certain percentage that you try to bond for? 3 L:\11 FILES\11 PLANNING COMMISSION\11 MINUTES\MN071111.doc Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 11, 2011 Erickson responded we typically bond for 2 million dollars Billington stated that these projects seem very important but it comes down to what exactly we can afford. Erickson stated that is one of the issues that we need to consider is the finances but the other issue is the condition on the streets and sewers. We need to make sure we are bonding for the appropriate streets that need maintenance and up keep. A MOTION WAS MADE BY BILLINGTON SECOND BY ROSAZK TO APPROVE VOTE: Ayes by Billington, Perez, and Roszak 7. Announcements and Correspondence: Planner Matzke: City Attorney will be conducting Training on Lane Use Decisions with City Council, Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority, on Monday, July 18, 2011, at 4:30 pm th Billington asked will there be a meeting on July 25 Planner Matzke responded no there will not be a meeting on July 25th MOTION TO ADJORN BY BILLINTON SECOND BY PERZE TO APPROVE 8. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m. Peter Aldritt, Development Services Assistant 4 L:\11 FILES\11 PLANNING COMMISSION\11 MINUTES\MN071111.doc