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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES October 21,2020 PRESENT: Margy Davey, Michael Ford,John Hinz,John Kiefer,Justin Mitchell,Thomas Perry, Jay Stengel, Mamadou Coulibaly, Derek Groth EXCUSED: Philip Marshall,Kathleen Propp STAFF: Mark Lyons, Planning Services Manager;Brian Slusarek, Planner;Jeffrey Nau, Associate Planner; Steven Wiley,Associate Planner;Allen Davis, Community Development Director;Justin Gierach, Engineering Division Manger Vice Chairperson Hinz called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of October 6, 2020 were approved as presented. (Kiefer/Ford) I. GRANT ELECTRIC EASEMENT AT 811 E. MURDOCK AVENUE (OSHKOSH FIRE STATION #18) TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION Site Inspections Report: No commissioners reported visiting the site. Staff report accepted as part of the record. The City of Oshkosh is requesting the granting of a public utility easement to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation(WPS) for underground electrical facilities at the City of Oshkosh Fire Station #18 property, 811 E. Murdock Avenue. Mr. Nau presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area as well as the land use and zoning classifications in this area. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) intends to install an underground secondary conductor that will connect to a new utility pole on the adjoining property. The new underground electric lines are necessary to serve adjacent parcels as well as the fire station property if additional services are ever needed. The proposed easement is located on the east side of the property leading from the south lot line heading north along the east lot line. The easement is proposed to be 5 feet wide by 130 feet long. The easement will allow WPS to access the property, install underground electric lines and maintain or replace its facilities as needed. He said that staff recommends approval of the granting of the proposed electric easement at 811 E. Murdock Avenue to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation as proposed. Mr. Hinz opened technical questions to staff. There were no technical questions on this item. Plan Commission Minutes 1 October 21,2020 Mr. Hinz asked if there were any public comments. There were no public comments on this item. Mr. Hinz closed public comments. Motion by Ford to adopt the findings and recommendation as stated in the staff report. Seconded by Mitchell. Mr. Hinz asked if there was any discussion on the motion. There was no discussion on the motion. Motion carried 9-0. II. PUBLIC HEARING: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST TO ALLOW A ROOF- MOUNTED SMALL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM AT 924 S. SAWYER STREET Site Inspections Report: No commissioners reported visiting the site. Staff report accepted as part of the record. The City of Oshkosh is requesting the granting of a public utility easement to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation(WPS) for underground electrical facilities at the City of Oshkosh Fire Station #18 property, 811 E. Murdock Avenue. Mr. Wiley presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area as well as the land use and zoning classifications in this area. The applicant is proposing to install a multi-panel (23 panels and 1 inverter) solar array on the roof of the existing home which will produce up to 7.36kW DC/ 5 kW AC of electric power. The purpose of the array is to reduce the consumption of energy from local service providers. The array will consist of two groups of eight 5.53-foot x 3.28-foot panels. One group of 6 panels will be installed on the south-facing section of the roof to take full advantage of the sun's rays. The second group of 17 panels will be installed on the east side of the roof. The submitted site plan below shows the configuration of how the panels will be installed with accessory hardware. He said staff recommends approval of the proposed Conditional Use Permit for a small solar energy system at 924 S. Sawyer Street with the findings and conditions listed in the staff report. Mr. Hinz opened technical questions to staff. There were no technical questions on this item. Mr. Hinz opened up the public hearing and asked if the applicant wanted to make any statements. Plan Commission Minutes 2 October 21,2020 There were no statements from the applicant. There were no public comments on this item. Mr. Hinz closed the public hearing and asked if the applicant wanted to make any closing statements. There were no closing statements from the applicant. Motion by Davey to adopt the findings and recommendation as stated in the staff report. Seconded by Kiefer. Mr. Hinz asked if there was any discussion on the motion. Mr. Ford stated his support for the project. Mr. Coulibaly asked if there was a check on the installation to ensure there are no hazards for the other part of the system that is not seen. Mr. Lyons replied affirmatively. He said that building permits and electrical permits are required. Mr. Wiley said that Inspection Services requires submission of structural calculations for review as part of the building permit process. Motion carried 9-0. III. PUBLIC HEARING: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A RESIDENTIAL GROUP DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT THE EAST 3200 BLOCK OF WHITE TAIL LANE (PHEASANT TRAIL DEVELOPMENT) Site Inspections Reports: No commissioners reported visiting the site. Staff report accepted as part of the record. The applicant requests approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a Group Development consisting of seven two-family structures totaling 14 dwelling units. Mr. Nau presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area as well as the land use and zoning classifications in this area. The applicant is proposing to develop the site with seven two-unit single-story structures totaling 14 dwelling units. The development is consistent in design as compared to previous multi-family condominium developments to the north and east and the two-unit building condominium development to the southwest. The applicant states in the submitted narrative that the buildings are designed to be leased residents providing the advantages of duplex condos without the cost and long range commitment of condominium Plan Commission Minutes 3 October 21,2020 purchasing. The zoning ordinance allows this use via Conditional Use Permit for a Group Development, which is a development with three or more principle structures on a single parcel. He said staff recommends approval of the proposed Conditional Use Permit for a residential group development located at the East 3200 Block of White Tail Lane with the findings and conditions listed in the staff report. Mr. Hinz opened technical questions to staff. There were no technical questions on this item. Mr. Hinz opened up the public hearing and asked if the applicant wanted to make any statements. Tim Whitman appeared before the commission on behalf of applicant. Mr. Whitman said he is in favor of the project and would answer any questions the commission has. Mr. Mitchell asked if there were any efforts to incorporate any accessibility features into the project and to what extent City staff provided support for incorporation of accessibility features. Mr. Whitman said he could not speak to that directly as he did not have any direct involvement with the floorplan. Mr. Lyons said that staff looks to the building code for accessibility requirements for projects of this nature. Mr. Mitchell asked if Mr. Lyons could provide specific examples. Mr. Lyons replied that the building code dictates what is required and it is left up to the Inspections division when they go through permitting to make sure those are met. Mr. Mitchell asked if there were accessibility features that were incorporated here or encouraged by the Planning Office or other representatives from City Hall. Mr. Lyons replied that he could not speak for other departments. As a CUP for group and large development, they are trying to determine if it would make sense to have more than three structures. He said that is what they have reviewed in this instance. Mr. Mitchell said that the City of Oshkosh, specifically the Planning Department, puts together an impediments for fair housing analysis every five years. It is one of the best resources available that looks at the nature and causes of many barriers that certain populations may have to accessing housing that meets their needs. Often times those barriers are present for vulnerable populations. The last two reports both cite the community's lack of accessible housing for individuals with disabilities as the leading issue. Those issues disproportionally impact individuals aged 65 or older as well as low income households. In the plan, they cite three specific things that the City would take a look at. The first thing is to offer financial support to assist with and encourage projects that include visibility features such as no-step entry, first floor bathrooms, and 32-inch doorways. The Plan Commission Minutes 4 October 21,2020 second thing is to encourage the development of more units in the City that incorporate universal design principles and to create a pamphlet that describes universal design and the need for more units that accommodate residents with disabilities. The last thing is to work with local developers and builders to offer universal design training and encourage the application of universal design in all new development,not just designated accessible units. The report is from 2012 and this was the main issue cited in the last report as well. Mr. Mitchell asked if the Planning Department is not doing that, then who is. Mr. Lyons replied that the Community Development's Grant Coordinator facilitates the report,not the Planning Department. Their division works with a lot of developers to distribute materials with that information. Mr. Mitchell said that the Planning Department is listed on the report. Here we have a local developer and builder building housing and this is an important document from Planning. He said he is not seeing that the strategy that should be in place is in place. Mr. Lyons replied that the Grants Coordinator through the Community Development Block Grant program does a significant amount of outreach to developers for housing initiatives. Mr. Mitchell asked Mr.Whitman if anyone reached out to him to see how the unit could be made accessible or incorporate accessibility features or do any of the things that the City states they're going to do. Mr. Whitman replied that he cannot speak to any specific conversation between the floor plan designer and the City. There were no public comments on this item. Mr. Hinz closed the public hearing and asked if the applicant wanted to make any closing statements. There were no closing statements from the applicant. Motion by Mitchell to adopt the findings and recommendation as stated in the staff report. Seconded by Coulibaly. Mr. Hinz asked if there was any discussion on the motion. Mr. Ford said he would be sure to bring Mr. Mitchell's concerns to City Council when they do the report on commission meetings, so at the very least it will be on the City Manager's radar. Mr. Mitchell asked Mr. Lyons if he thought there had been any outreach or encouragement for addressing the issue in this specific situation. Plan Commission Minutes 5 October 21,2020 Mr. Lyons said that he could not speak to this specific situation. One of the things they're evaluating with the housing study is the need for executive and top-end housing as well as low- end housing and accessible housing. He said we do have to make sure we meet all housing goals of the City,not just specific ones. Mr. Mitchell replied that 65% of the City's population will be over the age of 50 or is already and those populations require certain features to enhance their quality of life. Some communities require those sorts of things in new construction and others offer a payment incentive for including them.At a minimum, the City of Oshkosh says that we will give you information and work with you and encourage you to do it. He said ideally when these things come up, City staff should be able to say what they did,what their suggestions were, and the outcome of those suggestions. Motion carried 9-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:35 pm. (Kiefer/Davey) Respectfully submitted, Mark Lyons Planning Services Manager Plan Commission Minutes 6 October 21,2020