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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES August 5, 2008 PRESENT: David Borsuk, Meredith Scheuermann, Thomas Fojtik, Paul Lowry, Paul Esslinger, Cathy Scherer, Shirley Mattox EXCUSED: Ed Bowen, Kathleen Propp, Jon Dell’Antonia STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; Jeff Nau, Associate Planner; Deborah Foland, Recording Secretary Chairperson Scherer called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of July 15, 2008 were approved as presented. (Lowry/Esslinger) I.A. GRANT EASEMENT ADJACENT TO 250 PEARL AVENUE AND 135 HIGH AVENUE (HIGH AVENUE PARKING LOT) Midwest Engineering Services requests two easements on City property to install two monitoring wells as part of an environmental investigation associated with the facility at 135 High Avenue. The two wells are proposed to be located in the High Avenue parking lot just east of 135 High Avenue. Mr. Nau presented the item and stated that the Common Council has approved similar requests in the past for the location of numerous wells (noted on the site plan) as part of investigations for 118 and 135 High Avenue. Shirley Mattox arrived at 4:03 pm. Ms. Mattox questioned how many times water testing samples had been taken in the past. Mr. Nau responded that he did not have an exact number, but a few dozen wells appear to be present on the site plan. Mr. Burich added that similar requests have been before the Plan Commission on at least two other occasions. Ms. Mattox then questioned what the results were from the previous water samples. Mr. Burich replied that the City is not provided with that information but does go to the Department of Natural Resources if needed. I.B. OFFICIALLY MAP RIVERWALK-SOUTH SIDE OF FOX RIVER FROM OREGON STREET TO SOUTH MAIN STREET City Administration is requesting to officially map land from Oregon Street to South Main Street for future riverwalk purposes. As part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, specific goals relate directly to a Riverwalk Plan providing facilities for pedestrian and bicycle circulation, maintaining/improving/ increasing public access to the waterfront, encouraging redevelopment in the Central City to be oriented toward the lakefront and riverfront and continuing the revitalization efforts of downtown and the central city area. The Fox River Corridor Riverwalk Plan and Design Guidelines were completed in late 2005 and found to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan by the Plan Commission and adopted by the Common Council in January 2006 directing the city to further the goals of the plan through multiple means including the official mapping of the riverwalk. Plan Commission Minutes 1 August 5, 2008 Mr. Burich presented the item and stated that the City is moving forward with officially mapping this link in the riverwalk as Jeld-Wen is in the process of marketing a piece of their property and the City wants any developer to be aware of the riverwalk plans. Mr. Esslinger inquired about the security gates at various locations in the area of Sweetwater Performance Center denoted on one of the site plans and was wondering if that was meant to restrict access to the public from the docking facilities. Mr. Burich responded that was a possibility as there are private boat storage areas on their site and that more detailed design plans would be presented at a later date. The action requested today was to officially map the area involved only. Mr. Borsuk asked if Jeld-Wen had made any comment or provided any documents in support of this official mapping. Mr. Burich replied that Jeld-Wen had received a meeting notice relative to this item and that he had not received any negative feedback on it. He further stated that the riverwalk was considered a positive factor on the site and Jeld-Wen had been cooperative with this ongoing process thus far. Ms. Mattox questioned if this area was located in a TIF district. Mr. Burich responded affirmatively. Ms. Mattox inquired if the improvements being made on the Sweetwater Performance Center’s site would conform to the riverwalk plans. Mr. Burich replied that there would be a wider area of greenspace along the riverwalk and that the owner of Sweetwater had been cooperative with this effort and was planning their landscaping plans in a way that would not interfere with the area to be set aside for the riverwalk. Mr. Borsuk asked what the timeline was for the construction of the riverwalk. Mr. Burich responded that a definite timeline had not been developed as yet. It would revolve around when funding was available to complete the construction. Motion by Borsuk to vote on the consent agenda items separately. Seconded by Mattox. Motion carried 7-0. Motion by Fojtik to approve the granting of easements adjacent to 250 Pearl Avenue and 135 High Avenue as requested with the following conditions: 1. The monitoring well(s) are installed in a manner that is approved by the Department of Public Works with no modification or changes in construction procedure without prior approval by the Department of Public Works. 2. If no longer needed, the well(s) be properly abandoned and removed in accordance with City standards and under the direction of the Department of Public Works. 3. Any problem that may arise as a result of placement of the well(s) be the responsibility of the petitioner/owner to correct in coordination with the Department of Public Works. 4. All appropriate permits be obtained prior to the start of placement of the well(s). 5. The well(s) be modified or removed immediately upon request of the City. 6. The petitioner/owner secures and submits to the City Clerk a separate insurance policy which names the City as an additional insured with a minimum coverage of $200,000 per person and $500,000 in general aggregate. 7. It is the responsibility of the petitioner/owner to file in a timely manner a new insurance certificate with the City Clerk upon expiration of an existing certificate. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of the easements within ten (10) days of notice. Plan Commission Minutes 2 August 5, 2008 8. The petitioner/owner execute a hold harmless agreement with the City. 9. The facility be part of and documented with Digger’s Hotline system. Seconded by Mattox. Motion carried 7-0. Mr. Borsuk stated that he was not going to vote in favor of the official mapping of the riverwalk as Jeld-Wen had not provided any commentary supporting this action. He further stated that he felt that development efforts along the riverfront had not been positive and he did not want to move forward with the riverwalk plans if this process was going to negatively impact development in this area. Ms. Scheuermann inquired if Jeld-Wen did not support the riverwalk plan, how this would change the City’s plans. Mr. Burich responded that the Fox River Corridor Riverwalk Plan and Design Guidelines were found to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan by the Plan Commission and was adopted by the Common Council in 2006. The City would still move forward with these plans after the Council approves of the official mapping of the area. Ms. Mattox questioned who was working with Jeld-Wen on the proposed riverwalk plans. Mr. Burich replied that Jackson Kinney, Director of Community Development, had been in contact with Jeld-Wen regarding this process and that they were considering pursuing a joint RFP with the city on the development of their site. Jeld-Wen has received a meeting notice making them aware of the action being taken today and did not provide any comments on the matter. Mr. Lowry asked if an easement would be obtained for the riverwalk area. Mr. Burich responded that an easement would be acquired eventually for this area and that matter would require approval by the Plan Commission and Common Council at a later date. Mr. Esslinger commented that he felt that the majority of citizens and the Common Council were in support of the riverwalk plan and he did not think that the construction of the riverwalk was going to hinder development along the riverfront. Ms. Mattox questioned if the lack of presence of any representative from Jeld-Wen at today’s meeting or any comments from the company regarding the matter, was an assertion that they were in agreement with the official mapping. Mr. Burich replied that Jeld-Wen has been cooperative in the past in the City’s efforts to plan the riverwalk. He further stated that the City believes that the riverwalk development would be beneficial to the site as manufacturing is no longer appropriate for this area. Ms. Scherer asked if there was a schedule of continuous mapping for the remaining riverwalk areas. Mr. Burich responded not at this time. Motion by Scheuermann to approve the official mapping of the riverwalk on the south side of the Fox River from Oregon Street to South Main Street. Seconded by Esslinger. Motion carried 6-1. Ayes-Scheuermann/Fojtik/Lowry/Esslinger/ Scherer/Mattox. Nays-Borsuk. II. RED BALL ANNEXATION The petitioner is proposing direct annexation (by unanimous approval) of approximately 2.50 acres of land currently located in the Town of Oshkosh. Plan Commission Minutes 3 August 5, 2008 Mr. Nau presented the item and displayed on the map the location of the site to be annexed and reviewed the proposed zoning of M-1 for the parcel and the existing zoning of the surrounding properties in both the City and the Town. Ms. Scherer inquired if the property to the south of the site was zoned M-1. Mr. Nau responded affirmatively. Mr. Fojtik questioned if the annexation would eventually make the area more uniform. Mr. Burich replied that it would. Mr. Borsuk asked if the parcels were going to be marketed together, why was there not a condition on this request to combine the parcels into one lot. Gary Eake, agent for Red Ball, LLC, 947 Trillium Trail, stated that at this time, a decision had not yet been made as to what they would be doing with the site and therefore, until that determination is definite, they did not wish to combine the parcels. Ms. Mattox inquired about what type of development they were considering for this site. Mr. Eake responded that the house on the corner lot had already been condemned and it was their plan to remove both houses from the site and most of the trees as well. They were looking forward to marketing the parcels as a build to suit situation with most likely some retail purpose. Ms. Mattox questioned if they would be saving any of the trees on the property. Mr. Eake replied that a few of the large trees may remain if they do not impede the marketing of the site. Motion by Esslinger to approve the Red Ball annexation for property located at 3132 Jackson Street as requested. Seconded by Scheuermann. Motion carried 7-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:35 pm. (Esslinger/ Scheuermann) Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services Plan Commission Minutes 4 August 5, 2008