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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Plan Commission Minutes 1 December 18, 2007 PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES DECEMBER 18, 2007 PRESENT: David Borsuk, Thomas Fojtik, Paul Lowry, Paul Esslinger, Kathy Propp, Shirley Mattox, Jon Dell’Antonia EXCUSED: Ed Bowen, Meredith Scheuermann, Cathy Scherer, Jeff Thorkildsen STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; David Buck, Principal Planner; David Patek, Director of Public Works; Deborah Foland, Recording Secretary Chairperson Dell’Antonia called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of December 4, 2007 were approved as presented. (Propp/Fojtik) I. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CREDIT UNION FACILITY AT 1010-1012 WEST 20TH AVENUE The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to establish a new credit union with drive-through within an existing office building. Ms. Propp inquired about how the circulation from the north drive on Knapp Street would function. Mr. Buck pointed out on the site plan the route to the drive-through and to the parking area from the northern curb cut on Knapp Street and also commented that the primary use would most likely be the drive-through for the credit union. Ms. Mattox questioned what the width of the asphalt area would be on the west side of the building where the drive-through is located. Mr. Buck responded that the width would be a little over 21 feet and approximately 32 feet in the area where staff is recommending that the sidewalk be removed. Mr. Dell’Antonia questioned if staff considered the option of closing off the current drive on W. 20th Avenue and utilizing the abandoned drive further to the west to move the curb cut farther away from the intersection. Mr. Buck replied that staff was trying to minimize the costs for the applicant by utilizing the existing driveway on the site. Mr. Fojtik asked if there would be only one way in and out to access the drive-through. Mr. Buck responded no that customers would be able to enter the site from either drive and still be able to access the drive-through. Ms. Mattox commented on the lack of landscaping on the site. Plan Commission Minutes 2 December 18, 2007 Mr. Buck replied that although a landscaping plan had not yet been submitted, the petitioner was proposing the addition of evergreen trees on the west side of the drive-through and a planting bed along W. 20th Avenue. Staff felt that this additional landscaping was adequate as the development of the site is only to accommodate a new tenant and is only a portion of the existing site and it would be unnecessary to require the entire development to add landscaping. The landscaping plan would need to be submitted and approved prior to obtaining permits. Mr. Borsuk inquired if the credit union would be occupying the entire site. Mr. Buck replied no. Mr. Borsuk questioned if the reconfiguration of the parking lot would present a health or safety issue with the exit door on the east side of the structure. Mr. Burich responded that Inspection Services would need to review and approve the plans prior to issuing permits for the renovations. Motion by Dell’Antonia to amend the conditions to move the driveway on W. 20th Avenue to the west to be located where the abandoned drive currently exists. Seconded by Mattox. Mr. Buck stated that the relocation of the drive to the west would place the drive lane in a location that would be lined up with the drive-through lane. Mr. Burich added that this could pose a safety issue as well as the fact that it could place the drive too close to the driveway for the development to the west of this site. Mr. Esslinger asked if the drive in this location was improved. Mr. Buck responded that it was not. The drive has been inactive for some time now and although the curb cut still existed, it would require the driveway to be constructed. Mr. Esslinger commented that he did not feel there was a justified reason for this change. Motion denied 3-4. Ayes-Fojtik/Mattox/Dell’Antonia. Nays-Borsuk/Lowry/Esslinger/Propp Motion by Propp to approve the conditional use permit to allow the establishment of a credit union with drive-through at 1010-1012 W. 20th 20th Avenue as requested with the following conditions: 1. Replace curbing on previously abandoned westernmost 20th Avenue driveway. 2. If the vegetation buffer on the neighboring property to the north dies, is removed or is altered as to no longer provide solid screening, the applicant is required to place a minimum of a 5’ tall solid wood fence or hedgerow between the drive-through lane and the north property line. 3. Remove the southernmost driveway on Knapp Street. 4. Remove sidewalk to provide vehicle access to the drive-through window. 5. Provide curb, wheel stops or other physical barriers between parking stalls and pedestrian walkway 6. Minimize asphalt of the drive-through lane, based on vehicle turning radius. Plan Commission Minutes 3 December 18, 2007 Seconded by Borsuk. Motion carried 7-0. II. ACCESS CONTROL VARIANCES FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH DRIVETHROUGH AT 251 N. SAWYER STREET The petitioner is requesting three access control variances for a new development at 251 N. Sawyer Street. Access control variances requested are: a. Permit three driveway approaches where one is permitted (2 to Southland, 1 to Sawyer). b. Permit a driveway to an arterial street located approximately 59 feet from the intersection where 120 feet is required (Sawyer) c. Permit a driveway with less than the required 75 feet of lateral clearance from the curb line. Fifty feet of lateral clearance is proposed. Mr. Borsuk questioned if it would make any difference if the drive on Sawyer Street were altered to be a right turn only drive. Mr. Burich replied that he did not know if it was feasible for the petitioner, but it would possibly be a factor in improving safety. Mr. Dell’Antonia inquired how far the drive would be from the intersection intersection after meeting the condition of moving it to the south property line. Mr. Burich responded that it would be approximately 91.5 feet from the intersection and the code requirement is 120 feet. Mr. Esslinger stated that he agreed with Mr. Borsuk and felt that the drive on Sawyer Street would be safer if it was egress only. Mr. Burich replied that he would have to speak with the architect for the project and see if this would be acceptable to them. Andy Dumke, 2030 Menominee Drive, stated that he has spoke with Steve Morton, owner of the pharmacy to be located on the site, about eliminating the drive on Sawyer Street and he does not want the site without this drive. He feels it is imperative to have a curb cut on the busier street rather than just on Southland Avenue. Mr. Burich asked how Mr. Morton would feel about a right-in/right-out drive on Sawyer Street. Mr. Dumke replied that although a lot of the customers utilizing the pharmacy are from the neighborhood, Mr. Morton feels he needs a full access drive on Sawyer Street. Mr. Burich inquired if moving the drive to the south, as the condition requires, would be acceptable. Mr. Dumke distributed a revised site plan incorporating the relocation of the Sawyer Street drive to the south property line. He stated that the pylon sign on site posed some difficulty with this relocation, but it is under contract until 2012 at which time it will be removed. Ms. Propp commented that she was in favor of the new site plan. Plan Commission Minutes 4 December 18, 2007 Mr. Dumke stated that the building would be very similar to another development they recently completed in Menasha. Mr. Fojtik commented that he agreed with Ms. Propp and he was pleased to see a current business being able to utilize a new site and improve upon it. Mr. Dell’Antonia questioned how close the drive on Sawyer Street would be to the adjacent property’s drive. Mr. Burich responded that it would be about 70 feet from the drive to the south and he did not believe that it would create a safety issue, as there are not a lot of structures blocking the view of oncoming traffic on Sawyer Street. Mr. Lowry stated that Taco John’s located a few blocks down the street from this site has been operating with only one drive and he feels that they have heavier traffic than the pharmacy will experience. Ms. Mattox commented that she would like to see more developments like this one and was wondering if anything could be done to remove the pylon sign from the site prior to 2012. Mr. Dumke replied that it could not be removed unless a buyout of the contract would be accepted. Timothy Kent, Gries Architectural Group, 500 N. Commercial Street, Neenah, representing the petitioner, stated that the revised site plan would require a variance as it will place the building too close to the setback area. He also stated that he was present if the commissioners had any other questions regarding the proposed project. David Patek, Director of Public Works, stated that he had spoke to the Planning staff regarding the driveway on Sawyer Street and he wanted it noted that he is opposed to this additional drive as it is too close to the intersection and it appears to be mainly a convenience. He further stated that a rightin/right-out access would only work with a raised median on Sawyer Street and that people have a tendency to cut through parking lots with this type of access to avoid waiting for the signal lights at the intersection. Mr. Esslinger stated that he did not feel that this site was comparable to the 20th Avenue project that was just reviewed as that site already had an existing access on 20th Avenue or the Taco John’s site which only has one drive access, but it is a nightmare when it is busy. He felt that if this establishment would be more of a neighborhood business, it should not be an issue if it does not have full access on Sawyer Street. Motion by Esslinger to amend the conditions to add that the Sawyer Street driveway access be right turn only. Seconded by Dell’Antonia. Ms. Propp stated that she felt the development would be a huge improvement to the area and was in favor of allowing the additional full access driveway on Sawyer Street. Mr. Borsuk commented that he would not support the amendment since the Department of Public Works was opposed to it. Ms. Mattox stated that she felt the project could work as presented. Plan Commission Minutes 5 December 18, 2007 Motion denied 2-5. Ayes-Esslinger/Dell’Antonia. Nays-Borsuk/Fojtik/Lowry/Propp/Mattox. Motion by Borsuk to approve the access control variances for a new development at 251 N. Sawyer Street as requested with the following conditions: 1) The Sawyer Street driveway be moved to the south property line sideyard setback at 10 feet. Seconded by Lowry. Motion carried 7-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:58 pm. (Esslinger/Propp) Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services