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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Plan Commission Minutes 1 February 6, 2007 PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 6, 2007 PRESENT: David Borsuk, Ed Bowen, Eduardo Corpus, Thomas Fojtik, Paul Lowry, Shirley Mattox, Kathleen Propp, Cathy Scherer, John Weinsheim, Jon Dell’Antonia EXCUSED: Jeff Thorkildsen STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; David Buck, Principal Planner; Jeff Nau, Associate Planner; Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works; Deborah Foland, Recording Secretary Chairman Dell’Antonia called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of January 16, 2007 were approved as presented. I.A. STREET NAME CHANGE FOR A PORTION OF W. 24TH AVENUE FROM S. MAIN STREET TO EASTERLY TERMINUS City Administration requests approval of a street name change from W. 24th Avenue to Lakeview Court for that portion of W. 24th Avenue from S. Main Street to its easterly terminus. On September 26, 2006 the Oshkosh Common Council approved a street name change from S. Main Street to Lakeview Court for a private road formerly named S. Main Street. Ms. Mattox inquired if the 24th Avenue Boat Launch would retain its current name. Mr. Nau responded that it would. I.B. ACCEPT SANITARY SEWER, WATER MAIN & ACCESS EASEMENT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF S. WASHBURN STREET & STATE HIGHWAY 44 The applicant is requesting easement acceptance for the relocation of city water main and sanitary sewer and also includes access to these utilities. The owner plans to construct a new convenience store; the existing utility locations hinder the developable area of the property. Ms. Scherer asked who would be paying for the costs to relocate these easements. Mr. Nau replied that the developer would be paying the expense related to this item. Mr. Gohde added that the developer would normally cover all the costs, but in this case, the City would be paying $24,999 to extend the easement further to the west to connect Washburn and State Highway 44. This would allow the City to relocate the water main main and sanitary sewer south of Highway 44 in the future should it be required. This is the maximum amount the City can contribute without bidding out the project. Hans Zeitlow, Director of Real Estate for Kwik Trip, 1626 Oak Street, La Crosse, WI, was present if any of the board members had any questions regarding this issue. Plan Commission Minutes 2 February 6, 2007 I.C. ADJUST VARIOUS EASEMENTS (VACATE AND ACCEPT) EDGEWOOD VILLAGE SUBDIVISION The petitioner is requesting the City to accept sidewalk and public trail easements being developed as part of the Edgewood Village Subdivision. Additionally, the petitioner is requesting the City to vacate a portion of a drainage and green space easement, part of Outlot 3, to allow for enlargement of the Bayhome Condominium lot. Mr. Bowen asked if the developer was increasing or decreasing the size of the walking trail. Mr. Burich responded that the trail was being preserved; it was just being realigned. Ms. Mattox inquired how to access the walking trail. Mr. Burich replied that the trail would be accessible from the public sidewalks, Edgewood Lane for the trail to the south and Hemlock Court for the trail to the north as shown on page four of the staff report. Larry Miller, Omnni Associates, One Systems Drive, Appleton, representing the petitioner, asked if all the easements along Hemlock Court and Fraser Drive were being released and accepted. Mr. Burich responded that was correct. What was not being reviewed today was previously approved at the Plan Commission meeting in November 2006. Ms. Mattox inquired when building would begin in this area. Mr. Miller replied that four places were currently completed and one was in progress. Motion by Propp to move approval of the consent agenda with the following conditions to be applied to item I.C.: 1) All walking trail easements be labeled and identified as “public” trail easements. 2) Maintenance of public trail easements is the responsibility of the property owner or related condo and homeowner associations. Seconded by Fojtik. Motion carried 9-0. II. TWO LOT LAND DIVISION/CERTIFIED SURVEY MAP AND A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT/DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AUTOMOBILE DISPLAY “PODS”/PLATFORMS AT 3285 SOUTH WASHBURN STREET The applicant is requesting a two-lot land division, which is a reconfiguration of two existing parcels totaling approximately 15 acres of land, as follows: Lot 1 = 6.878 acres, Lot 2 = 8.150 acres. The applicant is also requesting an amendment to a previously issued conditional use permits/development plan to allow the construction of three automobile display “pods”/platforms within the front yard setback. Ms. Scherer asked if the pods at the other dealership on N. Washburn Street were within the front yard setback area. Plan Commission Minutes 3 February 6, 2007 Mr. Buck replied that the pods at that dealership were located outside the setback area as well as the pods on the north lot. The pods on the south lot were to be seven or eight feet further out than pods on the other lot. Mr. Bowen inquired if the pods that were being discussed today were just for the new development area. Mr. Buck responded yes. Steve Gries, Gries Architectural Group, Inc., 500 N. Commercial Street, Neenah, stated that they do not have any problems with any of the conditions applied to their request other than the one relating to the base standard modification that would allow only two of the three pods to have a 17-foot front yard setback. They would like to have all three pods aligned consistently on this lot and would be willing to add a significant amount of landscaping to the area if the third pod could also have the same modification as the other two. Mr. Fojtik stated that he felt that this was a reasonable compromise and it would look better to have the pods consistently placed on the site. Mr. Weinsheim agreed and added that he felt that since the petitioner was willing to adjust the number of parking spaces to accommodate a 17-foot setback, we should be able to compromise on this issue. Mr. Dell’Antonia stated that since the board was in favor of adjusting the conditions applied to the conditional use permit, item (a) would be revised to allow all three of the pods a base standard modification to allow a seventeen-foot front yard setback Motion by Weinsheim to approve the land division/CSM as requested with the following conditions: (a) Cross access easements be placed on the face of the CSM permitting full access between the two lots. (b) “Landscape Only Area” is depicted along the north lot line of Proposed Lot 2 of the CSM. (c) Changes to the labeling on the CSM as requested by DPW. And to approve the revised conditional use permit/development plan with the following conditions: (a) Base standard modification to allow a seventeen (17) foot front yard setback for the three northernmost display “pods”/platforms. (b) Display “pods”/platforms is limited to the display of automobiles, SUV’s and trucks one ton or less. (c) Landscaping near the display “pods”/platforms and within the front yard be installed and maintained as proposed. Seconded by Borsuk. Motion carried 9-0. III. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT/DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW AND REZONING FROM THE C-2 AND M-1 DISTRICTS TO C2-PD FOR A RETAIL/COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF US HIGHWAY 41 AND STATE ROAD 21 ON NORTH WASHBURN STREET Plan Commission Minutes 4 February 6, 2007 The applicant is requesting a rezoning and a conditional use permit/approval of a development plan for the establishment of a 171,000 square foot retail establishment with associated site improvements. Ms. Propp inquired if the board was approving the entire site or just the Lowe’s development at this time. Mr. Buck responded that the actions that were being approved today were only for the planned Lowe’s site. The remaining outlots would require approval at the time of their development. Mr. Weinsheim asked about the lack of landscaping in the interior parking lot. Mr. Buck replied that the parking aisles were only about 21 or 22 stalls deep and that is was consistent with new draft parking code for the City. Mr. Weinsheim inquired about the staging of the proposed new Washburn Street. Mr. Buck responded that when the new road is reconstructed, there would be a detention area located across the road of the proposed new Washburn Street and possibly a small area of developable land left. Mr. Weinsheim inquired if the pylon sign that was being approved for the Lowe’s site would mean that the other future developments on the remaining outlots would also have pylon signs. Mr. Buck replied that any signs for the future developments would have to be approved along with the conditional use permit for that site. Mr. Burich added that he did not see any need for the outlot developments to also have pylon signs and that ground signs were more likely to be approved for those sites. Mr. Fojtik left the meeting at approximately 4:40 pm. Mr. Dell’Antonia asked if the height elevations of the Lowe’s building were acceptable. Mr. Buck responded that the elevations were within code. They are measured by the roofline, not by the peak. Ms. Scherer asked if this was typical of a building of this size. Mr. Buck replied that the architectural element of the peak of a building of this size was typically about 45 feet. The Lowe’s building would be about 49 feet. Ms. Mattox inquired if the northern drive aisle would be about 37 feet wide. Mr. Buck responded that it would be 40 feet wide with the rumble strip and 70 feet wide at the curb which would be within the access control ordinance. The drive aisle would decrease to about 36 feet upon entering the parking lot. Ms. Mattox asked if part of this area could be used for the installation of sidewalk instead. Mr. Buck replied that the drive aisle was designed for that width to accommodate trucks and also to avoid stacking at the entrance due to the fact that it exits onto a busy street. The sidewalk would be installed along the side of the road. This layout has been approved for other developments in the past. Plan Commission Minutes 5 February 6, 2007 Ms. Mattox inquired about the code for the height of the lights. Mr. Buck responded that the lights were to be at 37 feet that is within code. Ms. Mattox asked about the size of the two pylon signs to be installed on the site. Mr. Buck replied that one would be 60 feet and the other 30 feet. Mr. Bowen commented about the 13 parking spaces that were to be removed along the drive aisle on the west side of the lot coming in from the north, was there a concern about the 12 parking spaces located on the east side of the lot along that drive aisle. Mr. Buck responded that there was not a concern about these spaces as the traffic on that side should be internal only. The ones that are to be removed are located in an area that would experience much more traffic and therefore would be a safety concern. Robert Fiebig, Development Manager for Lowe’s, 1952 McDowell Road, Naperville, IL, was present to answer any questions regarding their proposed project. Mr. Borsuk asked if they had any concerns with the conditions placed on this application. Mr. Fiebig responded that they did not. Mr. Burich inquired if there were any issues with the three-lane drive aisle from Washburn Street? Mr. Fiebig replied there were not. Ms. Mattox asked if Lowe’s had a standard landscaping plan that would be installed around the detention pond. Mr. Fiebig replied that every store is different and that they were working with the Department of Public Works to relocate some of the landscaping appropriately. Ms. Scherer inquired when the development of the project would begin. Mr. Fiebig responded that they hope to start construction in spring and be open by the end of the year. Ms. Mattox inquired where the staff would be parking and also how many jobs this would create and if local residents would be hired for these positions. Mr. Fiebig replied that the staff would park near the detention pond area, the store would create about 175 new jobs and the hiring would be done locally. Ms. Mattox inquired about about the location of the nearest established Lowe’s store to Oshkosh. Mr. Fiebig responded that there is one located in Buchanan and one in Brown Deer. Ms. Propp asked about how the intersection of Washburn Street and Westowne Avenue will be controlled will the increased traffic as she feels it is already a dangerous area. Plan Commission Minutes 6 February 6, 2007 Mr. Burich replied that the intersection would not exist as it is now after reconstruction of the road. Mr. Gohde added that the intersection would be more of a “T” intersection after Washburn Street is reconstructed and signals will eventually be installed although that work has not yet been scheduled. Ms. Scherer asked what the timeline on the reconstruction of Washburn Street will be compared to the development of the Lowe’s site. Mr. Gohde responded that they would be meeting with Lowe’s in regards to the installation of the sewer and that the paving for Washburn Street should be completed by July. Ms. Mattox inquired who would own the land and building that the Lowe’s site is located on, as she does not want to see another site like the former Walmart store which has been vacant for some time now. Mr. Burich replied that Lowe’s would own the store and, at this time, Art Pommerening currently is the owner of the property. Mr. Dell’Antonia commented that who owns the building and land is immaterial as far as the issue of them vacating it in the future. That is something that cannot be controlled. Mr. Borsuk commented that he felt that Lowe’s has done a good job of presently a clean project and obviously worked very well with City staff for this proposal. Motion by Weinsheim to approve the rezoning and the conditional use permit/development plan with the following conditions: 1) Base standard modification to: -Reduce the number of parking spaces, as proposed. -Reduce the side yard setbacks, as proposed. -Allow a development pylon sign at the eastern entrance, as proposed -Allow the increased light levels at the east property line, as proposed. 2) Lane sizes at north drive entrance be one fourteen (14) foot ingress & two eleven (11) foot egress with a four (4) foot “rumble strip”/textured mountable median. 3) Cross access easements/agreements between the subject lot and outlots be provided. 4) The group of parking stalls backing out into the northern drive aisle be removed and replaced with curbed island. 5) Parking lot landscape islands be a minimum of 7 foot X 36 foot and have two (2) trees on each. 6) Loading area at the northeast corner of the building/outdoor garden area be pulled back at least twenty (20) feet in both directions and replaced with curbing. 7) Add landscaping to the north of the detention basin. 8) Detention basin be designed without rip rap above the water line and native plants be planted on the side slopes of the basin and emergent plants on the safety shelf. Seconded by Borsuk. Motion carried 9-0. Plan Commission Minutes 7 February 6, 2007 Mr. Burich stated that since at the last meeting, Mr. Borsuk had volunteered to sit on the Extraterritorial Zoning Committee as a full member rather than an alternate, we would need a volunteer to replace the alternate opening on this committee. Mr. Lowry volunteered to become the new alternate member on the Extraterritorial Zoning Committee. Mr. Borsuk stated that in the future he would like to discuss raze orders issued by the City to help blighted areas in the community. Mr. Burich replied that the Inspection Services Division handles this function, but it could possibly be taken up at a future workshop. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 5:05 pm. Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services