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PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES DECEMBER 20, 2005 PRESENT: Lee Bettes, Thomas Fojtik, Shirley Mattox, Kathleen Propp, Jeff Thorkildsen, John Weinsheim and Chairman Jon Dell’Antonia EXCUSED:
David Borsuk, Steve Gehling, and Cathy Scherer STAFF: Darryn Burich, Planning Services Director, and Vickie Rand, Recording Secretary Chairman Dell’Antonia called the meeting to order
at 4:00 p.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The meeting minutes of December 6, 2005 were approved as mailed. (Propp/Thorkildsen) Unanimous. I: PARTIAL RIGHT-OF-WAY
VACATION AND DISPOSITION OF VACATED RIGHT-OF-WAY (BAUMAN STREET) – Department of Public Works It is proposed to continue with partial right-of-way vacation and disposition of the easterly
20 feet of Bauman Street from Van Buren Ave on the north (the southern terminus of previous vacation/disposition) and Taft Avenue on the south. Bauman Street is an 80 foot wide right-of-way
which, because of its function as a local type street, is wider than needed and can be reduced reduced to 60 feet as proposed without compromising its ability to accommodate existing
or future traffic needs for the area or involve any hard surfaced road area. Mrs. Propp questioned why the vacation affected the east side of the street and not the west side. Mr. Burich
stated there were no utilities on the east side of Bauman Street in addition to no room to vacate right-of-way on the west side of the street. Motion by Thorkildsen for partial vacation
and disposition of the easterly 20 feet of Bauman Street from Van Buren Avenue on the north to Taft Avenue on the south. Seconded by Fojtik. Motion carried 6-0. Mr. Weinsheim arrived
at this time. II: ZONE CHANGE AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT/DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DENTAL CLINIC AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICES AT 2200 WITZEL AVE – Martenson
and Eisele, petitioner, DK Properties, owner The petitioner/owner is requesting two actions to facilitate the development of a 10,000 square foot dental clinic and office building at
2200 Witzel Avenue. The actions involve: 1. Zone Change to C-1PD Neighborhood Business District. 2. CUP/Development Plan approval for the office building site.
Plan Commission Minutes -2-December 20, 2005 Paul Getchel, 4466 Harbor Village Dr., Omro, WI, stated he owns the duplex at 131 Westbrook Drive. Mr. Getchel stated he is pro-development
as long as it doesn’t harm anyone. He stated the widening of Witzel Avenue there has been an increase of traffic. He stated he is concerned that the driveway the employees would be using
as it appeared to be quite close to the west side of his lot line. He stated the abutting properties are two story duplexes with upstairs bedrooms and noted the tenants were concerned
with being affected by the parking lot lighting. He stated he had an apartment vacant for 41/2 months on the corner of Witzel and Westbrook, and has just been able to lease it this week.
Mr. Getchel asked that there be ongoing communication between the City and the developer in regards to the landscaping and lighting planned for the subject property. He stated Dr. Hanneman
stated the east landscaping would be done on a berm which would help mitigate the car headlights shining into the abutting properties. Mr. Getchel questioned if the plan could be reversed
to located the driveway closer to the creek. He stated there is already commercial development located in that area and this would result in less traffic at the back of the duplexes
lot lines. Todd Muehrer, Martenson & Eisele, 1377 Midway Road, Menasha, stated he is representing DK Properties and is excited about this proposal. He stated they are aware of the residential
uses adjacent to the subject property and noted the Department of Community Development made it clear that proper buffering was needed there. Ms. Mattox stated she would like to see
a landscaping plan that would make the area look neighborly instead of blocking the view totally. She also questioned how sensitive the landscaping plan was to Sawyer Creek. She stated
the adjacent condo development was nicely landscaped and she wanted to be sure there would be consideration for use of natural features, rather than using fencing. Mr. Muehrer stated
it was their priority not to disrupt the neighborhood, but to keep the neighborhood aesthetically pleasing. Ms. Mattox questioned if 43 parking stalls were necessary, and mentioned the
need to develop parking lots to the maximum number of stalls required. Todd Muehrer stated 43 parking stalls were required according to the formula in the City of Oshkosh Zoning Code.
Mr. Burich stated the zoning code requires 5 parking stall for every 1,000 square feet + 1 stall for every 300 square foot over 1000, although they are always looking for opportunities
to reduce the number of parking stalls required, especially in big box sites. Ms. Mattox questioned how many practices would be in the building. Mr. Muehrer stated two tenants would
be occupying the site at this time, however, there may be options for additional tenants over time. Ms. Mattox questioned the maximum number of people allowed in the 10,000 square foot
area taking into consideration the employees, patients and customers waiting. Mr. Muehrer stated he had had included an attachment with the Conditional Use Permit Application regarding
the projected number of employees and daily customers, which averaged out to 13-15 employees and 45-50 clients per day staggered throughout normal business hours. Mr. Burich stated he
doesn’t feel the parking lot layout is oversized and is nicely landscaped. He stated that 35 parking stalls are required and they are providing 43. Mr. Burich stated he feels the developer
is making good use of the site. Mrs. Propp questioned if the lighting on this site would be shielded from the residential neighborhood. Mr. Burich explained the lighting requirements
for a business in a C-1 Neighborhood Business District adjacent to a residential district. Mr. Dell’Antonia stated he couldn’t foresee a lot of traffic on the site after regular business
hours.
Plan Commission Minutes -3-December 20, 2005 Ms. Mattox stated she had read a monument style sign would be installed for the office center and questioned if the residential neighborhood
will have an affect on the height of the sign. Mr. Burich stated that he doesn’t have a rendering for the sign, however, he believes the sign will be erected according to the Zoning
Ordinance Requirements. Mr. Bettes stated during the update of the Comprehensive Plan, they had come to the conclusion that the City was requiring too many parking spaces throughout
the City. He stated this site was different in that it is self contained and they need enough parking to be successful as there is no overlap of parking that would be used for their
business or that they would provide to another business in the area. He suggested giving them the option to reduce the size of the parking lot. He stated he sees the need for about 25
parking spaces and they could easily eliminate the entire back row of parking, which would take pressure off of the condo development to the north and duplexes to the east. Mr. Bettes
stated he was in support of the project and recognizes that commercial activity will develop along this arterial. Mr. Weinsheim questioned if the floodplain setback encroached into the
parking lot. Mr. Burich stated according to current regulations parking lots and structures can be located within a floodplain area. He stated the developer has done a good job keeping
this parking lot out of the floodplain, except for a small tip of the parking lot which is basically used for backing and turning and not an area dedicated for a full time parking space.
Mr. Burich also noted that he didn’t have a problem with the reduction of the parking lot and they could discuss that more if needed. Chairman Dell’Antonia stated it would be nice to
give them the option and questioned if they wanted that included as an additional condition. Mr. Bettes stated he would like to include the option to reduce the parking lot as an additional
condition. Motion by Weinsheim for approval of the zone change and approval of the Conditional Use Permit/Planned Development of an office building as found to be consistent with Section
30-11 (D) and 30-33 (E)(b) of the Zoning Ordinance subject to the following conditions: 1) Relocate trash enclosure to rear parking lot area outside of the required setback area. 2)
Final design of detention basin to be approved by the Department of Community Development. 3) Create a pedestrian connection between the sidewalk and parking lot area to be approved
by the Department of Community Development. 4) Give the owner the option to reduce the parking lot in accordance with the zoning regulations. Seconded by Mattox. Motion carried 7-0.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:43 p.m. (Bettes/Fojtik). Unanimous. Respectfully submitted,
Darryn L. Burich Zoning Administrator /Associate Planner DLB/vlr