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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesPLAN COMMISSION MINUTES August 3, 2010 PRESENT: Ed Bowen, Jeffrey Thorns, John Hinz, Tony Palmeri, Kathleen Propp, Donna Lohry, Robert Vajgrt, Karl Nollenberger EXCUSED: David Borsuk, Thomas Fojtik, Kent Monte STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; David Buck, Principal Planner; Jeffrey Nau, Associate Planner; Steven Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works; Raymond Maurer, Director of Parks Department; Deborah Foland, Recording Secretary Vice - Chairperson Propp called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of July 20, 2010 were approved as presented. (Vajgrt/Hinz) L GRANT PRIVILEGE IN THE STREET AT 135 HIGH AVENUE Midwest Engineering Services requests an easement on City property to install a monitoring well as part of an environmental investigation associated with the facility at 135 High Avenue. The well is proposed to be located within the south sidewalk of High Avenue in front of 135 High Avenue. The Oshkosh Common Council has approved similar privilege and easement requests for the placement of numerous wells as part of investigations for 118 and 135 High Avenue. Mr. Buck presented the item and stated that the well would be located in front of the former Oshkosh Tent and Awning building and reviewed the site, surrounding area and proposed site plan. He further stated that there were currently 12 to 18 existing wells in the general vicinity and that the conditions recommended for this request were the standard nine conditions with the addition of two more. He reviewed the conditions and noted that the additional two were to have the monitoring well be flush mounted to prevent interference with pedestrian traffic and to have the placement of the well be coordinated with the Department of Public Works to prevent conflicts with existing underground utilities. Ms. Lohry inquired about the history of the area that would explain the reason for the number of monitoring wells placed in this vicinity. Mr. Buck responded that there were previous establishments located in the area that were laundry and awning facilities which both used chemicals that possibly created contamination. Motion by Thoms to approve the easement to place a monitoring well on City property as requested with the following conditions: 1. Placement of the well shall be coordinated with the Department of Public Works to prevent conflicts with existing underground utilities. 2. The monitoring well shall be flush mounted to prevent interference with pedestrian traffic. 3. The monitoring wells) 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. Plan Commission Minutes 1 August 3, 2010 4. If no longer needed, the wells) be properly abandoned and removed in accordance with City standards and under the direction of the Department of Public Works. 5. Any problem that may arise as a result of placement of the wells) be the responsibility of the petitioner /owner to correct in coordination with the Department of Public Works. 6 All appropriate permits be obtained prior to the start of placement of the well(s). 7. The wells) be modified or removed immediately upon request of the City. 8. 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. 9. 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. 10. The petitioner /owner execute a hold harmless agreement with the City. 11. The facility be part of and documented with Digger's Hotline system. Seconded by Vajgrt. Motion carried 8 -0. II. HARRA ANNEXATION The petitioner is proposing direct annexation (by unanimous approval) of approximately 0.294 acres of land currently located in the Town of Oshkosh. Mr. Nau presented the item and reviewed the site, surrounding area, and existing land uses in said area. He stated that the owner was requesting the property located at 2738 Shorewood Drive be annexed with an R -1 Single Family Residence District zoning classification. He also commented that the Oshkosh Fire and Police Departments had reviewed the request and did not have any concerns with providing services to this property and the Department of Public Works had also reviewed it and reported that City sanitary sewer and water main were already constructed in front of the property with laterals stubbed in place. Ms. Propp questioned where the City boundaries were located. Mr. Nau displayed on the map the areas located in both the City and the Town of Oshkosh. Jim Erdman, 2492 Hickory Lane, Town of Oshkosh Supervisor, stated that the Town did not have any objections to the annexation request for this property. He further stated that the Town did not wish to have the fire lane adjacent to this property included in the annexation request as it was part of the Town's drainage system for stormwater purposes. Motion by Vajgrt to approve the Harra Annexation with temporary and permanent zoning of R- I Single Family Residence District as requested. Seconded by Nollenberger. Motion carried 8 -0. III. SWARTZ ANNEXATION The petitioners are proposing direct annexation (by unanimous approval) of approximately 0.254 acres of land currently located in the Town of Oshkosh. Mr. Nau presented the item and reviewed the site, surrounding area, and existing land uses in said area. He stated that the owner was requesting the property located at 2818 Shorewood Drive be annexed Plan Commission Minutes August 3, 2010 with an R -1 Single Family Residence District zoning classification. He also commented that the Oshkosh Fire and Police Departments had reviewed the request and did not have any concerns with providing services to this property and the Department of Public Works had also reviewed it and estimates that sanitary and water services could be extended to this property and have been included in the 2010 Capital Improvement Program. Ms. Propp questioned how this property was contiguous with the City boundaries. Mr. Nau replied that the connection was via Lake Winnebago and the State had already reviewed the annexation request and considered it to be in the public's interest. Motion by Thoms to approve the Swartz Annexation with temporary and permanent zoning of R -1 Single Family Residence District as requested. Seconded by Vajgrt. Motion carried 8 -0. IV. LAND ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE 200 BLOCK OF IDAHO STREET The City of Oshkosh Parks Department is requesting approval to acquire approximately 0.75 acres of land contained within a single parcel located on the 200 block of Idaho Street for the purpose of utilizing it for a plant nursery and storage of nursery stock/material. Mr. Buck presented the item and reviewed the site, surrounding area, and current land uses in said area. He commented that the parcel is land locked as well as the parcel to the north of the subject site which is currently owned by the City. He further commented that the parcel is essentially undevelopable due to the lack of access to the property and the City and property owner had been negotiating the purchase of the parcel which would provide a good buffer for the Forestry and Parks facility from the residential neighbors to the south. He stated that the use of the property as a plant nursery would require conditional use permit approval as it is located within an R -2 Zoning District. Ms. Propp inquired if access to the site would be obtained from the City property to the north. Mr. Buck responded affirmatively. Ms. Lohry questioned if the adjacent property owners to the south were notified of this action. Mr. Buck replied that all adjacent property owners surrounding this site were notified of the proposed land acquisition. Norm Elsinger, representing his brother, Robert Elsinger who owns the property located at 208 Knapp Street, stated that the area experiences flooding issues and questioned if the proposed use of the site would cause further flooding problems. He further stated that he believed that proper measures should be taken to prevent any increase in flooding in this neighborhood. Tom Phillips, 225 Idaho Street, stated that his property is directly adjacent to the subject site on the east side and he voiced his concerns with the storage of materials on said site. He stated that he was concerned with wood chips, compost or other related materials that would attract vermin to the neighborhood. He also had concerns regarding noise or offensive odors related to the proposed use as well as if the City had any intentions of creating any impervious surface on the site that could increase Plan Commission Minutes August 3, 2010 flooding issues. He also questioned the meaning of the 10 and 20 year land use recommendation included in the staff report. Mr. Buck stated that the concerns with flooding and storage of materials would be addressed by staff from the Departments of Parks and Public Works. The 10 and 20 year land use recommendations are taken from the City's Comprehensive Plan which encompasses all the properties in the City and the recommended land use for every area. He reiterated that any proposed use of this site would be required to obtain conditional use permit approval prior to its commencement. Mr. Palmeri commented that he had concerns that the proposed use of the site may change after the land is acquired. Raymond Maurer, Director of the Parks Department, stated that the intention was to use the site to store plant materials such as flowers and nursery stock. He further stated that they currently utilize an area at Riverside Cemetery for this purpose however water has to be brought to the site as there is no source of water in this location and that the proposed site on Idaho Street would have access to water for the plant materials. They have no intention to install any pavement on the site and the staff would begin clean up efforts on both this parcel and the adjacent City property this winter providing the land acquisition was approved. Ms. Propp inquired about the storage of compost materials on the site. Mr. Maurer responded that there would be no compost materials stored at this location. Mr. Palmeri asked about the concerns related to attracting rodents due to storage of planting materials on the site. Mr. Maurer replied that they have piles of wood chips and mulch on the existing City -owned parcel and he is not aware of any issues with rodents due to this storage. Mr. Hinz questioned if the nursery stock would be arranged neatly in rows so it had an organized look to the site. Mr. Maurer responded affirmatively and stated that stock would be stored on the site in an organized fashion and transferred to areas of the city as it matures. Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works, stated that this area has flooding concerns as it is significantly lower than the surrounding areas. He further commented that Knapp Street is scheduled for reconstruction next year which will hopefully address some of the issues and providing that no additional impervious surface was being installed on the site, the proposed use would have no negative impact on the surrounding area. Ms. Propp inquired if there was something the City could do on the site to accumulate water such as create a small detention pond. Mr. Gohde replied that the depth of the sanitary sewer in the area is the main issue and getting the water out of these sites was difficult. Ms. Lohry questioned if the use of tiling would resolve the flooding issues. Plan Commission Minutes August 3, 2010 Mr. Gohde responded that the use of tiling to resolve the issue would have to be directed through the established Parks facility site. Ms. Lohry asked if this concept could be considered to alleviate flooding concerns. Mr. Maurer replied that he would have to take a look at the potential costs of such an installation and commented that the proposed land acquisition was not changing the current land use and the addition of more nursery stock on the site may help to absorb water. Mr. Burich added that the flooding issues already existed in this area and the proposed use of the site would not exacerbate the problem and may help in the future with the City controlling additional lands with the ability to implement drainage facilities if needed. Motion by Nollenberger to approve the proposed land acquisition of property located at the 200 block of Idaho Street as requested. Seconded by Vajgrt. Motion carried 8 -0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:34 pm. (Vajgrt/Hinz) Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services Plan Commission Minutes August 3, 2010