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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesPLAN COMMISSION MINUTES May 17, 2011 PRESENT: David Borsuk, Ed Bowen, Jeffrey Thorns, Thomas Fojtik, John Hinz, Steve Cummings, Dennis McHugh EXCUSED: Kathleen Propp, Donna Lohry, Robert Vajgrt, Karl Nollenberger STAFF: David Buck, Principal Planner; Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works; Deborah Foland, Recording Secretary Chairperson Fojtik called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of May 3, 2011 were approved as presented. (Thoms/Hinz) L GRANT PRIVILEGE IN THE STREET AT 3125 MEDALIST DRIVE Multimedia Communications and Engineering requests a privilege in the street permit to install a fiber optic cable across Medalist Drive to connect to their building at 495 W. Waukau Avenue. Mr. Buck presented the item and reviewed the subject site and the site plan. He explained that the Department of Public Works has no concerns with the proposed privilege in street request and recommends approval with the final design being coordinated and approved by their department to avoid conflicts with existing underground utilities. Mr. Bowen arrived at 4:05 pm. Mr. McHugh stated that other various utilities are using all the space in the right -of -way for installation of their facilities and questioned if we are precluding the ability to install city utilities in these areas and voiced his concern with the City having to purchase additional right -of -way to install facilities. Mr. Buck responded that those issues are regulated by the Department of Public Works and the Plan Commission's duty was to review the request on a basis of land use, consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, and good planning practices. Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works, added that this installation of fiber optic cable required approval from Plan Commission and the Common Council as it is a private network installation. Companies such as Time Warner Cable or AT &T are not required to go through this process as the City is mandated to allow them to place their utilities in the right -of -way. He further commented that private lines can be required to relocate their facilities if they are in an area that is necessary for City utility installation. The City can negotiate to pay to relocate facilities or the utility company involved will absorb the costs to do so if deemed necessary in the future. Motion by Thoms to approve the privilege in street at 3125 Medalist Drive as requested with the following conditions: 1. Placement of the fiber optic cable shall be coordinated with the Department of Public Works to prevent conflicts with existing underground utilities. Plan Commission Minutes May 17, 2011 2. The fiber optic cable is 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. 3. If no longer needed, the fiber optic cable be properly abandoned and removed in accordance with City standards and under the direction of the Department of Public Works. 4. Any problem that may arise as a result of placement of the fiber optic cable be the responsibility of the petitioner /owner to correct in coordination with the Department of Public Works. S. All appropriate permits be obtained prior to the start of placement of the fiber optic cable. 6 The fiber optic cable be modified or removed immediately upon request of the City. 7. 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. 8. 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 privilege in the right -of -way permit within ten (10) days of notice. 9. The petitioner /owner execute a hold harmless agreement with the City. 10. The facility be part of and documented with Digger's Hotline system. Seconded by Bowen. Motion carried 7 -0. HL ACCESS CONTROL VARIANCE TO PERMIT A TEMPORARY DRIVEWAY OPENING ON THE SOUTH SIDE AT 525 WEST 20 AVENUE The petitioner is requesting an access control variance to permit construction and use of a temporary ingress /egress drive at Wittman Regional Airport for construction traffic associated with pavement and storm sewer reconstruction within the airport. Mr. Buck presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area as well as the site plan. He explained the reasoning for the request and that it was for construction purposes only and would not be a permanent drive access. He further stated that the area has been used previously for the same purposes and restored back to a vegetative state when complete. He also reviewed the conditions recommended for this request. Mr. Thorns questioned if there were any concerns with debris on 20 Avenue due to this use. Mr. Buck responded that tracking pads and the hard surface apron should alleviate any debris issues from the site during the construction process. Mr. Gohde added that there are provisions in the City's code to prevent this however if it would occur, the City would sweep the street and bill the owner for the costs. If this issue would continue to occur, the owner would be contacted and citations could follow if the problem is not resolved. Mr. Thorns and Mr. McHugh both had concerns with the construction of the temporary apron and if there were standards to ensure that it was designed to handle the weight of heavy equipment. Mr. Gohde explained that the code has minimum standards that would be the responsibility of the airport and contractor to control and that the condition relating to hard surface was defined as either asphalt or concrete. He further explained the requirements for both asphalt and concrete surfaces. Plan Commission Minutes May 17, 2011 Commission members discussed if the condition relating to the driveway apron being constructed with a hard surface needed to be more defined to address heavy equipment. It was determined that the since the condition required the approval of the Department of Public Works, it should be sufficient to adequately address these concerns. Motion by Thoms to approve the access control variance to permit a temporary driveway opening on the south side at 525 West 20` Avenue as requested with the following conditions: 1. Driveway apron must be hard surface as approved by the Department of Public Works. 2. Curb -cut shall be closed and area restored to standard curb and gutter and lawn no later than October 1, 2012 as approved by the Department of Public Works. Seconded by Bowen. Motion carried 7 -0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:17 pm. (Borsuk/ Cummings) Respectfully submitted, David Buck Principal Planner Plan Commission Minutes May 17, 2011