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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes__________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 1 March 18, 2014 PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES March 18, 2014 PRESENT: Ed Bowen, Jeffrey Thoms, Thomas Fojtik, John Hinz, Kathleen Propp, Donna Lohry, Robert Vajgrt, Karl Nollenberger EXCUSED: David Borsuk, Steve Cummings STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; David Buck, Principal Planner; Jeffrey Nau, Associate Planner; Elizabeth Williams, Assistant 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 March 4, 2014 were approved as presented. (Hinz/Lohry) I. EXTRATERRITORIAL FOUR-LOT LAND DIVISION/CERTIFIED SURVEY MAP AT 5851 COUNTY ROAD A AND 2032 AND 2054 SHAWNEE LANE IN THE TOWN OF VINLAND The owner/petitioner are requesting a four-lot land division/certified survey map from three existing parcels containing a total of 21.1561 acres. Sizes of the proposed lots are as follows: Lot 1 = 8.6588 Acres Lot 2 = 9.9439 Acres Lot 3 = 1.1261 Acres Lot 4 = 1.4273 Acres Mr. Nau presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area. He explained the reasoning for the land division and stated that it was consistent with the City’s land use recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan. The only item of concern is the addition of land to Lots 3 and 4 which will create a split zone situation. This information will be conveyed to the Winnebago County Planning Department. He also noted that the street dedication depicted on the certified survey map will not take place at this time. Ellen Allen, 1023 Sunset Drive, Kimberly, was present to answer any questions the Commission may have. There was no discussion on this item. Motion by Vajgrt to approve the four-lot land division/certified survey map for property located at 5851 County Road A and 2032 and 2054 Shawnee Lane in the Town of Vinland. Seconded by Nollenberger. Motion carried 8-0. II. GRANT PRIVILEGE IN THE STREET AT THE 100-200 BLOCK OF JOSSLYN STREET This item was withdrawn from the agenda by the petitioner. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 2 March 18, 2014 III. ACCESS CONTROL VARIANCE TO PERMIT A TOTAL OF THREE DRIVEWAY OPENINGS TO 150-170 WYLDEWOOD DRIVE The petitioner is requesting an Access Control Variance to permit a total of three driveway openings to service a multiple family development on a property located at 150-170 Wyldewood Drive. Mr. Buck presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area as well as the land use and zoning classifications in said area. He reviewed the site plan for the development and stated that the concept has changed since it was originally planned. This change requires three driveway accesses to the site instead of two however Wyldewood Drive virtually only serves the apartments and condominiums located on this street. Mr. Buck further stated that if the area was developed with single-family homes, there could be as many as 27 driveway accesses. Staff does not feel that three driveway accesses in this case are excessive and the traffic generation should not be altered. This request was also reviewed by the Department of Public Works and the Transportation Department and they had no concerns with this request. Mr. Bowen questioned if this density was acceptable and if the ingress and egress would be more efficient with the additional driveway access. Mr. Buck responded affirmatively. Mr. Thoms inquired if the Fire Department had any concerns with granting the access control variance for this development. Mr. Buck indicated that the Fire Department did not provide any comments at the review meeting held to discuss this item. Ms. Lohry commented that the neighborhood in this area is very well done and nicely maintained and she would be in support of this request. Tom Halverson, Carow Land Surveying, 615 N. Lynndale Drive, Appleton, stated that he was present representing the developer and that the request had been presented to the Site Plan Review Committee and the Fire Department had no concerns with the layout of the driveway configuration. Motion by Vajgrt to approve the access control variance to permit three driveway openings to 150-170 Wyldewood Drive. Seconded by Bowen. Motion carried 8-0. IV. ACCEPTANCE OF THE MIDDLE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN Staff requests acceptance of the Middle Village Neighborhood Plan, which focuses on a target neighborhood bounded by Church Avenue, Jackson Street, W. Irving Avenue and N. Main Street. Mr. Burich commented that this plan is the culmination of a year’s worth of work on neighborhood initiatives and staff is looking forward to its implementation once the plan is approved. Ms. Williams reviewed the area included within the boundaries of the Middle Village Neighborhood and reviewed the neighborhood planning process that was completed to prepare the neighborhood plan. She discussed the survey process and the three homes that were demolished in the neighborhood as they were blighted properties detrimental to the community. She further commented that visioning __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 3 March 18, 2014 sessions were held and reviewed the plan overview as well as the four focus areas of the plan which are Community Building, Public Infrastructure, Safety, and Housing. She proceeded to discuss the details of the Community Building Goals, Community Building Strategies, Public Infrastructure Goals, Public Infrastructure Strategies, Safety Goals, Safety Strategies, Housing Goals, and Housing Strategies which are all part of the neighborhood plan as a whole. She stated that the next steps for this item was to receive a finding from the Plan Commission that the plan is consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and then be forwarded on to the Common Council for approval followed by implementation of said plan. Mr. Thoms questioned if there was anything in the Comprehensive Plan referencing street widths and if there was anything the neighborhood desired in the upcoming street reconstruction in this area that would conflict with the Comprehensive Plan. Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works, stated that the City’s current ordinance was for a standard of 60 foot right-of-way for public streets however in these older existing neighborhoods, the standard was decreased to 30 feet and the neighborhood desired to have the street right-of-way at 28 feet instead which would be adequate with single-side parking restrictions. Mr. Thoms questioned if there was something that the Plan Commission needed to address to allow this substandard street width. Mr. Gohde responded that the right-of-way is currently substandard. Mr. Burich indicated that the standards for street right-of-way width is generally applied to new developments and it is not feasible to acquire street dedication from property owners in this neighborhood to extend the width of the street to the current standard. Mr. Thoms commented that the reconstruction plans to reduce the street right-of-way to 28 feet is going to make it more substandard than it is currently and he realized that it would provide for additional green space however that is not in the Comprehensive Plan and he felt the Commission needed to do something to address this. Mr. Burich recommended proceeding with the Neighborhood Plan as drafted and forwarding it to the Common Council for their decision. Mr. Gohde added that the Board of Public Works can deviate from ordinance standards for the street widths. Mr. Thoms felt that if the Neighborhood Plan had conflicts with the City’s Comprehensive Plan that those exceptions should be noted. Mr. Burich responded that this issue was not necessarily in conflict with the Comprehensive Plan as the substandard street right-of-way is an existing situation. The different logistical situation is recognized and the point can be noted for the Common Council in the Plan Commission minutes. Tony Palmeri, 212 W. Parkway Avenue, stated that he was a member of the Middle Village Neighborhood Association and thanked the Planning Services staff for their efforts in developing this plan and he felt the workshop recently held was very positive. He thanked staff for their support in this effort. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 4 March 18, 2014 Gary Gray, 815 W. Linwood Avenue, questioned what the acceptance of the Neighborhood Plan meant. He wanted clarification if it was the same as receiving it or approving it. Mr. Burich replied that acceptance of the plan would be approving it. Mr. Gray commented that the commitment of staff time and the funding to support the Neighborhood Associations forming was a concern. Dorry Wilner, representing Habitat for Humanity, stated that her organization was in favor of the Neighborhood Plan and she was looking forward to working with the City on projects. She further stated that they have been involved with other neighborhood projects and were excited about this plan. Motion by Vajgrt to approve the acceptance of the Middle Village Neighborhood Plan. Seconded by Propp. Mr. Fojtik complimented the neighbors and staff that invested the time and effort working together to initiate improvements to this neighborhood. Ms. Propp agreed. Mr. Hinz stated that NeighborWorks had come to town recently and he felt that it helps to have neighborhood involvement and he hoped that this would spur other neighborhoods to want to form similar associations with neighborhood plans such as this. Motion carried 8-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:32 pm. (Vajgrt/Bowen) Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services