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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes__________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 1 June 16, 2015 PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES June 16, 2015 PRESENT: David Borsuk, Ed Bowen, Jeffrey Thoms, John Hinz, Steve Cummings, Kathleen Propp, Gary Gray, Donna Lohry, Karl Nollenberger EXCUSED: Thomas Fojtik, Robert Vajgrt STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; David Buck, Principal Planner; Jeffrey Nau, Associate Planner; Brian Slusarek, Planning Technician; James Rabe, Civil Engineer Supervisor; Deborah Foland, Recording Secretary Chairperson Propp called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Roll call was taken and a quorum declared present. The minutes of June 2, 2015 were approved as presented. (Hinz/Nollenberger) I. GRANT PRIVATE UTILITY EASEMENT AT 1975 W. SNELL ROAD In December of 2014, the Oshkosh Common Council approved a Conditional Use Permit for construction of a new sanitary lift station located at 1975 W. Snell Road. The Department of Public Works is requesting granting an easement to Wisconsin Public Service Corp. along the west lot line of the existing city property to provide electric service to the future Snell West Lift Station. Mr. Slusarek presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area. He explained the reason for the easement request was to provide electric service to the future Snell West Lift Station and reviewed the site plan for the easement area which would allow Wisconsin Public Service to have access to and serve the facility. He further stated that the proposed easement would not conflict with city utilities and the Department of Public Works would have appropriate easement documents signed and recorded at the Winnebago County Register of Deeds. Mr. Thoms questioned why the easement would be necessary along the full length of the property. James Rabe, Civil Engineer Supervisor, explained that the easement was necessary in this location as the mounted transformer pad would be located in the southwest corner of the lot and Wisconsin Public Service would need room for not only the pad but to have vehicular access to this area. Mr. Bowen arrived at 4:04 pm. Mr. Thoms then questioned if the area would be paved. Mr. Rabe responded that it would not and that Wisconsin Public Service could utilize the driveway for the facility if necessary. Mr. Gray requested an explanation of what a utility pedestal is and what the function of it was and its size. Mr. Rabe described the pad mounted transformer which would be about two to three feet above ground and is used to convert power for the facility. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 2 June 16, 2015 Motion by Nollenberger to approve granting a private utility easement at 1975 W. Snell Road. Seconded by Gray. Motion carried 8-0. II. OFFICIAL MAPPING FOR A STORM DRAINAGE DETENTION AREA AT THE WESTERN 2700 BLOCK OF CLAIRVILLE ROAD IN THE TOWN OF ALGOMA The Department of Public Works requests approval to officially map a storm drainage detention area. Mr. Nau presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area as well as the land use and zoning classifications in this area. He explained the official mapping process and how it affects the property which is essentially treated as right-of-way from a setback perspective once mapped. He reviewed the 20-year Comprehensive Plan map which recommends this area for residential development and reviewed the parcels to be affected by this action and the boundaries of the official mapping area. He also discussed the certified survey map and zone change that was recommended for approval at the last meeting and stated that the official mapping action would not affect the property owner’s plans for the site. He discussed the storm water management plans and reviewed a map of the Sawyer Creek Watershed and displayed on the map the location of the James Road detention basin and the proposed detention basin location involved with this official mapping request. He discussed the criteria considered in this process to select an appropriate location for the basin as well as the update to the Sawyer Creek Storm Water Management Plan which will be completed by the end of 2015. Findings from this plan may necessitate an amendment to this mapping action and construction of the detention basin is not scheduled at this time. Mr. Thoms questioned what the urgency was to take action now on this official mapping if the Department of Public Works and the consultant were still in process of evaluating the storm water management plan. He felt it would be more appropriate to take action after the study was complete. Mr. Rabe responded that they have continued to update the analysis on the Sawyer Creek Watershed study and have been researching alternate sites for the detention basin since the Westhaven Golf Course property was removed from consideration for this purpose. Based on the analysis and updates to the study was what initiated taking action on the official mapping at this time. He further explained plans to refine the scale of the detention basin and how analysis of the results concluded with potentially choosing this location however they will still need to analyze if this area will meet the goals of the watershed or if further work needed to be done. Mr. Thoms then questioned if this property is an integral part of the Sawyer Creek Watershed plans. Mr. Rabe responded affirmatively. Mr. Thoms stated that the City’s Comprehensive Plan recommends this area as suitable for residential development and questioned how a detention basin was consistent with this recommended use. Mr. Nau indicated that storm water management and related infrastructure is part of the development process as any residential development in this area would require related storm water detention plans to serve the area. Mr. Thoms questioned if this was still consistent with the Comprehensive Plan as storm water detention was to serve properties downstream of this site and not this site in particular. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 3 June 16, 2015 Mr. Nau responded that it is part of the necessary infrastructure and another segment of public infrastructure and the efforts to alleviate flooding issues and it would provide flooding relief to properties downstream of the proposed detention basin. Mr. Thoms again questioned if this use was consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Burich explained that the zoning code permitted these types of community facility uses in residential districts so it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. He further discussed how the zoning code implements the criteria that are contained in the Comprehensive Plan and a detention basin was a public institutional use and a community need to alleviate flooding issues. Mr. Nau added that this proposed detention basin area follows the same model as the James Road detention basin. Mary Klemz, 4676 County Road E, stated that she was one of the property owners of the land being considered for this potential detention basin and questioned when the land would be acquired. Mr. Rabe responded that a time line had not yet been determined. Ms. Klemz stated that she was not sure what the term watershed meant and questioned how it affects the surrounding property as another one of the owner’s homes is adjacent to this site and she had concerns with what impact it would have on her residence. Mr. Rabe explained the process of the completion of the update to the storm water management plan which would take 9 to 12 months and that further action would start proceeding at that time of implementing the project. He further explained that the acquisition process would begin once a determination was made regarding the site’s effectiveness according to the results of the updated plan. He also described how the detention basin would function as when the creek rises, water would spill into the detention basin which would result in the water elevation in the area being lowered rather than continue to rise. This would reduce any negative impacts on the property owner’s adjacent residence. Ms. Propp inquired if it would be a wet or dry detention basin. Mr. Rabe responded that it would be primarily a dry basin similar to the one constructed on James Road. Mr. Thoms stated that once the city and their consultants determine if this area would work for the proposed detention basin, what the timeline would be for the project. Mr. Rabe explained that at this time next year they should know when the land acquisition will occur and discussed how the land acquisition, design of the basin and necessary permitting all take time and if the process begins in 2017 the construction would begin possibly in 2020. Ms. Propp questioned at what time it would be appropriate for the property owners to come in and discuss the process with the Department of Public Works and the legal process that takes place. Mr. Rabe indicated that Steve Gohde, Interim Director of Public Works, has attempted to contact the owners regarding this matter and explained the process of land acquisition which would begin once the area has been identified and that a consultant will handle the negotiations for the acquisition with the property owner. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 4 June 16, 2015 Ms. Propp commented that the Department of Public Works should contact the property owners by tomorrow or the near future to discuss this process so they are informed on how it would proceed. Mr. Rabe stated that the Department of Public Works reaches out to the affected property owners and discussed the document that regulates the process of land acquisition by a municipality and describes the rights of the property owner. He further stated that the State Statutes protect the property owners and they have specific steps to be taken by the municipality and that they can contact the Public Works office for updates on the project. Motion by Borsuk to approve official mapping for a storm drainage detention area at the western 2700 block of Clairville Road in the Town of Algoma. Seconded by Cummings. Ms. Propp commented that it was a bit awkward to take up this item after the action at the last meeting to divide and rezone the property but she understood the need to do the official mapping at this time. Motion carried 8-0. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Borsuk requested to place the proposed Murdock Street adjustment being considered by the Common Council on the Plan Commission agenda for discussion. Mr. Gray commented that this item has been referred back to other committees of the City for further review and was not an imminent issue. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:28 pm. (Bowen/ Cummings) Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services