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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes__________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 1 June 6, 2017 PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES June 6, 2017 PRESENT: David Borsuk, Ed Bowen, Jeffrey Thoms, Thomas Fojtik, John Hinz, Steve Cummings, Kathleen Propp, John Kiefer, Robert Vajgrt EXCUSED: Michael Ford STAFF: Darryn Burich, Director of Planning Services; Brian Slusarek, Assistant Planner; Elizabeth Williams, Planner; 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 16, 2017 were approved as presented. (Vajgrt/Hinz) I. RESIDENTIAL DESIGN STANDARDS VARIANCE REQUEST TO PERMIT AN ADDITION EXCEEDING 50 PERCENT OF THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE’S EXISTING FOOTPRINT AT 821 WEST 11TH AVENUE The applicant/owner requests approval of a variance from the City’s Residential Design Standards to permit a rear addition exceeding 50% of the principal structure’s existing footprint at 821 W. 11th Avenue. Mr. Slusarek 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 variance being requested and reviewed a photo of the home. He reviewed the site plan and elevations of the home depicting the proposed addition and explained that the primary reason was to increase the living area for the owner’s daughter’s family occupying the house. He stated that approval of the variance would not have an adverse impact on the neighborhood character or curb appeal of the block and the addition will be consistent with the style and materials of the original structure. Staff was recommending approval of the request and he reviewed the finding that was applicable. Mr. Cummings commented that the staff report refers to the home as a one-story structure however the photo appears to be a two-story home. Mr. Slusarek responded that city records show that what appears to be a second story is an attic area that is not living space. Ms. Propp commented that the home is very small and the addition would make it more consistent with the size of neighboring homes. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 2 June 6, 2017 Motion by Propp to approve a residential design standards variance to permit an addition exceeding 50% of the principal structure’s existing footprint for property located at 821 W. 11th Avenue with the following findings: 1. The variance will not be contrary to the public interest. Seconded by Vajgrt. Motion carried 8-0. II. SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN APPROVAL FOR A NEW PARKING LOT AT 227 WEST LINWOOD AVENUE (OAKLAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) The applicant requests approval of a Specific Implementation Plan for the construction of a parking lot at 227 W. Linwood Avenue (Oaklawn Elementary School). Mr. Bowen arrived at 4:06 pm. Ms. Williams presented the item and reviewed the site and surrounding area as well as the land use and zoning classifications in this area and stated that the site has had the parcels combined with the school property since the last meeting to meet the condition of the general development plan. She further stated that the use was consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and reviewed the site plan. She discussed the number of parking stalls and the addition of a storage building north of the proposed parking lot with the remaining area to be turf grass and landscaping around the parking lot improvements. She also discussed the base standard modification for the front yard setback, the number of parking stalls required and the number proposed which will exceed the maximum number of stalls. Staff was supportive of a base standard modification to allow the additional parking stalls as it was a traffic and safety concern with the on-street parking due to insufficient on-site parking stalls. She reviewed the lighting plans and stated that the light poles have been relocated to avoid any negative impact on the residential property to the west. She reviewed the landscape plan which meets code requirements and discussed the six foot fence to be installed along the west property line for screening purposes for the residential properties which will also require a base standard modification for the side yard setback. The site will need to meet code requirements for storm water management and both the landscaping and storm water plans will be reviewed during the site plan review process. She reviewed photos of examples of the storage facility and the conditions recommended for this request. Mr. Thoms questioned if the school district was exempt from the standards of the requirement that the exterior materials for the storage building having to match the exterior of the principal structure. Ms. Williams responded negatively and stated that the exterior materials for the storage building would have to meet those requirements. Mr. Borsuk questioned if the exterior materials match the existing structure as it did not appear that it met that requirement. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 3 June 6, 2017 Ms. Williams replied that the photo displayed is for reference purposes only and is not the structure to be constructed at Oaklawn School. The photo was taken at Emeline Cook School and was provided for example purposes only and although the school is constructed of brick the materials are only required to be compatible with the existing structure and not necessarily constructed of brick. She further commented that the school system has been sensitive to the City’s design standards in the past. Motion by Vajgrt to approve a specific implementation plan for a new parking lot for property located at 227 W. Linwood Avenue with the following conditions: 1. Base standard modification from the Zoning Ordinance to: a. Permit a total of 92 surface parking stalls (45 existing stalls and 47 stalls to be constructed). b. Reduce the required front yard setback from 30 feet to approximately 13 feet 6 inches for a 6 foot tall solid fence along the west property line. c. Reduce the required front yard setback for parking lot improvements from 30 feet to approximately 13 feet 6 inches. 2. Lights be mounted so fixtures are directed east towards the existing school building and away from the residential properties to the west Seconded by Kiefer. Motion carried 9-0. III. IMAGINE OSHKOSH UPDATE Mr. Burich discussed that the city has been working on the Imagine Oshkosh project which is also known as the Central City Investment Strategy. He discussed the process of working with Houseal Lavigne Associates on the preparation of the document and the stakeholder meetings that have been held and the process that has been followed to date. He stated that the final working draft is in the process of being prepared and we should be releasing this to the public in the next month for comments. The document will then be presented to the Plan Commission and Common Council for approval. John Houseal, Houseal Lavigne Associates, stated that they have been working on this project for about a year and provided copies to the Commission of the working draft document. He stated that additional material will be added to the document prior to its completion. He discussed the chapters of the document and what was included in these chapters and reviewed each section briefly and explained what was contained in it. The sections discussed included land use and development, economic development and commercial areas, housing and residential areas, transportation and mobility, civic and institutional resources, arts and cultural resources, urban design and public spaces, and implementation. He stated that they would be finalizing the document with staff and the advisory committee in the near future. Mr. Burich added that the purpose of the presentation was to update the Commission on the progress on this project and that the item did not require any action at this time. __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 4 June 6, 2017 Mr. Thoms discussed the various documents that the city has completed in the past and then have not adhered to them and questioned if it has been decided on how to get this information out to developers. He continued discussion on how to target certain things and grants and other funding sources available for development. He felt that partnering with local banking institutions to lower interest rates should be researched as grant sources and other funding was often highly sought after and hard to obtain. Mr. Burich indicated that the city needs to develop an implementation strategy and adopt the plan however the question relating to the funding sources is part of a broader economic development plan. Mr. Thoms then questioned how the city would get funding to do the implementation strategy. Mr. Houseal discussed funding sources for public and private improvements and the options for working with banks and the importance of the adoption of a formal plan as this plan would provide standards of review for reference. He further explained how this plan would be useful to determine if a development proposal is consistent with the standards contained in the document. He further explained that standard guidelines can be developed after the adoption of the plan and it could also be used to change zoning classifications as zone changes may be required to implement the plan. He discussed how compatible zoning designations and procedures would need to be aligned and that an implementation matrix would need to be created. Ms. Propp questioned if the new Zoning Ordinance would be compatible with this document and that it was an issue that would need to be further discussed. She also felt the update of the Comprehensive Plan could also be included in this process. Mr. Houseal discussed how the zoning classifications were a tool to implement this plan and that it could be revised in certain locations to be compatible with it. Mr. Borsuk questioned if the city adopts this as a reference standard for guidance with development, what improvements would need to be made to get to that point. Mr. Houseal discussed the corridor plans that the city was currently working to complete which would have an impact on this process. Mr. Burich added that the 9th Avenue and South Park Avenue corridors were currently being worked on and the city would be proceeding with other corridors in the future. This plan could be adopted as a reference to the Comprehensive Plan for the central city. Ms. Propp commented that the Commission would need to decide if they approved of this plan prior to its finalization. Mr. Burich stated that the Commission members should review the document and provide comments back to him prior to the release of the final draft to the public for their comments. After __________________________________ Plan Commission Minutes 5 June 6, 2017 the finalized document is prepared, it will be presented to other advisory boards of the city for their input. Mr. Houseal discussed the broad perspective of people who were included in the advisory group in order to get input from a variety of sources. OTHER BUSINESS Ms. Williams discussed her new position in the state of Washington and expressed how much she enjoyed her position with the City of Oshkosh and her work with the Commission. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:58 pm. (Vajgrt/Hinz) Respectfully submitted, Darryn Burich Director of Planning Services