City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: February 19, 2007

Item No.:        

Recommendation:  That the Common Council approve resolution 10738-021907 approving the certified survey map for the property at 8131 S. Howell Avenue submitted by Woodman’s Food Market, Inc. 

Background:  Woodman’s is requesting approval of a certified survey map that would create three (3) lots in the B-4 (CU), Highway Business District.  Lot 1 will be the site of the Woodman’s Food Market while Lots 2 and 3 would be commercial outlots which could be sold for future retail development.  Between lots 2 and 3 would be a strip of land owned by Woodman’s which is where the utility connections and monument sign will be.  The CSM will also create an outlot for the stormwater management ponds, which will be owned by a property owner’s association comprised of Woodman’s and the future owners of the two additional retail parcels.  Woodman’s presented two layouts to the Plan Commission, one that met the City’s lot width requirements, and one that did not.

Woodman’s preferred CSM layout, presented to the Plan Commission (copy included), would have resulted in Lot 1 (the Woodman’s parcel) not having the required 150 feet of lot width at the setback line.  Woodman’s would prefer this configuration so they can transfer the entire ownership of the stormwater ponds to property owner’s association that would be responsible for the maintenance, repair, and insurance.  The Plan Commission did not approve the preferred layout because they did not want to create a non-conforming lot.

Woodman’s submitted an alternative layout which the Plan Commission reviewed and recommend approval of at the February 13, 2007 meeting.   This version of the CSM creates a lot width of 163 feet at the setback line along W. Forest Hill Avenue, which technically meets the requirement of the zoning ordinance which defines lot width as follows:

“The horizontal distance between side lot lines of a lot measured at right angles to its depth along a straight line and parallel to the front lot line, or its chord if on a curve. Lot widths may vary in width, especially on cul-de-sac lots and lots on curved streets, from the front of the lot to the back of the lot. A lot is not considered buildable unless the minimum lot width required for the district in which the lot is located is maintained at the front setback line and for a distance of 30 feet immediately behind the front setback line.”

Lots in the B-4 require a minimum lot width of 150 feet at the setback line (which is 25 feet).  The proposed CSM provides 163 feet of lot width, which extends back 60 feet, which meets the 30 foot distance requirement outlined in the definition above.  The majority of the stormwater ponds will still be contained within Outlot 1, however a small portion will be on Lot 1, which is owned by Woodman’s. 

Fiscal Impact:  Future development of the three (3) parcels in the B-4, Highway Business District will have a positive fiscal impact.

Prepared by: Doug Seymour, AICP Director of Community Development

Respectfully submitted, Patrick DeGrave City Administrator

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk