Mayor Richards called the meeting to order. The following Commissioners were present at roll call: Commissioner Rottel, Commissioner Dickmann, Commissioner Siira, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Siepert, Commissioner Foeckler, Commissioner Prochnow and Commissioner Buchholz. Also present was Doug Seymour, Assistant Director of Planning. Del Nirode was absent.

Commissioner Siepert motioned to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 11, 2001. Commissioner Dickmann second. All voted aye.

Commissioner Dickmann asked if the only reason to rezone is for the developers need for an access point.

Mayor Richards had concerns with a manufacturing facility with access out to Oakwood that is driving back through residential neighborhoods. The Mayor stated the access should be off Howell Avenue and not Oakwood. Commissioner Buchholz agreed with the Mayor. He stated that he could not support this rezoning.

Mayor Richards stated changing the rezoning does not bother him, if it is because of the road, that bothers him.

Darrell Kurzka, Opus North Corporation, project manager stated that what they are proposing is that there are no dead end roads in the park. Through discussions with staff, he stated that if they did this it would be for access only on a minimal basis, no truck traffic in or out. All truck traffic for this development would have to come down Howell Avenue enters into an access opposite Lisa Drive. He stated that they have to provide a secondary access out of the park which was the farthest east road going down to Oakwood. Oakwood would have to be improved to handle additional vehicle traffic. The secondary far west road is really strictly to prevent a dead end corridor and to provide through access for the fire and police departments.

Commissioner Dickmann asked if the development turns out where the road would not come in here; then you would not have a need for those properties? Mr. Kurzka, stated basically, yes. He also stated that they were still working with the DOT on the traffic study itself. The purpose of this is really due diligence, it is pursuing what we agreed to do with the Planning Department. He stated the traffic study report should be completed by the end of January it would then be presented to Planning.

Ann Lampe, Alderman, stated the street pattern showed it maximized the use of their land, which was to be expected, her concerns are the trucks not using Howell Avenue, but coming down 13^th to Oakwood Road.

Maggie Menard Miller, 320 W. Oakwood Road, stated her concerns and that she is not in favor of the rezoning. She suggested a buffer between her home and the manufacturing site. She also suggested the double access to Howell Avenue.

Kathy Jahns, 543 W. Oakwood Road, stated that she does not want a road put in.

Floyd Leonard, representing the Oakwood Rest Cemetery, stated that he had concerns regarding special assessments that would be assessed against the cemetery. He asked that the north/south proposed street be deleted from the official map. He asked that if a north/south street were installed to Oakwood Road that it be moved 250 feet of our east line and preserve a portion of the streets.

Mayor Richards stated that he would not be supportive of putting a road in that area as another means of access to and from a manufacturing district.

Mr. Seymour stated that the City’s expectation regarding access is that we have as much access as possible. We have to balance the concerns over the enhanced access vs. the impacts of the neighborhood.

Commissioner Foeckler motioned that the Commission deny the rezoning for the properties at 598 and 622 W. Oakwood Road from Rs-3, Single Family Residential to M-1, Manufacturing.

Commissioner Prochnow second. All voted aye.

Commissioner Siepert recommended to the Common Council that the south 10 feet of the right of way for West Puetz Road be vacated adjacent to the properties at 900 and 917 W. Violet Drive after a public hearing.

Commissioner Rottel second. All voted aye.

Mayor Richards asked the developer to give a presentation regarding the layout of the buildings and the type of building materials they are planning to use.

Terrance Bride, project director, PDG Inc. a subsidiary of Flying J. accompanied by Matt Meyer, civil engineer, explained that they are proposing a 17,600 square foot travel plaza which includes seating for 179 individuals in the Country Market Restaurant in addition a convenience store which will located in the same building. In addition they would have two fast foods and an area for the truck drivers with a big screen TV and an area with 15 private showers. We have fueling for diesel trucks off of our diesel island, which is completely separated. We have a complete separation from our trucking and convenient store, restaurant and four wheel parking which is in the other parking lot. We like to have complete separation from the diesel and automobile parking area. We will be retaining the small area on the corner and coming back at a later date to discuss further improvements.

The building materials, as far as the façade, we have a neutral brick that we use on the exterior of the facility. The roof is a green concrete tile and the soffit and fascia is a dark green.

Mr. Seymour asked Mr. Bride to comment on the traffic flow because that adds an impact on some of the things we are asking the Commission to do in terms of giving discretion to the Director of Public Works for some driveway and median modifications.

Mr. Bride stated that one of the problems that they had with the site as they were beginning development was where the structure of the building had to be placed given our limitations, needing to keep automobile parking and truck parking completely separate, was that we had a very narrow site. It gave us a very flat front in order to get trucks into the fueling islands and our cars into their fueling islands. Not so much of a problem on the automobile side but it did become a problem over on the diesel side. Because of that we found that we needed to have a wider driveway in order to get those trucks in. In addition, one of the recommendations through staff review was that maybe we could solve some of that problem by having an out only in the southern portion of the truck driveway area. The trucks would enter through 20^th Street going to the east, flowing through the diesel islands, fueling and then moving on to the east, little to the north, then around to the scales, which are in the back of the property and then parking, then going from that point out through the truck exit. Given the short depth we had to work with, we thought in discussing this with staff, we came to some understanding and this may not be the best way that they would like to see this done, but at least it is part of a general understanding. We thought that adding that additional egress could actually improve the flow in the parking area. The area shaded green would not be landscaped, that would be a mountable curb. It would be concrete, mountable meaning that it would have enough of a curb on it so that the tire can still get over it but we would propose to make it high enough so that they would not want to mount it.

Mr. Bride gave a brief history on the Flying J travel plaza.

Ann Lampe, Alderperson asked about the driveway configuration.

Mr. Bride explained that they had to work with the site and tried to stay within a standard. The number of parking spaces is very important to them. They want to park as many trucks as they can.

Mr. Seymour commented on the security and visibility issue from the main building was a big factor.

Mr. Bride stated that the fueling counter is in this area of the building and we train our employees to keep an eye on the parking lot and especially the driveway into the truck parking area.

Mayor Richards asked Mr. Seymour about his thoughts on the landscaping plan. Mr. Seymour stated that it looks fine and is a major upgrade over what they have right now. He stated that they will have to look at the parking areas adjacent to the restaurant. It is a vast improvement. Mayor Richards asked if the Engineering Department has had an opportunity to look at the 20^th Street access. Commissioner Jackson stated that no one has looked at that yet. Mr. Seymour stated that the code does give this Commission authority to give the Director of Public Works some discretion in approving driveway widths, which are above the maximum, which is 48 feet.

Commissioner Foeckler asked Mr. Bride if he could get 1.4% more open space.

Mr. Bride stated that in evaluating this site, we have done our utmost to make certain that we provide as much open space as possible. It would almost be impossible for us to make this economically feasible project. He stated no, they would not be able to do that.

Mayor Richards stated that this would be a redevelopment. Commissioner Foeckler asked if we would be waiving the 30% requirement or are they not required.

Mr. Seymour stated as he understood it, the 30% requirement applies to new development. Since this is redevelopment or retrofit, it is my understanding that the 30% does not apply here.

Ann Lampe, Alderman, stated that the code was not specific enough.

A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the 30% landscaping requirement for new or redevelopment developments.

Assistant Fire Chief Krudrop had concerns regarding spills.

Mr. Bride stated that they came prepared and gave Chief Krudrop a copy of their spill prevention plan, emergency response plan, spill prevention control and counter measure plan and their written hazard communication plan.

Mr. Biesek, Building Commissioner, stated that if the signage company would contact him, he would advise them on their signage.

Commissioner Dickmann motioned that the Commission approve the site and building plans for the B-4, planned unit development at 9600 and 9650 S. 20^th Street subject to the following conditions:

Commissioner Siepert second. All voted aye, except Commissioner Foeckler.

Commissioner Foeckler motioned that the Commission recommend to the Common Council that the City attempt to acquire the property at 9000 S. Pennsylvania Avenue.

Commissioner Rottel second. All voted aye.

Commissioner Foeckler motioned that the Commission recommend to the Common Council that the City attempt to acquire the property at 250 W. Drexel Avenue.

Commissioner Rottel second. All voted aye.

Commissioner Foeckler motioned that the Commission recommend to the Common Council that the City attempt to acquire the property at 1120 E. Oakwood Road.

Commissioner Rottel second. All voted aye.

Commissioner Foeckler motioned that the Commission recommend to the Council that the City sell the property located at 1800 E. Drexel Avenue

Commissioner Siira second. All voted aye.

Commissioner Foeckler motioned that the Commission recommend to the Council that the City sell the property located at 2651 E. Ryan Road.

Commissioner Siira second. All voted aye.

Commissioner Dickmann motioned for adjournment. Commissioner Rottel second. Meeting adjourned at 8:47p.m.