MINUTES OF THE
TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2004
Mayor Bolender called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. The following Commissioners were present at roll call: Commissioner Dickmann, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Siira, Mayor Bolender, Commission Kopplin, Commissioner Correll and Commissioner Peterson. Commissioner Marhal was excused. Also present was Director of Community Development Douglas Seymour.
Commissioner Kopplin motioned to approve the minutes of the June 8, 2004, Plan Commission meeting. Commissioner Dickmann seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Commissioner Peterson abstained.
Mr. Seymour explained to the Commission that R & P Shore Inv. LLC was requesting that the property at 9444 S. Chicago Road be rezoned from B-2, Community Business to B-4, Highway Business, and that a conditional use permit be granted for the operation of a gasoline service station and car wash.
Mr. Ken Katzner, 3730 E. Ryan Road, expressed concern for the noise associated with the day to day operations of a gas station. He also expressed concern for the garbage and the lights from the operation of the station that would need to be on 24 hours a day.
Mr. Puetz explained that there would not be 24 hour operation at the pumps because they would have the ability to turn the pumps off at a given hour. There will be no fuel dumped after business hours and the illumination plan will not let the light spill out onto the streets or the neighbors. In the evening only the canopy lights will be lit.
Rosemarie Annonson, 3920 E. Ryan Road, questioned if the site was large enough because the entire site was not developable because the site was built up. Mr. Seymour explained that it would not matter because the code does not require that the 30,000 square feet of the property be outside of any wetlands or any filled areas.
Ms. Annonson questioned if Mr. Puetz could install gas pumps at his current location. Mr. Seymour stated he believed the conditional use only allowed for automotive repair at that location. Ms. Annonson expressed concern for the crime and litter associated with the gas station.
Don Lunsford, 3618 E. Garden Place, stated he believed the area was underserved and needed a gas station and was pleased with the proposal.
Mr. John O’Malley, questioned if the approval of this plan would place restrictions on his parcel to the south if he wanted to propose a gas station or similar facility in the future. Mr. Seymour explained that the City did not have any code which would prohibit the conditional use for a gasoline station within a certain radius of another gas station.
Mr. Richard Hendrychowski, 9451 S. Chicago Road, expressed concern for the gas station being so close to his home. He was concerned for the security of the neighborhood and also for the traffic that would affect his home with lights and noise.
Ms. Tia Lemki, 3730 E. Ryan Road, commented that the children in the area would be in danger from the additional traffic in the area. She was also concerned with noise and lights from the gas station.
Mr. Arden Degner, 8540 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, expressed concern for pedestrian traffic in the area.
Commissioner Correll speaking as a resident of the neighborhood stated that if they could get assurances on the hours of operation and that the illumination plan meets proper standards in would be a good neighbor to have.
Commissioner Kopplin suggested the conditions and restrictions restrict the hours of operation to 10 p.m.
Commissioner Peterson recommended that the pay at the pump end when the hours of operation end and not be extended past the hours of operation.
Commissioner Kopplin questioned if the site would meet the necessary green space. Mr. Seymour stated they would be required to meet the necessary green space.
Commissioner Siira requested that the Plan Commissioners see the illumination plan. Mr. Seymour replied the illumination plans, given there technical nature, usually go directly to the Electrical Inspector who has the capability of interpreting the ordinance. The levels at the property line are to be a maximum of one half foot candle which does not mean a lot to most of us but is a pretty restrictive lighting ordinance. If the Commission feels that they want to see the lighting plan that can be done.
Commissioner Correll questioned if the Commission could get the Electrical Inspectors comments on the plan along with the plan. Commissioner Siira suggested that the Commission get the plan with a verbal analysis from the Electrical Inspector.
Commissioner Dickmann motioned that the Commission recommend to the Common Council that the property at 9444 S. Chicago Road be rezoned from B-2, Community Business to B-4, Highway Business, and that a conditional use permit be granted for a gasoline station and car wash after a public hearing.
Commissioner Correll seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Motion carries.
Mr. Seymour explained to the Commission that the Oak Creek-Franklin School District was requesting that the property at 10511R S. Chicago Road be rezoned from P-1, Park to I-1, Institutional and Rs-2, Single Family Residential. The property, which is the site of a future elementary school, is in the process of being transferred to the School District as part of an exchange of other properties to the City of Oak Creek.
Mr. Don Schantzen, 9310 S. 8th Avenue, commented that the school would like to get started soon and that an alderwoman had informed him that it was her hopes that the Plan Commission would take some action to move this forward.
Mr. Shawn Corrigan, 10570 Shangra La Court, expressed concern for the access to the area. Mr. Seymour explained that the elementary schools in residential neighborhoods have traditionally been an appropriate means of anchoring neighborhood units and have successfully been used in the past.
Mayor Bolender commented that there would be a maximum of six buses in the morning and afternoon and would not create a traffic problem.
Commissioner Correll motioned that the Commission recommend to the Common Council that the property at 10511R S. Chicago Road be rezoned from P-1, Park to I-1, Institutional and Rs-2, Single Family Residential after a public hearing.
Commissioner Foeckler seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Motion carries.
Mr. Seymour explained to the Commission that the Common Council voted to authorize the use of the property at 552 W. Rawson Avenue as the site of a veteran’s memorial. On June 1st of this year the Council rezoned this property for that purpose.
Mr. Jerry Hammernick, City Liaison, explained that progress was going very well for the project and they are past 80% on the fund raising. Pending approval construction should start within two weeks.
Commissioner Jackson questioned if the parking would be off of the Fire Departments site. Mr. Hammernick confirmed that would be the case.
Commissioner Siira questioned the reasoning behind the location of the wheel chair ramp. Mr. Hammernick explained that the elevation was a problem but that they were looking into having the site resurveyed and perhaps moving it in line with the rest of the site if elevations allowed for it.
Commissioner Siira motioned that the Commission approve the site plan for the Oak Creek Veteran’s memorial at 552 W. Rawson Avenue.
Commissioner Peterson seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Motion carries.
Commissioner Foeckler motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Kopplin seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.