MINUTES OF THE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2005
Mayor Bolender called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Commissioners were present at roll call: Commissioner St. John, Commissioner Sokol, Commissioner Siira, Commissioner Foeckler, Mayor Bolender, Commissioner Grabowski, Commissioner Correll and Commissioner Peterson. Commissioner Dickmann was excused. Also present were Jeff Fortin, Planner and Assistant Fire Chief George Krudop.
Commissioner Foeckler moved to approve the minutes of October 25, 2005 Plan Commission meeting. Commissioner Grabowski seconds. Roll call, all voted aye with the exception of Commissioners Siira and Correll who abstained. Minutes were approved as submitted.
Report on Significant Common Council Actions
Mr. Jeff Fortin, Planner updated the Commissioners on the actions that were taken at the November 1, 2005, Common Council meetings. There were no comments or concerns from the Commissioners.
Mayor Bolender informed the Commission that items e and f would be put on hold. Item e – Official Map Amendment for SE ¼ of Section 28 was being held at the request of Commissioner St. John and Commissioner Grabowski. Item f – Use Approval for United Rentals was on hold at the request of Mallory Properties.
Sign Review – Willow Creek Estates
1711 E. Oakwood Road
Tax Key No.: 958-0038
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting approval of a residential development sign for Willow Creek Estates. The sign would be placed on a median outlot in Willow Creek Drive.
Commissioner St. John requested a condition be added that in the future if Oakwood Road were to have improvements that the sign approval be looked at again. Mr. Scott Biller, Willow Creek Estates, explained the outlot that the sign would be located in was outside of the setback for the right-of-way at this time.
Mr. Biller requested he be allowed to raise the wood sign another six to eight inches. Mayor Bolender stated as long as it stayed within the ordinance.
Commissioner St. John stated the second car at the stop sign would be impeded by the sign if it was raised and he would like to see it lowered.
Assistant Fire Chief George Krudop stated he would like to see the final height of the sign before the Fire Department signs off on the sign. The current height is acceptable but if it was much higher it would be a problem for the fire trucks. Mr. Biller stated he would only be raising the sign another foot which would be within the code. Mr. Biller stated he would keep the sign under 5’6”.
Commissioner Siira questioned the reasoning behind raising the sign. Mr. Biller stated the sign company suggested raising the height of the sign to keep it out of the snow. Commissioner Siira understood the reasoning behind raising the wood portion but not the pillars.
Commissioner Siira motioned the Plan Commission approve the sign for Willow Creek Estates subject to the applicant removing the temporary sales building from the property at 10311 S. Willow Creek Drive prior to any sign permits being issued and also raise the interior wooden portion of the sign be raised 8-12” and the piers would remain at 4’6” in height. The approval of the sign will be in effect until improvements to Oakwood Road take place.
Commissioner Grabowski seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Motion carries.
Certified Survey Map – Brian Schoenleber
450 E. Wynbrook Drive and 540 E. Mona Drive
Tax Key No.: 814-0092 & 814-0284
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting approval of a certified survey map that would join two outlots to create one parcel in the Rs-3, Single Family Residential zoning district. The lot exceeds the square footage and width requirements for the zoning district.
Commissioner Sokol motioned the Plan Commission recommend to the Common Council that the certified survey map for the properties at 450 E. Wynbrook Drive and 540 E. Mona Drive be approved, subject to the following conditions:
Commissioner Grabowski seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Motion carries.
Conditions and Restrictions – Stramowski Heating Inc.
6508 S. Howell Avenue
Tax Key No.: 719-9985
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission that at the October 11, 2005 meeting, the Plan Commission recommended that the property at 6508 S. Howell Avenue be rezoned from B-2, Community Business to B-4, Highway Business and that a conditional use be issued for a contract’s office and shop with no outside storage. The corresponding conditions and restrictions have been prepared for the Commission’s review.
Commissioner St. John noted there was an error on item 2H regarding the employee parking. Mr. Fortin stated that would be corrected to add customers before being forwarded to Council.
Commissioner Peterson questioned if the applicant was aware that all service trucks must be parked indoors. Mr. Brian Stramowski stated he was aware of that fact and has known that for a long time but never really received a clarification of what was meant by storage of vehicles in buildings. Mr. Fortin explained that a contractor’s yard in the B-4 was allowed as a conditional use provided there was no outside storage of materials or equipment. Equipment is to be defined as trucks used in the operation of the business which need to be stored inside at the end of the day.
Mr. Stramowski brought up the fact that Hanna Trailer has outside storage. Mr. Fortin explained that the City has been looking at violations to the conditional use permit for that site. Mr. Stramowski asked to be allowed to park 3 -5 service vehicles on the north side of the building. Mr. Fortin explained the Commission did not have the authority to allow a variance to the conditional use which states no outside storage of materials or equipment. He also explained he could request a text amendment or a zoning change to M-1.
Commissioner Siira questioned the side yard setback with the buffer yard and questioned if it would be a total of 35 feet setback from the property line. Mr. Fortin confirmed it would be a 35 foot setback with landscaping that would be looked at during the site and landscaping plan. The twenty foot buffer is in addition to the setback.
Commissioner Correll questioned if Hanna Trailer was B-4 and what would the repercussions be to the Stramowski’s. Mayor Bolender explained Hanna Trailer would have to be addressed by the building inspector. Commissioner St. John stated it was a different type of sales and the conditions and restrictions were different and the building inspector is looking into the situation.
Commissioner Foeckler stated Hanna Trailer was an example of why outdoor storage is not allowed or should not be allowed.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned if Mr. Stramowski was aware of what outdoor storage was and if it was discussed at earlier meetings. Mr. Stramowski stated Jeff has always said there would be no outdoor storage allowed but he never posed the answer of the service trucks being outside over night because there were too many other issues to deal with in the beginning. Mr. Fortin stated it was noted in the previous staff reports that no outside storage would be allowed. Mr. Stramowski there was always the question of what the definition of what outdoor storage means. To him storage means that you would have something that would sit outside for two years and not move.
Several residents of Jewel Street expressed concern for the berm, retention pond and the lighting on the site and they were informed those issues would be addressed at during the site and building review of the property.
Mr. Paul Wroblewski, 6542 S. Howell Avenue commented he would be happy to see a nice building on the site.
Commissioner Peterson motioned the Plan Commission recommend to the Common Council that the attached conditions and restrictions are adopted as part of the conditional use permit for the property at 6508 S. Howell Avenue including a correction to item 2H that would state: That outdoor parking area should be employees, visitors and customers.
Commissioner Grabowski seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Motion carries.
Final Plat – Pine Creek Subdivision
7538 S. 13th Street
Tax Key No.: 783-9001
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the final plat would create 5 lots in the Rs-3, Single Family Residential zoning district. The preliminary plat was approved on September 15, 2004 and the final plat substantially conforms to the preliminary plat.
Commissioner Foeckler motioned the Plan Commission recommend to the Common Council that the final plat for the Pine Creek subdivision be approved subject to any technical corrections being made prior to recording.
Commissioner Grabowski seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. Motion carries.
Commissioner Foeckler motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Grabowski seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.