MINUTES OF THE

OAK CREEK PLAN COMMISSION MEETING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2007

Mayor Bolender called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  The following Commissioners were present at roll call: Commissioner Dickmann, Commissioner Johnston, Commissioner Siira, Commissioner Kopplin, Mayor Bolender, Commissioner Grabowski Commissioner Correll and Commissioner Nowak. Commissioner Sokol was absent.    Also present were Jeff Fortin Planner, and Assistant Fire Chief George Krudop.

Commissioner Grabowski moved to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2007, regular Plan Commission meeting. Commissioner Correll seconds.  Roll call, all voted aye with the exception of Commissioners Dickmann and Kopplin who abstained.  The minutes were approved as submitted.

Report on Significant Common Council Actions

There were no significant Common Council actions to report.

Sign Appeal – United Rentals
9401 S. 13th Street
Tax Key No.:  877-9006

Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting a variance to Section 17.0706(i)(1) of the Municipal Code that would allow them to display two wall signs.  In addition, the proposed wall sign on the south end of the building facing 13th Street will require and additional variance since it extends above the roofline which is prohibited under the current sign code section 17.0708(c)(1). 

Mayor Bolender opened the public hearing.

Mr. Fortin swore in Mr. Scott Henry, United Rentals and Mr. Dave Morris, So-Lite Neon Sign Company.

Mr. Morris explained he had new drawings for the additional wall sign and it would be below the roofline. 

Mayor Bolender commented he would prefer to see one sign.

Commission Siira questioned the size of the signs on the building.  Mr. Morris stated they were both the same size. 

Commissioner Dickmann stated part of the problem may be that there is still a Cummins sign on the building.  He also asked if there was another company in the building.  Mr. Henry stated there was another company but they only used 15 percent of the building.

Mayor Bolender called three times and closed the public hearing.

Sign Appeal – United Rentals
9410 S. 13th Street
Tax Key No.: 877-9006

Commissioner Dickmann moved that the Plan Commission deny the variance for an additional wall sign for United Rental at 9410 S. 13th Street. 

Commissioner Grabowski seconds.  Roll call, all voted aye.  The motion to deny carries.

Final Plat – Bluffs of Oak Creek
10250, 10150, and 10190 S. Chicago Road
Tax Key Nos.:  917-9987-001, 917-9988-002, 917-9006, & 917-9999

Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting approval of the final plat for the first phase of the Bluffs of Oak Creek.  The final plat for this phase will create 44 lots in the Rs-1, Single Family residential zoning district and one lot, number 45, in the Rm-1, Multi-family residential district.  Each of the lots meets or exceeds the zoning requirements.

Commissioner Grabowski moved that the Plan Commission recommends to the Common Council that the final plat for the Bluffs of Oak Creek subdivision be approved, with the following conditions:

  1. That any technical corrections are made prior to recording.
  2. That all fees be paid prior to the Council approval.

Commissioner Nowak seconds.  Roll call, all voted aye.  The motion to approve carries.

Plan Review – Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District East Middle School Buildings and Grounds Facility Building
9330 S. Shepard Avenue
Tax Key No.:  873-9978

Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting approval of a maintenance building.  The building will be similar in architectural style and materials as the school building including split face cmu blocks, an aluminum window system and decorative metal panels. 

Commissioner Grabowski moved that the Plan Commission approve the site building plans for the Buildings and Grounds Facility at Oak Creek East Middle School, subject to the following conditions:

  1. That all building and fire codes are met.
  2. That the final site grading, drainage, and stormwater management plans are reviewed and approved by the Engineering Department prior to the issuance of building permits.
  3. That the final utility plans are approved by the Water & Sewer Utility.

Commissioner Kopplin seconds.  Roll call, all voted aye.  The motion to approve carries.

Land Donation Request – 2211 W. Drexel Avenue
2211 W. Drexel Avenue
Tax Key No.:  810-9992

Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the owners of the vacant property at 2211 W. Drexel Avenue were offering to donate the parcel of land to the City of Oak Creek.  The owners wish to dedicate the property because the significant amount of floodplain and wetlands present make this property very difficult, if not impossible to develop.  Acquiring this property, which has significant floodway and has been designated as a resource protection area on the future land use map, will help implement the City’s goals relating to natural resource and open space preservation. 

Commissioner Johnston explained with the expansion of Drexel Avenue this could be a beneficial property for floodplain mitigation and also for stormwater and greenspace.

Commissioner Dickmann questioned the Phase I Environmental Report.  Mr. Fortin explained it was done when the City accepts any donation of property to find any prior uses to ensure the City is not accepting any contaminate property. 

Commissioner Correll moved that the Plan Commission recommends that the Common Council consider accepting the proposed donation of the 5.97 acre parcel of land at 2211 W. Drexel Avenue.

Commissioner Dickmann seconds. Roll call, all voted aye.  The motion to approve carries.

Plan Review – Man Singh Multi-Tenant Building
8900 S. 27th Street
Tax Key No.:  856-0070-007

Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting approval of a two-story multi-tenant retail and office building for the property at 8900 S. 27th Street.  The proposal is for 9,000 square feet of first floor retail and 3,000 square feet of second floor office space. 

Mr. Scott Naylor, TDI Associates, explained some possible uses for both floors of the building and the parking for the building and how the mechanicals are proposed to be screened. 

Mayor Bolender questioned if the building met the 27th Street guidelines.  Mr. Fortin stated it did meet the requirements.  Mayor Bolender questioned if they needed all of the proposed parking spaces.  Mr. Fortin stated it would depend mostly of the types of users that go into the building.  He would recommend if they did cut parking that it be in the rear near the residential properties.  Mr. Naylor proposed that it be held in reserve and not effect the greenspace ratios. 

Commissioner Grabowski questioned the percentage of two-story.  Mr. Naylor stated it was 9,000 on the first and 3,000 on the second floor.  Commissioner Grabowski stated she was hoping they would not see an abundance of the easy loan, pay day places.  They seem to be popping up all over Oak Creek and she was hoping for some top shelf retail in the building.  She questioned if the mechanicals would be hidden behind the parapets.  Mr. Naylor explained they would be hidden. 

Commissioner Siira questioned if the three entrances depicted on the first floor area was indicating the amount of tenants.  Mr. Naylor explained they are given the flexibility for five entrances off of 27th and Hilltop.  Depending on the final tenant layout they could be flipped out as store front.  Commissioner Siira also commented the side of the building that is seen when you enter the parking lot looks like the back of a building.  Mr. Naylor commented chances are they would end up with store front in the back of the building if the tenants were retail.  Commissioner Siira questioned what the intentions were for the screening of gas and electric meters.  Mr. Naylor anticipated the meters would be on the north elevation and may be somewhat screened by a dumpster on the northeast corner.  The meters would not be on the west or the south elevation. 

Commissioner Grabowski questioned if there were concerns from the Fire Department regarding ingress/egress.  Assistant Fire Chief George Krudop pointed out there was a cross access easement into the Arizona Grille and people would be able to exit or enter from that location beside the Hilltop access point.

Commissioner Dickmann moved that the Plan Commission approve site, building and landscaping plans for the property at 8900 S. 27th Street, subject to the following conditions:

  1. That all building and fire codes are met.
  2. That the final site grading, drainage, and stormwater management plans are reviewed and approved by the Engineering Department prior to the issuance of building permits.
  3. That the final utility plans are approved by the Water and Sewer Utility.
  4. That the lighting plan is reviewed and approved by the Electrical Inspector prior to the issuance of building permits and that all parking lot lighting is turned off outside of business hours.
  5. That the landscaping plan is reviewed and approved by the City Forester and Department of Community Development prior to the issuance of building permits.
  6. That the applicant returns to the Plan Commission with a planned sign program prior to the issuance of any sign permits.
  7. That all rooftop mechanicals are screened from all four sides.
  8. Electrical and gas meters shall not be allowed on the west or south side of the building and shall be screened from casual view.
  9. The east end of the parking lot shall remain greenspace until parking demand necessitates additional spaces

Commissioner Grabowski seconds.  Roll call, all voted aye.  The motion to approve carries. 

Plan Review – Kuehne Company Storage Building
6830 S. Howell Avenue
Tax Key No.:  733-9996

Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting approval of a 90’ x 60’ metal storage building for the Kuehne Company.  They are requesting that the Plan Commission approve the new building with a metal exterior, which does not meet the requirement that 75 percent of the visible perimeter of any building in a commercial zoning district be finished with glass, brick or decorative masonry.  Staff feels that since it is a new building it should be held to the current standards.

Mr. Bill Hamm, Walters Buildings, explained the intentions of the Kuehne Company to replace the burned out building with the same materials.  The building is not visible from Howell Avenue.

Commissioner Grabowski questioned the location of this proposed building in relation to Midwest Express.  Mr. Fortin showed on a map the view from Midwest Express.  Commissioner Grabowski questioned if there was a compromise the Kuehne Company was willing to give on the 75 percent brick and glass requirement.  Mr. Hamm stated they have not talked about a compromise of any kind. 

Mayor Bolender stated the company has been here before we were here.  He looks at this and feels it is just a storage building and wonders if it can be hidden from Midwest.  Mr. Hamm stated there were evergreen trees along the property line to screen the building from the Midwest property.  Mayor Bolender would like to see them find a way to screen the building so Midwest will not have to look at a warehouse. 

Commissioner Correll commented the building was there before Midwest built and he did not feel they would have that big of a concern.

Commissioner Kopplin questioned if the building had already been ordered and delivered.  Mr. Hamm stated it had been ordered but it had not yet been delivered.  Commissioner Kopplin expressed concern for the building being screened and the Fire Department gaining access.  Assistant Fire Chief George Krudop did state they had trouble in the past and pointed out they might be able to get a leniency from structural requirements as far as masonry but it is a new building and it must meet the current fire code.  Access will need to be granted to the present code, the State Building Code, fire hydrants and possibly sprinkled depending on the size.  Mr. Hamm stated the building was not scheduled to be sprinkled.  A.C. Krudop stated it would depend on the size and use whether it would be required.  Mr. Hamm explained according to the state it would not need to be sprinkled unless the City has stricter codes.  Mr. Hamm stated it would be a 5,400 square foot building used for storage of landscape materials such as seed.  A.C. Krudop stated it would not need to be sprinkled under those conditions but a fire hydrant would be required and an access road. 

A.C. Krudop commented that a metal building at this time may be adequate but in 10 or 15 years it may not be and he suggested adding a brick ledge to the slab for future expansion of brick.  Mr. Hamm explained it was a storage building and they were planning on building it exactly the way it was and it previously did not even have a concrete floor.  They do not want to put a concrete floor in the building to just store seed. 

Commissioner Kopplin reminded the Plan Commission of how many buildings and businesses that were here and they added on and the Commission allowed metal.  The Plan Commission has allowed the metal because it was preexisting. 

Commissioner Siira commented usually when the masonry, glass issue comes up the Commission is usually in fear of setting a precedent but in this situation the building was already there and they are just reconstructing the building. 

Mayor Bolender suggested Mr. Hamm work with Planning in regards to screening the building as much as possible from Midwest’s view.  It can’t be seen from the road so that is not going to be a problem. 

Commissioner Kopplin moved that the Plan Commission approve the plans for the Kuehne Company storage building at 6830 S. Howell Avenue and require them to return to the Plan Commission with landscaping plans prior to starting construction and consider adding a brick ledge for future installation of the brick.

Commissioner Nowak seconds. Roll call, all voted aye.  The motion to approve carries.

Commissioner Grabowski moves to adjourn.  Commissioner Kopplin seconds.  Roll call, all voted aye.  The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.