MINUTES OF THE
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2007
Mayor Bolender called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Commissioners were present at roll call: Commissioner Johnston, Commissioner Sokol, Commissioner Siira, Commissioner Kopplin, Mayor Bolender, Commissioner Grabowski, and Commissioner Nowak. Commissioners Dickmann and Correll were excused. Also present were Jeff Fortin, Planner, and Assistant Fire Chief George Krudop.
Commissioner Grabowski moved to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2007, Plan Commission meeting. Commissioner Nowak seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Report on Significant Common Council Actions
Mr. Fortin updated the Commissioners on the actions that were taken at the June 5, 2007, Common Council meeting. There were no comments or concerns from the Commissioners.
Planned Unit Development – Oak Creek Hospitality Park (Wisco Hotel Group)
6440 & 6466 S. 13th Street
Tax Key Nos.: 717-990-001 & 717-9988
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission Wisco Hotel Group was proposing to rezone the properties at 6440 and 6466 S. 13th Street from B-4, Highway Business & M-1, Manufacturing to B-4/M-1 (PUD), Highway Business/Manufacturing Planned Unit Development to allow for the development of two hotels; a 99 room Candlewood Suites Hotel and a 122 room Fairfield Inn Hotel.
Mr. Todd Winkler, President Wisco Hotel Group, explained the future proposal for the hospitality park in conjunction with Edgerton Contractors.
Commissioner Siira questioned if there would only be one way in and out of the back parcel. Mr. Winkler explained the access points on the site plan map. Commissioner Siira also questioned the access point from the south end of the Edgerton driveway. Mr. Fortin commented there would be an emergency access road that was not shown on the plan at this time.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned the 70 feet of frontage for Edgerton Contractors in the M-1 zoning. Mr. Fortin explained there are two ways to handle that and one way would be to bring forward a CSM and request a Council variation and the other would be to include it in the PUD. The PUD would allow for flexibility in the City’s zoning. It would be written into the conditions and restrictions that the parcel needs to have a minimum lot width of 70 feet for the Edgerton property.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned if the applicants have had any discussions with the DNR regarding the changes that have recently occurred. Mr. Winkler explained they have been following Code and have not approached the DNR at this time. They have taken what the DNR requirements are and followed them.
Commissioner Kopplin questioned if they would be taking over some of the crane places land. Mr. Scott McWilliams, Real Estate Broker explained the site immediately to the south of the Comfort Suite site has been under contract since December and they worked a land swap with Edgerton Contractors for the development. Commissioner Kopplin commented as the Alderman for the area she was 100% for the proposal because of the eye sore on 13th Street that currently exists. Edgerton has been a good company but moving them to the back is a better fit.
Commissioner Sokol moved that the Plan Commission recommend to the Common Council that portions of the property at 6440 and 6466 S. 13th Street be rezoned from
B-4, Highway Business & M-1, Manufacturing to B-4/M-1(PUD), Highway Business/Manufacturing District Planned Unit Development after a public hearing and subject to conditions and restrictions that will be presented to the Plan Commission at the next meeting.
Commissioner Siira Seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The motion to approve carries.
Temporary Use Permit – Willowbrook Subdivision Sales Office
10333 S. Monardy Lane
Tax Key No.: 961-9079
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the applicant was requesting a temporary use permit to allow them to keep their existing sales office for the Willowbrook Subdivision on the property at 10333 S. Monardy Lane for an additional two years.
Mr. Brian Depies, Bielinski Homes explained they were looking to extend the time period for the sales trailer to continue selling lots and models.
Commissioner Grabowski moved that the Plan Commission approve the temporary use permit for the property at 10333 S. Monardy Lane, subject to the permit expiring on June 12, 2008.
Commissioner Kopplin seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The motion to approve for one year carries.
Land Dedication Request – 250 W. Drexel Avenue
250 W. Drexel Avenue
Tax Key No.: 782-9023
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission the owners of the vacant property at 250 W. Drexel Avenue are offering to donate the parcel of land at 250 E. Drexel Avenue to the City of Oak Creek, conditioned upon the municipality’s agreement to assume all delinquent taxes and assessments against the property.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned if the City was aware how much the delinquent taxes were with Milwaukee County. Mr. Fortin commented they have a preliminary report from Barb Guckenberger but some numbers needed to be double checked before the Council meeting. Commissioner Grabowski supported the donation because it was a resource protection area.
Mayor Bolender commented he did not want Milwaukee County to own any land with in the City of Oak Creek.
Mr. Jerry Reeder, husband of one of the land owners, stated the delinquent taxes were in the area of $3200 or $3400 at this time.
Commissioner Kopplin questioned if there were outstanding assessments against the property. Mr. Fortin explained that would be a number he would get from Roseann before the Council meeting.
Commissioner Grabowski moved that the Plan Commission recommend that the Common Council consider accepting the proposed donation of the 4.828 acre parcel of land at 250 W. Drexel Avenue.
Ms. Irene Wolters, 7777 S. Howell Avenue, expressed concern with the donation of the land to the City and questioned what the City intended to do with the land if they accepted the donation. Mayor Bolender was not aware what the City would do with the land if they accepted the donation. Mr. Fortin commented with the floodplain, wetland and flood fringe on the property it would most likely be kept as resource protection.
Ms. Wolters was afraid there would be a repeat performance of the incident with the ball park. The City filled some land or had some land filled and that increased the amount of wetlands on her property. Mayor Bolender commented the land would be safer under the ownership of the City rather than the County.
Commissioner Kopplin gave a brief history of some of the problems on Ms. Wolters property.
Mr. Arden Degner, 8540 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, commented the five foot sewer seems to be ignored for the area. Mayor Bolender explained that pipe was not on this property.
Commissioner Nowak seconds. Roll call, all voted aye with the exception of Commissioner Kopplin who voted nay. The motion to approve carries.
Status Report: Sign Variances – Jim Dandy’s
8900 S. 27th Street
Tax Key No.: 856-9992
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission on April 24, 2007, the Plan Commission and Mr. Iwinski came to an agreement to the variances granted for the pole sign on the property at 8900 S. 27th Street. Since that time Mr. Iwinski has taken no action to remove the pole sign from the public right-of-way.
Mayor Bolender suggested giving Mr. Iwinski 90 days to complete the project.
Alderman Michalski, commented he has already had 45 days and has not taken any time to get this project moving. He would be happier with 60 days to come into compliance.
Mayor Bolender was agreeable to the 60 days.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned if he had 60 days to erect the sign or was it 60 days for compliance. Commissioner Johnston stated it would be completion of the approved variance within 60 days.
Mayor Bolender directed staff to send Mr. Iwinski a letter stating he would have 60 days to come into compliance.
No motion was made on the update.
Sign Ordinance Update – Miscellaneous Sign Ordinance Revisions
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission staff would like to discuss some remaining sign issues before presenting a draft of the revised sign ordinance at the next Plan Commission meeting.
Commissioner Grabowski was supportive of the plan that Muskego uses and would like to see some things added to the sign code to help eliminate the variance requests.
Commissioner Sokol questioned if pole signs were going to be eliminated. Mr. Fortin explained if the Commission had issues with pole signs that would be one option, although some pole signs can be designed to they are attractive. Another question is would the Plan Commission like to review them or should it be reviewed at a staff level? Another thing to consider eliminating would be the twelve foot clearance requirement for pole signs.
Mayor Bolender commented if the sign was in a parking lot it should be at the normal truck height depending if they have stuff delivered by semis then it should be the same height as all road clearances.
Commissioner Nowak commented there seemed to be a lot of room in the Code for the application of common sense. He would like to see the code kept simple.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned what the City would suggest for window signs. Mr. Fortin would like to see a limitation on the amount of coverage and illuminated window signs. The TCF bank is using the window tower for window signs to get around the sign ordinance. That loop hole needs to be closed up.
Commissioner Siira felt that any window sign illuminated or not should count if it was visible from the outside.
Commissioner Grabowski moved to adjourn. Commissioner Siira seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.