MINUTES OF THE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2008
Mayor Bolender called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Commissioners were present at roll call: Commissioner Dickmann, Commissioner St. John, Commissioner Sokol, Commissioner Siira, Commissioner Kopplin, Mayor Bolender, Commissioner Grabowski, Commissioner Correll and Commissioner Nowak. Also present were Jeff Fortin Planner, and Assistant Fire Chief George Krudop.
Commissioner Grabowski moved to approve the minutes of the December 11, 2007, regular Plan Commission meeting. Commissioner Siira seconds. Roll call, all voted aye with the exception of Mayor Bolender who abstained. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Report on Significant Common Council Actions
There were no comments or concerns from the Commission.
Landscape Plan Review – Kuehne Company Storage Building
6830 S. Howell Avenue
Tax Key No.: 733-9996
Mr. Fortin explained to the Commission at the November 27, 2007 meeting they approved a 90’ x 60’ metal storage building for the Kuehne Company, subject to the applicant returning the with a landscaping plan that would add some trees along the east property line facing Midwest Airlines parking lot. The applicant is proposing adding nine pine trees and preserving an additional five trees behind the new building.
Commissioner St. John moved that the Plan Commission approve the landscaping plan for the Kuehne Company with the species being changed to cedar.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned if the applicant had spoken with Midwest Airlines. Mr. Bill Hamm, Walters Buildings, did try to speak with a representative of Midwest and was not able to reach anyone.
Commissioner Grabowski seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The motion to approve carries.
Plan Review – T-Mobile Equipment Building
8430 S. Orchard Way
Tax Key No.: 831-9021
Mr. Fortin explained T-Mobile was requesting Plan Commission approval of a site and building plan for an equipment building that will serve wireless antennas that will be placed on the City of Oak Creek Water Tower at 8430 S. Orchard Way.
Upon reviewing the ordinance staff did find a stipulation that states no wireless telecommunication site shall be located within 200 feet of an existing or proposed residence. Based on that standard this request would not meet the ordinance and staff is recommending the item be put on hold. Staff would however like some direction from the Commission on how to advance. Is this an ordinance the Commission would like to look at further?
Mr. Norb Theine gave a brief history of the land around the proposal. He felt if there was a true need for the towers then maybe the ordinance needs to be looked at but he would hope they could find some way not to have the antennas hanging off of the structure itself.
Commissioner St. John did not feel 200 feet was enough but they could change the ordinance to read if they get the consent of all residential lands within that limit then they could go ahead and proceed.
Ms. Jan Balistreiri, 2120 W. Orchard Way expressed concern for the noise from generators that would power the equipment building if they lost power. Mr. Jeff Fowl, T-Mobile explained they used a very small generator that would not produce any more noise than a residential generator.
Ms. Laura Pecor, 8407 S. Courtland Drive, expressed concern for the street lights that would be going in on the roadway that leads up to the water tower. Commissioner St. John felt that reflectors would be adequate. Mr. Fowl commented the Water Utility was requesting the street lights.
Mayor Bolender directed the item held.
S. 27th Street Corridor Streetscape Manual
Mr. Seymour explained to the Commission the S. 27th Street Corridor Streetscape Manual was a collaborative effort between the cities of Franklin and Oak Creek to guide and implement a vision for how S. 27th Street will look as it is developed. Mr. Seymour also gave a short presentation to the Commission.
Commissioner Sokol questioned why the area between Puetz and Ryan would be low intensity. Mr. Seymour explained at both ends of the corridor you are going to have major entrance points via freeway interchanges. Commissioner Sokol commented that Ryan was a huge interchange. Mr. Seymour stated between Ryan and Elm Road where the new interchange would be there would be a considerable amount of development in that area. The area between Ryan and Drexel offers some challenges with respect to lotting schemes and what is there right now. There is a lot of mixed residential in there right now more so on the Franklin side, Oak Creek has some larger development potential there but it is going to be a lot more difficult to develop that section with the same intensity that they anticipate for the other areas. Commissioner Sokol questioned if by intensity he meant traffic or buildings. Mr. Seymour explained to a certain extent it is both, the traffic is driven by the employment centers and by the retail centers. You will some traffic naturally along the corridor but a lot of the traffic is going to be generated to and from the interchanges. The level of treatment zones are driven by the buildings that are being envisioned for those sections of the corridor.
Commissioner Dickmann would like the streetscape plan to reflect that Oak Creek has a TIF District in place at this time. He also suggested a lot of thought go into where and if any roundabouts go in because seniors are very scared of roundabouts. He also questioned the City paying for utilities to be put in. Mr. Seymour explained the plan looks further than municipal utilities and is looking towards fiber optics and communications. Commissioner Dickmann also pointed out the requirement of 60% recycled materials for the pedestrian furniture and commented it looked out of place. Mr. Seymour explained what they do as a community with respect to being environmentally sustainable was an important part of 27th Street.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned if ditches were being put in on the entire length of 27th Street. Mr. Seymour explained as they proceed further with design plans they will find out where those areas will work and where they don’t. It goes back to the idea of being sustainable where they can.
Commissioner St. John commented he wanted to make sure that when they went green it was not just cosmetic. The ditches were another concern he had for the streetscape. He suggested they start piloting some of these ideas in the industrial park. Mr. Seymour explained as they moved forward from the concept to the implementation the Engineering Departments are going to have a huge roll in providing the local expertise towards forming the more detailed design plans.
Ms. Balistreiri commented she worked for the Highway Department and they are having a problem because they don’t have any place to put the snow and questioned if 27th Street was going to be a divided highway. Commissioner St. John commented most of it would most likely be six lanes divided.
Commissioner Grabowski questioned if they needed the additional personnel and all the cost of the bio-swales. Mr. Seymour explained with the plans that have been approved by the Council that they have said they want to make it into a corridor that is a special place in the City.
Commissioner Kopplin commented all of the streetscape plans depend on the DOT.
Mr. Arden Degner, 8540 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, commented Oak Creek was not getting any access to 27th Street from the interchange. Mr. Seymour explained the State was showing five different points of access to the interstate system within the City of Oak Creek.
Commissioner Nowak moved that the Plan Commission recommend to the Common Council that the S. 27th Street Corridor Streetscape Manual is adopted as proposed.
Commissioner Siira seconds. Roll call, all voted aye with the exception of Sokol who voted nay. The motion to approve carries.
Commissioner Grabowski moved to adjourn. Commissioner Dickmann seconds. Roll call, all voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15p.m.