Planning and Zoning Minutes March 4, 2008

NORTH LIBERTY PLANNING COMMISSION
March 4, 2008

At 6:30 p.m., Chair Romans called the meeting to order.
Commission members present: Eric Foresman, Bill Mausser, Doug Peters, Jennifer Richey, Roy Romans,
Natlie Wilkerson; Absent – Candace Daniels.
Others present: Ryan Heiar, City Administrator; Tracey Mulcahey, Assistant City Administrator; Dean
Wheatley, City Planner; Scott Peterson, City Attorney; Kevin Trom, City Engineer; Tom Salm, Duane
Musser, Jason Harder, Harold Cameron and other interested parties.
PUBLIC COMMENT. No public comment was received.
CONCEPT PLAN: City Planner Wheatley presented the request of Harold Cameron to approve a concept
plan for approximately 277 acres of property, located generally between Penn Street and 270th Street and
west of Jones Boulevard, which is intended to be developed in the future.
Staff Review. Wheatley pointed out that the property is completely undeveloped. Wheatley presented
information regarding the concept plan application.
Applicant’s Presentation. Duane Musser, MMS Consultants, presented the concept plan and the process
by how it was developed. The plan contains major traffic thoroughfares, drainage, utilities, possible areas
of potential commercial development, and a potential city park, 1 acre to 40 acres to be purchased by the
City.
Public Comment. Public asked for handout to review. No other oral or written comments were received.
Questions and Comments. The Commission inquired about public safety locations. Wheatley pointed to
the Facilities Plan that will place city facilities and locations. Heiar stated that both departments want to
remain in the old part of town.
Wheatley reminded Commission that this is a concept plan designed to create understanding of basic
needs and wants for this development.
Commission discussed issues regarding park land, public transportation designs, and neighborhood
commercial areas.
Recommendation to City Council. Mausser moved, Richey seconded to recommend approval to the City
Council with the components numbered one through twelve from the staff report and bus pull outs being
included. After discussion the vote was: ayes – Mausser, Richey, Wilkerson, Peters, Romans, Foresman;
nays – none; absent – Daniels. Motion carried.
PRELIMINARY PLAT: Wheatley presented the request of Harold Cameron to subdivide property located
east of lots that front on West Lake and Lily Pond Roads, West Village Addition.
Staff Review. Wheatley reported that this is the western most portion of the concept plan just approved.
He summarized meetings with staff and developer. Wheatley presented the items in the agreement.
Applicant’s Presentation. Jason Harder, developer, presented the application for preliminary plat.
Public Comment. The public inquired regarding the timeframe for development and drainage on St.
Andrew’s/270th Street.
Harder reported that the good neighbor meeting for this subdivision was held in conjunction with
rezoning. All comments received at that meeting were related to the zoning.
Questions and Comments. Foresman inquired about note ten in staff comments relating to wetland
mitigation. Harder responded that the two thin strips of wetlands are currently farmed. The developer
intends to try to mitigate. Harder intends to look at big picture of all wetlands in the larger area and
potentially mitigate around one of the future basins in this development. Ultimately, the Army Corps of
Engineers is responsible for this determination.
A property owner adjacent to St. Andrews/270th Street inquired about the size of the lots. Harder
indicated it will be a seventy foot frontage. The first phases will be smaller, single family, higher density
with a transition to RS-4 like in Harvest Estates the further east and south.
Mausser inquired about bus turn offs.
Recommendation to City Council. Wilkerson moved, Mausser seconded to recommend approval to the
City Council with stipulation that the conditions for approval be included on the plat. After discussion
the vote was: ayes – Romans, Mausser, Richey, Wilkerson, Foresman, Peters; nays – none; absent –
Daniels. Motion carried.
BYLAWS DISCUSSION: Wheatley presented the existing bylaws and asked for input regarding revisions.
Discussion was held regarding proposed amendments to the bylaws. Staff will compile an amended set of
bylaws for the next meeting for the Commission to review.
MINUTES. Wilkerson moved, Foresman seconded to approve the minutes from the February
Commission meeting. The vote was: ayes – Wilkerson, Foresman, Romans, Mausser; nays – none;
abstain – Richey, Peters. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS. Wheatley presented the rezoning application that went along with the Preliminary Plat
item was tabled at Council. Council had concerns regarding RM-12 rezoning on the parcel as
recommended by the Commission. Harder presented information regarding adjacent lot of Harold
Cameron’s property will be connected and utilized as an addition to the lot to the North. Email from
Keith Steurer was introduced into the record regarding rezoning request. No other public comments were
received. Discussion was held regarding over saturation of units. Commission consensus was that the
RM-12 zoning recommendation with a two-story above grade limitation should not be amended.
NEW BUSINESS. Foresman presented a LEED scorecard for a building that the university is building.
The Commission discussed LEED qualifications and green building requirements.
CASES UNDER DEVELOPMENT. Chair Roy Romans presented upcoming cases as follows:
• Request of United States Post Office to allow for the storage of postal vehicles in the C-2-A district at
75 Commercial Drive, Lot 1 of Green Subdivision. Wheatley will follow up.
• Request of Arlington Development, Inc to approve final plats for Arlington Ridge Parts 4, 5, and 6;
single-family subdivisions located generally north and east of Dubuque Street and south of North
Liberty Road (East Penn Street).
• Request of CJ Construction Inc to approve a site plan for property located at 1350 Kennel
Court, Lot 2 of North Park subdivision.
ADJOURNMENT. At 7:32 p.m., Mausser moved, Wilkerson seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Motion
carried.