Planning and Zoning Minutes October 7, 2008

NORTH LIBERTY PLANNING COMMISSION

October 7, 2008

At 6:30 p.m. Vice-Chair Mausser called the meeting to order.

Commission members present:  Haack, Foresman, Mausser, Peters, Wilkerson; absent – Daniels, Moore.

Others present: Ryan Heiar, City Administrator; Erek Sittig, Assistant City Attorney; Dean Wheatley, City Planner; Kevin Trom, City Engineer; Tracey Mulcahey, Assistant City Administrator; Corinne Lemmage, Tom Salm; Brian Crawford, Duane Musser and other interested citizens.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Wilkerson moved, Peters seconded to appoint Bill Mausser as Chair of the Commission. The vote was: ayes – Foresman, Wilkerson, Haack, Peters; nays – none; abstain – Mausser; absent – Moore, Daniels. Motion carried.

Wilkerson moved, Haack seconded to appoint Eric Foresman as Vice-chair of the Commission. The vote was: ayes – Peters, Mausser, Haack, Wilkerson; nays – none; abstain – Foresman; absent – Daniels, Moore. Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT. No public comment was received.

PRIMUS CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL SITE PLAN.

Staff Review.  Wheatley presented the site plan application. The developer’s completed landscape plan will be more extensive than what is presented here.  Wilkerson asked about managing water on site with water retention gardens.  The single staff recommended condition is that the applicant pay for the sidewalk reimbursement or complete a waiver of future assessment for sidewalk along Highway 965 as it is redeveloped.

Applicant’s Presentation.  Brian Crawford, McClure Engineering, presented the request of Primus Construction, Inc. to approve a commercial site plan at 1695 Jordan Street. The structure will be a 6,100 square foot, multi tenant, all masonry exterior building.

Public Comment.  No comments from the public were received.

Questions and Comments.  The Commission discussed bike rack location and LEED certification of the building.

Recommendation to City Council. Wilkerson moved, Haack seconded to recommend approval of the application of Primus Construction for a Commercial Site Plan at 1695 Jordan Street with the sidewalk waiver in place and a review of the location of the handicapped stall and bike rack. After discussion, the vote was:  ayes – Haack, Mausser, Peters, Wilkerson, Foresman, nays – none; absent – Daniels, Moore. Motion carried.

FROG HOLLOW DAYCARE CONDITIONAL USE APPLICATION.

Staff Review. Wheatley presented the request of Alan Arzu to approve a conditional use to allow outside storage of 4 small buses at 410 North Front Street (Frog Hollow Day Care), used to transport children. This plan moves buses out of the front parking area and to the side of the site.  This application paves the  driveway between the church and daycare center.

Applicant’s Presentation.  No application presentation was received.

Public Comment.  No public comment was received.

Questions and Comments.   The Commission discussed concrete and storm water on the site.

Recommendation to Board of Adjustment. Wilkerson moved, Haack seconded to recommend approval of the application to the Board of Adjustment.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Mausser, Peters, Foresman, Wilkerson, Haack; nays—none; absent – Daniels, Moore. Motion carried.

Moore arrived at 7:00 p.m.

HAPPY VALLEY SALES CONDITIONAL USE APPLICATION.

Staff Review. Wheatley presented the request to enclose outdoor area with chain link fence, pave a part of it, and store equipment and supplies on site. Staff identified that this is a very tight area.

Applicant’s Presentation.  Jerry Wear & Ryan Wear presented the request of Happy Valley Sales to approve a conditional use to allow outside storage of bulk landscape materials, equipment, and trailers at 740 Liberty Way.

Public Comment.  No public comment was received.

Questions and Comments.  The Commission discussed storage of items on the property and the transformer.

Recommendation to Board of Adjustment. Peters moved, Foresman seconded to recommend approval of the application to the Board of Adjustment. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Moore, Peters, Mausser, Wilkerson, Haack, Foresman; nays – none; absent – Daniels. Motion carried.

HEARTLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH SITE PLAN.

Staff Review. Wheatley provided additional information regarding the site plan application. Staff had issues that they hoped would be worked out before tonight.  On the revised application, the building was revised to include metal panels on the building elevations.  Wheatley recommends hearing the application with the following options – table, recommend alternative to city council, recommend denial, or some other alternative the commission sees fit.

Applicant’s Presentation.  Jeff Tackaberry, Troy Lyons, and Duane Musser presented the request of Heartland Community Church to approve a site plan at Kansas Avenue and Zeller Street for a new church.  Lyons reported that there will be split faced block on some elevations of the building with vinyl lap siding on the lines of the split face block on the remainder of the building.

Public Comment.  None was received.

Questions and Comments.  The Commission discussed the roof color, landscaping along residential use, landscaping by volunteers and future transit plans regarding bus stops.

Recommendation to City Council. Wilkerson moved, Haack seconded to recommend approval of the Site Plan application with the siding change, dumpster enclosure improvement, addition of a bike rack, a landscape plan to include buffering to the east, and lighter color, more energy efficient roofing. After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Foresman, Wilkerson, Haack, Peters, Moore, Mausser; nays – none; absent – Daniels. Motion carried.

MINUTES. Haack moved, Moore seconded to approve the minutes of the September 2, 2008 meeting with the recommended amendment. The vote was: ayes – Mausser, Moore, Peters, Foresman, Wilkerson, Haack; nays – none, absent – Daniels. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS. None was offered.

NEW BUSINESS. Wilkerson provided information to the Commission regarding the North Liberty Food Pantry Coat Drive.

ADJOURNMENT. At 7:48 p.m. Foresman moved, Mausser seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.