Planning & Zoning Minutes October 19, 2010

NORTH LIBERTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Minutes
October 19, 2010

ROLL CALL. At 6:30 p.m., Chairman Mausser called the North Liberty Planning Commission to order.
Commission members present: Anderson, Detlefsen, Frost, Haack, Mausser, Wilkerson; absent – Moore.
Others present: Dean Wheatley, Tracey Mulcahey, Scott Peterson, Kevin Trom, Erika Harper and other
interested parties.
AGENDA APPROVAL. Haack moved, Wilkerson seconded to approve the agenda as presented. The
vote was: ayes – Frost, Mausser, Wilkerson, Detlefsen, Haack, Anderson; nays – none; absent – Moore.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT. No public comment was offered.

HARVEST ESTATES, PART II PRELIMINARY PLAT.
Staff Review. City Planner Wheatley presented the request of Glynmor, LLC to approve the preliminary
plat for property generally located west of Jones Boulevard and south of St. Andrews Drive, to be named
Harvest Estates Part II. Wheatley stated that the City is working on the Preliminary Plat Agreement for
Council consideration. Staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat with no conditions. Wheatley
explained the provisions that will be incorporated into the Preliminary Plat Agreement. The buffer
landscape plans distributed at the meeting will be included in the Preliminary Plat Agreement.
Applicant’s Presentation. Alan Marks of Midwest Development Corporation presented the plat. The plat
that was submitted for approval was developed with the zoning so council and staff could see what was
planned with the development. The project engineer, Doug Frederick reported that the current submission
is very similar to what was presented with zoning request.
Public Comments. Merrill Smalley stated that the developer lied to the city council regarding written
agreements regarding water runoff. Wilkerson asked if he attended the storm water management meeting.
Smalley stated that he did not. Allison Smith, attorney for the developer, presented a recorded farm
development (stormwater runoff) agreement executed in 2006 (Bk. 4018 Page 478) that had been signed
by Mr. Smalley and the developer.. City Engineer Trom stated that the agreements are not a specific
requirement of the city for the offsite tile line. The developer has to provide storm water management to
comply with the city’s ordinances.
Jim Seelman who owns land adjacent to the property asked about the validity of the previously executed
agreement since the entity has changed. Allison Smith reported that same developer and same entity owns
the project, but one of the previous owners doesn’t exist anymore. Alan Marks stated that even if the
company was sold, all are still bound by this agreement.
Joe Duster asked for an update on the Jones Boulevard project and reported on storm water issues.
Questions and Comments of the Commission. The Commission had no questions or comments.
Recommendation to City Council. Haack moved, Wilkerson seconded to approve the Preliminary Plat for
Harvest Estates, Part 2 with no conditions. The vote was: ayes – Wilkerson, Haack, Anderson, Mausser,
Detlefsen; nays – Frost; absent – Moore. Motion carried.

MERCY CARE COMMERCIAL SITE PLAN.
Staff Review. Wheatley presented the request of Mercy Care Management, Inc to approve a site plan for a
commercial development expansion generally located at the northwest corner of West Penn Street and
Alexander Way. Staff recommends approval with no conditions.
Applicant’s Presentation. Tred Schnoor from Schnoor Bonifazi presented the application and offered to
answer any questions.
Public Comments. No public comments were offered.
Questions and Comments of the Commission. Wilkerson stated that it is nice to see notes that the
developer worked well with city staff on the project. The Commission expressed positive approval of the
development.
Recommendation to City Council. Frost moved, Detlefsen seconded to recommend approval of the Mercy
Care Commercial Site Plan application with no conditions. The vote was: ayes – Haack, Mausser,
Detlefsen, Wilkerson, Anderson, Frost; nays – none; absent – Moore. Motion carried.

NORTH GRAND PLAZA, LOT 3 COMMERCIAL SITE PLAN
Staff Review. Wheatley presented the request of Kevin O’Brien to approve a site plan for a commercial
development generally located at the southeast corner of Highway 965 and Pacha Parkway. Staff
recommends approval with documentation being provided that the building is 60% masonry and the
Commission’s review of the north side of the building elevation.
Applicant’s Presentation. Kevin O’Brien and Duane Musser spoke regarding the proposed project.
O’Brien stated that this development will be comparable to the Coralville building. He offered to answer
questions.
Public Comments. No public comments were offered.
Questions and Comments. Haack asked about the orientation of the building on the lot. O’Brien stated
that the building orientation and general design was driven by corporate to orient the main entrance to the
heaviest traffic volume intersection. The Commission discussed the design of the north side of the
building and the location of the bike rack and the development of the Walgreens site. The Commission
recommended the inclusion of a matching arch on the north elevation of the building.
Recommendation to City Council. Mausser moved, Anderson seconded to recommend approval of the
Commercial Site Plan application to the City Council with the following conditions: addition of the
French Fry on the north elevation. After discussion, the vote was: ayes: Mausser, Frost, Anderson,
Wilkerson, Detlefsen, Haack; nays – none; absent – Moore. Motion carried.

PRATT COUNTY REZONING.
Staff Review. Wheatley presented the request of Diana Pratt to rezone property east of North Liberty,
generally located south of Dubuque Street on the west side of North Liberty Road, from A and R-3 to R-
10. Staff recommends approval with the signing of an agreement for future annexation with the plat,
when submitted.
Applicant’s Presentation. No applicant presentation was made.
Public Comments. No public comments were offered.
Questions and Comments. The Commission asked about the draft annexation agreement. Wheatley will
provide to the Commission.
Recommendation to City Council. Wilkerson moved, Frost seconded to recommend approval of the
rezoning to the City Council with the following conditions: requirement of the annexation agreement. The
vote was: ayes – Frost, Detlefsen, Anderson, Wilkerson, Haack, Mausser; nays –none; absent – Moore.
Motion carried.

MINUTES. Frost moved, Haack seconded to approve the minutes from the September 7, 2010 Planning
Commission meeting. All ayes. Minutes approved.

NEW BUSINESS Wheatley stated that based on a case that went to Board of Adjustment for variance for
duplexes to be built on lots that were too small for the construction of the units, he is reviewing all lots for those whose size do not match with their zoning.

CASES UNDER DEVELOPMENT Wheatley summarized the proposed modifications to O/RP district
and drafting of new commercial district.
ADJOURNMENT. At 7:35 p.m., Mausser moved, Wilkerson seconded to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting
adjourned.