North Liberty
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
April 5, 2005

Meeting was called to order by Chairperson Eric Sittig at 6:30 pm.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Leick, Sittig, Smith, Osterholt, Mausser, Jones; absent: Shrader.

ALSO PRESENT: Denny Dunlap, Frank Lenane, City Council members, Tom Salm, Dave Franker and James Moody, City Administrator, Brian James, City Attorney, Bill Sueppel, City Engineer, Kevin Trom, Cory Hodapp, Karla Davis, Larry Lutz, Cindy and Jerry Kasper, MMS Consultant, Glen Meisner, Kevin Watts, Gerald Kuhl, Amanda Delano, Erin Aldridge, John Fratzke, Bev and Jim Seelman and other interested citizens.

PUBLIC HEARING: Request of Richard and Audrey White to annex and simultaneously zone their property to RS-4 Residential District, RD-10 Residential District and RM-8 Residential District, which property is located at 2317 Highway 965 NE. The Public Hearing was open at 6:33 p.m.

John Fratzke, 1190 Winchester Lane: Has several concerns in this area. The condition of 230th Street, the ditches are silting so there is standing water in the ditches, and the area needs to be cleaned up. Contractor’s materials are in the pond and ditches, and nails are in the street.

Erin Aldridge, 1710 Eight Point Trail: Would like the trees to stay and would like the cul-de-sac to extend further to the south to allow development of more RD-10 lots.

Public Hearing was closed at 6:46 p.m.

Cory Hodapp, the developer of this project, addressed the concerns of the trees and will try to save as many as possible.

City Staff does not agree with the proposed RM-8 zoning on the lot but also notes that the property shape and available access contributes to the problems in developing the property. Staff suggest that by extending the cul-de-sac further to the south of the property may allow development of more RD-10 lots.

Osterholt moved, seconded by Mausser, to recommend to the City Council approval of the annexation and zoning. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Smith, Osterholt, Mausser, Jones; nays—Sittig; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

Sittig voted nay because he agrees with the city on the RD-10 zone being a more efficient use of the land.

PRELIMINARY PLAT: WHITE PINES ESTATES: Osterholt moved, seconded by Mausser, to recommend to the City Council approval of the Preliminary Plat subject to saving as many trees as possible during construction and imposing a tree covenant deeded to each homeowner to maintain a certain number of tree’s per property, the existing septic system shall be removed per North Liberty requirements, submission of a detailed drainage plans with construction plans showing the proposed drainage, the paving thickness of 230th Street needs to be 8” P.C.C., and the 230TH Street detail note “drainable base will be provided where hydric soils exist and shall extend 12” beyond the back of curb” should be removed from the plat. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Smith, Osterholt, Mausser, Jones; nays—Sittig; absent—Schrader. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: THE REQUEST OF NORTH LIBERTY PLEASANT CARE to rezone their property from RS-4 (Single-Family Residential District) to RM-12 (Multi-Family Residential District). The Public Hearing was open at 7:10 pm, and there was no public comment. The Public Hearing was closed.

Greenwood Manor is looking to build a 43,000 square foot, 85 bed facility at this location. Denny Henderson informed the commission there would be only two deliveries per week and the property would access from the main entrance.

Osterholt moved, seconded by Jones, to recommend to the City Council approval of the rezoning subject to the condition that the zoning revert back to RS-4 (Single-Family Residential District) if the convalescent center does not locate there. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Sittig, Osterholt, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; abstain—Smith; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

REVISED PRELIMINARY PLAT: CAHILL ADDITION: The plat was given to the commission members at this meeting; members did not have time to review. Osterholt moved, seconded by Mausser, to table this item until next month to allow commission members time to review the plat. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Osterholt; nays—Sittig, Smith, Mausser, Jones; absent—Shrader. Motion failed.

Smith moved, seconded by Jones, to recommend to City Council approval of the plat subject to the following items being addressed before the City Council review: take off Lot 114 from having access to Scales Bend Road, a watermain and hydrant need to be added to lift station, and drainage needs to be resolved between developer and lot 114 owner.

After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Mausser, Smith, Jones; nays—Leick, Sittig, Osterholt. This item will move on to City Council with no recommendation.

PUBLIC HEARING: Request of Frank Lenane to annex and simultaneously zone his property to RM-8 (Multi-Family Residential District) which property is located at 2797 South Front Street. Public Hearing was open at 7:40 pm. And there was no public comment. Public Hearing was closed. Osterholt moved, seconded by Smith, to recommend to City Council approval of the request with no additional buffering between the property and the corn field being required, and no development or filling in the flood plain. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Sittig, Smith, Osterholt, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: REQUEST OF PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE, TO APPROVE A PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT. The Public Hearing was open at 7:50 pm. and there were no public comments. The Public Hearing was closed. Premier Automotive would like to expand their existing automotive body and collision repair business located at 2 Lions Drive. Osterholt moved, seconded by Mausser, to recommend to City Council approval subject to a variances on the 10 foot pavement setback for Lions Drive, 25 foot building setback on Hawkeye Drive, allow one tree within 40 feet of every parking space and placing the dumpster inside the fenced area, and Premier agreed to remove the parking space from the parking on Lyons Drive and move the parking lot to the north. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Osterholt, Sittig, Smith, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

SITE PLAN: LOT 16, DEERFIELD SEVENTH ADDITION. Osterholt moved, seconded by Leick, to recommend the City Council approve the site plan. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Osterholt, Sittig, Smith, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

FINAL PLAT: CORRIDOR COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION, PART TWO A located on Jordon Street. Leick moved, seconded by Smith, to recommend to the City Council approval of the Final Plat. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Osterholt, Sittig, Smith, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: LOT 15, DEERFIELD SEVENTH ADDITION, TO AMEND THE PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT to add additional garages. Public Hearing was open at 8:05 pm, there were no public comments. The Public Hearing was closed. Osterholt moved, seconded by Leick, to recommend approval of the amended Planned Area Development subject to detail drainage plans being submitted to the city for review before the council meeting and removing the note requesting a variance for three-story buildings because the code has been changed to allow for buildings up to five stories without the need for a variance. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Osterholt, Sittig, Smith, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: GLYNMOR, LLC DEVELOPMENT to rezone their property from ID (Interim Development) to RS-3 and RS-4 (Residential District) located at the southwest quadrant of 270th Street and Jones Blvd. City Staff was notified earlier on this day that the legal description for this property is incorrect; therefore, on the advice of the City Attorney, this item will be republished and presented at the next meeting. Several homeowners from this area were in attendance so the commission allowed them to voice there concerns.

Gerald Kuhl, 1180 St. Andrews Drive: Questioned why notice of rezoning that he received from the city did not contain both names of the owners of his home. City Attorney, Bill Sueppel explained that the notice is a courtesy and not legally required.

Gerald also told the commission that he has a letter from the developer stating that the developer is not interested in comments from the adjacent homeowners.

Larry Lutz, 820 South Jones Blvd: Will present concerns when the item appears again on the agenda.

Chairperson Sittig read a letter from James Poggenpohl, 3150 West Hauer Drive NE, regarding his concerns.

Kevin Watts told the commission that he is not opposed to the development, but would like the developer to allow the adjacent homeowners to have some input.

MINUTES: Osterholt moved, seconded by Mausser, to approve the Minutes of March 1, 2005 subject to changing the spelling of Carla Davis to Karla Davis. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Sittig, Smith, Osterholt, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

Osterholt moved, seconded by Mausser, to approve the Minutes of March 15, 2005 subject to changing the motion for Progress Park, Part Five to read: subject to correction of the legal description on the plat. After discussion, the vote was: ayes—Leick, Sittig, Smith, Osterholt, Mausser, Jones; nays—none; absent—Shrader. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS: City Administrator, Brian James reminded the commission of the meeting on April 19th to address the Public Hearing on The Comprehensive Plan.

NEW BUSINESS: Sittig thanked Travis Alden, Telecommunication Assistant, for getting the DVD of Planning and Zoning Meetings in the Library for patrons to check out.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 pm.

___________________________________________
Mary Byers, Deputy City Clerk