Planning and Zoning Commission on February 1, 2022

Agenda

6:30 PM,  North Liberty City Council Chambers, 1 Quail Creek Circle, North Liberty, Iowa 52317

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1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of the Agenda
4. Review of Conditional Use: Request of Colony Acres, LLC, dba Colony Pumpkin Patch on behalf of Colony 1927 for an Agricultural Experience Conditional Use on approximately 63.17 acres of property located on the east side of Front Street NE approximately 130 feet south of East Tartan Drive (2780 Front Street NE).
   1. Staff Presentation
   2. Applicant Presentation
   3. Public Comments
   4. Questions and Comments
   5. Recommendation to the Board of Adjustment
5. Site Plan: Request of TSS Investments, LLC to approve a Site Plan for a new building on approximately 2.4 acres of property located at 340 Herky Street.
   1. Staff Presentation
   2. Applicant Presentation
   3. Public Comments
   4. Questions and Comments
   5. Recommendation to the City Council
6. Public Hearing for Amendment to Previously Approved Planned Area Development: Request of Vintage Estates of North Liberty for an amendment to a previously approved RS-4 PAD Single-Unit Residence District Planned Area Development. The property contains 8.42 acres and is located on the west side of South Jones Boulevard west of the terminus of Cory Court.
   1. Staff Presentation
   2. Applicant Presentation
   3. Public Comments
   4. Questions and Comments
   5. Recommendation to the City Council
7. Approval of Previous Minutes
8. Old Business
9. New Business
10. Adjournment

Minutes

Call to Order
Planning Commission Chair Becky Keogh called the February 1, 2022 Planning Commission to
order at 6:30 p.m. Commission members present: Barry A’Hearn, Josey Bathke, Jason Heisler,
Becky Keogh, Patrick Staber, Dave Willer; absent: Brian Vincent.

Others present: Ryan Rusnak, Ryan Heiar, Tracey Mulcahey, Grant Lientz, Kevin Trom, Katie
Colony, John Marner and other interested parties.

Approval of the Agenda
Bathke moved, Staber seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was all ayes. Agenda approved.
Colony Pumpkin Patch Conditional Use

Staff Presentation
Rusnak presented the request of Colony Acres, LLC, dba Colony Pumpkin Patch on behalf of
Colony 1927 for an Agricultural Experience Conditional Use on approximately 63.17 acres of
property located on the east side of Front Street NE approximately 130 feet south of East Tartan
Drive (2780 Front Street NE). Staff recommends the Planning Commission accept the two listed
findings:
1. The approval of the Agricultural Experience Conditional Use would allow the Colony
Pumpkin Patch to operate within the City of North Liberty;
2. The Agricultural Experience use complying with the use standards would ensure
compatibility with the area; and
forward the request for an Agricultural Experience Conditional Use on approximately 63.17 acres
of property located on the east side of Front Street NE approximately 130 feet south of East
Tartan Drive (2780 Front Street NE) to the Board of Adjustment with a recommendation for
approval subject to the following conditions:
1. That the property be annexed into the City of North Liberty; and
2. That the buildings identified in the staff report not meeting the design standards be
permitted to be used in conjunction with the use.
Applicant Presentation
Katie Colony was present and offered to answer questions.

Public Comments
No comments were offered. A letter of support was sent to the Commission earlier today.

Questions and Comments
The Commission discussed the application including future change of business, grandfathering in
of existing structures, and replacement of existing structures if damaged.
Recommendation to the Board of Adjustment
Heisler moved, Willer seconded that the Planning Commission accept the two listed findings and
forward the request to the Board of Adjustment with a recommendation for approval subject to
the two conditions listed by City staff. The vote was: ayes – Keogh, Bathke, Willer, Heisler, A’Hearn,
Staber; nays – none; absent – Vincent. Motion carried.

TSS Investments, LLC Site Plan
Staff Presentation
Rusnak presented the request of TSS Investments, LLC to approve a Site Plan for a new building
on approximately 2.4 acres of property located at 340 Herky Street. Staff recommends the
Planning Commission accept the two listed findings:
1. The industrial use of the property would be consistent with the current I-1 Industrial District
and the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map designation of Industrial;
2. The site plan would achieve consistency with North Liberty Code of Ordinances Section
165.04(2) entitled, “Site Plan Requirements” Section 169.12 entitled “Other Design
Standards” and other Code of Ordinance requirements;
and forward the request to approve a site plan for a new building at 340 Herky Street to the City
Council with a recommendation for approval.

Applicant Presentation
John Marner, MMS Consultants, was present on behalf of the applicant and offered to answer
questions.

Public Comments
No public comments were offered.
Questions and Comments
The Commission had no questions or comments on the application.

Recommendation to the City Council
A’Hearn moved, Staber seconded that the Planning Commission accept the two listed findings
and forward the site plan to the City Council with a recommendation for approval. The vote was:
ayes – Heisler, Willer, Keogh, A’Hearn, Staber, Bathke; nays – none; absent – Vincent. Motion
carried.

Public Hearing for Amendment to Previously Approved Planned Area Development
Staff Presentation
Rusnak presented the request of Vintage Estates of North Liberty for an amendment to a
previously approved RS-4 PAD Single-Unit Residence District Planned Area Development. The
property contains 8.42 acres and is located on the west side of South Jones Boulevard west of
the terminus of Cory Court. Staff recommends the Planning Commission accept the three listed
findings:
1. The zoning map amendment would be consistent with the North Liberty Comprehensive
Plan Land Use Plan;
2. The proposed use and density of the development would be compatible with the area;
3. The zoning map amendment achieves consistency with Section 168.12 of the North Liberty
Code of Ordinances, entitled “PAD Zone – Planned Area Development Overlay District
and the site plan achieves consistency with Section 165.04(2) of the North Liberty Code
of Ordinances entitled, “Site Plan Requirements;” and
forward the request of Vintage Estates of North Liberty for an amendment to a previously
approved RS-4 PAD Single – Unit Residence District Planned Area Development to the City
Council with a recommendation for approval subject to the following conditions:
1. That the development be subject to the design standards and maximum height limitations
for buildings in the single-unit residence district;
2. That no building in the proposed development have basements;
3. That the setback reduction not affect the design of the stormwater management system.

Applicant Presentation
Jason Ledden, Snyder and Associates was present on behalf of the applicant and offered
additional information on the request.

Public Comments
No public comments were offered.

Questions and Comments
The Commission discussed the application including the change in the setbacks, setbacks on
multi-family generally, the need for this type of housing in the community, and the numbers of
units sold.

Recommendation to the City Council
Willer moved, Heisler seconded that the Planning Commission accept the three listed findings and
forward the amendment to the City Council with a recommendation for approval subject to the
three conditions listed by City staff. The vote was: ayes – Staber, Willer, A’Hearn, Bathke, Heisler,
Keogh; nays – none; absent – Vincent. Motion carried.

Approval of Previous Minutes
Bathke moved, Staber seconded to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2022 meeting. The
vote was all ayes. Minutes approved.

Old Business
No old business was presented.

New Business
Rusnak provided an update on the Comprehensive Plan and residential housing growth.

Adjournment
At 6:59 p.m., Staber moved, Willer seconded to adjourn. The vote was all ayes. Meeting adjourned.

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