PLAN COMMISSION

October 5, 2006

                                                                                                       

Members present:  Breault, Koch, Yoerg, Mailloux, Gilbert and Caruso

 

Others present:  Nelson, John Hoggatt, Hugh Gwin, Gene Haberman, Patrick Giordana, Alan Glasspool, Al Keller, Wanda Kramer, Al Anthinson, Dan Routson, Jay Andrews,

Gerald O’Flaherty, Ryan Cari, Sam Cari, Bob Pierce, Mike Meyer, David Feist, Dennis Kroll, John Boster, Sara Wenzel, Dick Fey, John Kromer, Denny Darnold and others.

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Breault at 7:03 p.m.

 

Moved by Mailloux, seconded by Yoerg to approve the September 21, 2006 meeting minutes.  Motion carried.

 

Request to discontinue a part of Myrtle Street west of First Street – Nelson and Hoggatt.  Darnold reviewed the recent considerations by the public safety committee – no opposition to vacating the street right of way and from the park board – to vacate, retain the middle 30 feet, the length of the adjacent residential lots so that each adjacent property owner receives 18 feet of the street right of way.  The 30 feet retained by the city will be used to install stormwater utility and pathway improvements in the future.  Darnold noted the proposed addition to the Hoggatt residence to provide disability access can be accommodated without a variance if the street discontinuance is approved as proposed.  Moved by Caruso, seconded by Mailloux to recommend approval of the discontinuance of the north 18 feet of the east 140 feet of Myrtle Street west of First Street and the south 18 feet of the east 150 feet of Myrtle Street west of First Street.  Motion carried.  Darnold advised the audience that this issue will go to a public hearing to be heard by the Common Council, probably in late November due to the public hearing notices that are required.

 

Yoerg suggested that a barrier should be placed at the west side of the retained Myrtle Street area to restrict access over the existing slope.  Breault stated he would discuss that with the public works department.

 

Final development plans, 25,400 sq. ft. bank facility, south of Stageline Road and west of Center Drive – Citizens State Bank.  Darnold noted that the city staff has reviewed the revised plans and recommend approval of the final development plans for the proposed Citizens State Bank facility.  Patrick Giordana, project architect reviewed the elevations of the proposed building and noted that the landscape plan has been enhanced since the concept plan discussion.  Giordana commented that one concern that

 

Page 2, Plan Commission

October 5, 2006

 

 

city staff had during the concept plan review was the storm drainage and that issue has been addressed by adding some additional slope to the drive up window lane to promote drainage whereas the previous plans had the slope too flat.

 

Moved by Caruso, seconded by Mailloux to recommend approval of the final development plans for the 25,400 sq. ft. bank facility as proposed by Citizens State Bank at the southwest quadrant of Stageline Road and Center Drive with an amount to be determined by the city engineer for letter of credit to assure restoration of curb and gutter, street and boulevard, if applicable.  Motion carried.

 

Request by GCI Builders, Inc. to acquire city property west of River City Center east of First Street from Buckeye Street to Wisconsin Street.  Al Keller, GCI Builders reviewed the concept of redevelopment of the River City Center (RCC) commercial development and their request to obtain part of the city property to facilitate the redevelopment.  Keller noted that the plans presented this evening have been changed from what was recently presented to the city in their request letter.  Keller noted that the plans have moved the building further to the east requiring less of the city property.

Keller provided copies of a conceptual plan to illustrate the intent of the developers and what area is requested to be obtained.  Photos of potential landscaping improvements in the parking lot area on the Second Street side of the project were also distributed. 

 

Darnold presented a copy of record plans of the First Street reconstruction project completed in the 1980’s.  The plans indicated existing First Street curb line and the building location for the westerly wall of River City Center.  Darnold stated that he added the approximate property line locations of the RCC based on plans provided by GCI Builders.  Darnold noted that if the city retains approximately 33 feet to provide on-street parking and a ten foot pathway on the east side of First Street the area of the city property between a potential pathway and the property line of the RCC varies from zero to 35 feet.  Darnold suggested that the city retain at a minimum an area of 33 feet east of the existing curb line.  The city could consider selling the south about 185 feet which would extend the westerly RCC property boundary to allow some additional land for development without having a significant affect on the existing First Street right of way.  The width of this area would vary from about 12 feet wide just north of the Buckeye Street right of way line to about 25 feet wide 185 north of the Buckeye Street right of way. 

 

The plan commission expressed concern about the disposition of the property and asked that they be able to review the site to gain a better perspective of what land is being considered.  Caruso expressed that the city should consider moving First Street easterly and to provide on-street parking on the west side of First Street.  Breault cautioned about any sale of the property because of unknown needs by the city in the future.  Darnold stated that he could set up a meeting next week to review the site.

 

Page 3, Plan Commission

October 5, 2006

 

 

Moved by Caruso, seconded by Yoerg to postpone consideration of the request by GCI Builders, Inc. for the city to dispose of city owned property west of River City Center.

Motion carried.

 

Conditional use permit, auto sales at the former Perkins site, southwest quadrant of

Crest View Drive and Dominion Drive.  Caruso expressed that he has had an opportunity to visit both existing business sites along Highway 36; and both are well kept, but that he is concerned that two businesses want to share this site.  Yoerg expressed concern about the discrepancy of the opinions of the required off-street parking and would like to get that issue resolved before taking action.  He asked if the city attorney could provide an opinion on the off-street parking issues raised.  Mailloux stated that he visited the Tires Plus facility in Hudson and that the amount of off-street parking required to accommodate that development is more than the 15 stalls that they currently have on-site.

 

Gilbert stated that he is of the opinion that the dedicated right of way for Exit 2 Drive north of the proposed development site should be eliminated (discontinued).  He expressed that this is a dangerous entrance into the site and is unnecessary. 

 

Gerald O’Flaherty stated that the city should get the legal opinion prior to moving ahead with the approval.  He did express concern about the provision of the four display pads shown on the north side of the building and the number of off-street parking stalls that have been interpreted by Darnold.  O’Flaherty expressed that his client believes that the 25 foot green space provision also applies to the south property line.  Bob Pierce, Boulder Ridge (senior housing south of the Comfort Inn motel) resident asked about conditional use permits and enforcement.  Mike Meyer, also a resident of the Boulder Ridge housing development, stated that he has on occasion opened his windows of his apartment and can hear the noise from the mechanical work being conducted at the adjacent auto dealership, particularly air wrenches. Meyer opined that if the auto dealership / tire shop is located at the former Perkins site there will be additional noise created and that residents of the senior housing project will be forced to move.  O’Flaherty asked persons in the audience whom may be opposed to the proposed development to please stand.

 

Moved by Caruso to deny the application for conditional use permit for the outdoor auto sales facility.  The motion died due to a lack of a second.  Moved by Yoerg, second by Mailloux to postpone action on this issue until the city attorney has an opportunity to review the off-street parking and required 25 foot green space requirements.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

Page 4, Plan Commission

October 5, 2006

 

 

Height of buildings in the downtown area.  Darnold reviewed a memo he provided to the plan commission noting existing requirements for downtown buildings noting the requirements have ranged from 35 feet to 45 feet in the riverway standards and city zoning code respectfully.  Yoerg and Mailloux expressed concern that the allowance of buildings to be a height of 45 feet may block or reduce the public’s opportunity to view the river from different areas of the downtown neighborhood.  Concern is not specifically in regards to potential redevelopment of the River City Center, but the accumulative affect that other developments may have on the downtown area.  Yoerg expressed concern about the possible lack of green space within future downtown redevelopment projects.  The plan commission agreed to meet next week, October 12th, 9:00 a.m. to review the west side of the River City Center site.  Caruso stated it may provide the plan commission an opportunity to walk the downtown area.

 

Other items for discussion purposes only or placement on future agendas.   Yoerg expressed that the city should require the provision of green space in development projects in the downtown neighborhood.

 

Moved by Yoerg, seconded by Gilbert to adjourn.  Motion carried.  8:35 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis Darnold, Secretary