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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z MINUTES FEBRUARY 18, 2016 1 Commissioners Attending; City Staff and Others: Jedd Walker - Chairman Mayor Jerry Merrill Rory Kunz Gil Shirley Brad Wolfe- City Council Liaison Mark Rudd Melanie Davenport Stephen Zollinger – City Attorney Steve Oakey Richard Smith Natalie Powell- Community Development Compliance Officer Greg Black John Bowen Porter Wilkins – Community Development Permit Technician Colton Murdock – Community Development Intern Elaine McFerrin – P&Z Coordinator Chairman Jedd Walker opened the meeting at 7:00 pm. He welcomed everyone. Community Development Director Val Christensen was excused. Presentation: 1. Recognition of Service for P&Z Commission Chairman Thaine Robinson Mayor Jerry Merrill presented a special plaque from the City to Thaine Robinson in appreciation for his many years of dedicated service, almost eleven years, to the City of Rexburg as a P&Z Commissioner and as P&Z Chairman. He served from March 2005 to January 2016. Planning & Zoning can be very challenging. The Mayor thanked Thaine Robinson for his hard work. Thaine Robinson thanked everyone and said he enjoyed serving. It was a good education, and he enjoyed serving the community and working with his fellow commissioners. When he began, he did not know anything about planning and zoning. He did a lot of research, and he is still learning. His words of wisdom to the Commissioners are: when having to make a decision, make a decision that is good for the City 15 years from now. Welcome: 1. Newly Appointed P&Z Commissioner Greg Blacker Chairman Walker and Mayor Merrill welcomed Greg Blacker to the P&Z Commission; he is replacing Thaine Robinson. The Chair asked that he tell the Commission a little about himself. Greg Blacker stated he has lived in Rexburg for 32 years. He started his business, Affordable Pest Control, in 1989. He has served on the City’s Parks and Recreation Committee and also the Traffic and Safety Committee. He is a concerned citizen. Public Comment: Chris Carr, 450 West 4th South, wished to address the Commission. He addressed the City Council last night with this same concern. He read the following statement regarding the BYU-Idaho single- student overnight parking problem. He encouraged the City of Rexburg, BYU-Idaho and apartment owners to work together to come up with a solution. 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Phone: 208.359.3020 Fax: 208.359.3022 www.rexburg.org Planning & Zoning Minutes February 18, 2016 2 3 4 Roll Call of Planning and Zoning Commissioners: Attending: Steve Oakey, Greg Blacker, John Bowen, Richard Smith, Mark Rudd, Jedd Walker, Rory Kunz, Gil Shirley, and Melanie Davenport Heidi Christensen and Bruce Sutherland were excused. Minutes: 1. Planning and Zoning meeting – January 21, 20116 Steve Oakey motioned to approve the Planning & Zoning minutes of January 21, 2016. Rory Kunz seconded the motion. Richard Smith and Greg Blacker abstained for having not been present. None opposed. Motion carried. Public Hearings: 1. 7:05 pm - Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment - Low-Moderate Density Residential to Neighborhood Commercial/Mixed Use – 419, 447, and 451 West 1st North Chairman Walker explained the procedure that is followed for public hearing. David Thueson, 360 West 3500 North, the applicant. He owns Homestead Assisted Living at 407 West 1st North. He is requesting to change the Comprehensive Plan map land use designation from Low-Moderate Density Residential to Neighborhood Commercial/Mixed Use. The subject property was shown on the overhead screen. The plan is to add to the Homestead Assisted Living development. The Homestead is a facility that takes care of the elderly. Madison Carriage Cove, across the street to the north, is a short stay rehabilitation facility (skilled nursing). They are aware that they have a parking problem. They had not expected so many visitors for the short stay rehab patients. They are under contract to purchase a piece of land nearby so the parking problem will be solved. There will be plenty of parking for visitors and employees. They currently have assisted living, short-stay rehab, and will soon have hospice agency care. Tonight they are asking for this Comprehensive Plan land use designation change, with the purpose of increasing the Homestead facility. This is the last piece of the puzzle and will be for ‘Independent Living’, working in conjunction with the Homestead. The new structures would be single story and 2- bedroom. Greg Blacker asked about the parking area they are purchasing. David Thueson indicated he wants to start on the parking area, which is about a half-acre in size, when the frost is off the ground. They are pursuing the land purchase. The only major complaint they have received is that there is not enough parking. They believe it is important to get this going and solved. Steve Oakey said as a business owner, David Thueson has seen the demands of his customers and is acting on solving the need for more parking on his own without being asked to do so. David Thueson said it is about customer service. Community Development Compliance Officer Natalie Powell said staff did not have any additional clarifying information. 5 Chairman Walker opened the public input portion of the hearing. In Favor: None Neutral: None Opposed: None Written Input: None Chairman Walker closed the public input portion of the hearing and asked for the staff evaluation and recommendations. Natalie Powell gave the Community Development staff report. She clarified that the requested Comprehensive Plan Map amendment is to change the subject property from Low-Moderate Density Residential to Neighborhood Commercial/ Mixed Use. Staff feels the request is compatible with the surrounding uses. The City’s Development Code is the zoning ordinance and is very important. If the Commissioners can dive into reading the document, including the Definitions section of the code, this could clarify a lot of information for them. Chapter 5 in the Rexburg Development Code Ordinance No. 1115 addresses parking regulations. The existing development was originally built to what was expected. Now the owner is increasing his parking to meet current needs. Steve Oakey said tonight the request is only for a Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment. Mr Thueson would also eventually have to have a rezone change to develop as he has planned. The Comprehensive Plan map and the Zoning map were clarified. The Comprehensive Plan map is the preferred land use map of the City, the dream map, or the wish list of what may occur with Rexburg’s development in different areas of the City. It is a general map, showing the vision of Rexburg’s future for land uses. The Zoning map is more detailed and specific. It is the law. A proposal would have to be consistent with what is allowed in a zone, or there could be an application to change the zone. At the Chairman’s request, Natalie Powell clarified from the City’s Comprehensive Plan document what zones are allowed under the Low-Moderate Density Residential Comprehensive Plan land use designation and what zones are allowed under the Neighborhood Commercial/Mixed Use Comprehensive Plan land use designation. 6 . 7 Greg Blacker stated if this Comprehensive Plan change were approved, what could keep someone from building more units? Natalie Powell said at the time when a zone change request is before the Commission, the zone change could be conditioned to specify such an issue. Chairman Walker clarified that the question before the Commission is: Is this request the preferred land use approach to development for this area of the City. Plans were provided for the Commission but they are irrelevant at this time. Richard Smith stated that years ago, this body agreed not to look at proposed plans at this stage of the process. It is a land use change only. Chairman Walker asked if any of the Commissioners needed to declare a direct or perceived conflict of interest. Greg Blacker declared a perceived conflict of interest. He lives nearby on North 5th West and travels through the subject area all the time. He did have a concern with parking regarding cars being parked on both sides of the street. When there is snow, the road becomes very narrow He is very happy that the applicant is purchasing property for parking. This answers his concerns. None of the Commissioners had an objection to Mr. Blacker remaining on the dais. Gil Shirley felt this request fits the neighborhood. He is in favor of the change. Richard Smith agreed. Mr. Thueson is a good steward of his business and the community. John Bowen also agreed. Mr. Thueson’s facilities are beautiful. Steve Oakey motioned to recommend approval to the City Council of a Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment land use designation change for the property at 419, 447, and 451 West 1st North, from Low-Moderate Density Residential to Neighborhood Commercial/Mixed Use. Gil Shirley seconded the motion. None opposed. Motion carried. Unfinished/Old Business: None New Business: 1. Discuss modifications to Summerfield PUD (Planned Unit Development) – Postponed until March 3, 2016 P&Z meeting 2. Review the Impact Area on the south of Rexburg – Discussion requested by Richard Smith Richard Smith stated that a public hearing on the impact area was held in April 2015 before the Commission, who recommended approval to City Council of the proposed map. The issue then went to City Council for their recommendation to Madison County, which was for the impact area to expand as shown on the proposed map. Stephen Zollinger clarified that no action has been taken by the County. The City has done what they could do at the time and forwarded the request to the County. The County determined that this constituted a request to interact with Sugar City and formed a 9-person committee ( 3 people from Rexburg P&Z Commission, 3 people from Sugar City P&Z Commission, 3 people representing 8 Madison County). The City has not asked the County to reassess at their level whether things could move forward without Sugar City’s involvement. Chairman Walker said the County did try to hold one meeting, but the time was changed and not communicated to most of the participants. Richard Smith stated that the south and west now has no impact area at all. There continues to be development near the land that he owns. The area will be full of non-conforming uses unless the City expands their impact area here. Chairman Walker said the County’s concern was with the disputed piece of land (Harris property on the north) that Sugar City has said is in their impact area. Stephen Zollinger reminded the Commission of the previous discussion that took place at the April 16, 2015 P&Z Commission meeting regarding the Harris property. Stephen Zollinger stated that the next step would be to direct City staff to initiate this issue again with Madison County and attempt to clarify with them why the City does not believe the 9- person committee would be required. The City simply wants the County to act upon the request. He clarified that to reduce what the City is asking for does not require a new hearing. Increasing the request would require another hearing. The City needs to begin the process of managing the City’s western and southern boundaries. Chairman Walker clarified that the P&Z Commission could direct staff to pursue this impact request issue. Tonight this issue is a discussion item. Staff is looking for direction. There was consensus of the Commission to direct City staff to bring the proposed impact area map to Madison County to urge that the issue move forward. If this appears to be a problem, modify the request reducing the proposed impact area map on the north. 9 10 Compliance: None Non-controversial Items Added to the Agenda: None Report on Projects: None Tabled Requests: None Building Permit Application Report: None Heads Up: March 3, 2016 1. Summerfield PUD – Discussion of modifications 2. P&Z Commission Training Chairman Walker adjourned the meeting at 8:15 pm.