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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDESIGN REVIEW MINUTES - 17-00066 - 433 Airport Rd - Barney Storage - Bldg 4 1 Design Review Committee Meeting DJ Barney Storage Sheds along Highway 20 Corridor – 431 and 433 Airport Rd January 10, 2017 – 11:30 am Attendees Design Review Committee: Jedd Walker, Brad Wolfe, Brent McFarland, and Mayor Jerry Merrill (attended the earlier part of the meeting) Applicant: DJ Barney City staff: Natalie Powell, Elaine McFerrin The Design Review Committee is composed of a P&Z Commissioner (Jedd Walker), a City Council member (Brad Wolfe) or the Mayor, and a professional from the community (Brent McFarland). Several other individuals serve on the committee as necessary. The Committee may meet if there is a development issue that is non-conforming or differs from the Design Standards requirements that are stated in the City of Rexburg Development Code Ordinance No. 1115. The purpose of the Design Review Committee meeting is often to reach an amicable compromise for the applicant and the community. The subject property is on Airport Road next to Highway 20 and is zoned Light Industrial. The reason for holding this Design Review Committee meeting is as follows: From Development Code Ordinance No. 1115, Light Industrial Zone, Section 3.20.150: a. Highway 20 Corridor. All development adjacent to the Highway 20 right-of-way must submit a site plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission, to be approved prior to obtaining a Building Permit. Approval of what is planned can come from this Design Review Committee. DJ Barney said he would like to obtain his building permit within a couple of weeks. He has built and completed three storage buildings this past summer. There is a 6 ½ foot fence block Lego wall buffering the property from the neighboring residential property to the south. The fence is along the property line. Natalie Powell said neighboring residents have commented that this helps to cut down on noise as well as shielding them from the light industrial property. The new building would be for covered RV parking storage. The building is open on one side facing inward towards the east. It is an industrial building in Light Industrial. There is no objection to this kind of building. The dirt berm is in along Highway 20. It would be up against the buildings that are going to be built. This will buffer the storage buildings from the highway. The back sides of the buildings will have signage, to be in compliance with the sign ordinance. DJ Barney continues to work with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) concerning raising the height of the ITD fence and keeping them informed about the berm. Mr. Barney said he would rather utilize the berm. He wants to farm a 20 foot wide area of the berm with crops such as corn and pumpkins. The food that is grown would not be for personal use but would be more of a commercial 2 enterprise. He is asking to be given a couple of years to see if farming the berm will work and not look unkempt or be found a nuisance. Discussion took place concerning what the area along Highway 20 will look like in the winter. The idea of a few evergreen trees was suggested. Mayor Merrill said he has no opposition, if the area is maintained and kept looking nice. Keep the weeds down. If the food planting does not work out, then some trees, rocks, and plants such as the “Karl Foerster” grass could be added to buffer the property from the highway. The highway is higher than the berm so it does not fully buffer the property from Highway 20, but the new building near the berm and planting will help to buffer the business and lot interior. Brent McFarland liked the idea of a rock buffer, with a sprinkle of evergreen trees if the farming idea does not work out. Brad Wolfe suggested that some trees could be planted if the farming does not work. Jedd Walker said he would like to see the farming succeed. Make it work. If this plan does not work, he agrees with the ideas of his fellow Committee members. Natalie Powell said the property has really been cleaned up over time, and DJ Barney continues to make progress on it. The Design Review Committee members concluded and were all in agreement that DJ Barney can farm the berm along Highway 20 as requested at the specified property. This issue will be revisited and evaluated in the spring of 2019. Mr. Barney may go ahead and obtain a building permit when he is ready to do so. City staff and the Commission thanked DJ Barney for working with them.