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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z MINUTES AUGUST 03, 2006 Planning & Zoning Minutes August 3, 2006 12 North Center Phone: 208.359.3020 Rexburg, ID 83440 Fax: 208.359.3022 www.rexburg.org Commissioners Attending: City Staff and Others: Rex Erickson – Council Member John Millar – Public Works Director Winston Dyer – Chairman Emily Abe – Secretary Mike Ricks Randall Porter Dan Hanna Thaine Robinson David Stein Chairman Dyer opened the meeting at 7:13 pm. Roll Call of Planning and Zoning Commissioners Randall Porter, Dan Hanna, Thaine Robinson, Winston Dyer, David Stein, Mike Ricks Charles Andersen, Mary Haley, Mary Ann Mounts and Joe Laird were excused. Minutes: A. Planning and Zoning meeting – July 20, 2006 Corrections: P. 6 – Under Thaine Robinson’s comments, change “there are 10 cars parked there all the time” to “there have been up to 10 cars parked there on numerous occasions” P.6 – Under David Stein’s comment, clarify that his concern was creating a line of lots going straight down the hill, and the safety hazard this would create. Mike Ricks motioned to approve the minutes for July 20, 2006. Thaine Robinson seconded the motion. Randall Porter abstained for having not been present. None opposed. Motion carried. Public Hearings: None Unfinished/Old Business: New Business: A. Preliminary Plat – Pioneer Park 1 John Millar said the proposal is located on Pioneer Road. It is an existing platted area, and is part of the Westates Subdivision. They are taking three or four of the lots and are presenting them as a Planned Unit Development with 132 lots. The area is prime for development, being provided with all utilities. It is currently zoned HDR1. A representative from Forsgren Associates presented the proposal. He said they have had a chance to review the staff notes on the plat, and there a couple they can take care of as the engineers on the project. They can show more fire hydrants on the plat. The intent of the developer is to meet the zoning requirements. They can take care of the additional visitor parking requirements and the maintenance building. Thaine Robinson asked about the design review deficiency from the staff review. The building was missing a jog on the length of the facade on one side. The developer said the front and back of the buildings are offset by one (1) foot. Chairman Dyer asked what the proposed density is. It is a little over eighteen (18) units per acre. Chairman Dyer asked where the parking is located. Each unit has a two (2) car garage in the back. John Millar said the deficiency is in guest parking. In the Planned Unit Development Ordinance, one (1) visitor parking stall for every three (3) units is required. This would require 44 visitor parking spaces for the proposed density. Randall Porter complimented the developer for writing the letter to the Planning office, covering the ordinance requirements. John Millar said the staff reviewed the project as a Planned Unit Development. The reviews are based on the requirements in the Planned Unit Development ordinance. Thaine Robinson asked how many more visitor parking spaces are needed. They need fifteen more. The commissioners discussed the green space on the plat. Randall Porter asked if the snow storage areas would be maintained in the summer with grass. Chairman Dyer asked about the front and rear yard setbacks. The plat does not conform to these requirements. David Stein said he likes the concept of the layout, but it is too dense. Chairman Dyer said they are coming in as a Planned Unit Development. The whole concept behind the Planned Unit Development was to allow some flexibility and some latitude in doing things different from the basic underlying code, in return for some things that would be beneficial, like more green space, aesthetics, etc. It was not intended to allow developers to use every square foot of property. The commission must make sure this is functional. The commissioners discussed the setbacks on the plat. Chairman Dyer asked where the children would play. Mike Ricks said he is skeptical about the parking because many of the developments on Pioneer Road have tight parking. This results in a lot of people parking on the public streets. Chairman Dyer asked for a drawing that shows three (3) or four (4) contiguous lots with the landscaping, building jogs, layout, etc. 2 John Millar said he counts a total of forty (40) visitor parking stalls, so they only need four (4) more. The developer asked what the Commission wanted to see as far as accessory vehicle storage. David Stein suggested they waive the accessory vehicle storage, since they have garages. Few developments like this have been done with garages in the past. Chairman Dyer asked about the maintenance building requirement. The accessory building wouldn’t need the setbacks, since it was not on the street. Mike Ricks said to make sure this isn’t on the corner to block the view of drivers on the street. Thaine Robinson asked about the green space. Chairman Dyer said it is hard for the mothers and the young children to have a place to use when there is limited green space. He would like to see some green space for the children to use. The Commission discussed the green space requirements. Mike Ricks said there might be some give and take, but we ought to hold to the 25’ front yard requirement. They ought to go with the width of the ordinance, because that would give each individual somewhere to be on their front yard. These are not things we should give up. Chairman Dyer suggested we compromise some of the play space for larger front yard setbacks. Thaine Robinson said there is too much on too small a space. We have to hold to some standard. John Millar said in other previous developments, it appears that we have typically held the front yard setback, but have given some flexibility on the back yard. David Stein said widening the front yards to the required setback would be a good way to get needed green space. The back of the buildings also need to be adjusted according to the design standards. Thaine Robinson read the following list of things that need to be addressed on the plat: ? Guest parking ? Accessory vehicle storage ? Open space – being usable and accessible to residents ? Front yard setbacks ? Building jogs/offsets ? Maintenance building Chairman Dyer invited the developers to ask any questions of clarification to the Commission. The developer said any time you reduce the number of units on a lot, the price has to go up. They are trying to maintain this as affordable housing. There is a tight rope we are walking, to make these affordable, and to make it a good project with the city. They need some guidelines on the common area between the bui ldings and the parks and playgrounds. He is not sure of how to proceed without having some understanding of what they want. Another developer said in the ordinance, they are only required to have 20 percent landscaped area, but they have 30 percent landscaped area. How can they ask for more open area when they meet the requirements? They don’t meet the setback requirements, but they have 10 percent extra green space. The purpose of this land and zone is to have high density residential. 3 David Stein said the developer makes a good point. When the housing study was done in Rexburg a few years ago, affordable housing was really lacking. This is a valid issue. There is 30 percent green space. Thaine Robinson said on the green space, the issue is not so much if there is enough, but whether it is useable and convenient to the tenants. David Stein said he wouldn’t want to eliminate the green space between the buildings. We don’t want long buildings without separation, because it would look like a fortress. The Commissioners discussed the green space on the plat. The Commissioners reached a consensus that some workable back yard setback that would not be extremely tight would be acceptable. Dan Hanna said he is not stuck on 50 feet between buildings in the front yard as the bare minimum. Thaine Robinson agreed. The thing he doesn’t want to bend on is the building jogs. The buildings need to look nice. Chairman Dyer said the developer should shoot for 25 foot front yards. If they can’t get this in some place, they should come back prepared to let the Commission know why and what they have done about it. Randall Porter motioned to table the preliminary plat for Pioneer Park pending the applicant providing resolution to the concerns discussed by the Commission. Dan Hanna seconded the motion. None opposed. Motion carried. The Commissioners discussed how to increase the efficiency of the platting process. Compliance: The Commissioners received some Compliance Service Request forms, and were asked to fill them out whenever they had a compliance issue that needed to be addressed. Compliance Officer Natalie Powell is required to keep all these issues on file. Randall Porter asked if the Walgreens developers are aware of the lighting ordinance and are planning to conform with them. John Millar said they have the ordinance and are planning to comply. Randall Porter asked if the lighting for the Temple was going to comply. Randall Porter asked if the storm drain detention pond on Pioneer Road was supposed to be planted with grass and have a playground area put in. John Millar said he has met with the developer twice this summer and they have committed to get going on that. Dan Hanna asked what was going on with the fencing required on some of the Pioneer Road developments. John Millar said it is being followed up on. David Stein asked about the parking screening at Walgreens. It is supposed to be high landscaped between the parking lot and the sidewalk to hide the parking from traffic on the street. John Millar said he was not aware of this requirement. David Stein said it is on the design plans. Thaine Robinson asked about the fence on Bonnie Anderson’s property. It looks like a barnyard fence and is on City property. John Millar said if it is on City property, he can have it taken down. 4 Non controversial Items Added to the Agenda: John Millar told the Commission that the City had decided to hire a new Planning & Zoning Administrator. They plan to go out of house for help on finishing the Comprehensive Plan. Staff has pulled together all the prior work on the Comprehensive Plan to give to the consultant. City Staff will also work on cleaning up the Development Code. The Building Official has been working on this, and one of the first responsibilities of the new Planning & Zoning Administrator will be to help with this. Report on Projects: Tabled requests: Building Permit Application Report: Heads Up: rd A. Conditional Use Permit for Dormitory Style Housing at 276, 264 Steiner Ave. and 366 W. 3 S. -Scheduled to be published for public hearing August 1, 2006 th B. Rezone from RR1 to MDR1 at 1000 W. 7 S. (Timberhawk, Inc.) -Scheduled to be published for public hearing July 29, 2006 Chairman Dyer adjourned the meeting at 9:46 pm. 5