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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMinutes-20110725City of Hastings Planning Commission Minutes –July 25, 2011 Page 1 of 4 Hastings Planning Commission July 25, 2011 Regular Meeting Chair Peine called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call 1. Commissioners Present: Bullington, Estenson, Messina, Peine, Rohloff Stevens, Vaughan Commissioners Absent: None Staff Present: Community Development Director John Hinzman, Associate Planner Kari Barker Approval of Minutes – June 13, 2011 2. Rohloff noted he was absent from the June 13, 2011, meeting. Motion by Vaughan to approve the June 13, 2011, minutes. Seconded by Stevens. Upon vote taken, Ayes 7, Nays 0. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARINGS City of Hastings – 3.Ordinance Amendment #2011-28 – Amend Hastings City Code Chapter 154 Subdivision Regulations – Mailboxes and Collector Roads. Associate Planner Kari Barker presented the staff report. Chair Peine opened the Public Hearing at 7:05. No members of the public spoke to the issue. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:05. Commissioner Stevens inquired into the right-of-way width and the fact traffic volumes will change with time. Community Development Director John Hinzman stated that the right-of-way width provides the necessary width for future expansion. Commissioner Vaughan inquired into who restricts or watches the requirements for construction, such as the turn arounds that were not built on Century Drive. Community Development Director John Hinzman stated it was an error on staff’s behalf. He further stated that Century Drive has a 66 foot right-of-way and does not serve the same type of traffic as a collector street. Community Development Director John Hinzman noted that his intention is to review plans to avoid having driveways front collector roads. He stated that driveways on collector roads should be a last resort. City of Hastings Planning Commission Minutes –July 25, 2011 Page 2 of 4 Commissioner Stevens inquired if the size of the lot increases to accommodate turn arounds. Community Development Director John Hinzman stated that the house is required to have a 35 foot front yard setback and 20 feet in the backyard. He explained turn arounds make the lots bigger from a practical standpoint, but it is not required in ordinance. Commissioner Stevens asked if lot size was something that may need to be looked into. Community Development Director John Hinzman stated that he thinks the front and rear setbacks make the lots bigger and generally deeper. He further stated that the market dictates larger lots. Commissioner Stevens inquired about the driveway requirement pertaining to the driveway being 30 feet at the right-of-way. Community Development Director John Hinzman stated that the driveway needs to be thirty feet wide at the right-of-way, which is generally fifteen feet back from the road. Commissioner Stevens asked about the three-foot landscaped separation between adjacent driveways. Community Development Director John Hinzman stated this referred to a natural separation between driveways, such as in townhome developments. Motion by Vaughan to approve the Ordinance Amendment to City Code Chapter 154 Subdivision Regulations – Mailboxes and Collector Roads. Seconded by Bullington. Upon vote taken, Ayes 7, Nays 0. Motion carried. City of Hastings – 4.Ordinance Amendment #2011- 26 -Amend Hastings City Code Chapter 155.06 Nonconforming Lots, Uses of Land, Structures, Uses of Structures and Premises, Characteristics of Use – Nonconforming Structures. Associate Planner Kari Barker presented the staff report. Chair Peine opened the Public Hearing at 7:18. No members of the public spoke to the issue. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:18. Commissioner Stevens inquired into examples of nonconforming structures. Associate Planner Barker stated the most common example is homes currently zoned as commercial, but clearly being used as residential. Community Development Director Hinzman stated that another example may be a bookstore that sells books, which is no longer a permitted use in the zoning district the store is located in. He also stated that a nonconforming structure may be one built within the twenty foot front yard setback. Commissioner Stevens asked if the side yard setbacks in the OHDS district would be an example of nonconformities. Community Development Director Hinzman stated this area is where most nonconformities are probably found. Commissioner Stevens inquired into if variances are utilized in this situation. Community Development Director Hinzman confirmed variances could be used, but the variance regulations were City of Hastings Planning Commission Minutes –July 25, 2011 Page 3 of 4 recently changed to allow for expansions as long as the nonconformity is not increased. Motion by Messina to approve the Ordinance Amendment to City Code Chapter 155.06 Nonconforming Lots, Uses of Land, Structures, Uses of Structures and Premises, Characteristics of Use – Nonconforming Structures. Seconded by Rohloff. Upon vote taken, Ayes 7, Nays 0. Motion carried. OTHER ACTIONS Red Rock Update 5. Community Development Director Hinzman presented the staff report. Commissioner Vaughan stated that he thought the land on the river was too valuable to use as a parking lot. He indicated he thought the parking lot should be located further south. Commissioner Bullington agreed with Commissioner Vaughan. He stated that Hastings wants to be known as a small downtown on a river, not for a parking lot on the river. Commissioner Bullington further stated that he thought land was available elsewhere. Chair Peine concurred with Commissioner Vaughan and Commissioner Bullington. Community Development Director Hinzman stated the parking lot location was a tough situation as there is both a sewer plant and railroad tracks nearby. He further stated that the parking lot was also good distance from Highway 61 for commercial access. Community Development Director Hinzman stated that he though parking could be strung out along the railroad to act as a buffer, whereby nd preserving 2 St and riverfront land. Chair Peine stated he liked Community Development Director Hinzman’s idea. Other Business 6. Community Development Director Hinzman updated the Planning Commission on City Council actions and upcoming meeting items. Adjourn 7. Motion by Vaughan to adjourn the July 25, 2011, Planning Commission meeting. Seconded by Stevens. Upon vote taken, Ayes 7, Nays 0. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Next Planning Commission Meeting – Monday, August 8, 2011. City of Hastings Planning Commission Minutes –July 25, 2011 Page 4 of 4 Respectfully submitted, ___________________________ Kari Barker Recording Secretary