Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/26/90HASTINGS PLANNING COMMISSION Meeting of 2-26-90 The regular meeting of the Hastings Planning Commission was called to order by Commissioner Kaiser at 7:30 p.m. Present: Commissioners Ditty, Patzke, Dredge, Reinardy, Featherstone, Anderson, Zender, Cedar, Kaiser Absent: None. Staff Present: Planning Director Harmening, Robertson Planning Intern Commissioner Kaiser called for additions or MINUTES corrections to the minutes of the meeting of February 12, 1990. Commissioner Reinardy stated that on page 6 of the minutes the date of the request by Our Saviors Lutheran Church was listed as 1989 and that the date should be 1985. Commissioner Zender made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Patzke to approve the minutes as amended. Upon vote taken, Ayes 9; Nayes, 0. Harmening indicated that Richard Mathiowetz is requesting approval of a rezoning from R-2 to C-5 for the East 1/2 of Lot 3, Sunset View. Mr. Mathiowetz is also requesting that the city's land use map in the Comprehensive Plan be amended to reguide the subject property from Medium Density Residential to Commercial. Mr. Mathiowetz has not proposed any specific type of development for his property as a part of this application. The public hearing was opened for comments at 7:37 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING REZONING R-2 TO C-5 & COMP PLAN AMENDMENT 3300 VERMILLION E. 1/2 OF LOT 3, SUNSET VIEW MATHIOWETZ The first to speak was Lorraine Johnson of 3440 Cannon St. She expressed concerns about the possible future use of the site. She suggested that a change in the zoning at this point was inappropriate because no site plan for a possible use of the site had been submitted. She based her concerns on the fact that her front yard is right across from the site and she was concerned about her property values. The next to speak was Morley Frantzick, 3375 Lester Avenue. He stated that his concerns were related to increased traffic and possible negative effects on residential property values in the area. He felt that there was no effective buffer between commercial uses and residential uses in the neighborhood. He said that he and other members of the neighborhood were not opposed to change but were opposed to radical change which would have a negative effect on their property values. The next to speak was Don Benzick, who represents Bill Gruden of 3100 Vermillion St. He stated that he felt that the zoning was not consistent and suggested that the property north of Mathiowetz should also be rezoned commercial all the way up to the cemetary and that access could be controlled to this area so as not to create traffic problems in the neighborhoods. The public hearing was closed at 7:50 p.m. Commissioner Dredge asked Mr. Mathiowetz if he intended to sell the property. Mr. Mathiowetz stated that he did. Commissioner Patzke said that the Mathiowetz frontage adjacent to Cannon St. and residential homes was already commercial, not residential. Commissioners Zender and Featherstone stated that they were not comfortable approving a rezoning when they have not seen a site plan and had no idea of what use the property would be put to. Commissioner Patzke made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Ditty to approve the rezoning and Comprehensive Plan amendment per staffs recommendation and findings. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 5; Nayes, Dredge, Featherstone, Zender and Kaiser. Motion passed. Harmening indicated that at its meeting of February 12, 1990 the Planning Commission had tabled action on the parking variance request made by United Methodist Church until the present meeting. Harmening discussed at great length the many possible ways of calculating parking requirements for the United Methodist Church expansion. There was considerable discussion of this SITE PLAN/ VARIANCE- EXPANSION TO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 615 W.15TH similar parking issue. Commissioner Reinardy stated that other churches in the community have situations. By focusing on the sanctuary and the parking problems on Sundays there were only a few days a year with problems and every church has similar problems on those same days. Otherwise he felt there were no changes in use and would be no changes in increased demand. Dick Mathiowetz stated that there were problems with parking whenever there were softball tournaments at Pioneer Park in the summer. He felt that the city should take a look at putting in angled parking at the curb on the west side of Maple Street adjacent to the park. A motion was made by Commissioner zender, seconded by Commissioner Patzke to approve the parking variance based on the following reasons: 1. Permanent seating in the worship area is not being increased. 2. Overflow seating area does not represent a situation where actual parking demands will be increased over what has been experienced in the past. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 9; Nayes, 0. Robertson indicated that Michael Collins is requesting a home occupation permit to allow him to run a heating and cooling service contracting business from his home. The applicant falls under the 25% floor area maximum for home occupations and no one would be coming to his home so he would not have any difficulties with providing parking. Commissioner Kaiser asked the applicant where he stored the parts for his service contracting business and he stated that they are all stored on his service truck. HOME OCCUPATION TEMPERATURE CONTROL SERVICE CONTRACTOR- M. COLLINS, 110 FIRST PLACE Commissioner Featherstone made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Anderson to approve the home occupation subject to the applicant complying with all home occupation standards. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 9; Nayes, 0. Robertson indicated that Godwin Peris is requesting a home occupation permit to allow him to assemble and sell jewelry in his home. The applicant stated that he buys the jewelry settings and the jewels and then assembles them at home. Hastings home occupation standards state that only articles made or originating on the premises shall be sold on the premises. Staff felt that since the jewelry is assembled on the premises that Mr. Peris meets this standard. The room used for the home occupation falls under the 25% floor area maximum for home occupations and the applicant has adequate parking to meet his projected customer demand. Commissioner Zender made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Patzke to approve the home occupation subject to the applicant complying with all home occupation standards. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 9; Nayes, 0. Robertson indicated that Ronald Allgor is requesting a home occupation permit to allow him to run a phone care monitoring business from his home. According to the applicant a small business computer is used as an automatic monitoring device. The room in which the home occupation would occur falls under the 25% floor area maximum for home occupations. Since no one is coming to the home to purchase a service, parking is not an issue. Commissioner Ditty asked the applicant how he would market the service. Mr. Allgor applied that he would use word of mouth and would be contacting hospitals since it was a new service and he was uncertain about how it would be received. Commissioner Ditty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Zender to approve the home occupation subject to the applicant complying with all home occupation standards. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 9; Nayes, 0. Harmening indicated that United Building Center is requesting approval of a site plan for a 100' x 100' structure for storing building supplies. This structure is intended to replace the structures which were recently destroyed by fire. United Building Center is also requesting a parking variance from the city's parking standards. The proposed structure can HOME OCCUPATION JEWELRY ASS~BLY G. PERIS, 1535 W. 14THST. HOME OCCUPATION PHONE CARE MONITORING - RONALD ALLGOR, 923 TYLER ST. SITE PLAN/ VARIANCE-SUPPLY STORAGE BUTLDING UNITED BUILDING CENTER-4TH & BAILLY STREETS be placed in one of two different city categories which determine parking requirements. Depending on which category it is placed in the parking requirements range from 19 spaces to 25 spaces. UBC does not formally illustrate any off street parking spaces on the site plan. Mike Oyer of 319 Tyler Street spoke. He expressed concerns about the fact that the overhang from the building will come within a few feet of his property and will drop a great deal of snow and water on the property which he is afraid will pond in his backyard. He is also concerned that water will drain from the rest of the UBC property into his backyard. He also expressed concerns that the building is of a size that will block sun and air flow onto his property and consequently limit his ability to have a garden in his backyard. Jim Sontag, the manager of UBC addressed these concerns by saying the company could do something to alleviate any drainage problems with the property. Commissioner Anderson stated that she felt that UBC was required to sprinkle its building under the regulation of the 1988 Fire Code. Jim Sontag, stated that he did not feel that this was required. Commissioner Reinardy asked whether the city had any regulations dealing with sunlight or airflow blockage. Harmening indicated that there were none that he was aware of except for building height restrictions, which were not applicable in this case. Commissioners Anderson and Featherstone expressed concerns about possible drainage problems and asked that there be some formal plan of drainage. Commissioners Ditty and Anderson expressed concerns about the type of storage under the overhang on the outside of the building. Commissioner Featherstone made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Cedar to table this issue until the concerns regarding compliance with the Fire Code and possible drainage problems were dealt with. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 8; Nayes, Patzke. of UBC Mr. Sontag expressed concerns about tabling this issue because he felt that the company was under extreme hardship at the moment due to the loss of its building. After discussion, commissioner Zender made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Ditty to hold a special meeting on this issue next Monday, March 5 at 6:00 p.m. before the regular City Council meeting, on the condition that all questions raised by the Planning Commission members can be addressed by that time. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 9; Nayes, 0. Harmening indicated that Pam & Dick Thorsen, owners of three Bed & Breakfasts in Hastings, had outlined some interest in using the Hazelwood Bed & Breakfast for meeting purposes by the general public. Harmening wanted to discuss with the Planning Commission their thoughts on amending the city's ordinance to allow by special use permit Bed & Breakfasts to be used for meeting purposes which are open to the general public. There was considerable discussion of this issue. Commissioners Kaiser and Anderson expressed concerns about parking at some of the Bed & Breakfasts. Commissioner Reinardy expressed concerns about making this an allowable use at all Bed & Breakfasts. Commissioner Ditty stated that there was a need being filled here. Commissioner Dredge stated that one Bed & Breakfast was already being used for meetings. Pam Thorsen stated that Bed & Breakfasts have been used for meetings because people have been asking to use them in that way and they wanted to be accomodating to various local organizations requests. She stated that the meetings do not make money for them, that they do it as a service and did not wish to be doing anything that was illegal or behind anyone's back. POSSIBLE AMEND- MENT TO ZONING ORDINANCE- STANDARDS FOR BED & BREAKFASTS Commissioner Zender made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Patzke to request staff to prepare an ordinance dealing with the issues of holding meetings in Bed & Breakfasts by. special use permit. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 9; Nayes, 0. Harmening indicated that during the last Planning Commission meeting the Commission had requested that staff prepare a draft of an ordinance which would provide for a minor subdivision procedure in the city's subdivision ordinance. He had prepared such an ordinance and asked that the Planning Commission review it and provide whatever comments it may have. The Planning Commission provided various observations and comments on the draft. Harmening indicated that he would take the Planning Commissions comments into account and would continue to develop the minor subdivision ordinance and bring it back to them for further review. Harmening updated the Planning Commission on recent actions taken by the city Council. There being no further business, a motion was made by Commissioner Zender, seconded by Commissioner Cedar to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 p.m. Upon vote taken, Ayes, 9; Nayes, 0. AMENDMENT TO SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE-MINOR SUBDIVISION UPDATE/OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT