Minutes: Plan: August 1, 2005

Plan Commission
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, August 1, 2005, 6:00 P.M.
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI

MINUTES

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ringhand at 6:00 PM. Present were: Mayor Ringhand, Ald. Aikman, Ald. Hammann, Ms. Dickert, Messrs. Sauer, Skinner, and Vrstal. Staff present: Tim Schwecke, City Planner; Bill Connors, City Administrator; and Jim Beilke, Clerk/Treasurer.

The Agenda was approved as printed.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Sauer, to waive the reading of the July 5, 2005 Minutes and approve them with the following corrections: (1) Mr. Vrstal noted Ald. Hammann made the two motions on the bottom on page 7 and Vrstal seconded the motions, and (2) Mayor Ringhand noted that on page two, the motion seconded by “Gilbert” was seconded by “Skinner.” Motion carried.

Citizen Appearances Other Than Those Agenda Items Listed. None.

Unfinished Business.
The Commission took up Ordinance #2005-27, which would amend the city’s subdivision regulations. Mr. Connors reviewed Amendment 1-1 regarding property owner notification, the city’s official map, the city’s floodplain management regulation, annexation, erosion control, storm water control, effective dates, and differences between county and municipal codes. Ald. Hammann explained this ordinance would put in place a process (checklist) for reviewing subdivisions and other land divisions, annexation and zoning.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Sauer, to recommend to the Common Council the adoption of Ordinance #2005-27.

Motion by Vrstal, seconded by Hammann, to amend on page 9, line 29, by changing the word “lever” to “level.” Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Vrstal, to adopt Amendment 1-1 with the following changes: on page 3, lines 43-44, by deleting “or after the day after publication of this ordinance,” and inserting “August 18, 2005;” and on page 4, lines 2-3 and lines 6-7, by deleting “or after the day after publication of this ordinance,” and inserting “August 18, 2005.” Motion carried.

The original motion, as amended, carried.

There was no report regarding the update on proposal to adopt architectural design standards, because Mr. Schwecke has not yet had an opportunity to meet with representatives of the business and development communities about enacting architectural design standards.

New Business
Motion by Hammann, seconded by Skinner, to recommend to the Common Council the approval of the final plat as submitted for Conifer Hills Second Addition (Application #2005-14) in the Town of Union. Motion carried.

The Commission took up a draft ordinance that would amend the city’s zoning code by revising the minimum separation between community living arrangements and revising where they would be allowed. Mr. Schwecke explained that the existing zoning code is internally inconsistent in regards to where community living arrangements are allowed and recommended that there would be one place in the code where the allowable uses are listed. John Decker, 143 W. Main St., noted that proposed amendment allowed nursing homes, and hospitals on collector streets on page 7, line 25-26 and on page 9, line 25. Mr. Connors said these issues would be addressed in a revised draft of this ordinance or in a separate ordinance. Ald. Hammann and Ald. Aikman said they would sponsor this ordinance.

The Commission took up a draft ordinance to revise Section 130-270 regarding bufferyard requirements. Mr. Schwecke explained the draft ordinance clarifies bufferyards regulations to focus on mitigating any potential impacts between incompatible land uses. Ald. Aikman asked for an amendment on page 2, lines 11-13, to delete the seconded sentence, “The bufferyard, or portion thereof, may be located on the adjoining lot, provided the property owner agrees and an easement, as approved by the city, is recorded to run with the land.” The Commission requested the City Planner Schwecke review the opacity values in the table for required bufferyard and report back in September.

The Commission took up the proposed ordinance to revise sections of the sign code regarding electronic message centers, banner signs, and time requirements for compliance of illegal signs. Mr. Schwecke stated, initially, this amendment was addressing violations of signs and clarifying language on banner signs, but in the interim, the sign application for electronic message signs from Evansville Bank was received. Because of the very busy highway, the bank requested an electronic message center larger than the current sign code allows. Wally Ruden, Grant Signs, 5119 Terminel Dr., McFarland, stated that the message center’s usage would be 2 or 4 lines. During the day, two lines would be used, so that the message would be highly visible to traffic hundreds of feet away. At night, four lines would be used displaying static data. Mr. Vrstal questioned “community” and “business” banners terms on page 1 and asked how to distinguish between the two. Additionally, Mr. Vrstal asked for clarification on dangerous, dilapidated, and unsafe signs as stated on page 3. Ald. Hammann reviewed the three-week period for a sign with the Commission. The consensus reached was to change the period to - starting 28 days before the event and ending 7 days after the event. Initially, the Commission wanted the City Planner re-write the ordinance. Mr. Connors stated the Bank of Evansville’s position that they would like a monument sign by October 11, 2005 when they open. The commission asked the City Planner to send a draft ordinance addressing only the electronic message center parts to Ald. Hammann and Aikman this week. If they would sponsor that draft ordinance, it would be placed on the next Council agenda. Ald. Hammann and Aikman would sponsor the ordinance regarding only the violations of sign regulations and banners signs.

The Commission took up a draft ordinance that would revise the vehicular access requirements in the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, and O-1 zoning districts. Ald. Hammann wanted this ordinance to address site plan regulations for each zoning districts. Mr. Connors said the current code has only local, collector and arterial streets. This ordinance addresses only the required street type for vehicular access in each zoning district. The Commission asked Mr. Connors to re-write the ordinance to eliminate the street-type restrictions and beef up the site-plan requirements for development in commercial zoning districts.

Preliminary Development Presentations. None

City Planner’s Report.
Mr. Schwecke provided an update on Badger Cycle owned by Tom Nonn. Mr. Nonn told Mr. Schwecke that he intends to terminated his business on 26 Maple Street. Mr. Nonn may work on 20 plus personal motorcycles for his collection at Maple Street. Mr. Schwecke stated that Rock County amended its floodplain management ordinance to comply with recent administrative code changes to NR 116, Wisconsin Supreme Court cases, and minimum standards of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Mr. Schwecke stated it would be prudent to see what changes may be necessary to the city’s floodplain regulations, which he would do and report back in September.

Report of the Evansville Redevelopment Authority.
Mr. Connors said the Evansville Redevelopment Authority was asked to consider changing the boundary of Tax Incremental District No. 5 to include a residential rental building on the south side of W. Church St., owned by Triple B Investment, and decided if the boundary should be changed, it would be prudent to consider adding a number of parcels to the district. Sandy Decker, 143 W. Main Street, stated that the Historical Preservation Commission is very concerned about preserving a vibrant and historical area in the neighborhood around Triple B Investment’s property.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Aikman, to authorize a public hearing on proposed boundary changes to Tax Incremental District No. 5 at the next regular Plan Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 5, 2005 [this was an error–the hearing will be on Tuesday, September 6, 2005]. The motion passed , with Mr. Vrstal abstaining.

Motion by Hammann, seconded Sauer, to adjourn, carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

Prepared by:
James A. Beilke
City Clerk/Treasurer

The Minutes of the Plan Commission are not official until approved by Plan Commission.