Minutes: Evansville Plan : May 2013

City of Evansville Plan Commission Regular Meeting Monday, May 6, 2013, 6:00 p.m. City Hall (Third Floor), 31 South Madison Street MINUTES 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. by Mayor Sandy Decker. 2. Roll Call. Members present: Mason Braunschweig, Sandy Decker, Matt Eaton, John Gishnock, Bill Hammann, and Jon Senn. Absent: Carol Endres. Others present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha, Community Development Director Nicole Sidoff, applicants Matt Brown and Roger Berg, and members of the public. 3. Approval of Agenda. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Senn, to approve the agenda. Motion approved 6-0. 4. Approval of Minutes. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Senn, to waive the reading of the minutes from the April 1, 2013 regular meeting and approve them as printed. Motion approved 6-0. 5. Civility Reminder. Decker noted the monthly civility reminder. 6. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed. • Bev Krueger, 339 Main Street, noted that she would like to purchase the property owned by the City behind 339 Franklin Street, as she has been maintaining that area and would like to plant a garden there. Mayor Decker noted that this item could be placed on the next Plan Commission agenda for discussion. • Jeff Bahrs, 15 South Sixth Street, shared information on a baseball/softball complex he and others would like to construct at Westside Park. Mayor Decker suggested that Mr. Bahrs present this concept to the Park and Recreation Board at their meeting on May 13. She noted that this item could also be placed on the next Plan Commission agenda for discussion. 7. New Business a. Public Hearing concerning preliminary and final land division applications for a certified survey map (CSM) to split parcel 6-27-293.10010, located at 632-640 Porter Road. i. Initial Staff Comments - Sidoff noted that this proposal is to split the parcel into three parcels - the farthest east parcel would have the existing multi-family building, the other two parcels are proposed to eventually each have a duplex. This land division was proposed in 2011 by the applicant and approved by the Plan Commission and Common Council; however, the applicant did not file this land division with the Register of Deeds and has redrawn the lines for the land division to better accommodate the proposed uses. ii. Public Hearing - Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 6:13 p.m. There were no comments. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 6:14 p.m. iii. Plan Commissioner Questions and Comments - Braunschweig noted he remembered addressing the proposed land division on this site last time around. Hammann noted that duplexes would be a highly appropriate use for this site, as it would increase the inventory of multi-family properties in the neighborhood adjacent to the park. iv. Motion - Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hammann to recommend the City Council approve the preliminary and final certified survey map to divide parcel 6-27-293.10010 into three lots, finding that the CSM is in the public interest and meets the objectives contained within Section 110-102(g) of City ordinances. Motion approved 6-0. b. Public Hearing concerning a proposed application for a Conditional Use Permit request for 565 Porter Road/310 Sixth Street to permit multiple-family dwellings where there are more than one principal land use structures on the same lot. Site plan review for 565 Porter Road/310 Sixth Street. i. Initial Staff Comments - Sidoff noted that the proposal is to construct four duplexes on the southeast corner of Porter Road and Sixth Street. An eight-unit apartment building, which would have resulted in the same density as the current proposal, would have been permitted by right and not required a conditional use permit application. The applicant believes four duplexes would fit better with the existing nature of the neighborhood. The proposed site plan meets all zoning code requirements and exceeds the required number of points for landscaping. The driveways for each duplex would be shared and garbage pick-up would occur at each duplex, rather than having a shared dumpster in the middle of the property. Additionally, the center of the property would be shared green space for residents. ii. Public Hearing - Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 6:29 p.m. A member of the public asked if the duplexes would be owned by the tenant or would be rented. Matt Brown noted that the duplexes would be rentals. A member of the public asked if the site was already served by utilities. Brown noted the site is already hooked up to sewer and water. A member of the public asked who would maintain the culvert to the east of the property, and Roger Berg noted that they would continue to mow their section of the culvert. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 6:20 p.m. iii. Plan Commissioner Questions and Comments - Hammann noted that multi-family was the original vision for the area because of its proximity to Westside Park. He noted he likes this plan for four duplexes better than the eight unit apartment building that was originally envisioned for this site, as it provides for the same density while allowing for significant green space. iv. Motion Regarding Conditional Use Permit Application - Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hammann to approve issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for 565 Porter Road/310 Sixth Street, finding that the benefits of the use outweigh any potential adverse impacts, and that the proposed use is consistent with the required standards and criteria for issuance of a CUP set forth in Section 130-104(3)(a) through (e) of the Zoning Ordinance. Hammann noted that he thought the proposed plan was even better than what had originally been envisioned for the site. Motion approved 6-0. v. Motion Regarding Site Plan Review - Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Senn to approve the site plan for 565 Porter Road/310 Sixth Street. Hammann noted that the landscaping plan shows a lot of trees, and Matt Brown confirmed that they needed a lot of trees to meet the landscaping requirements. Mayor Decker suggested that the applicant plant a variety of trees, both in keeping with the City’s “Tree City” status and to prevent massive die-offs of trees due to diseases like Emerald Ash Borer. Roger Berg noted that the trees that will be planted will already be 7-8 feet tall, as they are being transplanted from his nursery. The Plan Commission then discussed the drainage ditch to the east of the property, noting that the ditch has essentially become green space for the area. Motion approved 6-0. c. Update on cabinetry business - Sidoff noted that the cabinetry business owners notified her that their plans to relocate to Evansville are currently on hold. d. Update on City of Evansville Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan - Sidoff noted that there are currently 316 responses to the online survey. She got a great deal of feedback at the Night of the Young Child Family Night event and the Energy Fair. The Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan is still on track to come to the Plan Commission in July for approval. The Plan Commission discussed the desires from both baseball and soccer to have additional facilities at Westside Park, and Mayor Decker suggested a facilitated meeting with both groups. Wietecha noted it would be a good idea for the City to have a policy discussion on sponsor/advertisement signs in the parks. Decker also noted that Westside Park is adjacent to farmland, and it might be beneficial in the long-term to look at acquiring some of that land. 8. Monthly Reports a. Report on other permitting activity by Zoning Administrator. Sidoff noted that the permits she has been working on relate to We Energies’ installation of gas main to serve Landmark Services Cooperative’s new grain dryer. We Energies is going to the Board of Appeals on May 13 for their conditional use permit application to construct gas main in shoreland/wetland areas. Sidoff passed around the map of the gas main project. Hammann asked how many single family home permits had been issued so far this year. Sidoff offered to find out the exact number. Wietecha noted that about 30 per year would be average, and the lowest was in 2008 with 8 permits. Wietecha also noted that the existing number of platted lots served by infrastructure could run out by next year if this moderate growth rate continues. It would likely be good to see a developer come forward proposing the next phase of development for a subdivision. b. Report on the Unified Land Development Code Committee. No report. c. Report of the Evansville Historic Preservation Commission. No report. d. Report on Common Council actions relating to Plan Commission recommendations. No report. Sidoff noted that at its upcoming meeting the Common Council will take up the land division/certified survey map the Plan Commission recommended for approval earlier during this meeting. e. Report on Board of Appeals actions relating to zoning matters. The Board of Appeals is scheduled to meet Monday, May 13 to address the We Energies conditional use permit, as discussed under item 8a. f. Enforcement Report. Sidoff noted there have been a number of enforcement issues relating to the vacant lot on the corner of Main and Union, owned by Bank of Milton-many businesses having been putting signage and vehicles with advertising on this property. This has resulted in a number of complaints, which Sidoff and the Building Inspector have followed up on. 9. Meeting Reminder. The next Plan Commission meeting is Monday, June 3, 2013. Mayor Decker noted that the August meeting will have to be rescheduled, as she and Sidoff would not be able to attend a meeting on August 5. Plan Commissioners were requested to bring their calendars to the next PC meeting to discuss possible alternative dates for the August meeting. 10. Adjournment. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hammann, to adjourn at 6:45 p.m. Motion approved 6-0. The minutes are not official until approved by the Plan Commission at their next regular meeting.