Minutes: Planning: July 1, 2013

City of Evansville Plan Commission Regular Meeting Monday, July 1, 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 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Sandy Decker. 2. Roll Call. Members present: Mason Braunschweig, Mayor Sandy Decker, Matt Eaton, Carol Endres, John Gishnock, Bill Hammann, and Jon Senn. Others present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha, Community Development Director Nicole Sidoff, and members of the public. 3. Approval of Agenda. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Senn, to approve the agenda. Motion approved 7-0. 4. Approval of Minutes. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hammann, to waive the reading of the minutes from the June 3, 2013 regular meeting and approve them as printed. Motion approved 7-0. 5. Civility Reminder. Decker noted the monthly civility reminder. 6. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed. None. 7. New Business a. Public Hearing concerning a proposed application for a Conditional Use Permit request for 268 W. Liberty Street to permit a duplex in an R-1 District. i. Initial Staff Comments - Sidoff explained that the building had been used as a duplex in the past and had all of the infrastructure necessary to operate as a duplex, including off-street parking to accommodate both units, and separate meters for gas, electric, and water. The duplex did not have a conditional use permit in the past; however, a new owner recently purchased the property and is going through the appropriate channels to ensure the use of the property as a duplex conforms with the City’s Zoning Ordinance. ii. Public Hearing - Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 6:03 p.m. Jim Fountaine, 251 W. Liberty Street, asked if the duplex would be owner-occupied, and Sidoff noted that both units in the duplex would be rentals and would not necessarily be occupied by the owners or the owners’ family members. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 6:04 p.m. iii. Plan Commissioner Questions and Comments - Endres asked if there was enough off-street parking to accommodate both units. Sidoff verified that there was sufficient off-street parking and showed the Plan Commissioners the site plan map indicating where the off-street parking was located. Hammann noted that the Comprehensive Plan encouraged a variety of housing types, and a duplex meets that recommendation. iv. Motion - Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hammann, to approve issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for 268 W. Liberty 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. Motion approved 7-0. b. Motion to indicate support for Bluescope/Varco Pruden and the company’s replacement of the bridge over Allen Creek on the Bluescope/Varco Pruden property. Motion by Braunschweig, seconded by Senn, to indicate support for Bluescope/Varco Pruden and the company’s replacement of the bridge over Allen Creek on the Bluescope/Varco Pruden property. Hammann asked if the Plan Commissioners could have a few minutes to read the memo from Sidoff regarding the project. Sidoff offered to provide an overview. She noted that the company’s operations are split north and south by Allen Creek. A culvert installed in Allen Creek serves as the bridge between the north and south side of the property. The culvert is over 75 years old and has experienced significant flooding issues over the years. Bluescope estimates that flooding has caused the bridge to be closed 25% of the year, which significantly disrupts operations because trucks have to reroute through the City to get from one area of the property to the other. Sidoff noted that Bluescope is interested in replacing the culvert with a free span bridge, which would help their operations and also likely help mitigate flooding issues at that point in Allen Creek. Bluescope is looking for a motion of support from the City indicating that the City understands the importance of keeping the company in the City and the necessity of replacing the culvert with a new bridge. This motion of support would be used by Evansville Bluescope management in securing support from Bluescope corporate offices to replace the bridge, as well as indicate support from the City during the permitting process. Sidoff is assisting Bluescope in applying for the necessary Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and US Army Corps of Engineers permits. The only permit that will be required by the City for the replacement of the bridge is a floodplain permit, which can be approved by Sidoff. Motion passed 7-0. c. Update on City of Evansville Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan - Sidoff noted that she has made significant progress on the Plan, and the Park and Recreation Board will be reviewing the bulk of the Plan at its meeting next week. They will review the inventory and public input this month and the recommendations the following month. The draft Plan should come to Plan Commission and Common Council in September. Sidoff noted that after the Park Plan is completed, she will be working on the update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Part of that planning process will likely include a statistically-significant survey. Additionally, the City may be pursuing an intern to assist in the comprehensive planning process. Hammann noted that the most valuable information from the last comprehensive planning public input survey were the hundreds of comments made in the survey. 8. Monthly Reports a. Report on other permitting activity by Zoning Administrator. Sidoff noted she has been dealing with a few sign permit questions. As mentioned in item 7.b, she will be assisting Bluescope with the permit application process for replacing their bridge. 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. Mayor Decker noted that the Common Council did not act on the sale of property to Bev Krieger because she did not show up to the Common Council meeting. e. Report on Board of Appeals actions relating to zoning matters. No report. f. Enforcement Report. Sidoff noted that staff has been dealing with issues related to the City’s wellhead protection ordinance, namely the fact that vehicle repair/maintenance operations are not supposed to be permitted in that area. This has been an issue on the east side of town, in the Water Street area. That is why the Varesi Auto Repair application for a conditional use permit in that area was pulled. Staff is looking into the issue and will report when more progress is made. 9. Meeting Reminder. The next Plan Commission meeting will be on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 - note the change from the regular meeting date. The meeting will be a joint meeting with Economic Development Committee and will include a presentation by the City Engineer on the City’s new GIS software, as well as a presentation by the Evansville youth baseball complex group. Endres indicated she will not be able to attend the meeting. 10. Adjournment. Hammann made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to adjourn at 6:17 p.m. Motion approved 7-0. The minutes are not official until approved by the Plan Commission at their next regular meeting.