HEARINGS BOARD
NOVEMBER 8, 2005
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – Commissioner Michael Dawkins called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. at the
Commissioners Present: Michael Dawkins
Mike Morris
Allen Douma
Council Liaison: Jack Hardesty, absent
Staff Present: Maria Harris, Senior Planner
Derek Severson, Assistant Planner
Amy Anderson, Assistant Planner
Sue Yates, Executive Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND FINDINGS
Douma/Dawkins m/s to approve the minutes of the October 11, 2005 Hearings Board. The minutes were approved.
There were no findings.
TYPE I PLANNING ACTIONS
OWNER/APPLICANT: Kurt Brombacher/Batzer Inc.
DESCRIPTION: Site Review approval for an office and warehouse addition to the rear of the building located at
This action was approved.
OWNER/APPLICANT:
DESCRIPTION: Land Partition to divide a lot into two parcels for the property located at
This action was approved.
TYPE II PUBLIC HEARINGS
OWNER/APPLICANT: Medinger Construction Co.
DESCRIPTION: Request for a Land Partition to create a flag lot from the rear of the property located at
Site Visits and Ex Parte Contacts
Morris read the October and November packets and watched the video from the October meeting. He had a brief conversation with Matt Warshawsky. Morris is prepared to participate in the hearing and there were not objections from Dawkins or Douma.
Dawkins has gone by the property since his last site visit.
Douma visited the property last month. He had no ex parte contacts.
Dawkins said the public hearing had been closed at the last meeting. However, there were submittals turned in by the applicant at the beginning of this meeting, therefore Dawkins will re-open the public hearing.
STAFF REPORT
Other issues raised at the last meeting requesting further information are as follows:
Harris said shortly before the meeting, the City’s Legal Department let the Planning Staff know that in their review of the materials, they do not believe that Option 3 is something the Hearings Board should consider. They felt the interpretation and opinion they had given in their memo (included in packet) is the only choice the Hearings Board has in terms of reviewing the ordinance. Staff recommends the Hearings Board not entertain Option 3 or discuss it and limit their review to Options 1 and 2. The Legal Dept. has interpreted “front lot line” as requiring a Variance for having a lot width greater than its depth so the applicant would need to agree to continue the application and amend the application to include a Variance. Or, Option 2 is not wider than it is deep.
PUBLIC HEARING
LARRY MEDINGER, 115 Fork Street, just heard about the communication from the Legal Dept. He would be willing to continue the hearing in order to prepare further. He’d like to come back with something as polished and workable as he could.
After reviewing the video, Morris noted this is not the place to decide whether or not infill/density is right. Medinger is close with his site plans. Planning is not a science, it is an art.
Medinger said he would prefer continuing this one more month. He’ll bring another site plan and a Variance request. He still thinks the best land use planning for this lot is Site Plan A. Morris said he would prefer not to have to make a choice. He would rather just see one application.
The Commissioners favored a continuance and leaving the hearing open.
Medinger said he would submit additional materials by November 23rd.
ADJOURNMENT– The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Susan Yates, Executive Secretary