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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-09 CPC MIN PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 9, 2015 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Kocon called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Present: Chairman Kocon, Commissioners Collins, Fletcher, Hade, Hansen, Lauer, Siess, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioners Kelly and Middleton Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of October 14, 2015 meeting minutes Chairman Kocon noted the tabling of the September minutes will be continued. Motion by Commissioner Siess, seconded by Commissioner Hade, to approve the October 14, 2015 meeting minutes. All in favor, 7-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discussion of a future Yard Parking Zoning Text Amendment (ZAT) City Planner Wittman stated that in April 2015, Eric Solberg approached the City Council to discuss the issue of yard parking as a blight and nuisance in the community. Staff was directed to work with the Planning Commission to develop a draft ordinance to address the issue. Staff has since reviewed aerial imagery to identify registered vehicles parked in the front or side yard area on unimproved surfaces. She reviewed limitations of the study. The highest amount of yard parking, almost 7%, was in the Dutchtown district, with the north and south hill being the lowest. Staff found that yard parking occurred in about 3% of total properties in the aerial scans. Ordinances in other communities were researched. Ms. Wittman discussed the definition of surfacing materials and asked if the Commissioners would agree that grass, landscaping and dirt are unimproved surfaces. Commissioner Hansen asked about Planning Commission November 9, 2015 Page 2 of 4 gravel, adding that he would not want an ordinance to state that Class 5 is the only material that works. Commissioner Siess asked what if a resident put gravel all over their front yard? Ms. Wittman asked if the Commission like to set a maximum percentage of the front yard that may be surfaced. She summarized comments from the Commission that unimproved surfaces would be grass and dirt areas, and that improved areas would be asphalt, concrete and potentially gravel. Ms. Wittman then asked if the Commission would want to set a maximum number of vehicles allowed to be parked in a front yard. Commissioner Hansen remarked he feels the Commission may be starting to over-regulate something that isn’t as big a problem as it is made out to be. Commissioner Siess noted the number of vehicles parked in yards appears to be growing in her neighborhood. Chairman Kocon commented if he had one neighbor with a vehicle parked in the yard, he wouldn’t appreciate it. Commissioner Hansen replied that sounds like saying if someone has a lot in Stillwater, they have to choose whether to have a boat, a trailer, or a second car. He said he is not in favor of saying a resident can have only one vehicle, especially if side yards are considered. Commissioner Hade said he is inclined to not allow any parking in yards. Chairman Kocon said he is inclined to allow one vehicle to be parked in a yard. Ms. Wittman brought up side and rear yard parking, and said she will revisit the definition of front yard. She also brought up commercial versus residential property. Commissioners voiced the thought that commercial property should be treated no differently than residential property. Ms. Wittman asked if maximum length of a vehicle should be addressed. Commissioner Siess suggested addressing height as well. Chairman Kocon commented that mass may be a better choice of words. Ms. Wittman said staff can look at what other communities have done in regard to mass of vehicles allowed. Ms. Wittman solicited comments about whether allowances should be made for yard parking for special events like block parties or graduation parties. Commissioner Fletcher noted it might be self regulating, because if it’s a one-time event, neighbors are not likely to complain unless it’s chronic. Chairman Kocon added that if the penalty is to remove the vehicle, and it’s a one day event, then it would be removed already by the time the ordinance would be enforced. He said for him, the true eyesore is the vehicle that has been parked there for a lengthy time period; if it’s a wedding, graduation party or church social one-time event, there’s less of an impact than looking at a huge SUV for several months. He pointed out the other issue is what will be done with the vehicles if they are to be removed or towed. He suggested incorporating a 24-hour notice to allow yard parking for one-day events. Commissioner Hade replied that could be problematic if someone goes fishing every weekend, for example, and parks a boat or trailer in their yard consistently. There would be a potential for violation even though it is parked there for one day at a time. Ms. Wittman asked if the Commission would like the ordinance to address rolloff boxes in yards. Commissioner Hansen commented he doesn’t think the Commission should open Pandora’s box by including rolloff boxes in the ordinance. Commissioner Lauer agreed. Ms. Wittman noted the City gets a lot of phone calls about neighbors having a lot of things in their yard. The question has been brought up whether the City have an ordinance regulating dumpster storage bins on grass. Commissioner Siess stated the City could initiate a permit process for storage pods. Ms. Wittman stated a storage pod might be considered a general nuisance under the nuisance ordinance, but unless it poses a public safety hazard, there is not a lot the City can do, as there is no ordinance covering exterior storage. Commissioner Hansen remarked if dumpsters and storage bins aren’t a huge issue right now, the Commission ought to let it be. That could change if it becomes a chronic issue. Chairman Kocon said he doesn’t like to see anything on the lawn, whether it’s a dumpster or a pod. He is ok with it being on an improved surface, but doesn’t want it sitting in the front yard. Planning Commission November 9, 2015 Page 3 of 4 Commissioner Hansen responded that with a lot of the rolloff container companies, a resident wouldn’t want them parking on the driveway because they damage the driveway. Ms. Wittman recognized that maybe the issue of pods and dumpsters belongs in a different ordinance. Ms. Wittman summarized the discussion thus far: some changes to the definitions were suggested; the Commission supports establishing some maximum percentage of improved surface area; landscaping should be defined; the ordinance may be self regulating in terms of one-day events; some Commissioners want to limit the number of vehicles while some do not; the Commission wants to explore the definition of front yard and to have these provisions apply to front yards. Ms. Wittman stated she also heard the Commission wishes to explore length, height, mass and bulk limits; there should be no difference between commercial vs residential properties; there could be some sort of hourly exception, but the ordinance is designed for chronic and repeat offenders; the ordinance will be limited to the storage of vehicles and will not address rolloff containers; also the word etcetera should be eliminated. Ms. Wittman summarized the City’s existing regulations regarding impervious surface coverage in the various districts. The next step is for staff to collect public input via a survey. She presented draft survey questions for review. Commissioner Fletcher suggested adding an open ended question asking for any other concerns. Ms. Wittman stated the survey will go out within the next week or so. Results will be brought back to the Commission in mid-December. She anticipates having a public hearing before the Commission in January for a recommendation to the City Council, which would hold two public hearings in February as is done for every ordinance. Council Representative Junker commented he feels the ordinance should focus on the fact that the City wants to eliminate the RVs, boats, and multiple cars in the side or front yard. But there is still the possibility that someone will throw down a little Class 5 or pea rock, that barely covers the area on which the huge RV or boat will be on, and call it an impervious surface. Ms. Wittman responded that her direction from the Commission was that maybe gravel could be considered unimproved, maybe it could be considered improved; she will look at how other communities classify it. Chairman Kocon remarked that throwing gravel down in a yard would not be acceptable in his opinion. He would want to see a legitimate bordered parking area. For instance, pavers are a pervious surface but are an improvement over gravel. Maybe the ordinance needs to address all these improved surfaces. Eric Solberg, 2064 Oak Glen Drive, Stillwater, thanked the Planning Commission for working on the issue. He added there is a new example of the problem near Oak Glen. He said he realizes the City has to help residents make this work for everybody, but feels the problem is increasing. OTHER ITEMS OF DISCUSSION Staff Verbal Updates - 2016 Downtown Framework chapter of Comprehensive Plan City Planner Wittman informed the Commission that the Comprehensive Plan is due for an update by 2018. Updates to the downtown framework chapter have begun. A downtown plan committee will be formed which will include a member of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Hade responded that living downtown, he may be interested in serving on the committee. Planning Commission November 9, 2015 Page 4 of 4 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Hade, seconded by Commissioner Fletcher, to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m. All in favor, 7-0. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary