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01-16-2001 PCM c MINUTES HUTCHINSON PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, January 16, 2001 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30 P.M. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Arndt at 5:30 p.m. with the following members present: Jason Olson, Dave Westlund, Jim Haugen, and Jeff Jones. Also present: Julie Wischnack, AICP, Director of Planning/Building/Zoning; Heather Bieniek, Planning Coordinator and Richard Schieffer, City Attorney. Members absent: Dean Kirchoff and Brandon Fraser. 2. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Olson moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Mr. Haugen seconded the motion. Motion carried. 3. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Ms. Wischnack stated that the commission needed to elect the chair and vice chair positions. Mr. Haugen nominated Mr. Arndt for the chair position. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. Mr. Haugen nominated Mr. Jones for the vice chair position. Mr. Westlund seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. No more nominations were considered. Mr. Westlund move to approve Mr. Arndt for the chair position. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Westlund approved Mr. Jones for the vice chair position. Mr. Haugen seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Wischnack asked if New Business section A could get moved ahead. Commission approved. 4. NEW BUSINESS a) CONSIDERATION OF A FINAL PLAT FOR A 35 - LOT SUBDIVISION TO BE KNOWN AS THIRD ADDITION TO ROLLING MEADOWS AS REQUESTED BY SORENSON AND NAUSTDAL PROPERTIES (EAST OF LOUISIANA AVENUE NW AND SOUTH OF GOLF COURSE ROAD) Ms. Wischnack explained the request and stated that the final plat meets all requirements and she recommended approval. Mr. Haugen moved to approve the final plat. Mr. Westlund seconded the motion. Motion was carried unanimously 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS a) CONSIDERATION OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR RELOCATING A FUNERAL HOME REPLACING A BANK USE AT ECHO DRIVE & HWY 15 SOUTH AS REQUESTED BY DOBRATZ- HANTGE FUNERAL CHAPEL (400 South Glen Street) Chairman Arndt opened the hearing at 5:40 p.m. as published in the Hutchinson Leader on Thursday, January 4, 2001. Ms. Wischnack explained the request and displayed maps showing the area proposed and talked about the areas of concern. Originally they thought it was one parcel and later found out it was actually two. There would also be two phases of development. Ms. Wischnack also stated there are concerns about the amount of traffic the funeral home would generate and congestion. Mr. Arndt asked if they could move the access to the frontage road. Ms. Wischnack said yes they could Minutes Planning Commission - January 16, 2001 Page 2 move the access and widen the interior driving area. Ms. Wischnack also stated the phase one, new addition, would provide 100 new seating areas. There are also concerns about the depression and drainage issues that will be discussed during the second phase. Mr. Arndt asked which way the storm water runs to. Ms. Wischnack replied that the storm water drains toward the frontage road. Ms. Wischnack recommended to table this topic until we receive the final survey information. She further suggested that the commission hear the concerns from the public, if any and vote on the matter in February. Mr. Jones asked if Citizens Bank still owns the land. Ms. Wischnack explained that Citizens is still the legal owner, with the applicants closing on the property in February. Ms. Wischnack stated they have discussed landscaping elements. There are a lot of trees, and no landscaping is required during the first phase of development. Mr. Arndt asked if Mr. Hantge would like to speak. Robert Hantge, Dobratz Hantge Funeral Chapel, stated that he wants to make sure that everyone is educated about the proposal is a two-phase project. He also stated that within five years they would like to have their total operation running out of the current bank building. Mr. Jones moved to close the public hearing at 5:51 p.m. Mr. Westlund seconded the motion. The motion to close the hearing carried unanimously. Mr. Jones made the motion to table the consideration of a conditional use permit until the February 20, 2001 meeting when all the information is gathered. Mr. Westlund seconded the motion. The motion was carried Ayes 5, Nays 0, Abstain 1 (Haugen). b) CONSIDERATION OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR PLACEMENT OF A GAS STATION ON WAL-MART STORE'S PROPERTY AT THE NORTHWEST INTERSECTION OF DENVER AVENUE AND STATE HIGHWAY 15. Chairman Arndt opened the hearing at 5:55 p.m. as published in the Hutchinson Leader on Thursday, January 4, 2001. Ms. Wischnack explained that any service station requires a conditional use permit. She stated the eastern portion of the Wal-Mart lot (about a % acre) would be leased to Murphy Oil. Mr. Arndt asked if there would be access from Denver Avenue. Ms. Wischnack said no, that access to the property would be from the Wal-Mart parking lot. Ms. Wischnack then stated the changes that would have to be made; the curbing area needs to be moved over at least 15 ft., they need a controlled access so it is easily accessible to go in and out, the color scheme needs to fit the new part of Wal-Mart, trash enclosures need to be moved and the A TM machine needs to be moved. Mr. Jones asked if the issue for the A TM is the same for the phone. Ms. Wischnack stated that yes the phone also needs to be moved. Mr. Haugen asked it there are any setbacks for the ATM. Ms. Wischnack stated there is nothing in the code which addresses this. Dan Weese from CEI Engineering, stated that he reviewed the comments and he agrees with what Ms. Wischnack has stated. Mr. Jones asked if there is going to be enough room for the tanker trucks. Mr. Weise stated that there would be enough room and they were going to bring the moving of the curb to their designers. He also stated they do not want congestion around the A TM machine and the phone, all they want to do is provide a service. Mr. Westlund asked if you could put the A TM where the garbage dumpsters were going to be. Mr. Weise said it would still be on the wrong side. Mr. Haugen asked how predictable the traffic is. Mr. Weise stated that the people heading back that far in the parking lot are there to get gas. He also stated that no one parks in the back of Wal-Mart except during the holidays so parking should not be a problem. Minutes Planning Commission - January 16, 2001 Page 3 Ms. Wischnack asked how much traffic they were expecting at the gas station and if they were going to have discounted gas. Glen Wright, representing Murphy Oil, stated that he did not think it would create more traffic than any other gas station. Ms. Wischnack said she was referring to the Worthington example. Mr. Wright replied that he hopes to have a lot of traffic. Mr. Arndt asked the representatives from Murphy Oil what else they sell. Mr. Wright replied that they have two restrooms, and will sell pop and snacks. They will have one person on duty at all times. Mr. Jones asked if there were any safety concerns having only one person on duty at a time. Mr. Wright stated that there have not been any problems thus far. The hours of operation are planned to be 5:00 a.m. to 11 :00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Mr. Arndt asked if there has been any car troubles with people leaving. Mr. Wright replied that credit cards will be accepted at the pump and that in order to pump gas the clerk has to push a button. Mr. Haugen moved to close the hearing at 6:20 p.m. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Westlund moved to approve the conditional use permit with the conditions recommended by staff. Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion to approve, with the following conditions: 1. The color scheme and design matches the new addition to Wal-Mart. 2. The A TM and the phone booth are in easily accessible areas. 3. The garbage dumpster is not located right next to Highway 15. 4. The curbing area and is to be moved at least 15 feet to the east. Motion was carried unanimously. 6. NEW BUSINESS con't. b.) KEITH KAMRATH, ISSUE WITH DOWNTOWN USES AND PARKING PROBLEMS (2ND AVENUE AREA). Ms. Wischnack explained the request and stated the Mr. Kamrath called her about parking issues in the downtown area. Ms. Wischnack explained there are no parking provisions in the code for the downtown area. Mr. Kamrath stated that he has a chiropractic office downtown and that patients always complain about the parking. He has looked into the parking within one block of mainstreet for the downtown businesses and counted how many spaces they all had. Mr. Kamrath also stated that he was not sure if the two- hour parking is enforced. Mr. Jones stated that we could talk to business owners and ask them to have their employee's park farther away and have the police enforce the two-hour parking. Ms. Wischnack asked Mr. Kamrath if has called the police. Mr. Kamrath stated that he has not. He also stated the area he is in is unique because of the high density of businesses around his area. Ms. Wischnack stated that with parking requirements they did not want to discourage economic development. She also said that they will put that aside for now and contact the police chief about the two-hour parking. Mr. Arndt stated that no action would be taken. Ms. Wischnack stated that she would provide information to the downtown committee. 7. OLD BUSINESS Ms. Wischnack stated she is waiting on the enforcement issue on the mobile home park case. 8. COMMUNICATION FROM STAFF Appointment to Main Street Organization. Ms. Wischnack stated that Christie Rock was not able to attend the meeting. Minutes Planning Commission - January 16, 2001 Page 4 There was general discussion regarding the fact if having a member represent the Planning Commission on the Main Street Organization was a good idea or if it would create a conflict of interest. A decision was made to have Ms. Rock come to the next meeting and discuss this issue further. 7. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mr. Jones moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Mr. Olson seconded the motion. Motion carried.