Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-1992 P&Z MINUTES • ' .� PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES Meeting of October 15, 1992 , Present: Chaitman Chuck Randolph, Rita Earl, Tom Ensley, Phil Frye, Mary Higdem, Wanda Anthony and Rick Wells. Staff: Ed Christopher, Judy Subia and Liz Yeary Absent: None A pre-agenda meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. when general agenda items were discussed. At that time amendments were made to the previous minutes and the Commission requested an attorney opinion regarding details in the Action Reports. The regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was then called to order by Chuck Randolph at 7:15 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of Augvst 27, 1992 were approved as submitted. The minutes of the September 17, 1992 meeting were changed to reflect the absence of Tom Ensley. Rita Earl also voiced an objection to the way the minutes read adding comments to a decision on the Hibbard Special Use Permit and commented that the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in the Action Reports were rather generic and needed more clarification. Ms. Yeary said the form that was being used had the approval of the City Attorney. Earl felt the language could be changed and suggested contacting the City Attorney and using the Hibbard Variance as an example. The minutes of the meetings were approved as amended. The Action Reports were approved as written. The first public hearing was for a Special Use Permit to allow the conversion of a residence into a dental office in an R-3 zoning district (1622 Fairview), by Dr. Gilbert Hafen. Liz Yeary made the presentation to the Commission. Mr. Hafen explained the reasons for his request. Rita Earl questioned parking availability in the event another dentist were added to the practice but was assured that there is adequate space to increase parking. Mr. Hafen responded that he will comply with all requirements. Hafen said he had purchased the property some time previously in anticipation of converting the house into an office citing reasons of closeness to the Hospital, the property is the only residence between lOth Ave. and Arlington and the back yard could adequately be converted into parking. He also stated that the interior would be renovated but there would be little structural change outside apart from a new fence between the northern neighbor and 1622 and removal of the existing garage. Commissioner Earl questioned ownership of the hedge between his property and the neighbo�'s. Hafen said it was his and that the neighbor liked the hedge and wanted it left there. . - 4 Commissioner Higdexn asked if he intended to install a sign and he said that he did and that he would comply with sign requirements. Mr. Frye asked if he was intending to pave the parkin.g and Hafen stated that he was. Frye also asked about the entrance and Mr. Hafen said it would be in the existing garage area off E. Logan and that the alley would not be used as access but that the area between the alley and the parking spaces would be landscaped. Ms. Yeary mentioned that one (1) handicapped pazlzing space was required by law since July of 1992 in addition to the 4 required by Code. Rita Earl stated that the area was zoned R-3 to provide for this type of endeavor and she thought that it was a good use of the property. Mr. Frye asked if there had been any concerns from neighbors and Ms. Yeary said the only call she had was a question about the alley access. I Tom Ensley moved that the Special Use Pernut be approved subject to the following amended conditions: 1. Prior to construction the owner shall obtain a valid building pernut for the structure proposed in substantial conformance with Exhibit I of StafPs report to the Commission; 2. A six foot (6') high solid fence will be constructed from the properry line at the alley up to the e�risting hedge between the office and the northern neighboring property; 3. Parking, landscaping and fencing will be provided in conformance with Secrion 6-2-1 and Section 6-3-1(D)3 of the Zoning Ordinance; 4. Any outside lighting and/or signage systems will be designed and installed so that residential property in the vicinity will not be subjected to excessive glare or nuisance; 5. Normal access will be provided off E. Logan Street. The motion passed unanimously. The next public hearing was for an application to allow the temporary placement of a mobile home for use as a temporary office in the M-1 (Light Industrial) zoning district (205 N. 4th Ave.) Applicant: Don Hulme. Staff stated that fire destroyed the original building and the trailer was needed for temporary office space. Mr. Hulme did not think he would require the use beyond the first of the year. There was no public testimony. After further discussion concerning duration of the pernut, Commissioner Higdem moved to recommend the special use permit with amended conditions: . _ ` 1. The office trailer must be connected to the city sewer while occupied; 2. This use is authorized until the occupancy of a structure proposed to serve as a permanent office for the business or until October 15, 1993, whichever occurs first; the trailer will be removed within 30 days of occupancy of the permanent office; 3. An extension of time for this pernut must be authorized by the Commission; 4. The location of the office trailer will not be closer than 20 feet from the front property line and not closer than 5 feet to any other property line. Furthermore, the Commission noted that the temporary placement of the mobile home was granted to accommodate the applicant in a hardship situation, i l Ms. Earl seconded the motion which passed unanimously. The final public hearing was in regard to a variance application reducing the required parking from 35 to 27 spaces in a C-2 (Community Commercial) zoning district; applicant, Thomas Edmark In giving some background material regarding the lack of spaces, Ms. Yeary said Jim Blizzard, the previous Planning and Zoning Director had evaluated the parking and deemed the variance necessary. However, he also considered that if one evaluated all the businesses (apart from the bank) as operating under one ownership, there is sufficient total parking. Greg Brown, Benchmark Construction, appeared on behalf of the applicant and advised the Commission that this request has a special condition in that there is adequate area for parking, but that the City is in agreement with Mr. Edmark to use part of his property for a City park (the landscaped area), which cuts down somewhat on the parking availability. If the Commission did not feel there was adequate parking with the 27 spaces designated, the applicant will remove the landscaped park in order to comply. In response to a question from Commissioner Earl, staff replied that the Bank had called to voice no objection to the request. The Commission requested staff contact the bank to obtain this infomiation in writing. The Commission also asked for a yearly review to consider the parking situation. Commissioner Frye questioned the number of parking spaces if handicapped spaces are included but staff confirmed that this was taken into account when the parking spaces were calculated. The difference between 26 and 27 spaces indicated a concern by staff that the space at the corner of lOth & Blaine could not be considered a parking space. Staff reiterated that Mr. Blizzard had evaluated the parking using a standard parking guide and deemed 26 spaces would be suffiicient for the businesses existing (without including bank parking). Wanda Anthony offered a motion to approve the Variance subject to obtaining the letter from the Bank and recommending that the parking be reviewed annually. . , . ��Srl��'edi�h��##��d�g �€ tl��o���io�f'i�d��u�gbn�qi��� the availability of extra parking being used by the City for a park area, and that the Commission do not wish to deprive the citizens of a downtown green area, and that there is adequate parking on site. Tom Ensley seconded the amended motion which passed unanimously. The preliminary and Final Plat of the Subdivision of Canyon Hill Cemetery Block 76 onto 64 lots, and Block 77 into 65 lots was then discussed; applicant, City of Caldwell. Ms. Yeary stated that in treating this as a subdivision the City is complying with State law and that the documentation complies with State law. Commissioner Ensley recommended approval of the plat, which was seconded by Wanda Anthony and l,n n;mously approved. Under new business Ed Christopher gave a presentarion on the initial study he had done I regarding the rezoning on Canyon Hill. He pointed out the vacant lots, duplexes and triplexes. After some discussion concerning reasons for rezoning and its effects, the Commission agreed that no further action should be taken until the new Plarming and Commissioner Ensley commented that new zoning might encourage development of vacant lots. Ms. Yeary reported on City Council action Referring to the upcoming hearing on the Dearborn area rezoning hearing, she stated that 251 people had been notified of the rezoning from R-2 to R-1 to be heard at the meeting on October 29th. Ms. Higdem had questions regarding a conflict of interest in the rezoning, because several members of the Commission either worked or lived in the area. Chairman Randolph said the advice of the City Attorney should be requested by staff on this issue. The proposed Langroise Fine Arts Center at the College of Idaho will be on the agenda November 19, 1992. The major concern seems to be parking. Also on the 19th, Ms. Yeary cited a possible rezoning request of a parcel which is half zoned industrial and half residential. Under further business, Mr. Frye questioned how they should look at parking in light of the new Handicapped Disability Act. Chairman Randolph said that Mr. Frye's concern should be a priority for the new director. Furthermore, an improved parking standards evaluation should be formulated. There was no other business and the meeting was adjourned at 9:05. ��� -�, ���.�-��- `.��ecorchng Secretary, Chairman, Judy Subia Chuck Randolph