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HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_Planning & Zoning Meeting_12112019PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING IONA COMMUNITY CENTER December 11, 2019 6:30 P.M. PRESENT: Chairman James West, Member Ray Hart, Member Dee Johnson and City Clerk Keri West. ABSENT: Member Gary Elliott and Member John Lott. VISITORS: Scott Kelly, Tim Kelly, Deb Sorenson and Betty McKinley. Chairman West welcomed everyone and led with the Pledge of Allegiance. Approval of Minutes: Chairman West entertained a motion. Member Johnson moved to approve the minutes for November 13, 2019 as written. Member Hart seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion carried. Items of Business: a. Public Hearing- Conditional Use Permit Application, Scott Kelly, New Self -Storage Facility on Main Street- Tim Kelly approached the podium representing the applicant. Mr. Kelly stated they would like to build new self -storage units on their commercial property on Main Street. Mr. Kelly stated there will be no power available to any of the storage units. He did state there would be a small office with power and a bathroom on site. He also stated there will be some outside lights, but they will be shining down and not outward. Chairman West asked what material the buildings would be made. Mr. Kelly stated the buildings would be metal structures. Chairman West stated the Commercial Code requires any commercial structures that abut a residential property to have a buffer of landscaping or fencing. He continued and stated this has not been displayed in the submitted drawings. Mr. Kelly stated they planned to have landscaping in the back of the property with a slope for the storm water, but can add fencing to the other sides if necessary. Chairman West also asked how the business would protect residents from hazardous material being stored. Mr. Kelly stated they do not allow hazardous material to be stored. Chairman West asked how they would control that. Mr. Kelly admitted anyone could sneak it in, but they would have that included in the contract the renter signs upon rental. Member Johnson asked how many entrances the facility would have. Mr. Kelly said they are not sure how many entrances they would have, but they would like an entrance on Main Street. He stated they have not decided because they were not sure what the City would allow. Member Hart asked if there would be a metal or privacy fence in the front and Mr. Kelly stated they have not determined that yet. Mr. Kelly said they would work with the Building Officials with the City to have all the requirements included in their engineered drawings. Council Member Johnson asked how large the individual units would be. Mr. Kelly stated they will have units that are 10'x10' and 10'x20'. Clerk West asked what the available hours will be. Mr. Kelly confirmed the facility would have 24 hour access and they will not have an entry gate. Mr. Kelly also stated they currently have a storage unit facility on 1st Street and Ammon Road to the west side of Country Corner, on the south side of 1st Street. Chairman West asked if anyone in attendance is in support of this project. No response. 1 Chairman West read two written correspondence in opposition to the application. Chairman West asked if anyone in the audience is in opposition. Deb Sorenson, 5276 E. Hansen Avenue, approached the podium and stated his strong opposition to the proposal of a new self -storage facility to be built on Main Street. Mr. Sorenson stated he does not think the applicants have planned appropriately and believes there are too many unanswered questions regarding the application. Mr. Sorenson voiced his frustration that the applicants have not decided whether they would have privacy fences, a gate at the entrance and whether they would have more than one entrance. Mr. Sorenson stated he served on the City Council for nine years under Mayor Craig Rockwood. He stated at that time, the City put a lot of time and money into beautifying this community and specifically Iona's historic Main Street. Mr. Sorenson stated his disapproval of allowing a metal building and undoing so much hard work that has been done to beautify Main Street. Mr. Sorenson also stated he would demand a privacy fence between the storage units and his property to the east. He continued and stated this facility would cause a drop in all nearby property values. Mr. Sorenson urged the Planning & Zoning Commission to consider statements made by longtime residents that are trying to preserve our town. Mr. Sorenson reiterated that if a business wants to come into a small town like Iona, they need to be prepared and have all the plans and decisions ready, understanding how many people it would affect. Mr. Kelly approached the podium to rebut the previous testimony and stated they are still flexible with the design and wanted to obtain the Conditional Use Permit approval before spending money on engineered drawings. He continued and stated if Mr. Sorenson wants a privacy fence between the two properties, they would do that. Mr. Kelly stated whatever the requirements are from the City, they will abide by. He also clarified the parking lot will be paved and there will be an employee there as needed. Mr. Kelly also stated they have not decided on a gate because they are very expensive and hard to maintain. He also stated their other facility has no weeds and is kept very clean. Mr. Kelly also stated the property was on the market for a few months and no one else bought it to build something different. They have purchased the property with the intent to put in a storage facility. Chairman West closed the Public Hearing portion of the meeting and began deliberations amongst the Commission. Chairman West read from the Iona City Code § 11-6-3(A) pertaining to Conditional Uses in the Commercial Zone: "The City may, after notice and public hearing pursuant to Chapter 8 of this Title, permit the uses specified below, where such uses are deemed essential or desirable to the public convenience or welfare. On all conditional use permit applications, the City shall have the discretion to require an impact statement to assess the impact of the proposed conditional use upon surrounding properties and upon City services and infrastructure. The City may impose such conditions and safeguards, as it deems necessary to protect the best interests of the surrounding property or neighborhood and City services or infrastructure from damage, hazard, nuisance or other detriment." Chairman West stated his biggest hesitation for this project is that it is a metal structure and does not fit in on Main Street. Clerk West stated she has received a handful of phone calls in opposition of this application from residents throughout the City, also concerned with a storage facility on Main Street. Chairman West stated he acknowledges this 2 business would increase tax revenue. He continued and stated the Conditional Use Permit application also requires that it fits in the Iona Comprehensive Plan. He doesn't believe this structure would fit in that plan for the City. Member Johnson stated this proposal is unlike previously accepted applications. He continued and stated he does not believe storage units would be appropriate in the heart of the City on Main Street. Chairman West entertained a motion. Member Hart made a motion to not approve the Conditional Use Permit. Member Johnson seconded the motion. A11 in favor. Motion carried. Chairman West informed the applicants this is not approved at this time. He continued and stated if they would like to reassess their design and drawings, they can resubmit their application. He encouraged them to rethink the metal buildings and consider eye appeal from Main Street. b. Public Hearing- Amendments to Iona City Code § 10-1-17(B), pertaining to Public Way Requirements in the Iona Subdivision Ordinance- Chairman West stated he attended the November City Council Meeting and discussed the Planning & Zoning Commission's desire to require secondary access to each new subdivision. He read the current code and the proposed code from the City Attorney. Chairman West opened the Public Hearing portion of the meeting. No public comment in favor of or opposed to this proposal. Chairman West closed the Public Hearing portion of the meeting. The Commission began their deliberations. Chairman West stated he does not believe the amended wording accomplishes what they wanted it to do. Member Hart agreed and stated the amendment is not what they had intended. Chairman West entertained a motion. Member Hart made a motion to deny Amendments to Iona City Code § 10-1-17(B) and send back to the City Attorney to rewrite it. Member Johnson seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion approved. c. Discussion of Iona Comprehensive Plan- Clerk West stated the Mayor and City Council have approved the Planning & Zoning Commission to move forward with editing and updating the current Iona Comprehensive Plan. However, they cannot undergo a complete overhaul of the Plan due to cost restraints. She continued and recommended the Commission to discuss 2-3 sections at each meeting. Member Hart agreed and recommended the Commission reviews the first three chapters for the January Meeting. Chairman West agreed. Member Hart made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Member Johnson seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting Adjourned 7:22 p.m. P&Z APPROVED: January 08, 2020 James West, Chairman ATTEST: Keri West, City Clerk 3