HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes-05/18/2005 Tiffm City Council May 18, 2005
And Tiffin Planning and Zoning Commission
A special joint meeting of the Tiffin City Council and Tiffm Planning and Zoning
Commission was brought to'order at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2005 by Mayor Glen
R. Potter at the Tiffm Fire Station. Councilmembers present: Sandy Huedepohl, Mike
Gericke, Mark Petersen, Karin Dils and Jim Bartels. Planning and Zoning members
present: Terry Richardson, Ruth DeMuth, Melvin Reeve, Stephanie Surine. Absent:
Steve Berner. Meeting called for the purpose of considering rezoning request and
preliminary plat for Timber Ridge View Subdivision presented by Braxton Nieman.
Others present: Bill Grace, Leonard Vorel, Bill Ruppert, sr and jr., Bob and Judee
Reihman, Gealow.
Mayor Potter opened the Public Hearing at 6:35 p.m for the purpose of hearing input on a
rezoning request and preliminary plat for the proposed Timber Ridge View Subdivision.
Doug Frederick, engineer for Braxton Nieman explained the rezoning request and
showed a current preliminary plat request including 47 lots of R-1 and one lot of R2.5 (up
to four-plex units). The plat_includes 3 acres of park and one lot of park and three access
locations into the 3 acre park area.
One citizen explained that his notice indicated one lot of R2.5 multiple family. The plan
shown here tonight by Mr. Frederick shows one lot with up to 9 duplexes on one lot of
six acres in area. This is far more multiple family area than he had anticipated. He
explained that he had moved to Tiffm for the purpose of getting away from multiple
family dwellings. North Liberty has become covered with multiple housing and it had
become a nightmare. That was why he had come to Tiffin for single family housing and
the community that included. Once multiple family is allowed,the area would probably
be covered with it.
Nieman explained that hoping to retain the beautiful trees of the area, which provided a
large space for park had thus reduced the number of lots that could be sold. The multiple
housing was a trade that city officials had seen as possible. Frederick explained that
several concept plans had been brought before the city.
Citizen asked if this was a matter of making more money.
Nieman explained that any developer, himself included had to make the economics of it
work or the subdivision couldn't be done.
Citizen asked what units were included in R 2.5. This includes up to four-plexes with no
more than two stories requested by Planning and Zoning in this subdivision.
Frederick showed plans that included the Lot 48 with R-2 (duplex) homes.
Judee Reihman said that the city had several nice parks and didn't know if more were
needed.
Nieman said the original concept plan had the Oakdale Boulevard cutting across the tree
area,the trees would be lost if the road were moved southward. The R-2 zone had been
considered for the intersection area of Oakdale and Roberts Ferry because the city is
looking to reduce the number of residential driveways exiting into Oakdale. The street
will not be a conventional residential area with 8 to 10 driveways per block dumping into
the street. The planned R-2 could have one exit onto Oakdale, and the R-2 vehicles
would not exit thru the R-1 areas of the subdivision. It was thought this might be a good
solution to making a buffer along the intersect of Oakdale and Roberts Ferry Road.
Bob Reihman agreed that saving the tree area would be an asset to the area, but he hoped
to see the area remain R-1 single family.
Citizen explained that builders in North Liberty had problems with not picking up mud
and debris during building projects, and hoped the developer would impress upon
builders the importance of keeping things picked up.
Nieman explained that it would not be his intention to ruin or cause discomfort for the
neighborhood during the construction time. He would consider R-2 zoning for Lot 48 in
an effort to keep this plan moving forward.
Attorney Greenleaf explained that the city could consider refusal of the R 2.5 zone and
approve a less dense zone of R 2 (duplex) for the area. In the subdivider's agreement
with the preliminary plat the number of units could be prescribed. The current sketch
presented by Frederick shows nine duplex across the lot. The city could limit the number
to no more than a desired number within the subdivider's agreement.
Nieman explained that the entire area was benefited by Oakdale and at present the city
has no way to recollect even a portion of this benefit to assist with the city costs involved.
The collector level costs for the street will be paid by the developer. Costs included in
city upgrades will be paid by the city.
Mr. Ruppert a nearby neighbor,did not see that this new road was to be any benefit to
him, and thought it would be better if the road were further southward. -
Bartels said he didn't know where the idea of R-1 for the area came from, the city had no
laws for R-1 here. Bartels said any new owner of property can come in and ask for a
change in zone any time.
Gericke thought that the area had been marked R-1 in the Future Land Use Map for the
city: Gericke asked if the developer might be able to build a new single family dwelling
that is attached in linear manner as is the new fashion in Iowa City.
Dils commented that the kind of plan mentioned by Gericke would most likely create a
higher residential density than an R-2 (duplex) zoning because of reduced setback
requirements. That might makes things even worse for the people present who are
concerned about residential density issues.
Huedepohl agreed that R-2 as agreed by the developer sounded preferable to a more
dense zone when considering the public input presented during this meeting.
Attorney Greenleaf explained that the city has no ordinance or resolution setting R-1
here. That Bartels was correct, any change in zoning can be made with request of an
applicant, consideration by the city and approval of the city.
Greenleaf said the zone could be considered now. Preliminary platting and consideration
of compensating costs could be considered at the same time.
There were no written comments received by the city.
Motion Dils, second Petersen to close the Public Hearing. .Ayes: Bartels, Gericke,
Petersen, Huedepohl and Dils. Motion carried. Public Hearing closed at 8:35 p.m.
Motion Reeve, second Surine to recommend approval of the zoning for Timber Ridge
View Subdivision for R-1 in Lots 1 —47 and R-2 (duplex) in Lot 48. Ayes: Sruine,
Richardson, Reeve and DeMuth. Nays: None. Absent: Berner.
Motion Huedepohl, second Petersen to introduce amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.
Ayes: Bartels, Dils, Petersen, Huedepohl, and Gericke.
Motion Dils, second Huedepohl to approve a first reading of an amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance by title only. Ayes: Bartels, Petersen, Dils, Huedepohl and Gericke.
Bartels thought that in consideration of the fact that some citizen had thought one lot of
R2.5 meant one dwelling of R2.5 that the community should be given more time to
consider the proposal now before the city and felt that the second reading should be
moved to another meeting date.
Huedepohl volunteered a copy of the current zoning map for review and agreed with
Bartels that more time for consideration of the zoning change be provided to the
community.
Special meeting set for Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tiffin Fire Station
for the purpose of consideration of second and third reading of a Zoning Ordinance
amendment and preliminary platting including subdivider's'agreement for Timber Ridge
View Subdivision.
. I
Motion carried to adjourn. 8:40 p.m.
Glenn R. Potter, Mayor ar t B. Reihm Jerk
City of Tiffm