HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-10-2001PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - APRIL 10, 2001
PRESENT: TOM SUPEL, LENNY LEUER, DICK PICARD, SHARON JOHNSON,
ELIZABETH WEIR AND SUSIE MACKAY. ALSO PRESENT: COUNCIL
MEMBER CAROLYN SMITH; PLANNING CONSULTANT BILL THIBAULT;
PLANNING INTERN TODD LARSON, ADMINISTRATOR CLERK PAUL
ROBINSON; PLANNING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR LOREN
KOHNEN; AND PLANNING AND ZONING ASSISTANT SANDIE
LARSON.
ABSENT: MARY VERBICK AND JERRY BROST
Chairperson Lenny Leuer called the meeting to order at 7:12 p.m.
1. CAROLYN SMITH - PLANNING COMMISSION COUNCIL LIAISON
Carolyn Smith said that she expects to be at every meeting. She said she would do
anything to make things easier. Carolyn said she likes the planning process and this
next year is going to be very busy and we're (the council) is here to support you.
Lenny Leuer asked if we were advertising for the open planning commission spot and
Paul said yes.
C. Smith said if someone does apply give them a sheet of what is expected and time
expected. She said then they should come before the city council to speak of their
vision and interest.
L. Leuer asked Tom Supel what is expected of a new member.
Tom Supel said that he appreciated Carolyn coming to the meeting. He said he has
been on the commission for one year now and is still struggling to what his role is. He
asked Lenny for an orientation session.
Paul Robinson asked Tom if he was asking for a job description.
T. Supel said you can go to a training session, but also needs to know the fundamental
issues that the planning commission addresses.
P. Robinson said that almost everyone is going to a training session and then we can
gear up for a work session with the city council. He said we are going toward having
Ron Batty facilitate the session.
C. Smith said maybe Lenny, Loren, Paul and herself could sit down and put together a
list.
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April 10, 2001
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L. Leuer asked Paul if there were more comprehensive plans available and Paul said he
would have to get some more done.
There was further discussion of the comprehensive plan, etc.
2. DISCUSSION OF UPTOWN HAMEL ORDINANCE
Bill Thibault gave an overview on his background. He said he has done municipal
planning for several cities and has his own consulting business to help cities. He said
after this discussion a public hearing will be scheduled for the planning commission and
then it will go onto the city council. He proposed that they go over his report and he
mentioned the PUD approach - he said this is more flexible (a.k.a. setbacks), but he
said the area should be committed to a general plan and some other controls. He said
the the CPIC had picked the PUD approach, so the guide plan was developed. Bill
pointed out the boundaries.
Sharon Johnson asked why just part of the park was included.
B. Thibault said that Uptown Hamel and the park have a close relationship, there will be
a new community building, parking for the area, etc. The northern part of the park
seemed viable.
Bill said that the zoning text was now in the 5th draft. He then went thru the visuals for
the area.
Paul Robinson said that the guide plan and Ron's memo will go to the city council next
week to discuss the boundaries, so at the next planning commission meeting there can
be the public hearing on both re -zoning and the ordinance.
B. Thibault put up an overhead of the general guide plan saying that the entire area was
not all one thing. He suggested delineation of where housing is, where retail is, etc. He
then put up an illustrative guide plan on the overhead. He also had other illustrations to
share.
P. Robinson summarized Ron's memo: Ron was uncomfortable with it, but was more
convinced about it after talking to Bill.
Lenny Leuer asked Carolyn Smith if the council wants to deal with Ron Batty's
concerns.
Carolyn Smith said that we need to talk to him.
P. Robinson said it would be better to move forward with the PUD and the council can
decide if they want a totally different approach.
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April 10, 2001
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Elizabeth Weir asked Bill it he had seen this approach work and wondered of Ron had
talked to other cities.
B. Thibault said yes he had seen this approach. He said you break out of uniformity
when you go to the PUD approach.
Tom Supel wanted to know if you were located in the SF transition zone, if it was
different from the rest.
B. Thibault said the function of the zoning is to protect property values.
There was further discussion of Ron's memo. The ordinance was gone thru:
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April 10, 2001
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