HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014 0923 Minutes v4Riverdale Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing - "C" Districts, September 23, 2014 Page 1
Riverdale Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing Minutes
6:30 PM September 23, 2014
Riverdale Town Hall
Committee members present, Montie Gauss, Dennis Stolk, Heather Wren, and Nancy Ulrich.
Craig Clark was unable to attend. Thirteen interested citizens also attended.
The published agenda was to hear comments from the public and any written comments from
the public regarding the proposed revisions to Riverdale's "C" portion of Riverdale's Zoning
Map. It is proposed that all or part of Commercial District "C" be replaced with Commercial
Districts "C1" and "C2" as specified in the Zoning Ordinance Articles VI and VI -A.
The meeting was called to order at 6:33 PM by Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman,
Montie Gauss. After welcoming the public and thanking them for their interest, Gauss
introduced the commissioner's in attendance. He explained that all who wished to speak
would be heard but that due to the number of people, he was asking people to confine their
comments to five minutes or less. Gauss explained that the revisions to the map were
required to comply with the Highway Corridor Act. The changes required by the Highway
Corridor Act had been inserted into the Zoning Ordinance for some years but the map was
now being updated. He also explained that the Zoning Ordinance had recently been
consolidated by MSA and the Zoning Commission, taking the original ordinance and
subsequent amendments and resolutions and merging them all into one unified document.
However, great care had been exercised not to change any of the original language or intent.
After explaining the topic, he opened the public hearing.
Gloria Gierke of 4602 State Street asked why was the public hearing being held at this time.
Gauss explained that the map should have been revised at the time the Highway Corridor
language was inserted into the Zoning Ordinance but that had apparently been overlooked or
unrecorded. Hence, we were completing that task at that time.
Another citizen requested an explanation of the difference between a "C1" category and a "C2"
category. It was explained that "C1" or a local shopping district is more restrictive than a "C2"
or a community shopping district. It was also explained that a "C2" district was along Highway
67 and that "C1" was along Valley Drive. After further requests for clarification, Heather Wren,
highlighted the restricted uses for both "C1" and "C2" by reading the same from the zoning
ordinance.
Doug Littrel of 1014 Valley Drive asked why the small portion of "R2" immediately north of the
"C1" section along Valley Drive that was on the original zoning map did not show on the
proposed map. The commission explained that it was their understanding that all of that "R2"
section had been consumed by the recent entrance to Sco tt Community College.
John Riches of Alcoa, asked if any of the industrial zoning areas had been increased or
changed in the new map proposal. The commission assured him that they had not.
Two others, David Welch of Bettendorf and Ron Strawhacker requested information regarding
restricted uses of "C1" and "C2" districts. Their specific concerns were:
Section 61.A7 - The maximum height is listed as two stories, they feel it should be four
stories.
Riverdale Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing - "C" Districts, September 23, 2014 Page 2
Section 61.A8 - 4 - This states that all goods produced on the premises must be sold on the
premises, they feel that is too restrictive.
Section 62.A2 - 6 - This states that apartments with more than two bedrooms are not
permitted, they feel that more should be permitted.
Section 62.A6 - This section prohibits automobile agencies, they feel that they should be
allowed.
They requested that a lawyer be consulted about their concerns and supplied their email
addresses so that a follow-up answer could be provided. Gauss explained that those
restrictions have been in place since the Highway Corridor language was inserted into the
Zoning Ordinance and that his understanding was that the resulting language was the result of
combining the Highway Corridor requirements with Riverdale's original commercial zoning
regulations. However, Gauss agreed to respond to them after further consultation.
With no more public comments or questions and no written comments received, Gauss closed
the public hearing at 7:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Montie Gauss, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman
CC: City Clerk, Paula McIntosh, Riverdale Mayor, Sonya Paddock