HomeMy Public PortalAbout2016 0830 MinutesRiverdale Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes from August 30, 2016 - Printed 2016-09-02 Page 1
Riverdale Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting
Meeting Minutes
7:00 PM, August 30, 2016
Committee Members: Montie Gauss^, Craig Clark, Mark Griswold, Gloria Gierke, Nancy Ulrich
Published Agenda:
Agenda:
Public Input Beginning at 7:00 PM
P&Z Commission Meeting Beginning At 7:00 PM Or Directly After Public Input
Approval Of Previous Minutes
Review Of E-mail Conventions That Comply W ith Open Meetings Law.
Review Of Information Supplied By Mayor And Council
Discussion Of Request From Council As Follows:
As taken from City Council Minutes.
Mayor Paddock read procedures to enact and amend Zoning Regulations. Stating that before the City
Council may act on proposed Zoning Regulations, the City Planning and Zoning Commission must
first prepare a preliminary report on the proposal, hold at least one public hearing, and deliver a final
report to the City Council. She stated there has been a request to consider making changes to the R-1
zoning of the Welch farm by adding a new zoning R-1A, and/or to consider adding a Planned Urban
Development (PUD) Ordinance. R-1A would be identical to R-1 except that lot size would be a
minimum of 17000 square feet, minimum lot width would be 75 feet, front and rear setbacks would
be 30 feet, side setbacks would be 7 feet(sum not less than 15’), and to consider allowing a 3 or 4 car
attached garage. A spread sheet was provided by Woods Construction that compared Riverdale to
Bettendorf and Davenport. It includes those proposed changes. At maximum these changes would
need to take place in order for Mr. Woods to close on the property. Hupp moved to send proposed
changes to Planning and Zoning for review and ask that P & Z make recommendations to the Council
seconded by Littrel. Roll call vote: Channon – aye, Hupp – aye, Littrel – aye, Halsey – aye motion
carried.
Halsey moved to approve Resolution No. 2016-17 A Resolution Establishing A City Of Riverdale
Development Advisory Committee seconded by Channon. This committee will be appointed by the
Mayor and chaired by Dale Hupp and will consist of 5 to 6 committee members.
Requests For Development Advisory Committee
Set Date For Public Hearing On Council Request
Discussion Of Other Items, But No Action Taken
Items Recommended For Discussion At Next P&Z Meeting And Public Hearing
Adjournment
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
Gauss introduced the P&Z Commission and Attorney Steve Hunter to the members of the
public that were gathered and asked each additional person to introduce themselves. A copy
of the sign in list is attached.
Public input was received from David Welsch. David stressed that development of the current
Welsch property would add tax revenue for the city and that the more dense the houses, the
more tax revenue. He also stated that they had been unable to find developers that would
Riverdale Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes from August 30, 2016 - Printed 2016-09-02 Page 2
develop the property with the current R1 zoning restrictions. He felt it was to everyone's
advantage to change the zoning to enable smaller lot sizes and setbacks.
Teri Stickler stated that one of the great things about Riverdale had always been that the lot
sizes were larger and houses were not right on top of each other. She requested that if lot
sizes needed to be changed, to keep them as large as possible.
Bonnie Keeley stated that these decisions needed to be made upon a financial basis.
The previous minutes were reviewed and approved.
Gauss pointed out to the commissioners that a recent ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court
made it illegal to reply to all on an email to a government body. This is considered as
establishing a private meeting and subjects the person who replies to individual prosecution
and fine. In effect, replying to all about a group email requesting potential meeting dates is
viewed as a non public meeting. To help prevent this, Gauss promised to send blind copies to
the commissioners. That way reply to all only goes to the original sender and themselves.
However, if someone sends them a commission related email that is not a blind copy, they
should not reply to all.
Gauss reviewed the information supplied to the commission from the council and mayor.
The article entitled, "Is economic development changing?, urged cities to evaluate new
developments in light of recent property tax changes in Iowa and based upon long term
financial impacts.
The article, "Consider a more financially sustainable residential environment", stressed
that at today's tax rates, lot sizes need to be small to allow replacement of infrastructure
in timely fashions. Developments with large size lots would not collect enoug h taxes to
allow replacement of roads, sewers, etc. any sooner than 100 years.
A sample of a more modern subdivision was reviewed. With cul-de-sacs and curved
roads that are more typical of current developments, rectangular large lots would not
always fit in and certainly reduce the housing density. The sample that was shown is
just a sample and does not represent a current proposal from a developer.
A marked up copy of a possible R-1A zoning section for Riverdale was reviewed. It
proposed allowing three car garages, front yard setbacks of 30 feet, side yard minimum
width of 5 feet and total of no less than 15 feet. It also proposed a minimum lot size of
10,000 square feet with an average width of not less than 75 feet.
A printout from West Des Moines web site listing the numerous Planned Urban
Developments in use in that city.
A copy of Muscatine's more flexible zoning was reviewed.
A table listing Bettendorf, Davenport, and Riverdale's current lot sizes and set back
regulations and comparing them to a proposal was reviewed.
The request from the council was read. Discussion of the council request ensued and a list of
needed information was prepared.
Griswold requested that Print Dates be added to all handouts used by the commission.
Gauss agreed to begin incorporating this feature.
Attorney Hunter explained that an entirely new residential zoning category such as R1 -A
would need to be enacted and applied to a potential deve lopment area prior to any
future development being able to make use of the new zoning.
Riverdale Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes from August 30, 2016 - Printed 2016-09-02 Page 3
Attorney Hunter's opinion of the best timing for the public hearing was requested. His
advice was to await collection of much of the requested information, so that could be
shared at the public hearing.
The commission reviewed the list of items of information requested from the Riverdale
Development Advisory Committee, with Dale Hupp, Chairman. A listing of these items are
attached.
Gauss shared with the group that his five year term on the commission was expiring in
December and that he would decline a reappointment if offered.
The date for the public hearing on this issue and next Planning and Zoning Meeting was
tentatively set for September 27, 2016 at 7:00 P. M.
The tentative agenda for that meeting is as follows:
Public input beginning at 7:00 P. M. with the Riverdale Development Advisory
Committees Report being presented first followed by any other public input.
P&Z Commission Meeting Beginning At 7:00 PM Or Directly After Public Input
Approval Of Previous Minutes
Discussion of Councils Request and Determination of Next Steps
Development of Any Additional Requests for Development Advisory Committee.
Discussion Of Other Items, But No Action Taken
Items Recommended For Discussion At Next P&Z Meeting
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
Montie Gauss
^Minutes *not present
CC: City Clerk, Paula McIntosh; Mayor, Sonya Paddock; Attorney Steve Hunter