Minutes_Zoning Advisory Commission 02.02.22Copyrighted
February 21, 2022
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of 2/3, 2/7, and 2/9; Civil Service Commission
of 2/3; Historic Preservation Commission minutes of 1/20; Library Board
of Trustees of 12/16; Library Board of Trustees Update of 1/27; Parks
and Recreation Commission of 10/12, 12/14, 1/11, and 2/8; Zoning
Advisory Commission of 2/2; Zoning Board of Adjustment of 1/27; Proof
of Publication for City Council proceedings of 1/18.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
City Council Proceedings of 2/3/22
City Council Proceedings of 2/7/22
City Council Proceedings of 2/9/22
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 2/3/22
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 1/20/22
Library Board of Trustees Minutes of 12/16/21
Library Board of Trustees Update of 1/27/22
Parks and Recreation Minutes of 10/12/21
Parks and Recreation Minutes of 12/14/21
Parks and Recreation Minutes of 1/11/22
Parks and Recreation Minutes of 2/8/22
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 2/2
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 1/27/22
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of
1 /18/22
Type
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
DUB E
AII-Aw CAy
111V
2007-20122013
2017*20I9
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MINUTES
ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
City Council Chambers, Historic Federal Building
Draft
Commissioners Present: Vice Chairperson Becky Kemp; Commission Members
Martha Christ, Brittany Loeffelholz (virtual), Pat Norton (virtual), Rich Russell, and Teri
Zuccaro
Commissioners Excused: Matt Mulligan
Commissioners Unexcused: None.
Staff Members Present: Wally Wernimont, Shena Moon, and Travis Schrobilgen
(virtual)
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairperson Kemp at 6:00
p.m.
MINUTES: Motion by Zuccaro, seconded by Christ, to approve the minutes of the
January 5, 2022 meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Christ, Loeffelholz,
Norton, Russell, and Zuccaro; Nay — none; Abstain — Kemp.
ACTION ITEMS/WAIVER: Application of Cody Austin, Origin Design to waive specific
requirements of Chapter 13: Site Design Standards for property located at 1185
Roosevelt Street Extension specifically pertaining to parking lot landscaping and parking
lot layout requirements for the property located at 1185 Roosevelt Street Extension.
Pat Ready, Origin Design (137 Main Street), Mike Igo, Klauer Manufacturing (1185
Roosevelt Street), and Cody Austin, Origin Design (137 Main Street) spoke in favor of the
waiver request. Mr. Igo, Vice President/Part-Owner of Klauer Manufacturing, noted the
company's 150-year history in downtown Dubuque, the 5-year planning effort that has
brought them to this point, and his appreciation of the Commission and their consideration
of the waiver request. Mr. Ready and Mr. Austin provided a presentation that detailed the
project background and waiver request. They highlighted the desire to maintain the
existing concrete parking lot islands and outlined how the required new landscape islands
would result in a loss of 14 existing parking spaces that they would need to provide
elsewhere which would then increase the total impervious area on the site beyond what
is existing. They identified the two areas on the site where the landscape buffer waiver is
requested, explaining that both locations would require a reconfiguration of the existing
parking lot and the one would require reconfiguration of existing stormwater structures.
They provided examples of the site layout with the waiver and without the waiver.
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes
February 2, 2022 Page 2
Commissioner Russell questioned what the driver was for required parking spaces and
questioned whether they could afford to lose any spaces. Mr. Igo clarified that the
requirement was based on the max number of employees on a shift. Commissioner
Russell then questioned the width of the drive aisle on the north side of the property and
whether spaces could be added there. Mr. Austin clarified the drive aisle is about 24' and
stated the plan includes some parking lot expansion already proposed and the expansion
is driven by the code parking requirements.
Staff Member Schrobilgen detailed the staff report. He outlined the Unified Development
Code design standards stating the proposed addition represents an increase of more than
25% of the existing building footprint, which requires the entire property to be brought into
compliance with current UDC standards. He said the code requires a landscape buffer
around the parking lot, the addition of new landscape islands, and the existing concrete
parking lot islands be landscaped. He said the landscape buffer would be present around
the entire property but noted that it would be less than the 7' at the designated locations.
He also stated there is underlying infrastructure at the identified waiver location along the
north side of the site and removal of the infrastructure may represent a hardship. He noted
that there are existing islands but that they would need to be landscaped and that three
additional islands would need to be installed.
Mr. Austin clarified the waiver location at the southwest side of the site would not meet
the required 7' but that some landscaping would be provided in that area. He further
clarified the existing islands are not typical to a curbed island but are essentially a
concrete cap on the drive area and so concrete surrounding the islands would also have
to be removed to install a landscape island.
Commissioner Zuccaro asked whether there was a surplus of parking. Mr. Austin stated
that they did have a surplus as proposed.
Motion by Christ, seconded by Norton, to waive sections 13-3.5D, 13-4.613 and 13-4.6C
regarding landscaped islands, landscape buffer and parking lot landscaping requirements
as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Zuccaro, Kemp, Russell,
Norton, Christ, and Loeffelholz; Nay — none.
ACTION ITEMS/WAIVER: Application of Cody Austin, Origin Design to waive site design
standards within Chapter 13 of the Unified Development Code specifically pertaining to
parking lot layout requirements for the property located at 651 Seippel Road.
Cody Austin, Origin Design (137 Main Street), spoke on behalf of the applicant, Tri-State
Quality Metals. He summarized the project background and noted the one landscape
island for which they are requesting a waiver is located within the existing parking lot at
the north side of the site, not within the new construction area at the south end of the site.
Staff Member Moon detailed the staff report outlining the Unified Development Code
design standards stating the addition was larger than 25% which requires the entire site
to be brought up to code. She pointed out that a site plan was approved in 2014 for the
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes
February 2, 2022 Page 3
existing site development and noted that the landscape island in question was approved
as part of that review.
Commissioner Russell pointed out the photos shared by the applicant team and Staff
Member Moon displayed the photos.
Commissioner Norton noted a landscape island was required in the approved 2014 site
plan and was it was not constructed per the plan. Consequently, he was struggling to
support the requested waiver.
Commissioner Christ questioned why the landscape island was not installed per the
approved plan and Mr. Austin stated Origin Design was not involved in the original site
plan review.
Motion by Russell, seconded by Norton, to waive specific requirements of sections 13-
3.5D and 13-4.6C regarding the requirement to provide an intermediate landscape island
within parking bays in excess of 20 parking spaces in length as submitted. Motion carried
by the following vote: Aye — Christ, Russell, Kemp, and Loeffelholz; Nay — Norton and
Zuccaro.
ACTION ITEMS/WAIVER: Application of The RMR Group LLC to waive site design
standards within Chapter 13 of the Unified Development Code specifically pertaining to
parking lot landscaping requirements for the property located at 2075 John F. Kennedy
Road.
Alex Hofer, attorney with O'Connor and Thomas, and Matt Lingam, Kimley Horn (via
phone) spoke on behalf of the applicant. Mr. Hofer provided details regarding surrounding
development and site as it currently exists, noting the depth and width of the lot, existing
retaining walls along the north and south property lines, and the existing vehicular access
to the site from John F. Kennedy Road. He stated they plan to demolish the existing
building and construct a new Starbucks building stating they plan to cater to drive-in traffic
as well as drive-thru traffic. He outlined the three areas of the site for which they are
requesting a buffer yard waiver request and discussed how the existing retaining walls
limit some development options on the site. Because of this and the need to maximize
the parking and traffic flow on the site, they are requesting this waiver while also meeting
all other landscape site design requirements.
Commissioner Russell questioned whether it would be possible to push the four parallel
parking spaces along the southern property line a few feet north to provide some
landscaping along that portion of the southern property line. Mr. Lingam stated they were
trying to maximize the separation between vehicles in the drive-thru and vehicles that are
parallel parking but they could possibly gain a couple feet of buffer in this area.
Commissioner Norton questioned whether they could relocate some of the angled parking
stalls from the southeast side of the site toward the northwest portion of the site. He
expressed concerns with the vehicles in the southern angled parking spaces hanging
over the southern property line. Mr. Hofer clarified that the large retaining wall along the
northeast portion of the site limits their ability to create parking in this area.
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes
February 2, 2022 Page 4
Staff Member Moon discussed the existing Development Review of the project and
highlighted the desire to ensure the site plan has adequate vehicular flow and queuing
space. She stated the applicant is trying to strike a balance between managing vehicular
needs while also providing appropriate greenspace and landscaping on the site. She
highlighted the large retaining wall along the northern property line, stating it limited some
site development in this area.
Commissioner Norton questioned what size landscape buffer the applicant could provide
stating they are asking for a waiver from the 7' requirement but can they provide some
buffer space. Staff Member Moon stated the applicant may be best suited to clarify. Mr.
Hofer stated they may be able to add some small landscaping area but wasn't sure exactly
what they could provide. Commissioner Russell mentioned they have wheel stops in the
angled parking stalls and that it appears the applicant is asking for the full 7' along the
northern and southern property lines. Mr. Lingam stated they do not have space to provide
a landscape yard along all the angled parking stalls, but they could provide around 3'
along the southern side of the parallel parking spaces. He further stated the wheel stops
will be in front of the curb.
Motion by Russell, seconded by Loeffelholz, to waive the standards outlined in section
13-4.613 regarding the requirement to provide a minimum 7' wide landscape buffer along
the sides of all surface parking lots not abutting a public right-of-way with the condition:
1) A minimum 3' landscape buffer yard shall be provided between the four
parallel parking stalls and the southern property line.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Zuccaro, Kemp, Christ, and Russell; Nay —
Norton and Loeffelholz.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: None
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: None
ITEMS FROM STAFF: None
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Christ, seconded by Zuccaro to adjourn the February 2,
2022 Commission meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Christ,
Loeffelholz, Norton, Russell, Zuccaro, and Kemp; Nay — none.
The meeting adjourned at 6.57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Shena Moon, Associate Planner
Adopted