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MInutes Zoning Adv 2 7 01 M%NUTES ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR SESSZON Wedn~_ay, February 7, 2001 6:30 p.m. Majestic Room, Five Flags 4m & Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa DRAFT PRESENT: Chairpemon Eugene Bird; Commissioners Ron Smith, Stephen Hardie, Martha Christ, .left Stiles, Dick Schlitz and Bob Nagle; Staff Members Guy Hemenway and Kyle Kritz ABSENT: None. AFF%DAVZT OF COMPL%ANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying b~at the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law. M%NUTES: The minutes of the December 6, 2000 meeting will be reviewed at the March 7, 2001 Zoning Advisory Commission meeUng. PUBLZC HEARZNG\REZON%NG\MAY: Application of William May to rezone property located at 989 Langworthy from R-2 Two-Family Residential District to OS Office Service Bill May, 1370 Valentine Drive, outlined his request to rezone and establish a dentist office in an existing building at 989 Langworthy or to remove the building and build a new structure. He stated he would provide off-street parking at this location. Mr. May distrib~ letters of support from neighboring property owners and indicated he has talked to adjacent neighbors who had no objection to his proposal. Chairperson Bird entered into the record the lettem of support. Staff Member Kdtz reviewed the staff report discussing the surrounding land use induding Mercy Hospital parking and a single-family home. He also discussed the list of allowed uses in the OS Office Services district, stating medical offices in this district are limited to 5,000 square feet. Commissioner Schlitz stated that this is a logical expansion of the existing medical facility campus. Motion by Schittz, seconded by Smith, to approve the rezoning request. Motion carded by the following vote: Aye - Smith, Hardie, Christ, Bird, Stiles, Schlitz and Nagle; Nay - None. iqJ_m_~C HEAR/NG\RL=ZON%NG\CTTY OF DUBUOUE: Application of the C&ry of Dubuque (tabled from the December 6, 2000 meeting) to rezone property located along Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes - February 7, 2001 Page 2 the Highway 20 Corridor between Bluff Street & Cherokee Drive/Collins Street from R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Two-Family Residential District, C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District, OR Office Residential District, OS Off~e Service D~ and C-3 General Commercial D*~:rict to OS Off~e Service District and POS Public Open Space District. Staff Member Kritz outlined the rezoning request and the history of the property. Staff member IG~z reviewed the agreement between the City of Dubuque and IDOT regarding the area proposed for rezoning to OS Office Service district at the northwest comer of Dodge and Bluff= Streets. He indicated that the parcel was developable and would use Bluff Commissioner Christ stated that traffic is a problem at this location. The Commission discussed the OS zoned property. Commissioner Schlitz stated that he feels the POS District should be extended to include the entire Highway 20 Corridor, including the area proposed for OS zoning. Commissioner Hardie stated that there is plenty of POS zoned area in the corridor. Commissioner Stiles questioned traffic from the proposed OS to Bluff Street and Highway 20. Commissioner Schlitz indicated he wants the City to retain POS zoning for the gateway into the City and for future highway expansion. Motion by Christ, seconded by Stiles, to approve the rezoning request. Motion carded by the following vote: Aye - Smith, Hardie, Bird and Nagle; Nay - Christ, Stiles and Scblltz. PI~IBI./C HEAR/NG\TEXT AHENDt4ENT~,LAMAR ADVERTZSZNG: Application of 3ames Schumacher/Lamar Advertising to amend Section 4-3.11 of the Zoning Ordinance to increase minimum spacing of off-premise signage. Chairperson Bird excused himself from the table because of a conflict of interest. Jim Schumacher, Lamar Advertising, reviewed the reasons for his request to increase the minimum spadng between off-premise signage. Mr. Schumacher reviewed the issues discussed by the Billboard Ad Hoc Com~ that while well meaning, did not result in any changes to regulations pertaining to off-premise signage. He reviewed changes in the industry that have created problems in communities. I~lr. Schumacher reviewed a podJon of Highway 20 that currently has two billboards with 1,600 feet between them. He said that under the current 100 foot spacing requirement, an addition 16 I~llboards could be erected. He said this would not allow adequate visibility for these billboards. Mr. Schumacher also indicated that the proposed language is not meant to limit competition but to ensure adequate spadng to allow customers messages to be seen. He said that Lamar Advertising is trying to be proactive, not reactive. The Commission asked Mr. Schumacher to review potential locations for new off-premise signage in the Dubuque area. Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes - February 7, 2001 Page 3 Staff Member Hemenway reviewed the staff memorandum and noted the total number of billboards--the number of current non-conforming billboards, and the increase in the nonconforming billboards if the ordinance change is approved. Hemenway reviewed spacing requirements imposed by other communities in Iowa. The Commission asked Mr. Schumacher to explain the reasons for selecting the 750 foot spacing requirement. He explained that this is the distance necessary for a passing motorist to adequate~f read a billboard. Chris Iverson, Lamar Advertising, spoke in support of the text amendment noting that bhe current spacing of 100 feet is among the lowest in Iowa. Mr. Iverson reviewed the impact of an out-of-town sign company on the City of Davenport. He said that in reducing excessive outdoor signage, Davenport increased spadng to 1,500 feet. 3im Gantz, President of Lime Rock Spring, which does business as Pepsi Cola, stated that he would be losing a billboard as part of the Dubuque County jail expansion. He said that spadng is only one requirement necessary for finding a space for a billboard. He indicated that he is opposed to the text amendmer~ He said he believes the change will limit competition. 3ira Schumacher stated that the text amendment is meant to protect Lamar's customers, the community and Lama- employees. He stat~l that behind a billboard are employees, families and customers. He indicated that the text amendment is intended to provide a means for controlled growth in the outdoor advertising industry. Commissioner Schlitz stated that he feels the existing regulations have been adequate and that they are self policing. Commissioner Nagle stated that while 100 feet may be inadequate, 750 feet is too excessive. Commissioner Stiles ~L~;.ed that he believes them are areas out on the west side of town that would benefit from greater spacbg between billboards, but is not set on 750 feet. Commissioner Hardie stated that the market has changed. He said b~t much larger companies with much greater resources have entered existing te~ and do not have the same limitations on lease payments because of very deep pockets. These companies also do not have the same regard for community values and character, which can be compromised under the existing 100 feet spacing regulation. He feels that 750 feet is not an unreasonable spacing. He said the 750 square foot requirement still will allow for adequate growth for the billboard industry and he believes the request is reasonable. Commissioner Smith expressed concern for the independents who may be adversely impacted by the proposed text amendment. Commissioner Schlitz asked why expensive leases are a bad deal for a landowner and asked Commissioner Hardie to explain the changes occurring in the industry and hoTM this could impact the cormT~jnity. He also expressed concern that the ordinance amendment would re~b~.'t other Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes - February 7, 2001 Page 4 Notion by Smith, seconded by Stiles, to approve the text amendment as submitted. Motion carried by following vote: Aye - Smith, Hardie, Christ, Stiles; Nay -Schiltz and Nagle; Abstain - Bird. ADJOURNMENT: Th~ meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m, Kyle L. Kritz, Associate Planner Adopted