Minutes_Zoning Advisory Commission 8 5 09THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece an the Mississippi
MINUTES
ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber
350 W. 6~' Street, Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque
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PRESENT: Chairperson Jeff Stites; Commissioners Tom Henschel, Charles Miller, Patrick
Norton, Martha Christ, and Stephen Hardie; Staff Members Kyle Kritz and Guy
Hemenway.
ABSENT: Commissioner Ron Smith.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying that the
meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
MINUTES: The minutes of the July 1, 2009 meeting were approved unanimously as submitted.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Motion by Miller, seconded by Henschel to elect Jeff Stiles as
Chairperson. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Hardie, Christ, Norton, Miller,
Henschel and Stiles; Nay -None. Motion by Stiles, seconded by Hardie, to elect Charlie Miller
as Vice-Chairperson. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Aye -Hardie, Christ, Norton,
Miller, Henschel and Stiles; Nay -None. Motion by Henschel, seconded by Hardie, to elect
Martha Christ as Secretary/Treasurer. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Hardie,
Christ, Norton, Miller, Henschel and Stiles; Nay -None.
ACTION ITEM1 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE: Application of Tim Conlon for
approval of the Assessment of Significant Change for property located at the 300 Block of
Wartburg Place to determine whether a proposed change from the adopted conceptual plan is
significant and warrants a new application.
The applicant was not in attendance and the Chairperson elected to move the discussion to the
end of the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGVREZONING: Application of Tim McDonald to rezone property located
2494 Pearl Street from R-1 Single-Family Residential District to R-2 Two-Family Residential
District.
The applicant was not in attendance.
Minutes -Zoning Advisory Commission
August 5, 2009
Page 2
The Commission decided to table the request to the September 2, 2009 Zoning Advisory
Commission meeting. They directed staff to re-notify the property owners within 200 feet of the
subject lot.
Motion by Christ, seconded by Henschel, to table the request to September 2, 2009 Zoning
Advisory Commission meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Hardie, Christ,
Norton, Miller, Henschel and Stiles; Nay -None.
PUBLIC HEARINGIAMEND ID DISTRICT: Application of James Steiner, University of Dubuque
to amend the University of Dubuque ID Institutional District boundary by adding existing
residential properties.
James Steiner, University of Dubuque, outlined his requestforthe Commission. He said that he
would like to add 32 parcels that currently are on the exterior of the University's ID Institutional
District and incorporate them into the UD campus. He said some of the lots are vacant and
some have homes on them. He said that there are no concrete plans at this time for these
parcels, except for one parcel next to 959 McCormick Street which will accommodate a new
licensed child care center.
Don Pfohl, 1895 Bennett Street, spoke in opposition to the request noting parking problems in
the neighborhood. He said that the students consume most of the available on-street parking.
Andy Rettenmeier, 1854 Bennett Street, said that he is opposed to the rezoning due to parking
issues. He said that the UD currently does not have enough staff to police the existing student
parking areas and that this rezoning will exacerbate existing parking problems.
Mr. Steiner said that the rezoning request will not change the parking status quo. He said that
the neighbors have the option to form a residential parking permit district. He said that it is
difficult and expensive to police student parking.
Staff Member Kritz outlined the staff report noting the University of Dubuque's ID Institutional
District rezoning history. He said that there will be no immediate changes to the existing
property, except for the addition of a licensed child care center on McCormick Street. He
discussed the current campus configuration and the areas to be incorporated into the ID District.
He discussed the residential parking permit district process and the ability of the University to
further restrict its student parking.
Chairperson Stiles asked about parking issues at other area colleges. Staff Member Kritz noted
that there are some residential parking permit district adjacent to the Loras College campus. Mr.
Steiner discussed the locations of the restricted parking.
Commissioner Christ felt that signage serves as a deterent to student parking. Commissioner
Hardie asked if students are required to have University stickers on their vehicles. Mr. Steiner
replied that the students registered to park on campus have stickers; however, many students
do not register their vehicles.
Minutes -Zoning Advisory Commission
August 5, 2009
Page 3
Commissioners discussed traffic circulation and parking problems and felt that the University
should try to reach an accommodation with the neighboring properties. Commissioners
discussed the option to have the University require students to register all cars. Commissioners
felt that a comprehensive campus and neighborhood parking program should be studied.
Chairperson Stiles said that he would supportthe rezoning request with the addition of restricted
parking signs. Commissioner Norton said that the expansion ultimately will enable the
University to exert greater control over parking around the campus. He said that the neighbors
have the option to form a neighborhood residential parking permit district. Commissioner Christ
asked if the Commission can direct the University to work with the neighbors to resolve the
parking issues. Commissioner Hardie expressed qualified support with the caviat that the
University work to resolve parking problems.
Motion by Christ, seconded by Miller, to approve the amendment to the University of Dubuque
ID District. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Hardie, Christ, Norton, Miller, Henschel
and Stiles; Nay -None.
ACTION ITEMI ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE: Application of Tim Conlon for
approval of the Assessment of Significant Change for property located at the 300 Block of
Wartburg Place to determine whether a proposed change from the adopted conceptual plan is
significant and warrants a new application.
Tim Conlon, Conlon Development, was not in attendance.
Staff Member Kritz discussed the proposed changes. He detailed the original conceptual
development plan versus the two new proposals. He said that the new proposals would have
between 28 to 34 units. He said the proposals would not change the density and potentially be
more residential in character. He reviewed the elevations of the villa dwelling units compared to
condominium apartment units.
Commissioner Miller said that the new proposal is more compatible with the adjacent land use
and may have less of an impact on the seminary. Commissioner Norton asked if the
Commission needed to specify one of the two conceptual plans provided by the applicant. Staff
Member Kritz said that the developer is looking for the flexibility to use either concept depending
on what the market demands.
Chairperson Stiles said he supports the new concepts as they do not significantly change the
number of units or the setbacks.
Motion by Hardie, seconded by Miller, to confirm the Commission's decision that the proposed
changes to the Planned Unit Development at 300 Wartburg Place do not constitute a significant
change. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Hardie, Christ, Norton, Miller, Henschel
and Stiles; Nay -None.
ITEMS FROM STAFF: Staff Member Kritz discussed the new FEMA DFIRM maps and the
proposed expansion of the flood plain in the Downtown Dubuque area. He said that City staff
has expressed concerns with the incorporation of many more properties into the flood plain in
Minutes -Zoning Advisory Commission
August 5, 2009
Page 4
the North End neighborhoods. He said that the City has undertaken mitigation that should
improve drainage in the area and that the City will discuss the map issue with FEMA.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kyle L. Kritz, Associate Planner
Adopted
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