Minutes_Zoning Advisory Commission 4 6 11Masterpiece on the Mississippi
ABSENT: None.
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MINUTES
ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
City Council Chamber
350 W. 6 Street, Dubuque, Iowa
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
Dubuque
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PRESENT: Chairperson Jeff Stiles; Commissioners Ron Smith, Stephen Hardie, Martha
Christ, Patrick Norton, Charles Miller and Tom Henschel; Staff Members Kyle
Kritz and Guy Hemenway.
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 March 2, 2011 meeting were approved, unanimously, as
submitted.
ACTION ITEMIPRELIMINARY PLAT: Application of Rick Ehrlich /Chad Ellis /Graceland
LLC for approval of the Preliminary Plat of Liberty Subdivision located at the east end of
Liberty Avenue.
Chairperson Stiles noted receipt of a letter from Kenneth and Diane Anglin at 925 Liberty
Avenue expressing concerns with the proposed subdivision.
Nick Lange, Buesing & Associates, said that he spoke for the developer. He noted that the
proposed subdivision is an infill development with water and sewer available and the
appropriate zoning in place.
Staff Member Kritz outlined the request noting the subdivision size, number of lots,
proposed street widths, parking restrictions and access from Liberty Avenue. He
discussed storm water management for the site noting that the applicant has achieved the
40 points necessary for the subdivision to be deemed sustainable. He discussed the ECIA
housing project and the State of Iowa's Green Streets requirement. He discussed the
current condition of Liberty Avenue and said that staff had explored potential secondary
access to the site. He said that Fire and Engineering staff had both reviewed the existing
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission
April 6, 2011
Page 2
Liberty Avenue conditions and access, and that the Fire Department is recommending
limiting on- street parking to the south side of the street.
Keith Anglin, 919 Liberty Avenue, discussed the Liberty Avenue access to the subdivision,
noting the narrow width of the street. He said that all of the neighbors are opposed to the
subdivision as they are concerned with traffic safety and the potential for damage to the
street which may trigger a street assessment.
Diane Anglin, 919 Liberty Avenue, expressed concern with traffic safety and potential for
damage to the streets during construction. She said that the sewer line lies close to the
surface and it may be damaged by storm water runoff from the subdivision.
Roger Pickel, 944 Liberty Avenue, spoke in opposition to the request, noting the problem
with access to the neighborhood for City snow plows. He also expressed concerns with
runoff and the potential for erosion and flooding that he said may be caused by the
subdivision. He said that he feels the lot sizes, while meeting the City's minimal standards,
are still very small.
Mr. Lange said that the storm water from the site will be managed as per City requirements
and that the developer said that he will be careful with the roadway during the development
process.
Commissioner Norton said that he had visited the site and does not feel that access is
problematic, and questioned how the Commission could deny a subdivision plat that
complies with the Unified Development Code.
Chairperson Stiles discussed the potential for a second access and noted that, while the
existing access is not ideal, streets of this width are not unprecedented. He said that storm
water will be managed through the City's site plan review process.
Commissioner Henschel said that he supports the project, but that he would prefer some
additional green area.
Staff Member Kritz noted that storm water that currently flows through the property will also
have to be accommodated.
Motion by Hardie, seconded by Christ, to approve the Preliminary Plat of Liberty
Subdivision. Motion approved by the followed vote: Aye — Smith, Hardie, Christ, Norton,
Miller, Henschel and Stiles; Nay — None.
Commissioner Miller asked that staff draft a letter asking that the City Council consider
street improvements to Liberty Avenue, and prohibit on- street parking on the north side of
Liberty Avenue. There was a consensus among commissioners regarding Commissioner
Miller's request.
I
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission
April 6, 2011
Page 3
PUBLIC HEARING \REZONING: Application of Rev. Richard Mihm, Dubuque Rescue
Mission to rezone property located at 2505 Elm Street from R -2A Alternate Two - Family
Residential District to OR Office Residential District.
Rev. Richard Mihm, Dubuque Rescue Mission, reviewed his request with the Commission,
noting that his intent is to develop a facility that will provide a residence for 12 men. He
said that he conducted a neighborhood meeting at Comiskey Park and explained the
project to some of the adjacent property owners and noted their concerns. He said that the
existing home will be demolished and a new structure will be built at the same location.
John C. Abbot, Sr., 2533 Elm Street, spoke in opposition to the request, noting concerns
with the potential residents and their proximity to the bike /hike path and nearby park. He
expressed concerns with the safety of the children in the neighborhood.
Karla Siegert, 2530 Elm Street, spoke in opposition to the request, noting concerns about
the impact the facility may have on the value of her property and on the safety of the
surrounding neighborhood. She said that there are already a number of similar residential
facilities in the area and she feels that the additional facility is not necessary.
Rev. Mihm noted that many of the men in the facility may have drug and alcohol problems,
but all will have a job and must demonstrate that they will comply with all of the
requirements of the facility. He said that residents typically have a maximum of two years
to stay at the residence. He noted that many children currently visit the downtown Mission
on a daily basis and that he feels that there is no threat to their safety. He said that the
proposed site is ideal because of its proximity to the bike /hike trail and Comiskey Park and
also to neighborhood retail amenities such as a drug store, grocery store and the Crescent
Community Health Center. He noted that the facility will have a resident manager and will
provide a service that is not currently offered at other facilities.
Commissioner Hardie asked if the residents will be screened to determine if they are
sexual predators. Reverend Richard Mihm reviewed that all residents will be screened for
being on the sex offender registry and being near Comiskey Park would exclude anyone
from that list living in the residence.
Commissioners asked why the proposed zoning is OR versus multi - family residential. Staff
Member Hemenway noted that either OR or R -3 zoning permits the facility and that the
permitted uses are very similar. He noted that either district requires a conditional use
permit.
Commissioner Smith asked how the facility will function and how staffing will be structured.
Rev. Mihm reviewed the proposed staffing for the facility.
Staff Member Hemenway reviewed the staff report noting that a conditional use permit will
still be necessary if the rezoning is approved. He said that the Zoning Board of Adjustment
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April 6, 2011
Page 4
will conduct another public hearing. He discussed the location of the facility relative to the
bike /hike trail and park and noted that there are a number of other facilities in the area.
Chairperson Stiles spoke in support of the rezoning stating that there is a need for this
facility and that he does not feel that the safety of the neighborhood will be compromised.
Commissioner Norton spoke in support of the rezoning noting that the group home will
serve a different population than that being served by other facilities in the area. He said
he feels the zoning is compatible with the surrounding zoning and that it provides a
transition from the adjacent industrial area.
Motion by Christ, seconded by Henschel, to approve the rezoning request, as submitted.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Smith, Hardie, Christ, Norton, Miller, Henschel
and Stiles; Nay — None.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: Commissioner Hardie asked for clarification regarding the
exparte communication rule as it regarded visiting the subject site. Staff Member Kritz said
that Commission members are permitted to visit a subdivision site as subdivision review is
an action item and not a public hearing. Commission and Staff discussed the
Commission's ability to visit sites for subdivision and rezoning requests.
ITEMS FROM STAFF: Staff Member Hemenway reviewed the bicycle parking memo.
Commissioners discussed the potential to amend the Unified Development Code to require
up to two bicycle parking spaces for those parking lots with less than a 50 spaces.
Commissioner Norton said that he feels there is a need for bicycle parking in smaller,
commercial, retail -type facilities and that provision of spaces may encourage bike ridership.
He noted that it is more likely that people will bike to small retail businesses rather than the
large retail stores.
The Commission discussed the request and decided not to alter the existing Unified
Development Code language.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kyle L. Kritz, Associate Planner Adopted
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