Minutes_Zoning Advisory Commission 9 7 11t
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MINUTES
ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
City Council Chamber
350 W. 6t" Street, Dubuque, Iowa
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PRESENT: Chairperson Charles Miller; Commissioners Ron Smith, Patrick Norton and
Tom Henschel; Staff Members Todd Shoemaker, Kyle Kritz and Guy
Hemenway.
ABSENT: Commissioners Stephen Hardie and Martha Christ.
AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying that
the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
MINUTES: The minutes of the August 3, 2011 meeting were approved, unanimously, as
submitted.
ACTION ITEMIFINAL PLAT: Application of John Sibley for approval of the Final Plat Pine
View Subdivision, Dubuque County, Iowa, located at 12724 Pine View Drive.
John Sibley, 12724 Pine View Drive, said that he is purchasing a small piece of property
from his neighbor and incorporating it into his residential lot.
Staff Member Kritz stated that, as the plat is within 2 miles of the City of Dubuque, Zoning
Commission review is required. He said that the applicant is asking to waive the lot
frontage for Lot 2, which he said is currently being used as a septic field and will, therefore,
not be built on. He recommended approval of the plat subject to waiving lot frontage
requirements.
Commissioner Norton asked why the lots will not be consolidated to provide frontage. Staff
Member Kritz noted that consolidation would incur an added expense and that, as the
drainage field serves the adjacent lot, the two Tots are bound together. In addition, the
existing lot that will become Lot 2 currently does not have frontage.
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission
September 7, 2011
Page 2
The Commission discussed the request and felt it was appropriate.
Motion by Henschel, seconded by Smith, to approve the Final Plat of Pine View
Subdivision, subject to waiving the lot frontage requirement for Lot 2. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye — Smith, Norton, Henschel and Miller; Nay — None.
ACTION ITEMIPLAT OF SURVEY: Application of Allen Weber for approval of the Plat of
Survey for Lot 1 -1 & 2 -1 Gillespie's Third Addition located at 340 Olympic Heights.
Allen Weber reviewed his request with the Commission, noting that he would like to
purchase a small portion of his neighbor's lot to eliminate the encroachment of his
detached garage.
Staff Member Hemenway reviewed the request, noting that the lot is substandard in both
frontage and lot size. He said that the lot had been platted in an effort to eliminate an
encroachment and to provide the required setbacks for a detached accessory structure.
Commissioners discussed the request and felt it is appropriate.
Motion by Norton, seconded by Henschel, to approve the Plat of Survey for Lot 1 -1 & 2 -1
Gillespie's Third Addition subject to waiving the lot frontage and area requirements for Lot
2 -1. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Smith, Norton, Henschel and Miller; Nay —
None.
ACTION ITEMIPLAT OF SURVEY: Application of Dave Schneider for approval of the Plat
of Survey Asbury Plaza No. 16 located at the end of Plaza Drive.
Dave Schneider, Schneider Surveying, said that he has been working with Premier Bank to
replat a foreclosed lot. He said that the bank was told that they need to establish a legal
plat of survey acceptable to the County Auditor's office.
Staff Member Kritz noted that the City had reached an agreement with Premier Bank
regarding provision of easements that would enable the City to access and maintain City
utilities. He recommended approval of the plat.
Motion by Henschel, seconded by Norton, to approve the Plat of Survey Asbury Plaza No.
16 subject to waiving the lot frontage requirement for Lot 2. Motion carried by the following
vote: Aye — Smith, Norton, Henschel and Miller; Nay — None.
PUBLIC HEARINGIAMEND PADRE PIO HEALCARE CENTER ID DISTRICT: Application
of William Peterson Architects to amend the Padre Pio Healthcare Center Institutional
District to allow construction of a four -story nursing addition and a one -story therapy center.
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission
September 7, 2011
Page 3
William Peterson, Peterson Architects, reviewed the project details, noting the addition of
beds and a skilled nursing and physical therapy facility.
Staff Member Hemenway reviewed the staff report, noting the location and square footage
of the additions. He discussed access, location of available off - street parking and traffic
generation. He noted that the green space requirements have been met and that a
biofiltration cell will be added on the southeast corner of the campus. He discussed
historical parking patterns for the facility.
The Commission discussed the request and felt it was appropriate.
Motion by Norton, seconded by Henschel, to approve the amendment to the Padre Pio
Healthcare Center ID District. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Smith, Norton,
Henschel and Miller; Nay — None.
PUBLIC HEARINGIREZONING: Application of Tom Thompson to rezone property located
at the 3400 Block of Keymont Drive from R -2 Two - Family Residential District to R -3
Moderate Density Multi - Family Residential District.
Charles Daoud, 396 Moore Heights, representing the applicant, outlined his request for the
Commission. He noted that a change in the housing market had facilitated their need to
reconfigure the sites to allow for increased units in each building.
Chairperson Miller asked the applicant what form the housing would take. Mr. Daoud said
that their intent was to create more moderately priced townhouse units. He said that they
would like to create introductory housing. He said that the current concept is for four -
plexes.
Chairperson Miller noted the receipt of a letter in opposition expressing concerns with
multi - family housing and increased traffic.
Commissioner Norton asked whether the units would be condos or rentals. Mr. Daoud said
that their intention is to sell the housing as individual units. He said that they have
developed a great relationship with their neighbors and that the units would be populated
by good, solid citizens.
In response to a question from Commissioner Smith, Mr. Daoud said that they may build
with a rent -to -buy option, but would not build unless 3 of the 4 units are sold.
Staff Member Kritz outlined the request, noting that there would only be 2 additional units
on the subject property. He stated that there had been a loss of property from the original
concept plan due to the limitation created by an existing drainage area. He said that
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission
September 7, 2011
Page 4
streets, water, sewer and storm water management could accommodate the additional
dwelling units. He said that none of our residential districts restrict rental housing.
Commissioner Henschel asked if the Commission could limit the buildings to four - plexes.
The Commission discussed a possible conditional rezoning.
Tom Thompson, 11168 Holy Cross Road, Farley Iowa, said thatfour - plexes are preferable
to six -unit buildings and that the building configuration would not change the overall density
of the site. He said that he would be amenable to a condition limiting the development to
four - plexes.
Staff Member Kritz discussed the lot configuration as it regarded four- versus six -unit
buildings. He said that it would be difficult to site six unit buildings on some of the lots,
especially those at the end of the cul -de -sac, and still meet required setbacks.
Commissioners discussed the topography and geometry of the site, noting how such
restraints limit building design. Chairperson Miller asked if rooming and boarding houses
are allowed in R -3 districts. Staff Member Kritz noted that rooming and boarding houses in
R -3 districts require a public hearing as part of a conditional use permit that must be
granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Commissioner Smith asked if the Commission would review the replat of the subject
property. Staff Member Kritz noted that it was not likely as the final plat would go to the
City Council.
Commissioner Henschel said that he still would like to consider limiting the building
configuration to four units.
Commissioners discussed placing conditions on the rezoning but felt that due to the
physical limitations of the site, it was not necessary.
Motion by Norton, seconded by Smith, to approve the rezoning request. Motion carried by
the following vote: Aye — Smith, Norton, Henschel and Miller; Nay — None.
PUBLIC HEARINGITEXT AMENDMENT: Application of the City of Dubuque to amend
Section 6 -4 Flood Hazard Overlay District of the Unified Development Code
Staff Member Kritz outlined the request to adopt a new flood map and amended ordinance
language that is necessary to comply with the recommendations of the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources predicated on new Federal statutes for flood plain regulations. He
discussed the changes include building design modifications and limitations on the use of
RVs in a flood plain area.
Minutes — Zoning Advisory Commission
September 7, 2011
Page 5
Commissioner Henschel asked if any of the changes in the Code would affect the new map
configuration provided by FEMA. Staff Member Kritz said that it would not and that the
Planning staff can work with the final map version provided by FEMA.
The Commission discussed the changes and felt they were appropriate.
Motion by Henschel, seconded by Smith, to approve the text amendment. Motion carried
by the following vote: Aye — Smith, Norton, Henschel and Miller; Nay — None.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
Consent Decree
Staff Member Todd Shoemaker, City Environmental Engineer, summarized the consent
decree for management of waste water in the City of Dubuque. He said that as the Zoning
Commission reviews development within the City, it is important that they be informed of
the intent of the consent decree. He noted that the City has reached an accommodation
with the Federal government regarding litigation and that the consent decree was part of
the agreement.
Commissioner Henschel asked if the Commission has any other responsibilities other than
an awareness of the intent of the consent decree. Staff Member Shoemaker noted that for
the Commission, the consent decree is informational only.
In response to a question from Chairperson Miller, Staff Member Shoemaker noted that in
addition to City staff, contractors, developers and consultants involved in projects that may
affect waste water management were also apprised of the consent decree. He discussed
an inflow and infiltration study being undertaken by the City.
Commissioners discussed the consent decree and thanked Staff Member Shoemaker for
providing the information.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kyle L. Kritz, Associate Planner Adopted
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