MInutes - Zoning Adv 12 19 01 MINUTES
ZONING ADVISORY COMr~ISSION
SPECIAL SESSION
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
6:30 p.m.
Auditedum, Carnegie Stout Library
360 W. 11th Street, Dubuque, Iowa
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Chairperson Eugene Bird, Jr.; Commissioners Ron Smith, Stephen Hardie,
Martha Christ, Jeff Stiles and Dick Schlitz; Staff Members Guy Hemenway
and Kyle Kritz.
Commissioner Ben Roush.
AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying that
the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
ACTION ITEM~ITE PLAN: Application of Pat Norton, IIW Engineers & Surveyors, 4155
Pennsylvania Avenue, request site plan approval for Phase II of Westmark Enterprises,
Inc.
Pat Norton, IIW Engineers, spoke in favor of Westmark's request. He stated that
Westmark Enterprises wants to follow through with their Long Range Plan for expansion,
originally formulated in 1993. He said hewould ans~wer any questions ~ioners may
have.
Staff Member Kritz stated that Commissioners were to review the site plan for compliance
with the adopted PUD. He reviewed Ordinance 41-91 regarding the layout ofthe buildings
on Westmark's campus. He said Westmark intends to build a mirror image, three-story,
second wing addition to the existing structure.
Commissioners reviewed the site plan.
Motion by Stiles, seconded by Christ, to approve the site plan as submitted. Motion was
approved by the following vote: Aye - Smith, Hardie, Christ, Stiles, Bird and Schitlz; Nay-
None.
PUBLIC HEARING/REZONING: Application of David Leapaldt, GLTArchitects/Loras
College to amend the ID Institutional District to construct student apartments located on
Henion Street to 16th Street.
Motion by Stiles, seconded by Smith, to return the request to the table. Motion was
approved unanimously.
Chairperson Bird stated he wanted to enter into the record a letter dated December 13,
2001, from the neighborhood association meeting, and he also asked that a letter from
Loras College dated December 17, 2001, be entered into the record.
Minutes - Zoning Advisory Commission
December 19, 2001
Page 2
Chairperson Bird stated that he wonted to re-open the public hearing and encouraged
persons in the audience to speak regarding Loras College's proposal.
Jim Collins, representing Loras College, introduced the Loras College contingent. He said
that he met with neighbors and University of Dubuque officials after the last Zoning
Advisory Commission meeting. He stated that Loras College has also received approval
from the Historic Preservation Commission for the demolition of four houses to create the
parking area. He said that the meetings with the neighbors have been very productive,
and that many issues wore addressed. He stated that the neighbors were concerned with
potential disruption and inconvenience to the neighborhood during the construction phase
of the project. He stated that he has asked Conlon Construction Company to be sensitive
to the neighborhood during construction. He said that Loras College's intent is to educate
students regarding respect for their neighborhood and to encourage compliance with City
ordinances. He stated the property values in the area would not be reduced based on
Loras College's experience with the Byrne Oaks Development. He said he appointed a
student and staff liaison to the Historic Bluffs Neighborhood Assod~afion. He stated that he
will work with Loras College's new security director to address student behavior and
activity in the neighborhoods. He said that Loras College would also work to resolve the
issues with off-campus privately owned student housing. He stated that Loras is
increasing parking in Holl'ly~an, Binz, and Beckman Hails and at the new residential
complex by 15 spaces. He said that this will be done by reducing the faculty and staff
parking in the HollY,ann Hall parking lot and migrating those spaces to the Keane lot. He
said Loras has re-evaluated the faculty and staff parking program as requested. He said
the initial plan is going to institute a time-sensitive parking policy whereby faculty and staff
parking on the Hoffman Hall parking lot is permitted during the day, but student parking is
permitted in the evening. He said that hopefully this would mJtigate the demand for on-
street parking. He said Loras would also open the commuter lot at the comer of Loras
Boulevard and Chestnut Street, which has 22 commuter spots. He said this lot will also
have time-sensitive overnight parking for residents in the area. He sfatad that Loras has
approximately 400 neighbors contingent to the campus and the College has received much
positive input from these neighbors. He stated that the new parking lot next to Binz Hall
would be increased from 80 to 106 spaces, which represents 26 new spaces for 60
residents. He said between Beckman and Binz Hall will add another four spaces. He said
that immediately the 11 spaces in the Hot;,,-,an Lot will bo redesignated from faculty and
staff to student. He stated that technically, this means an increase of 41 spaces for 60
new students, which is in excess of the criteria of 2 to 1.
Commissioner Smith asked if students would be allowed to park in the commuter lot at the
corner of Loras and Chestnut Street. Mr. Collins said that students would be allowed to
park in this lot in the evening and overnight.
David Campbell, 569 W. 16= Street, said that he lives across the street from the proposed
apartments and the building wilt block his southern exposure. He said it will change the
dynamic of the neighborhood. He said that the proposed student housing has a 16~ Street
entrance, which may generate much vehicular and pedestrian traffic. He said it will
Minutes - Zoning Advisory Commission
December 19, 2001
Page 3
increase the parking problem along 16~ Street. He stated he had concerns with the impact
of construction on the foundation of the houses along 16~ Street and on the surface of the
street.
Matt Klinkhammer, 1630 Comell Street, said that he was concerned that the people
responsible for regulating the college will not keep their word.
David Schmeder, 1493 Comell Street, said that he is pleased with Loras College's
response to the neighbors, and he will take Mr. Collins and Lores College at their word.
He said he hopes that Loras College will honor their commitments.
Vicky Klinkhammer, 1630 Cornell Street, said that she lives next to the vacant lot and
construction activity may tear up the street. She said she has concerns regarding an
increase in traffic.
Gary Schlosser~ 1589 Cornel! Street, said that he has concerns with increased traffic that
may be generated by the student housing, He stated that Loras College should build a
parking ramp or purchase more property for surface level parking.
Chairperson Bird commended the neighbors and Loras College for working together to
resolve these issues. Commissioner Smith said that his original concerns regarding
parking have been addressed. He said that he felt Loras College had taken great strides
to resolve parking issues and he recommended continued communication between
neighbom and the college. Commissioner Stiles said that the college and the neighbors
have roached an equitable compromise and that he was very pleased with the results.
Motion by Stiles, seconded by Christ (from the December 5, 2001 Zoning Advisory
Commission meeting) to approve the amendment to the ID District. Motion was approved
by the following vote: Aye - Smith, Hardie, Christ, Schlitz, Stiles and Bird; Nay - None.
ADJ, OURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p~m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kyle L. Kritz, Associate Planner
Adopted