Loading...
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