Minutes_Zoning Advisory Commission 8 3 16 Dubuque
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MINUTES
CITY OF DUBUQUE ZONING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 3, 2016
City Council Chamber, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson Tom Henschel, Commissioners Pat Norton,
Laura Roussell, Steve Baumhover, Martha Christ, and Michael Belmont, Staff Members
Kyle Kritz and Guy Hemenway.
Commissioners Excused: None.
Commissioners Unexcused: None.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying the
meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
MINUTES: The minutes of the July 6, 2016 meeting were approved unanimously as
submitted.
ACTION ITEMS: Application of Dubuque Retail, LLC. 2599 Northwest Arterial (Asbury
Plaza), for review of a site plan for a new Verizon retail building for compliance with the
Asbury Plaza PC Planned Commercial District.
The applicant was not in attendance.
Staff Member Kritz said that the Asbury Plaza PUD ordinance requires that new
commercial site plans be reviewed by the Zoning Advisory Commission to insure that
they are compliant with the adopted concept plan for the development. He noted the
building size and location and said that the proposed business can be served by City
water and sewer. He discussed Asbury Plaza's development history and stated that
Verizon's proposed commercial building is consistent with the concept plan. He said
that the City's Engineering Department had reviewed the site plan.
Commissioners agreed that Verizon's proposed development was consistent with the
adopted conceptual plan for Asbury Plaza.
Motion by Norton, seconded by Belmont, to approve the site plan for a new Verizon retail
building in Asbury Plaza. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Baumhover,
Roussell, Christ, Henschel, Belmont, and Norton, Nay— None.
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes Page 2
August 3, 2016
PUBLIC HEARINGS
REZONING (Referred back per applicant request): Application of Dubuque PONY
League / Greg Yoko, to rezone property located along West 32nd Street (Parcel # 10-
15-276-004) from AG Agricultural District to CR Commercial Recreation District.
Greg Yoko, 3660 Seville Drive, said that the PONY League was considering an
alternate location and asked that the Commission table the request to rezone the
property located along W. 32nd Street.
Motion by Christ, seconded by Roussell, to table Dubuque PONY League / Greg Yoko's
request to rezone property located along West 32nd Street (Parcel # 10-15-276-004) from
AG Agricultural District to CR Commercial Recreation District. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye— Baumhover, Roussell, Christ, Henschel, Belmont, and Norton; Nay—
None.
REZONING: Application of Dubuque PONY League / Greg Yoko to rezone
approximately thirty (30) acres of property located along Derby Grange Road (Parcel #s
10-08-451-003 & 10-08-451-005) from R-2 Two-Family Residential and C-3 General
Commercial Districts to CR Commercial Recreation District.
Greg Yoko, 3660 Seville Drive, said that the PONY League is asking to rezone
approximately 35 acres of property located along Derby Grange Road from R-2 Two-
Family Residential and C-3 General Commercial Districts to CR Commercial Recreation
District. He discussed the PONY League's history and noted that they were leasing
three fields in the recreational facility across from the subject property and two
additional fields at Veteran's Memorial Park. He said that the lease will not be renewed
and that the PONY League would like to consolidate all five fields in one location. He
discussed the surrounding land use and zoning noting that the current residential and
commercial zoning could generate considerable traffic.
Mr. Yoko discussed the number of ball players and spectators that were anticipated and
detailed the amount of traffic that would likely be generated. He noted that they intend
to provide parking in excess of what is required and to use supported turf that infiltrates
rain water.
He discussed access from Derby Grange Road to the site noting that the development
would have to meet the City's requirements for sight distance. He said that they are
intent on creating a sustainable development with a park like atmosphere.
Dean Butler, 13362 Derby Grange Road, said that he was in favor of the baseball
complex but that he had concerns with access to his property and with the potential for
storm water and resultant erosion to flow in to his pond. He said that he is also
concerned that the CR district allows RV parks and he would not want one next to his
property.
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes Page 3
August 3, 2016
John Herrig, 13750 Surrey Lane, discussed the history of the subject property noting
that the former development plan included single- and two-family houses and
approximately 10 acres of commercially zoned property. He discussed the speed and
sight distance study undertaken for the former development noting the access issues
that were raised. He discussed his motivation for considering leasing or selling the
property to the PONY League.
Mr. Yoko noted that they would maintain access to Mr. Butler's property and that storm
water would be directed away from adjacent properties.
Staff Member Hemenway reviewed the request noting that, if approved, the subject
property could be developed for any of the uses permitted in the CR Commercial
Recreation district and that the applicant would not be bound by the concept plan for
the baseball complex he submitted. He said that any development of the subject
property would have to comply with the Unified Development Code's site design
standards for street intersections as well as regulations for grading, erosion control,
storm water management, required parking and landscaping and green space. He
discussed the subject property's proximity to the nearest City utilities and the proposed
access to Derby Grange Road.
Staff Member Kritz discussed possible extension of Plaza Drive through the subject
property to Derby Grange Road that he said the City would encourage in an effort to
facilitate additional development of the area.
Commissioner Belmont discussed potential extension of Plaza Drive and complimented
the applicant on his persistence in finding a suitable site for the baseball complex that
he said will serve the community well.
Commissioner Norton discussed the uses permitted in the CR district. In response,
Commissioner Christ noted that the C-3 General Commercial district allows many very
intense commercial uses. Commissioner Belmont concurred noting that he did not feel
any of the uses permitted in the CR district were objectionable.
Commissioners discussed the request and felt that it was appropriate.
Motion by Christ, seconded by Norton, to approve the request of Dubuque PONY League/
Greg Yoko to rezone approximately thirty (30) acres of property located along Derby
Grange Road (Parcel #s 10-08-451-003 & 10-08-451-005) from R-2 Two-Family
Residential and C-3 General Commercial Districts to CR Commercial Recreation District.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Baumhover, Roussell, Christ, Henschel,
Belmont, and Norton; Nay — None.
TEXT AMENDMENT: Application of the City of Dubuque to amend the C-4 Downtown
Commercial and C-5 Central Business districts to allow public and private parks as a
permitted use.
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes Page 4
August 3, 2016
Staff Member Kritz outlined the request noting that it arose in response to a private
party's request to develop a pocket park in the downtown area. He said that Planning
Staff discovered that parks are not listed as a permitted use in either the C-4 or C-5
districts. He noted that Washington Park is located in a C-4 district and that the City is
exempt from zoning regulations regarding development of parks. He said that the
rationale may have been to prevent demolition or redevelopment of valuable downtown
commercial properties for non-commercial purposes.
He said that the current trend in many cities is to create pocket parks in downtown
areas to provide an amenity for employees, shoppers and residents.
Commissioner Roussell said that she felt that a pocket park offers a great amenity in
the downtown area.
Commissioners discussed the request and felt that it was appropriate.
Motion by Christ, seconded by Belmont, to approve an amendment to the C-4
Downtown Commercial and C-5 Central Business districts to allow public and private
parks as a permitted use. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Baumhover,
Roussell, Christ, Henschel, Belmont, and Norton; Nay — None.
ITEMS FROM STAFF: Staff Member Kritz noted that Rich Russell had been appointed
to the Commission by the City Council and would attend next month's meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kyle L. Kritz, Associate Planner Adopted