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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-2008 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September 11, 2008 Call to Order: Chair Liljegren called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Vice -Chair Wasescha and Commissioners LeRoux. City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison Abrahamson. Absent: Commissioners Powell and Runk. Agenda Approval: Vice Chair Wasescha, seconded by Chair Liljegren, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 3 — 0. Approve Minutes of August 14, 2008: Commissioner LeRoux seconded by Vice Chair Wasescha, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 3 — 0. Department /Commission Liaison & Other Reports: None. Visitors /Public Comment: None. Public Hearings: A. Continued to September 11, 2008 - Xcel Energy, Inc. Conditional Use Permit Amendment to allow vertical expansion of the A.S. King Fly Ash Disposal site, known as the Moelter Fly Ash Site, located S. of Hwy. 36 and W. of Beach Rd. City Administrator Johnson reported that notices were mailed to affected property owners as to the status of the public hearing and that no information was available for this meeting and requested the Commission consider continuing the hearing. Johnson stated that it was possible that the applicant would be back in November and that at such time the City is aware of the public hearing to be continued with the applicant, the affected property owners will be notified by mail that the matter will be on the Agenda for hearing. Vice Chair Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to continue the public hearing. Carried 3 — 0. Planning Commission Minutes September 11, 2008 Page 2 of 3 New Business: A. Special Event Signage City Planner Richard noted earlier direction from the City Council review the special event permit section of Zoning Ordinance 401 and provide them with some feedback regarding the provision of the Zoning Ordinance and to hold a public hearing for amendment consideration if deemed appropriate. Richards noted that the issue primarily appears to e the number of allowable events and their duration. Richards reviewed the current ordinance language and its allowances to the number of events and suggested that the language could be amended to allow the number of events from three to five and with a limit of 30 days per calendar year or simply allow 30 days per calendar year with no limitation to the number of events themselves as long as they remain within the 30 day per calendar year period. Richards noted the possibility of providing separate provisions for temporary signs and special events. Discussion ensued as to manner of enforcement presently in place, where number of event suggestion was derived, types of special event signage devices, situations of special event signage, the no cost of aspect of the permit, enforcement issues being encountered, penalty of non - compliance of the ordinance, and the objective of the ordinance requirement to avoid permanent special event signage around the City while yet making the provisions more helpful for businesses to meet their special event needs. Commissioner LeRoux indicated that he thought the 30 days with a 5 event maximum seemed reasonable. Richards noted that there is no fee associated with the special event permit requirement and discussed the amount of staff time expended for enforcing it. He noted most permit requirements do have a fee attached to them and that some communities do charge a fee for special event signage but that such a fee is nominal. Brief discussion ensued as to a nominal administrative application fee to formalize the process in an effort to make it taken more seriously, to ensure that amendments are directed toward commercial activity and not residential events such as a reunion or a yard sale. Chair Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to recommend that the City Council direct staff to prepare an ordinance amendment allowing 30 days annually with a five event maximum per calendar year, including a nominal special event application fee for the process to be established by the City Council and to direct staff to schedule a public hearing before the Planning Commission to be held in October on the matter. Carried 3 — 0. Planning Commission Minutes September 11, 2008 Page 3 of 3 Old Business: A. Accessory Buildings City Richards informed the Commission that the City Council has discussed this ordinance provision and that they passed a resolution establishing a single family residential fee of $150 with no escrow requirement, which is consistent with an existing fee for single family residential variance and directed review of the ordinance section provisions for accessory buildings to determine if the appropriate provisions can be waived by conditional use permit and to have the Planning Commission provide feedback on their findings. Discussion ensued as to the current requirements and how the conditional use permit processes would differ from a variance process, discussed the language of the ordinance and what would be entailed by the administrative approval section of ordinance. Vice Chair Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to convey to the City Council that they are favorable to the recommendation of the City Planner in his report dated September 3, 2008 and recommend that the City Council direct a public hearing be scheduled for the October Planning Commission meeting. Carried 3 — 0. Commission Liaison Abrahamson noted that the issue of design guidelines has also come up during recently and suggested that the Commission may wish to consider their review. City Planner Richard added that he had also had some communications as to them and thought that reviewing them would be beneficial. Brief discussion ensued, wherein City Planner Richards stated that he would prepare some background information for the Commission for discussion at their November meeting. A. Upcoming Meetings October 9, 2008 7:00 p.m. - Regular Planning Commission Meeting (Council Chambers) B. Council Representative September — Commissioner LeRoux October — Commissioner Powell Adjournment: Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Chair Liljegren, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. Carried 3 — 0. Respectfully submitted, Ju' i A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Commission: 10- 09 -08. 5 -0.