Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF VICTORIA
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 19, 2006

MINUTES

Pursuant to due posted and mailed notice thereof, the Victoria Planning Commission met on September 19, 2006, at 7951 Rose in the Council Chambers.

Vice Chair Vogt opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Members Present: Commissioners James Donadio III, Bud Hiivala, William Mead VI, and Tom Vogt.

Members Absent: Chair Simanton

Others Present: Holly Kreft, City Planner; Angie Perera, Assistant Planner; and Tanya Schmieg, Recording Secretary.

A. Adopt Agenda

Vice Chair Vogt stated that under the approval of the minutes it should say the September 5^th meeting. The August 15, 2006 Planning Commission Meeting minutes were approved at the last meeting.

A motion was made by Donadio, seconded by Hiivala, to adopt the agenda as amended. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion Carried.
 

#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A. Minutes of September 5, 2006, Planning Commission Meeting.

Commissioner Mead noted that under the approval of the minutes it should say the vote is 3 ayes, not 4.

A motion was made by Hiivala, seconded by Mead, to approve the Minutes as corrected above. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

B. Review Minutes from August 24, 2006, City Council Meeting.

The above minutes were reviewed.
 

None.
 

A. Request by Robert Ferris for a Minor Subdivision for the property located at 8786 Ridge Ponds Drive.

1. Agenda Statement No. 06-26
2. Exhibits

Ms. Perera showed a map of the parcel. She stated the applicant is looking to acquire a section of the neighbors land at 8782 Ridge Ponds Drive that is approximately 40 feet wide by 280 feet long.

Ms. Perera stated this would create additional space to have a landscape buffer between their property and the neighbors.

Ms. Perera stated that the applicant has worked out an agreement with the property owner. She said both parcels would still be deemed as buildable lots and the setbacks would still be maintained.

Ms. Perera stated the only condition would be the six-foot drainage and utility easements need to be dedicated on the side yards of 8786 and 8782 Ridge Ponds Drive.

Commissioner Hiivala said he did look at the property and it does make sense to do this.

A motion was made by Vogt, seconded by Donadio, to approve the request by Robert Ferris for a Minor Subdivision for the property located at 8786 Ridge Ponds Drive with the above condition. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

B. Request by DR Horton to reduce the number of lots in Krey Lakes from 74 (as originally approve in the first phase) to 44 lots due to the slow housing market.

1. Agenda Statement No. 06-27
2. Exhibits

Ms. Kreft stated that enclosed in the packet is a letter delineating this request. She noted that shown on the maps are the extension of the streets that would be constructed. There is also a map that shows the sewer, sanitary and watermain in yellow and in pink shows the sanitary sewer that has been constructed which is the entire first phase as originally proposed.

Ms. Kreft stated that staff has reviewed the request and the only concern from engineering is that a temporary cul-de-sac should be located at the end of Lakes Parkway and also at the end of Acorn Point to allow for turnaround. She noted the developers engineer will need to submit a temporary grading plan to address ponding in the interim phase until it is fully built out.

Ms. Kreft said if this was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission it would move forward to the City Council and a revised developer’s agreement would then be drafted.

Commissioner Hiivala asked if this was just a reduction from 74 to 44, but the basic design will someday reinstate those 30 units. Ms. Kreft said the lots are not larger; they are just changing the phasing of the development and the 30 units would come back in the future. Vice Chair Vogt said the density is the same.

Vice Chair Vogt asked if it was the sewer and water changes that need to be addressed. Ms. Kreft said this is information brought forward and the major change will be in the developer’s agreement because of the reduction of lots.

Commissioner Mead said his concern is putting two turnarounds on the streets. Ms. Kreft said there are two temporary turnarounds proposed to allow for traffic flow and the option discussed is ending the street at Acorn Circle and that would eliminate the need for a turnaround at that point. Commissioner Mead pointed out that there are three streets that are dead ends. Ms. Kreft said that is correct as proposed. Commissioner Mead clarified that staff is asking for two turnarounds, but there are three streets. Ms. Kreft stated the original plan for the phasing had already shown a temporary turnaround on Heron Lane, so there will be three temporary turnarounds.

Vice Chair Vogt noted that it has not been decided whether staff is going to request the developer to do the temporary turnarounds or us the other alternatives. Ms. Kreft said they will be giving them the option of one or the other.

Vice Chair Vogt asked what the temporary grading was. Ms. Kreft said that because they reduced the number of lots they still need to address storm water ponding and the storm water sewer. She noted that the revised plans have not been submitted to the engineer for review.

Commissioner Donadio asked about the 30 lots and what it does to the growth management guidelines. Ms. Kreft said that staff is working on an updated vacant lot inventory.

A motion was made by Vogt, seconded by Hiivala, to approve the request by DR Horton to reduce the number of lots in Krey Lakes from 74 to 44 lots subject to recommendations by staff regarding to temporary grading relating to storm water ponding and temporary turnarounds or other adjustments in streets or lots. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

C. Request by Tom & Candy Almquist for a sign at the KidTalk building.

1.  Agenda Statement No. 06-28
2.  Exhibits

Ms. Perera showed the proposed sign of the KidTalk building. She noted the proposed colors of the sign are a purple and a lime green, which are the corporate colors.

Ms. Perera stated that in the design standards it says that signs are to be integrated with the building design and architecture in terms of materials, size, placement and style. Signs must also meet the following requirements:

1. Colors shall be those included in the color palette approved or be so close to the colors allowing a finding of consistency.
2. Style to be small town colonial or victorian.

Ms. Perera noted that a color palette has not been adopted.

Ms. Perera said she is looking for advice from the Planning Commission on the colors and if that was an issue or not. She noted that everything else meets the sign requirements.

Vice Chair Vogt asked if there was a precedent for using colors that are not the official downtown colors. He referred to the flower shop next to the post office and those colors didn’t fit with the City. Ms. Perera said that historically they have been approving earth tone or neutral. Vic Chair Vogt said the flower shop sign isn’t consistent with other signs in the downtown and mentioned the Victoria House and the Holiday Station as other examples.

Commissioner Donadio said the other issue is style and it doesn’t match up with a colonial style.

Vice Chair Vogt asked what the old sign looked like. Mr. Tom Almquist said they have never had a sign.

Mr. Almquist said they didn’t feel there would be a problem. He noted all the colors are similar colors that are being used in downtown.

Commissioner Hiivala asked if this was a form of a trademark. Mr. Almquist stated it is the company logo, which was professionally designed. Commissioner Hiivala said there is not an issue with the color and talked about the image. He also referred to the long discussions with the Hi-5 building.

Vice Chair Vogt stated the issue with the Holiday Station was not just the sign, but the trim on the building and on the canopy. They were asked to tone it down. He noted that because the City has not come up with a color palette there is an assortment of signs in the downtown.

Commissioner Donadio asked if the other signs project out from the building like this one. Mr. Almquist said the flower shop does. Commissioner Donadio said that is a colonial style, which is what they asked them for.

Commissioner Mead said it is not an issue with the logo and the colors, but in looking at the picture it should be more of a colonial, wrought iron type metal. How it’s hanging on the building should be changed. Commissioner Hiivala compared it to the lamppost in the picture and how it is two different looks.

Vice Chair Vogt suggested having the sign designer come in to town and look at a few of the signs, particularly the flower shop. He said to ask for more of a colonial look.

Ms. Perera referred back to the design standards and said the silver metal matches the silver on the building in like color and material. She said this was difficult for her to review this.

Vice Chair Vogt noted that they changed the policy on this and the Planning Commission use to see all these requests and now it is at the staff level.

Vice Chair Vogt stated the recommendation from the Planning Commission is to re-work the sign to come up with metal work that is more consistent.

Mr. Almquist asked if that has to come back to the Planning Commission or to staff. Commissioner Hiivala said now that it has been here, it should come back. Mr. Almquist asked when the next meeting would be. Vice Chair Vogt said they meet twice a month and the next meeting would be October 3^rd.

Vice Chair Vogt extended the recommendation to say the revised plan for the sign, specifically the metal work should come back to the Planning Commission as soon as possible.
 

Councilmember Tieden was not present.
 

A. Communications.

1. Update on City owned properties located at 6735 Smithtown Road and Outlot A of South Lake Virginia.

Ms. Perera said she invited Ms. Kristy Mock to answer the questions from the last meeting. She showed the map of the parcels. She noted they talked about whether or not the City would be interested in doing a minor subdivision.

Ms. Mock referred to sledding and said she was out there to walk it and measure it and there isn’t enough room from the slope to be able to come down without being in the road or crossing over the road. She noted that would be a hazard and the Park & Recreations Commission has ruled out sledding.

Ms. Mock stated there would be a leisure skating rink next to the tennis court. There will be a curb between the tennis court and the ice skating rink so the water doesn’t flow over.

Ms. Mock talked about the trail and she did go out with the City Engineer and they don’t feel that portion of the trail is going to be feasible. She said that the Met Council will not be disturbing that area and they can’t ask them to do that portion. She noted that it would be an extremely expensive project along Highway 7 that they won’t be looking in to at this time.

Ms. Mock said she talked to the City Engineer about the transit bus lot and being there are residential streets there is not room for turnaround.

Ms. Mock stated the northern parcel is not a separate park and there are no future plans for that section. She referred to Ms. Kreft on what the parcel acreage is. Ms. Kreft stated the acreage for Outlot A is 2.1 acres, Track A is .23 acres and the proposed park area, if a split were to occur, is 1.8 acres. The total number for the park as is was 2.1 acres.

Ms. Mock stated that this is considered a neighborhood park. She noted that they are not opposed to creating that as a sellable lot.

Ms. Mock said the resident open house is scheduled for October 5^th at 6:30 p.m.

Commissioner Mead asked what the Park & Recreations recommendation was. Ms. Mock said if the Planning Commission were to choose to create that in to a buildable lot they would be in favor.

Vice Chair Vogt asked if they did split the lot for a residential building what would be the size of the lot and the size of the remaining park. Ms. Kreft said approximately ½ acre for the lot and 1.8 would be the remainder for the park.

Ms. Mock said there will also be a trail along Smithtown Road.

Ms. Perera said if this is something the Planning Commission would like to do, they would recommend having a builder go out to take a look at the site. Commissioner Donadio said to also get the neighborhood feedback. Ms. Perera said a public hearing would be required if it is a minor subdivision.

Vice Chair Vogt said this park is located almost on top of Highway 7 so there is not a lot of value. He asked what the usage of the park was prior to this project and what it is expected to be. He noted the City could shut down the park and use the proceeds for another area. Ms. Mock said there is a large berm so it is partially blocked from the Highway. She noted that there is a member on the committee who lives in that neighborhood and she has expressed a need for that tennis court to be re-finished. Vice Chair Vogt said that tennis court parks have a history of not being used. He said he would like to see assurance that there will be usage and has been usage and interest and the park is not being rebuilt for a few people. Ms. Mock said a concern is that this is the one park north of Highway 7 and they are already in a shortage in that area. She noted there will be summer and winter uses with basketball hoops on each end of the ice rink. The will also be adding a picnic shelter and bathrooms.

Commissioner Hiivala asked why sell off that lot because maybe in the future there will be some use. He also noted that this is an opportunity to use some Met Council funds to upgrade the park. Ms. Mock said that these are amenities that will be at no cost to the City.

Ms. Mock asked if the Commission would like a report after the open house. Vice Chair Vogt said that would be great. Commissioner Mead said the next meeting after the open house would be October 17^th and he would be interested in the feedback. Ms. Perera said they would wait to bring it to the City Council until after that meeting.

2. Comprehensive Land Use Plan Process Update – Appointment of Two Members to Selection Committee.

Ms. Kreft stated that staff met with five consultants today and as part of the process they would like to have two members of the Planning Commission serve on the selection committee. She noted there would be one, possibly two meetings for the interviews.

Commissioner Donadio stated he is willing to be on the committee.

Commission Hiivala would like to nominate Chair Simanton and if Chair Simanton is not interested then Commissioner Hiivala would take his place.

Ms. Kreft noted that proposals are due on October 6^th, so the interviews would be the next week.

3. Cancellation of November 7, 2006 Planning Commission Meeting

Ms. Perera noted that this is Election Day and asked if the meeting should be rescheduled or cancelled.

Commissioner Hiivala said they could cancel it now and at the second meeting in October if they thought they needed to meet they could reschedule it.
 

A motion was made by Mead, seconded by Hiivala, to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 p.m. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
 

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.