2024-08-14 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Centerville Planning and Zoning Commission June 4, 2024 Slide 6- Proximity to Elementary School Administrator Statz noted that there is nothing within the cityÓs zoning code specifically disallowing a multi-family building in the vicinity of a school, adding that the Centerville Elementary School playground and ballfields are surrounded by homes with porches, decks and rear windows with views of these areas. This development would be similar with a limited number of units with these views. Administrator Statz asked the Commission for clarification on why it makes sense to eliminate balconies when the views are like the ones that homeowners surrounding the school have. Commissioner Seppala noted the difference in sight line from the balconies. Commissioner Seppala, referencing the balconies on the east side of the building, asked how preventing people from drinking intoxicating beverages and vaping would be regulated since per city code you canÓt drink intoxicating beverages in sight of the elementary school or children. Commissioner Thompson noted that there is a bar across the street in view of children and Chair Krueger noted that there is an apartment building with 14-15 units in the school parking lot. City Attorney Glaser noted that law enforcement is trained to use discretion and that maybe the first time someone received a warning and is asked to quiet down, and the next time may result in a violation. Attorney Glaser stated that the law would be enforced the same whether itÓs in the apartments or Lakeland Hills. Commissioner Kalina asked if there were anything in the apartment lease that would prevent residents from drinking or having a cocktail on their balcony. Mr. Ebert said there is no smoking but there is nothing prohibiting people from having a cocktail. Attorney Glaser noted that the city does not have a crime free rental ordinance, noting that this is one of those measures that you use for people who are getting out of control and that we have the regulation because it applies to everybody in town. Chair Krueger asked how big the balconies are. The developer said they would be about 5ft by 10ft. Slide 7 Î Crime Administrator Statz said that he does not see evidence in Centerville that a multi-family building creates more crime than a single-family home. He reviewed examples of single-family owner- occupied homes that have an overwhelming problem for our police department, noting that crime exists in a variety of different housing types, adding that we have crime at commercial sites. Administrator Statz noted that the top calls for service at this time include gas stations and assisted living facilities Î thatÓs whatÓs taxing our public safety right now. Administrator Statz stated that he does not have any evidence that shows that a multi-family development will cause more crime than any other type of development. Commissioner Nelson said that we did not have anything else in the city to compare with and that maybe we could look in Lexington at places that have had some problems. He said he feels like the medical calls we respond to are a routine part of doing business in the city. Commissioner Seppala asked if Commissioner Nelson was saying he wanted some analysis done on buildings of comparable size around us and Commissioner Nelson said he thinks itÓs worth looking into. Chair Krueger stated that he patrolled in Lexington for 27 years and he oversaw the crime free rental program. He added that as far as the police department is concerned the city of Lexington has multiple high rises and the one that causes a lot of problems (at first) is the Landings, which are lower income apartments, adding that the city of Lexington has done a lot to address the initial problems. Chair Page 6 of 16