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Regular Planning Commission Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, March 2, 2016 <br /> <br />Page 4 <br />Mr. Lloyd prefaced his response by noting that the driving force behind the official <br />146 <br />statutory timeframe and that of the additional open house proscribed by city code was <br />147 <br />greatly impacted by what viable Planning Commission date might be available for holding <br />148 <br />the formal public hearing based on the number and type of cases also appearing before <br />149 <br />the body along with time for reasonable preparation of those materials. Mr. Lloyd noted <br />150 <br />that an open house is required by city code for rezoning and preliminary plat <br />151 <br />consideration if creating four or more parcels. Typically, Mr. Lloyd advised that the open <br />152 <br />house is to be held within 15 to 45 days of submitting an application. In this case, Mr. <br />153 <br />Lloyd advised that the it was true that the open house for this development was held <br />154 <br />some time ago, with the application itself submitted on or about December 17, 2016, but <br />155 <br />subsequently rejected administratively as originally submitted with the preliminary plat <br />156 <br />and variances allowing for smaller lot widths. Mr. Lloyd advised that staff did not support <br />157 <br />the variance portion of the application and therefore, plans were revised as per the <br />158 <br />present plat arrangement. Mr. Lloyd clarified that a revision of plans doesn’t constitute the <br />159 <br />need for the developer to hold a new open house. <br />160 <br />At the request of Chair Boguszewski, Mr. Lloyd confirmed that the dates were bound by <br />161 <br />the original application, and with some flexibility, the timeframe is around thirty days. <br />162 <br />Chair Boguszewski noted that the email expressed concern with scheduling the open <br />163 <br />house and availability of residents around the proximity to the Christmas holidays, but <br />164 <br />opined that the window didn’t consider holidays and asked if staff guided or counseled <br />165 <br />applicants accordingly. <br />166 <br />Mr. Lloyd confirmed that the calendar and potential conflicts were part of the process in <br />167 <br />an informal way, but also agreed with Chair Boguszewski that city code proscribes the <br />168 <br />times of day and week in defining open house schedules. Mr. Lloyd noted that it would be <br />169 <br />difficult to avoid any and all holiday schedules that vary depending on cultures and beliefs <br />170 <br />and ethnicities. Mr. Lloyd further clarified that the intent of the open house is that it be <br />171 <br />held by the developer with the surrounding community to get their feedback, and <br />172 <br />purposely held outside staff’s determinations and before staff completes their analysis <br />173 <br />and brings a case before the Planning Commission for their recommendation. While staff <br />174 <br />may provide some guidance to the applicant if asked, Mr. Lloyd noted that city code <br />175 <br />regulates the process and the only caveat is that the developer be considerate of the <br />176 <br />process and intent of the open house process and awareness of the neighborhood. <br />177 <br />Member Daire asked if the proposed zoning change would allow duplexes on these lots. <br />178 <br />Mr. Lloyd responded that nominally speaking, duplexes are allowed in LDR-2 zoning <br />179 <br />districts. However, Mr. Lloyd noted that a two-family home requires 4,800 square feet per <br />180 <br />unit, and therefore lots would need to range from 7,000 to approximately 8,000 square <br />181 <br />feet. Under this proposal, Mr. Lloyd advised that none of these lots would be large <br />182 <br />enough to allow for or accommodate a two-family home without combining properties, <br />183 <br />triggering the need to re-plat them before doing so. <br />184 <br />At the request of Member Daire, Mr. Lloyd confirmed that the maximum number <br />185 <br />allowable for the proposed area – if rezoned – is six units. <br />186 <br />In driving the site, Member Daire observed a turnaround or cul-de-sac and asked if the <br />187 <br />city owned the easements or if they infringed on private property. Mr. Lloyd clarified that <br />188 <br />the cul-de-sac per se was actually square-ended and is in the existing right-of-way for <br />189 <br />Wheaton Avenue. Mr. Paschke also confirmed that it was in the public right-of-way. <br />190 <br />Member Daire asked if there was any exploration or a possibility of creating two cul-de- <br />191 <br />sacs back to back on Wheaton Avenue. Mr. Paschke advised that the discussion had <br />192 <br />initially occurred with the developer and also a curvilinear road. Mr. Paschke opined that <br />193 <br />such a back-to-back cul-de-sac design would not be supported by the City Engineer, the <br />194 <br />Public Works Director, or under the current zoning code. <br />195 <br />Member Daire asked if the offset intersection of Wheaton Avenue with Dale Street and <br />196 <br />across it presented any problems. <br />197 <br /> <br />