HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMinutes_2007_03_06Planning Commission
Brookings, SD
March 6, 2007
OFFICIAL MINUTES
Chairperson Sean O’Brien called the regular meeting of the City Planning
Commission to order on March 6, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber at
City Hall. Members present were Curt Ness, Justin Hyde, John Gustafson, Larry
Fjeldos, Mike Cameron, Dave Kurtz, Greg Fargen, Sandra Moore, and O’Brien.
Also present were Dean Gulbranson, Wade Price, Scott Hodges, Keith Rounds,
Dick Peterson, Roger Brown, Brad Wiemann, City Manager Dennis Falken, City
Engineer Jackie Lanning, Planning and Zoning Administrator Dan Hanson, and
others.
Item #1- The minutes of the February 6, 2007 meeting were approved.
Item #2 – The agenda was approved.
Item #3 – Gulbranson Development Company, Inc. has submitted a final plat of
Lot 9, Block 1; Lots 7, 9, and 15, Block 3; and Lot 8, Block 5, Timberline Addition.
(Gustafson/Fargen) Motion to approve the plat. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – Bluegill, Inc. has submitted a final plat of Lot 1, Block 5 and Lots 4 and 5,
Block 10, Bluegill Addition.
(Hyde/Kurtz) Motion to approve the plat.
(Kurtz/Fargen) Amendment to the motion to add “subject to easements as
required by the City of Brookings and Brookings Municipal Utilities”. All present
voted aye. AMENDMENT CARRIED.
The motion, as amended, was voted on. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #5 – Sixth Street Partners has submitted a petition for a change in the land use
within a Planned Development District on Lot 6, Village Square Addition. The major
amendment proposes to change a storage and warehousing use to a retail store
use.
(Gustafson/Hyde) Motion to approve the major amendment.
(Hyde/Kurtz) Motion to table. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #6 – Sixth Street Partners has submitted a petition for minor amendments to a
Final Development Plan on Lot 6, Village Square Addition as follows:
1. expand the size of a building
2. decrease the buffer zone along the west property line
3. install a freestanding sign along 6th Street, and
4. provide 12 fewer parking spaces than required.
(Hyde/Cameron) Motion to defer. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
The meeting was adjourned.
_______________________ _________________________
Dan Hanson, Secretary Sean O’Brien, Chairperson
Planning Commission
Brookings, SD
March 6, 2007
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
Chairperson Sean O’Brien called the regular meeting of the City Planning
Commission to order on March 6, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber at
City Hall. Members present were Curt Ness, Justin Hyde, John Gustafson, Larry
Fjeldos, Mike Cameron, Dave Kurtz, Greg Fargen, Sandra Moore, and O’Brien.
Also present were Dean Gulbranson, Wade Price, Scott Hodges, Keith Rounds,
Dick Peterson, Roger Brown, Brad Wiemann, City Manager Dennis Falken, City
Engineer Jackie Lanning, Planning and Zoning Administrator Dan Hanson, and
others.
Item #3 – Lanning informed the Commission that an agreement had been
reached with the owner of the lots regarding stormwater drainage issues. This
resulted in an approval of the final drainage plan for the Timberline Addition.
Hanson noted that the lots were consistent with the approved preliminary plan.
Item #4 – Hanson stated that no easements were shown on the plat and any
approval should take that into account. Lanning remarked that the final
drainage plan had been approved for this portion of the subdivision plan.
Items #5 and #6 – Hanson stated that the petitioners had requested that their
application be tabled or deferred to the April 3, 2007 meeting.
Item #7 – Wade Price, President of Bluegill Inc., stated he was designing his
subdivision layout for the next phase of development in Bluegill Addition. The
area was generally east of Bluegill pond over to 22nd Avenue South. He was
proposing a low-density residential area just east of the pond, and then higher
residential densities and commercial closer to 22nd Avenue South.
The proposed collector street (24th Street South) would connect 17th
Avenue South to 22nd Avenue South. Streets were also planned to access two
separately owned, undeveloped parcels to the north.
Price explained that the pond would continue to be enlarged through the
excavation of gravel and be part of a recreational area that would link directly
to the bike trail along the south end.
Hyde asked if the city had an ample amount of residential lots available
for development. Hanson replied that it did, but single-family residential
construction had doubled in the past four years. He added that six (6)
annexations were approved in 2006, and four (4) were residential areas.
However, three (3) of these areas were still in an Ag use with no infrastructure.
Hyde also pointed out that commercial districts are usually reserved for
arterial intersections. Hanson noted that 24th Street South and 22nd Avenue South
would be a collector/arterial intersection and possibly an area that could
accommodate a commercial use.
Price would continue to develop his plan and return at a later date.
Item #8 – Scott Hodges of BlairHill Properties, Inc., presented a brochure and a
conceptual drawing of a residential subdivision that would be designed for
affordable housing. Hodges said the plan would be submitted as a Large Scale
Residential Development (LSRD), and variances to the subdivision regulations
would be proposed to reduce the cost of development. The construction would
be phased, and there would be limited house plans available to keep costs
down.
Keith Rounds, also of BlairHill Properties, Inc., stated they would propose
narrower roadway widths, restricted on-street parking, and one-way traffic.
Fjeldos asked about sidewalks. He had seen some communities where
sidewalks and streets were integrated (with no boulevards). Hodges answered
that some communities did not require sidewalks at all which could be another
cost savings to a homeowner.
Fargen asked what the development timetable would be. Hodges felt
three to four (3-4) years was possible since there was such a high demand for
affordable housing. Kurtz inquired about their building scheme. Hodges replied
that they needed autonomous control in order to strictly monitor how buildings
were constructed.
Lanning inquired about the one-way traffic proposal. Rounds stated the
plan would be to enter at Rio Grande Trail and then travel east to a destination.
Cameron supported the concept but wanted to make sure that
emergency vehicles such as fire trucks could maneuver through narrower
streets.
Item #9 – Dick Peterson, Chairperson of the sign subcommittee, stated that it
was a difficult task to review and study the issues involved with electronic
message signs. He said the subcommittee had long meetings, and he thanked
Daktronics personnel for their input and for the use of their facility for a
demonstration.
After hearing the discussion, he favored regulations that would allow an
electronic message sign as a conditional use, for all levels, in the B-1 District. He
felt a church should be allowed to have an electronic message sign with level 1
capabilities by right and levels 2, 3, and 4, by conditional use. Lastly, he favored
levels 1 and 2 by right for libraries and schools but a conditional use for an
electronic message sign that would perform level 3 or 4 functions.
Roger Brown, a subcommittee member, remarked that brightness and
flashing were concerns among the members, but there were regulations
currently within the code to control that. He noted the four levels that were
developed and felt the final decision by the subcommittee revealed that it was
not necessary to establish barriers to electronic message signs.
Brad Wiemann, another subcommittee member, felt the subcommittee
discussed the concerns of the community. He did not feel that the brightness of
an electronic message sign was any greater than some backlit signs. He felt
movement was the primary issue and that the sign technology could fit into the
community.
Fargen, who was also on the subcommittee, noted that some members
were set in their feelings on electronic signs. Therefore, consensus was difficult to
obtain.
Hyde referenced a letter written by Downtown Brookings, Inc. Board of
Directors President Martin Maca. The letter addressed four concerns regarding
the subcommittee. Hyde asked subcommittee Chairperson Dick Peterson if all
members received notice of the meetings. Peterson replied yes. Hyde asked if
anyone who was not a subcommittee member voted on any motions. Peterson
replied no. Hyde asked if Peterson had limited discussion in any way. Peterson
replied no. He felt they explored all avenues, and there was open discussion by
all involved. Hyde asked if Peterson ruled anyone out of order. Peterson replied
no.
Fjeldos, who was a subcommittee member, felt the discussion ran through
the complete range of issues. He felt all the “rocks” were uncovered, and both
areas under their review were discussed at length. He also noted that the pros
and cons of existing signs were also discussed.
Hyde remarked that he did not attend the meetings but felt the members
were knowledgeable about the issues, and they investigated the matter
thoroughly. In his opinion, he considered the accusations by the Downtown
Business Inc. Board of Directors to be troubling and baseless. He felt the
subcommittee acted properly.
The meeting was adjourned.
_______________________ _________________________
Dan Hanson, Secretary Sean O’Brien, Chairperson