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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-08-28 P&Z Minutes~ CITY OF KENAI PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION **AGENDA** Council Chambers, 210 Fidalgo August 28, 1996, 7:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 14, 1996 4. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 5. CONSIDERATION OF PLATS: 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. PZ96-57-Landscape Site Plan Review-Tract D-3, Sprucewood Glen No. 7 8. OLD BUSINESS: 9. CODE ENFORCEMENT ITEMS: 10. REPORTS: a. City Council b. Borough Planning c. Administration 11. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED: 12. INFORMATION ITEMS: a. Notice of Borough Planning Commission Action of August 12, 1996 b. Copy of letter sent to surveyors regarding filing deadlines c. Memo from C. Freas regarding vacancy on Commission d. Resignation letter Commissioner Walker e. Leave of absence request letter from Commissioner Booth 13. COMMISSION COMMENTS & QUESTIONS: 14. ADJOURNMENT: CITY OF KENAI PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION **MINUTES** August 28, 1996 Prior to the roll call being taken, Michael Christian was sworn in as the new Planning and Zoning Commissioner. 1. ROLL CALL: Members present: Carl Glick, Phil Bryson, Teresa Werner-Quade, Ron Goecke, Karen Mahurin, Michael Christian Members absent: John Booth Others present: Councilman Hal Smalley, City Engineer Jack La Shot, Administrative Assistant Marilyn Kebschull Acting Chairman Glick asked the Commission's wishes in regards to electing a chairman since Kevin Walker's resignation. Bryson asked if Glick had any objections to being the chairperson. Glick stated no. BRYSON ASKED FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIRMAN AND NOMINATED GLICK. MOTION SECONDED BY MAHURIN. MAHURIN ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. NO ONE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS CONSENT. CARL GLICK ELECTED CHAIRPERSON. MAHURIN MOVED FOR PHIL BRYSON AS VICE-CHAIR. SECONDED BY GODEK. MAHURIN ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. NO ONE OPPOSED UNANIMOUS CONSENT. BRYSON ELECTED VICE-CHAIR. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: GOECKE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF AGENDA ADDING THE INFORMATION ITEM THAT WAS PASSED OUT TO THE AGENDA. SECONDED BY MAHURIN. GOECKE ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. AGENDA APPROVED. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 14, 1996 WERNER-QUADE MADE CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES. UNDER MEMBERS PRESENT NEED TO NOTE MAHURIN'S PRESENCE. ON PAGE 2, VOTE ON Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes Page 2 August 28, 1996 PZ96-54, MOTION PASSED 5 TO 2 INSTEAD OF 5 TO 1. GLICK ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL CORRECTIONS. ON PAGE 4, WERNER-QUADE NOTED THE MEETING ENDED AT 1:15 A.M. WERNER-QUADE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED. SECONDED BY CHRISTIAN. WERNER-QUADE ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. NO OBJECTIONS. MINUTES APPROVED. 4. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 5. CONSIDERATION OF PLATS: 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. PZ96-57-Landscape Site Plan Review-Tract D-3, Sprucewood Glen No. 7 GOECKE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF PZ96-57 LANDSCAPE/SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR TRACT D-3 SPRUCEWOOD GLEN NO. 7. MOTION SECONDED BY WERNER-QUADE. Glick asked for additional staff comments. La Shot stated nothing additional; however, noted a representative from McLanes present to answer any questions. Mahurin stated there is nothing filled in on the application as to what the intent of landscaping is. Rich Riggs with McLanes Consulting Group introduced himself. Riggs explained everything is included in the site plan in items a through f with the exception of item d. Mahurin asked Riggs to explain Type B seeding adding she is not sure if they are planning to put shrubbery or leave trees. Riggs explained that Type B seeding is identified in Note number 6 which explains the application rate. The location of the dwarf mugho pines are identified in the legend and shown on the site plans basically at the corner of the approaches and southwest property corner. Where the mugho pines are not used, seeding will be done with existing vegetation remaining on north side of the property. Riggs stated onsite snow storage area will be on the north end of the parking area which will be gravel. Drainage patterns are identified on the slopes indicated on the site plans, basically the westerly portion of the parking lot flows to southeast to drainage swell to existing ditch on Tern Ave. The northerly portion of the pad is surrounded by ditch which will be excavated to existing sands. Riggs stated there will be a lot of ground water percolation but anything that daylights will come out onto Tern Avenue. Riggs stated the information they have is that it will be steel building, single story. Planning & Zoning Commission Page 3 Minutes August 28, 1996 Mahurin stated she understand that the circles are the mugho pines and asked if it shows that and she missed the information. Riggs stated it is shown on the site plan legend, the ninth symbol down. Mahurin noted they were not given that information. Christian asked what the acreage of the lot was? Riggs stated it is 2.959 acres. Christian asked how much will be landscaped, is it 5 percent. Riggs stated he feels it may be slightly less than 5 percent. Riggs stated he believes 5 percent is the City of Kenai's maximum requirement. Riggs stated if you take into account existing vegetation, stated he is not sure what the area is but could find that information out. Christian stated he toured site today and stated if much of the vegetation is cut down the apartments behind the lot will be looking right at the business. Christian added he was wondering if there will be some way to protect their view adding he believes there will be complaints if there isn't some way to protect the view. Christian added he is afraid there will be overhead parking lights affecting the residential area as well. Riggs advised he is unsure what the owner has planned for parking lot illumination. Riggs stated the existing vegetation will remain on northerly section but where the ditch does comes in on the easterly corner. Riggs stated the intent was to leave as much vegetation as possible. Christian asked if there was no intention to leave any natural vegetation in front. Riggs stated that was correct as far as along Tern Avenue and Bridge Access. Glick asked if this building will be similar to their present building only larger. Riggs stated he believes so based on conversations with owner adding the plans have not been finalized. Riggs stated he was told it will be larger than the present building and similar to those constructed in Wasilla and Anchorage. Christian asked if it will be an expanded version of what they have now. Riggs stated that is correct. Christian asked if they are expecting to need 75 parking spaces. Riggs stated there will be 78 spaces with two van accessible. Riggs stated their computations came out with 63 spaces required so came out with additional spaces. Christian commented he felt it seemed like a lot of parking spaces. Christian asked if the 62 feet between the landscaping and the building itself would be a drive. Riggs explained the original plan for parking adjacent to the building with five foot walk between the building and the parking stalls. The owner, for budgetary concerns, wanted to delete those parking spaces. Riggs added he plans in the future to have parking there. Glick asked where the loading ramp is if there is enough distance for semi to back up without blocking Tern Avenue. Riggs stated the intention is to back in and leave trailer set up with the landing gear. Riggs stated it will not be blocking Tern Avenue but they may be in the right of way when backing up. Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes Glick asked for further Commission discussion. Page 4 August 28, 1996 Christian stated he is new and to be excused for sounding like he is lost. Christian stated he thought the idea of landscaping plan was to enhance the look adding he doesn't see that this will enhance look. Christian states he sees a bare metal building with sign over it and scrub trees that will stay looking like plastic bushes and a little grass and nothing but asphalt in front of it. Christian commented there is a beautiful stand of trees there now and was wondering if we couldn't enhance area like some of the other building sites in that area by leaving a few larger size trees in front. Christian commented that these artificial type scenes do not enhance the building. Christian stated he sees this as a problem especially with the large parking lot. Christian stated it would seem we could sacrifice parking spaces to give larger landscaping or landscaping inside the parking lot. Christian stated he thinks trees along the north, the strip, was an after thought to qualify for 5 percent rather than to make a beautiful site. Christian stated he has a question on that personally. Bryson, asking La Shot to clarify, stated that he thinks the 5 percent refers to up to five percent not a five percent requirement. Bryson stated he feels being a retail store they definitely have a need for exposure and not something that can be obscured adding might get away with a wholesale situation but not retail. Regarding the number of parking spots, Bryson stated he was not knowledgeable about what they perceive as their needs. If the city has a requirement for 60 some, they need to be there. La Shot stated the code would require 63 spaces. La Shot stated they have found in the past the code is minimal in requirements and normally recommend an additiona125 to 50 percent spaces. La Shot noted this is a large commercial business. They have 78 planned which is approximately 25 percent more spaces than they need and it looks like they have space available for additional. La Shot stated he thinks they are wise in doing that. Mahurin stated she shares Christian's concern and the latest experience with another steel building and the minimal landscaping that we have seen brings back the concern. Mahurin noted she understands that we can't require them but perhaps concerns could be shared with the owner and that we would like to see some natural trees left. Mahurin stated that the new grass will be bright and wherever he (the owner) thinks it would be possible we would appreciate whatever he could do and would recognize his efforts to preserve the natural tree vegetation as possible. Mahurin noted that was all that she could see the Commission could do. Goecke stated as a retail business owner in this town, you can never have too much exposure. If you start putting a green belt in front of a retail outlet, you cut down exposure tremendously. Goecke stated you are putting a real burden on a merchant if the people can't see his store. Planning & Zoning Commission Page 5 Minutes August 28, 1996 Christian responded he is not talking about something would block but maybe two or three trees on the sides. Christian noted if they were limbed up a ways you could still see the store. Christian stated perhaps they could put some more on the side to break up the asphalt look that is so the opposite of eye appealing. Goecke commented that when you start working the dirt you will kill the trees anyway because the root system of the spruce trees grows 50 feet in circumference or more and three feet into the ground. It will be a matter of time before they die because the root system has been disturbed. Goecke stated he doesn't have a problem with taking the trees out to the front and the west side. Glick stated it has been his experience with landscaping that single, big trees that the wind will get them. But clumps of trees will stand. Glick stated it is better to plant nice new ones like at the 7-11 at the corner of Willow Street. Glick noted that they have grown up to be nice trees; however, it did take a while. Bryson stated that requiring landscaping of this type has had mixed success. The 7-11 was done voluntarily and probably on state right of way and they have done well. The variation of that was in front of the bowling alley where trees were left there and there at considerable stress to the Planning Commission at the time. Bryson noted they are not there now and nothing has been planted subsequently in their place. Bryson commented that smaller plants as proposed are the better long-term solution. Bryson noted shorter roots can adjust to soil configuration and presumably will be maintained. Bryson noted on the Bridge Access they held parking back 10 feet that holds a green belt on their lot that we can comment. The area in front is state right of way and if it is to scale is probably 60 feet. Bryson noted we haven't had much compliance in that area. Bryson stated he will be supporting the plan as proposed. Glick asked for additional comments. VOTE: BRYSON YES WERNER-QUADE YES GOECKE YES CHRISTIAN NO MAHURIN YES GLICK YES MOTION PASSED 5 TO 1. 8. OLD BUSINESS: 9. CODE ENFORCEMENT ITEMS: Planning & Zoning Commission Page 6 Minutes August 28, 1996 10. REPORTS: a. City Council Councilman Smalley stated a copy of the agenda is in packet. Under Item 3 there were two items. Terry Linebarger was not in audience to speak but Assemblyman Nash was here to speak about project park improvement for the handicapable wheel chair access type park. This is possibly to be built possibly on the back side of Oiler Field between the backside of the field and the golf course. After much discussion, it was remanded back to Nash to visit with the Oiler board to talk about project and develop a more clear cut proposal to bring back to council. Mr. Kluge spoke to council concerning signage on Visitor Center. Kluge's concern was letters to be placed on the Center approximately 15 inches tall that would identify the building. This was a recommendation from the visitor's board. Smalley stated they will be going forward with it. The third item was with reference to construction of building off Beaver Loop belonging to Mr. Garcia. Smalley stated the cement pad that is there is from an older building that has been there and the building came down. They are building on top of the pad and the corner of it is on city property where the property is. The chain length fence is several feet away from the property line. It was Mr. Garcia's understanding that the fence was on the line or even over onto his side when the fence went in years ago. Smalley stated that is not accurate from the survey. Council requested another survey completed and to try to remedy problem so that Mr. Garcia could continue with construction or whatever that remedy is. Smalley noted the fact that the park is tied up with agreement with the city that the land is to remain dedicated as a public park and should it ever not be that it would resort back to the legal heirs, Cunningham estate. Smalley reiterated the city is looking into that. Items Cl-4, 5, 6, 7 all passed. Item C-7, the Doors and Windows unlimited contract, is replacing the complete mechanism been there since 1983. Smalley commented it will not make it through the winter noting the wear and tear the doors have received over the years. Smalley stated he believed Doors and Windows the only bidder and thinks they put the first set in. Item G1, Leif Hansen Park policy, Smalley reported there has been much discussion on this in the past. Parks and Rec sent council a recommendation some time ago. That recommendation left it up to the city manager and Parks and Rec director to determine what could be held there. Council remanded it back to Parks and Rec. They came back to council with recommendation that is more stringent and more comprehensive identifying the uses that they would like to have at the Memorial Park. A letter from Dr. Hansen was there and several other individuals identifying what they would like to and not to see there. Council accepted the recommendation of Parks and Rec which could eliminate the River Festival from using the facilities. Some of the objections was Planning & Zoning Commission Page 7 Minutes August 28, 1996 1 to the commercial type of activities that were ongoing in the festival. Some of the council members and all of the Parks and Rec thought the new facility with the $50,000 restroom, green strip, etc. would be more appropriate. Smalley explained that under Item 2, the city has an agreement with Mr. Cherrier in Old Town behind his apartments to hopefully get the paving project completed. The city and Cherrier had had discussions about paving he wanted done. An agreement has hopefully been reached to pave right of way through there. Smalley stated that in the process they found additional sand and silt there so will be additional costs, between $7 and $8,000. Smalley noted this is a grant project from the ISTEA program. Smalley stated that under New Business, Item 6 they scheduled next Wednesday, a Board of Adjustment on the Prime Residential zone. The City Council will hear the appeal and has 30 days to respond with a decision. The city is going on with it's ADEC matching grants request proposal. Smalley reported the Snug Harbor leases were amended to make modifications in some of the parking and storage areas at the dock to actually help them have more space which will help alleviate confusion. Also the city and the Harbor Commission is going to be developing a proposal to have longer term leases on the dock facilities and staggering them so they don't come due at the same times. Also set for the next meeting is to begin the review and the search for the next city manager. Smalley stated they will look at advertising from three years ago and make determinations as to scope of the search. Smalley noted there are a lot of time restrictions attached to different advertising companies. In addition, they will discuss how in-depth the search will be, nationwide, limited to certain areas, etc. Ex-police chief Rick Ross will become the interim city manager effective Wednesday, September 4th. Goecke asked about the item under New Business, #4, if he is being given $35,000 if he is here for a year or a month. Smalley stated he will be paid $7,000 per month. Ross will be responsible for all taxes, etc. adding he will have no other benefits. Council felt that he should be paid equal to or a little more than the highest paid city employee noting the highest paid city employee is paid approximately $7,000 a month. Ross is looking at it as a short term position. Smalley stated they anticipate finding a new city manager in January or February. b. Borough Planning Bryson stated the August 26th KPB Planning Commission agenda is in the packet. Item C, the consent agenda, was approved unchanged. The land use permit requesting Planning & Zoning Commission Page 8 Minutes August 28, 1996 1 to operate a halfway house in North Kenai. Bryson noted this had gone through work sessions and public hearings. The legal department of the borough reviewed comments that the Planning Commission had given them and made a determination has to the appropriateness and defendability if applied as a condition of operation. Keeping that in mind, the resolution was approved with all conditions that the legal staff felt defendable. Some items were eliminated. No additional comment from the public at that time. Bryson reported the public hearing items were all approved. Bryson noted the vacation not requiring public hearing was postponed. The platting waiver was approved. Item H-2, was an appeal of the Planning Director's decision as to whether a borrow pit already existed because he had gone through the expense of planning. The item was approved and reversed the Director's decision. Bryson stated that concerning highway speed limits they approved a recommendation from the state and borough concerning modification of speed limits in Moose Pass and Cooper Landing and Oilwell Road in Ninilchik. Additionally there was testimony received concerning the Sterling Highway from Kasilof to Clam Gulch be added for request for modifications for speed. They were added to the request. All plats were approved. Bryson stated that concerning the Kenai River Habitat Protection, there were five requests for CUP. The first concerned a woman requesting to move a cabin and was approved. There were four somewhat similar requests in Poacher Cove Subdivision to construct car ports. The first lot 47 denied, lot 57 withdrawn, lot 56 was denied, and the fourth was found to have initiated construction prior to the applicable date of the ordinance grandfathering what was proposed. This effectively grandfathered in the action. Approved Item K of the Coastal Management Program. b. Administration La Shot stated he has been gone on vacation and has nothing to report. He offered to answer any questions. Smalley added that council had a discussion on attempting to place some type of control of vehicular traffic on the bike path. Smalley stated he thinks there will be a public hearing to receive input from community to assist in controlling the traffic and protection of the green strips. Planning & Zoning Commission Page 9 Minutes August 28, 1996 Christian asked if they discussed barriers. Smalley stated that this is on right of way and the city wouldn't be involved in that. There was discussion about putting a barrier between Carrs and Dairy Queen and thinks someone is being contacted about that. Smalley stated that as far as any kind of barrier on the bike path itself noted he thinks the city may be making the request. Smalley added he feels the state will advise the city if they want to do it to take care of it. Glick asked if the city had been made to remove the one at Beaver Creek. Smalley stated yes because they considered it an endangerment. Mahurin asked what kind of vehicles they are talking about. Smalley stated any motorized vehicle. Glick commented he noticed the bike path is getting a lot of use. Smalley stated project should be finalized Friday adding council had given them a list of items to work on. La Shot stated they did a walk through today. Goecke stated he had talked last week with the engineer in charge of this project, Chuck Sweenor. Goecke added he has felt that the traffic lights were laid out inefficiently and stupidly in this town. Sweenor did not disagree and provided the name of Tim Vigg of USKH in Anchorage. Goecke stated he called him and voiced his concern. Vigg stated it didn't sound right and would check into it. And added that the state probably does not have anyone on the payroll who repairs or times the clocks. Goecke stated that is exactly what the problem is. Vigg provided another name, Dennis Morford, adding that he hasn't called him. Goecke stated the IC Act which is federal moneys-short for intermodel carrier act. Vigg stated he thinks this project of putting lights on a clock so if you it the first one green, and drove the speed limit, you could go all the way through town could qualify for the program. Vigg stated it would bear some looking into that there would be moneys available through this act to do that. Smalley stated he felt that the City has a thick folder in dealing with communications with the state adding that Goecke should visit with Kornelis and La Shot and share the information. Goecke stated the three new lights are not tied together, there is no intercommunication between them. 11. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED: 12. INFORMATION ITEMS: a. Notice of Borough Planning Commission Action of August 12, 1996 b. Copy of letter sent to surveyors regarding filing deadlines c. Memo from C. Freas regarding vacancy on Commission d. Resignation letter Commissioner Walker e. Leave of absence request letter from Commissioner Booth 13. COMMISSION COMMENTS & QUESTIONS: Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes Page 10 August 28, 1996 Mahurin welcomed Mike Christian and congratulated Teresa on the birth of her baby after the last meeting. Bryson stated he is appreciative of the map but several things concern him. Bryson stated there are several areas on the plat that he does not remember being rezoned. Bryson listed the industrial arts building shown as being RS-1 or 2, Inlet Woods shown as RS-1 or 2. Don't think they should be depicted as such unless there is documentation. Also near Hall's new building, small situation, yellow reduced so that it is not the depth of the other lots. Bryson stated he remembers the lots were replatted but doesn't remember any rezoning. The adjacent lot that Hall made the trade with should have a split zoning until formally modified. On the other side of the block on Birch Street two lots are shown as being commercial. One belongs to Swearingin. Bryson stated he doesn't think those are commercial lots. Bryson stated there was never any rezoning there. Bryson requested administration follow-up on these. Bryson noted that this does come from the Borough. Christian thanked everyone for welcoming adding that he hopes he is not too much of a pest with his questions. Christian asked if there is any intent to fill in the trench across Birch. La Shot stated that was done by the utility company and should be patched. Christian offered a comment that as a person who sat in the audience that the sound doesn't carry well to the audience. Christian asked if this could be checked adding that Bryson's voice tends to be soft and hard to hear. Werner-Quade welcomed Christian adding that the map is beautiful. Added hopes to get an addendum sheet with corrections. Werner-Quade commented that the highway is beautiful. Smalley asked La Shot about where they are working on the lights in town. Smalley stated they are digging into asphalt and replacing with cold patch. Smalley stated that he understands that they believe it is patched. La Shot stated he will check on it. 14. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:05 p.m. Res ctfully submitted: Mari yn Kebschull Administrative Assistant