HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 [05] May 05 May 5, 2014
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met in regular
session on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 6:30 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Members Present: Chair Ross Rieke, Commissioners Gina Dullinger, Brad Cobb, Matt Killam, Daryl
Schaefer, Chad Hausmann, City Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Others Present: Tom Klein
Approval of the Agenda: Cobb made a motion to approve the agenda with the deletion of item 7,
Council Liaison Reports. The motion was seconded by Dullinger and carried unanimously by
those present.
Approval of the Minutes: Dullinger made a motion to approve the minutes for April 7, 2014 with
correction to the others present section. The motion was seconded by Schaefer and passed
unanimously by those present.
Sign Ordinance: Weyrens presented the Commission with a revised draft sign ordinance. The revision
has removed previous redundancies and added additional provisions for the B-3 zoning district allowing
for exemption from the strict standards of the Ordinance. The relief would be managed through a special
use permit process and would be part of a commercial PUD. Weyrens questioned if the Planning
Commission would be interested in sending the draft Ordinance to sign vendors to solicit comments
before conducting a public hearing. Cobb stated he would encourage feedback from sign vendors.
Rieke clarified that the next meeting of the Planning Commission is June 2 and he too supported inviting
sign vendors to the meeting for discussion. Weyrens stated that the City Office will provide local sign
vendors with the draft ordinance and invite them to provide comments on June 2. In addition the
information will be placed on the city website and notice will be provided to the St. Joseph Chamber
soliciting information as well.
Cobb made a motion to establish an informational session to discuss the draft sign ordinance to
be scheduled for Monday, June 2nd, 2014. The motion was seconded by Schaefer and passed
unanimously by those present.
Weyrens questioned if the Planning Commission had any questions or concerns with the ordinance,
Killam asked if the sign height of 15ft is something that the City will be sticking with. Weyrens stated that
the current Ordinance indicates that is the maximum, but that is part of the discussion. However, in the B-
3 district there is the option to apply for a variance with the special use due to the interstate speeds.
Hausmann added that it will be better to get the end-user feedback first and then go from there. Cobb
stressed the importance of getting the information out to sign businesses both within the City and
externally. Weyrens added that the Chamber meets next week and she will get the information to them to
pass along to their members.
Zoning Amendment: Weyrens stated that the City recently annexed the property south of Minnesota
Street up to and adjacent to 1-94. The property is currently zoned Agricultural. The Zoning Ordinance
allows the Planning Commission the ability to initiate a rezoning process. Staff recommends the Planning
Commission consider conducting a public hearing to rezone the property to a mix of B3 and Agricultural
with Agricultural remaining on the open space. The majority of the annexed property will be zoned B3.
Weyrens noted that the lot labeled Krupa has a residential home that will be remodeled into a business,
Russell Eyewear, adding that the owners have gone through the process in anticipation that the area will
be re-zoned as B3.
May 5, 2014
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Dullinger made a motion to initiate the rezoning process as recommended by staff to include a
public hearing on Monday,June 2, 2014.The motion was seconded by Cobb and passed
unanimously by those present.
Adjourn_ Rieke adjourned the meeting at 6:46 PM.
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Judy eyrens
A.• inistrator