HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04] Minutes October 09th
October 9, 2017
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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, October 9, 2017 at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Planning Commission Members Present: Chair Gina Dullinger, Commissioners, Chad Hausmann, Steve
Olson, Troy Goracke, Matt Johnson, Daryl Schaefer, Community Development Director Therese Haffner
Members Absent:
Others Present: City Administrator Judy Weyrens, Jon Petters, Ted Schmid, Kevin Johnson
Approval of the Agenda: Olson made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by
Johnson and passed unanimously.
Approval of the Minutes: Hausmann made a motion to approve the minutes of July 10, 2017 and
September 20, 2017. The motion was seconded by Dullinger and passed unanimously.
Public Hearing, PUD Amendment – Bayou Alley Flats: Haffner stated in 2014, the Planning Commission
approved the plat and Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Bayou Alley Flats. The plan was approved for
a mixed use building with 100% commercial on street level, and 14 residential units with 7 units on the
second floor and 7 units on the third floor. The second floor allows for limited office. Haffner shared that
property owner Jon Petters requested an amendment to the approved PUD to allow three handicap
accessible residential units on the ground level with commercial. In the future, those units could convert to
commercial if need be.
Dullinger opened the public hearing.
Haffner stated she had received two emails from residents who were unable to attend the meeting.
Shawn & Ann Riesner, La Playette Bar: My Wife and I will not be able to attend tonight’s meeting. We
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would just like to say two things in regards to this PUD. 1: Potential residents need to understand that
they will be living next to a bar that has been there for 60 years. Every night glass and garbage cans are
dumped into trash bins which makes a lot of noise. We have DJ’s and live music on the weekends so
noise does and will eminent form the bar. We just want to be certain that this is known and will not stop.
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2: The City needs to start looking at more parking downtown. If this is built it will congest things further.
Take down the old admin building and make it a parking lot.
Peg Zimmer, MZ Rental, INC: This email is in regards to the hearing tonight for the Bayou Alley Flats
LLC. This is Peg Zimmer, owner of MZ Rental, Inc., the building being commercially occupied by the
LaPlayette Boar business next door to the proposed business and residential building being addressed. I
have no problem with Jon’s request to alter his plans on the building. However, I just want him to keep in
mind that the bar business next door has been there since 1958 and plans to continue. The music until 1,
the bottles being dumped into the dumpsters after hours, customers coming out when closing and
vehicles leaving may cause aggravation with residents that plan to live there. The reason I state this is
because in the past there have been some of his occupants and a letter from him in regards to noises
coming from the bar in the past. My late husband, myself and the new owners (Shawn and Ann Reisner)
experience unneeded frustrations from residential occupants and him from his Millstream Shops and
Lofts Development.
Jon Petters, Bayou Alley Flats: Petters approached the commission acknowledging the concerns of the
property owners. However anyone who signs a lease to live in the rental units will see that they are
located in the downtown area which includes bars and certain noise levels accompany those uses.
Petters has received numerous emails from people showing interest in lofts downtown. The reason for
requesting the change to allow residential units on the ground level would be to provide the option of
downtown living for those who may be less mobile. In order to reduce sound, a sound barrier wall and
privacy gates would be installed along those units.
October 9, 2017
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Hausmann questioned if the windows would be soundproof. Petters stated the windows would not be
soundproof, however the added barriers would help reduce the noise greatly. The bedrooms would be
located on the backside of the units.
Dullinger questioned accessibility. Petters stated they are required to have a certain number of units ADA
compliant. The three units on the ground floor would not be compliant. However, the units are going to be
built to accommodate that need.
Goracke asked if the parking would be limited to just those who occupy the building. Petters stated the lot
would be used by residents and those going to the restaurants.
As no one else present wished to speak, Dullinger closed the public hearing.
Olson moved to approve the request for a PUD Amendment for Bayou Alley Flats to allow three
residential units at ground level for the mixed use building. The motion was seconded by Schaefer
and passed unanimously.
Concept Plan – Southview Heights: Haffner stated staff was approached by Kevin Johnson, KJ
Development, who presented a concept plan to develop the former Delwin Ballroom site, which included
duplexes, six-plexes and private streets. The City’s Subdivision Ordinance prohibits private streets as a
result of problems with previously approved private streets. The Subdivision Ordinance requires Planning
Commission and City Council approval of a concept plan that is not consistent with the regulations. As
the Ordinance prohibits private streets staff is requesting clarification from the Planning Commission and
City Council on the internal roadway and if it considered a street or private access for the rental
properties. The Commission is not being requested to approve the entire concept plan only the
designation of the roadway.
Ted Schmid, Lumber One & Kevin Johnson, KJ Development: Schmid stated he and Johnson had met
with staff to go over their concept plan. Schmid noted staff’s concerns regarding the private street as they
are not permitted. Schmid stated that the difference in this development is that all the units will be under
one ownership and will be rental. The roadway functions as an internal access for residences and not a
public road. He compared the roadway to a parking lot for an apartment complex. Schmid presented the
Planning Commission with images of similar developments in the surrounding communities, all which
have a private network. He reiterated the property would be managed by one company and they would
be responsible for all the snow removal and lawn cutting. Dullinger questioned whether the streets would
have curb and gutter. Schmid stated the main streets in and out of the development would comply with
city requirements.
Weyrens clarified that private roads are typically narrower than what one would typically see in a
residential development and most often they do not include curbing. Issues arise when cars are parking
on narrow roads and snow removal is difficult. Challenges also occur when utilities are installed in the
same narrow roadways. Future infrastructure repairs and maintenance can be difficult and more costly. .
Weyrens stated that staff would not have had the developer come to the meeting if the properties would
be owned rather than rented. Staff found this scenario to be different as all units would be rented and
would not create a situation similar to that of Jefferson Lane.
Goracke stressed concerns regarding emergency vehicles accessing the development especially if
vehicles would be parked on either side of the street. Johnson stated he has not addressed that concern
yet, as the development is in the very early stages.
There was discussion on viewing this as an apartment lot with one owner. Consensus of the Planning
Commission was to allow the developer to move forward with the planning process considering the
internal roadway as a private access. Goracke stressed his concerns over having adequate parking so
as to not have cars parking on the roads in case of an emergency.
October 9, 2017
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Haffner stated the fire code likely requires the streets to be 26 feet in width, which is the width being
proposed. Haffner added that parking issues can be worked out as the development process continues.
Council Liaison Report: Goracke reported that Water Treatment Plant 1 will have repairs completed and
the advertisement for bidding was approved. The Millstream Park Shelter is coming along and will be
completed this month. The Council will continue with budget discussion and labor negotiations will begin
soon.
Adjourn: Goracke moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:42 PM. The motion was seconded by
Johnson and passed unanimously.
Therese Haffner
Community Development Director
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