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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.11.23September 111h, 2023 Page 1 of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met on Monday, September 11th, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. Planning Commission Members Present: Commissioners, Keith Louwagie, Mark Thompson, Carmie Mick, Isabella Margl, John Hazen Absent: Gina Dullinger, Bob Loso Staff Present: Nate Keller, Community Development Director Public Comments: None. Approval of the Agenda: Hazen made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Louwagie and passed unanimously by those present. New Business: a. Public Hearing — Vacation of interior easements — Northland Heights Lot 4 and 5 Keller explained to the Commission the request before them is to vacate interioreasementson lots and 5 in Northland Heights. These lots are located on Iris Lane. The applicant is looking to combine the lots. and build a home over the interior easement area which runs between the lots. The vacation requires a public hearing. No public or private utilities exist. The remaining easements along the perimeter will remain. Mick opened the Public Hearing at 6:02PM. As no one wished to speak, Mick closed the Public Hearing at,6:03PM Thompson made a motion to Approve Resolution Vacating Easements as Legally Described for Lots 004, 005 of block 006 of Northland Heights. The motion was seconded by Louwagie and passed unanimously by those, present. b. Public Hearing — Interim Use Permit —119 College Ave N Keller explained City Code requires residential rentals within the B1 downtown district and the B2 highway district to obtain an Interim Use Permit (IUP) to allow residential rental. An existing single-family dwelling unit in the B-1 District is allowed as an Interim Use for a maximum term of five years but may be less as approved by the City Council after reviewing the Planning Commission's recommendation. The property is in an area that is about 50 percent IUP's and 50 percent commercial. The Commission approved an IUP for this location in 2018. The Commission asked at what point the IUP would no longer be approved. Keller explained once the area is more than 50 percent commercial, the IUP would be allowed to expire and the property would need to conform to a commercial use. Mick opened the Public Hearing at 6:05PM. . As no one wished to speak, Mick closed the Public Hearing at 6:05PM. Hazen made a Motion to Approve Resolution Adopting Findings of Fact recommending the City Council issue an Interim Permit renewal for five years on 119 College Ave N. The motion was seconded by Thompson and passed unanimously. c. Public Hearing — Interim Use Permit —119 1st Ave NE Keller explained this property is a residential rental located off Birch Street in theB-2 Highway 75 Commercial District. An existing single-family dwelling unit in the B-2 District is allowed as Interim Use for a maximum term of five years but may be less as approved by the City Council and after a review and recommendation by the Planning Commission. The property is in an area that is half IUP residential rental and half commercial uses. The Commission approved an IUP for this address in 2018. September 111h, 2023 Page 2 of 3 Mick opened the Public Hearing at 6:08PM. As no one wished to speak, Mick closed the Public Hearing at 6:08PM. Hazen made a Motion to Approve Resolution Adopting Findings of Fact recommending the City Council issue an Interim Permit renewal for five years on 119 1st Ave NE. The motion was seconded by Thompson and passed unanimously. d. Public Hearing — Interim Use Permit — 30 Birch St E Keller shared the property is a residential rental located on Birch Street East in the B-2 Highway 75 Business District. The owner of the property is seeking a five-year renewal for the IUP. The IUP was last approved in 2018 by the Commission. Mick opened the Public Hearing at 6:09PM. As no one wished to speak, Mick closed the Public Hearing at 6:08PM. Hazen made a Motion to Approve Resolution Adopting Findings of Fact recommending the City Council issue an Interim Permit renewal for five years on 30 Birch St E. The motion was seconded by Margl and passed unanimously. e. Public Hearing — Interim Use Permit —104 1st Ave NW Keller informed the Commission this property owner is requesting approval of an Interim Use Permit for a residential rental. This property is in the B-1 Downtown Business District. An existing single-family dwelling unit in the b-1 District is allowed as an Interim Use for a maximum term of five years but may be less as approved by the City Council and after a review and recommendation by the Planning Commission. An IUP for this address was last approved by the Commission in 2018. Keller noted this area is seeing a significant shift from residential to commercial occurring. Mick opened the Public Hearing at 6:11PM. Cory Ehlert, owns property adjacent to 104 18t Ave NW.Ehlert would like to see the City shorten the IUP extensions for residential rentals and encourage property owners to convert their property into a commercial use as it is zoned to be commercial in the future. Ehlert shared his IUP on what is now Estates Bed & Breakfast was approved for three years, which encouraged him to transition the property to commercial use. Mick closed the Public Hearing at 6:13PM. The Commission discussed the location of this property and the number of residential rentals which neighbor the property. Mick made a Motion to Approve Resolution Adopting Findings of Fact recommending the City Council issue an Interim Use Permit renewal for five years on 1041st Ave NW. The motion was seconded by Hazen and passed unanimously. f. Joint Planning Board member appointment Keller shared the recent resignation of a Planning Commission member has left a void on the Joint Planning Board. Keller shared the Joint Planning Board consists of four City and four Township representatives. Current City reps are Carmie Mick, John Hazen, and Bob Loso. The Joint Planning Board generally meets 1 — 2 times per year. The Commission and Staff invited current Commission Member Mark Thompson to join the Joint Planning Board. Hazen made a motion to Appoint Mark Thompson to the Joint Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Mick and passed unanimously. September 111h, 2023 Page 3 of 3 g. Industrial Building Material Requirements — Hiltner building Keller shared staff has been working on a site plan for a proposed new 11,960 s.f. building in the Industrial Park. City Code requires 25% of the building that faces the street to consist of specific materials. This code is intended to create higher quality and aesthetically pleasing street facing facades. The applicant has requested to use standing seam metal to meet the 25% requirement on the street facing the side of the building. The applicant states the proposed material is more durable and is higher in cost than other code approved options. Staff consulted with the City's building official who agrees with the applicant with respect to quality and cost of the proposed material. Staff is seeking the Planning Commissions input and approval on the proposed alternative material. Mark Hiltner, applicant: Hiltner explained they would like to use a standing seam metal on the gable ends of the building. Hiltner noted other businesses who have used this material recently as part of a renovation. Hiltner gave a brief overview of the other materials that will be used on the remaining portion of the building. Hazen made a motion to Approve Alternative Material for the Building. The motion was seconded by Louwagie and passed unanimously. Old Business: a. Landscape requirements in Industrial Zoned Properties Keller asked the Commission to continue discussion regarding landscape requirements in the Industrial Park. The current Code requires a certain amount of trees, ornamental trees, or shrubs be planted based on square footage of the building. Keller researched and gave an overview of the code requirements for neighboring cities. Keller also gave the Commission example verbiage for a potential amendment to the current code. The Commission discussed having a minimum requirement of plantings subject to the landscape with the ability to modify the plan as the Commission sees fit, language that would dictate planting requirements for the front and sizes of the building and being overall less restrictive. The Commission preferred a blend of options 3 and 4 from the staff memo. This option would cap the number of trees and shrubs based on square footage and encourage plantings in the areas which front public right-of-way. Commission directed Staff to draft new language and bring back to next meeting. Other Business: Keller shared that the City Council passed the variance request 3-2 for the C.U.P. for the Special Event Facility on Jade Rd. Additionally, Council approved the C.U.P with modifications. Keller indicated there will be future and continued discussion regarding public art and murals. Adiourn: Thompson moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:5213M. The motion was seconded by Margl and the motion carried. Minutes approved by: Nate Keller Community Development Director