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02-05-09 Site Review MinutesSITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE SUMMARY Thursday, February 5, 2009 Lower Level Main Conference Room 201 First Avenue East ATTENDING: Frank Castles, Deputy Public Works Director Tom Jentz, Planning & Bldg Director Jeff Clawson, Building Official Charlie Johnson, Construction Manager Fred Zavodny, Public Works Dan Diehl, Acting Fire Chief Sean Conrad, Chairman Michelle Anderson, Recording Secretary Guests: Jeff Maphis, JCM Architecture and James Freyholtz, MDT Hear the Public: No one wished to speak. Performance Bond Reminders: Johnson reported they are not expecting the maintenance bond from Diamond Ridge Estates until June. Johnson also reported that Mike Fraser of Fox Trotter Meadows requested that their bond be extended 18 months and Public Works denied his request and said they were willing to extend it into this year's construction season. The improvements that still need to be completed in Spring Creek Estates are related to Parks & Rec. The letter of credit for Spring Creek Estates expires in 2010. OLD BUSINESS: 227 1st Street West: Johnson said they are still working on the drainage issues for the parking lot. The committee agreed the project should not be approved by site review until those issues are resolved. WalMart: Conrad said there are issues with the access for the parking lot and Sorensen is waiting for the lighting cut sheets. Public Works sent Pac Land a letter addressing their issues and they are still waiting for a response including the city's request for a traffic circulation plan. There was additional discussion regarding the 5 feet of R/W needed for the widening of Hutton Ranch Road and Freyholtz indicated MDT is currently holding discussions on the need for the additional 5 feet ofR/W from WalMart. NEW BUSINESS: Montana Club Restaurant/Bar/Casino: Conrad noted they are coming in for a conditional use permit to construct and operate a casino within 300 feet of a residential zoning district. Conrad added this is the site where Sawbucks is currently operating. Jeff Maphis, JCM Architecture reviewed the project for the board. Maphis noted they purposely located the casino as far from the residential neighborhood as they could on the south end of the building. Conrad noted this project will be on the agenda for the March loth planning board, city council in April and they plan to break ground in May with a 10 month construction schedule. Conrad suggested that the project be reviewed by the Architectural Review Committee during the same time the board and council reviews it. The major issue with the planning board and city council will be the casino near a residential area. The committee discussed the following issues: 1. Improvements will be required along 13th Street and I" Avenue East including curb, gutter, boulevard and sidewalk. The curb and sidewalk needs to have as full a width as possible without extending into the R/W. 2. No rock (hard-scape landscaping) would be allowed in the boulevard and the landscaping, boulevards and sidewalks would be maintained by the owners. 3. Landscaping and perhaps fencing should be added on the east side of the building where the garbage and delivery area will be located. 4. A delineated pedestrian walkway needs to be added from the front of the building through the parking area to the sidewalk along Highway 93. 5. Public Works suggested contacting Susie Turner, the city's Stormwater Engineer, before they demo to request a survey of the existing fixtures and floor drains. They could then qualify for a credit on the impact fees. Castles added they may also get a credit for the meter that is already on site and added however the meter size must match the service line size. 6. Susie Turner will want to review the project for stormwater issues and water quality. 7. With 3 separate tracts the planning department will add a condition that the owners vacate the lot lines. 8. MDT doesn't have any issues since it is not a change of use. 9. The site plan's parking design meets the city's requirements because they will provide the bike rack that would reduce the # of parking spaces to 63. Conrad asked for additional copies of the handouts for planning board and city council and reminded Maphis that we still need the list of adjoining property owners to complete the conditional use permit application. West Evergreen Well Project: Conrad said this project is located near the Whitefish River in Glacier Village Greens. The Evergreen Water & Sewer district bought property from Glacier Village Greens for the well project site, which is inside the city limits. Castles noted the issues would be paving, water quality, floodplain, stormwater, and a fire tap or hydrant to fill up fire trucks. In addition, sidewalks and landscaped boulevards along East Nicklaus Avenue would be required. Diehl stated the city pays Evergreen Water & Sewer District $6000 per year to use their hydrants. Conrad said they did receive a floodplain permit from the county and this project would have to go through Architectural Review. Conrad and Public Works wanted to do an on -site visit and discuss it again next week. Glacier Bank Drive-Thru: Conrad said this is the Glacier Bank drive-thru on East Center Street. They are proposing a small addition to the current building. Conrad said P.J. Sorensen had determined there is enough parking however the handicap space may need to be changed to be van accessible. Sorensen also needs additional information on their lighting plan and a stormwater permit. Chain link fencing will be added to a portion of the property near the ATM for added protection of the public. Public Works would like to do an on -site visit and discuss it again next week. PLANNING OFFICE ITEMS: Assisted Living Facility: Conrad reviewed the proposal by Mark Waatti who is looking at constructing an 8-unit assisted living facility on 5th Avenue West between I't & 2nd Streets. Conrad added the property is currently a vacant lot. The property is zoned RA-2 and they are required to submit a conditional use permit for public notice. The property will have to be treated as a single-family residence so no conditions can be added that would not otherwise be placed on a single-family home. Public Works wants to look at this project also. Conrad will provide copies of the site plan/design to Public Works. Day Care Center — Whitefish Stage Road near East Evergreen: Conrad said a Day Care Center is proposed on this property and it will require a conditional use permit. The planning department wanted Public Works to look at the access onto Whitefish Stage Road which is dirt with a looped driveway. Johnson mentioned there seems to be confusion regarding who is responsible for the maintenance of this portion of road. Conrad said they will have to pave the driveway and parking areas and they have talked to Susie Turner regarding stormwater. Conrad said he also talked to them about a one-way loop and Jentz added that would function well with the dropping off and picking up of the children at the center. There is a bike path along the R/W. Public Works will look at the access to this site and report back to the committee. Calaway Apartments — North Meridian Road: Conrad said Tim Calaway has applied for the conditional use permit for the 67 unit apartment complex. Some of buildings will have underground parking and none of the buildings will be over 40 feet tall. The committee discussed elevations and since the roof peak may be 4-6 feet above the highway it will probably have to go through architectural review. Diehl said the Fire Department has already reviewed the site map and has approved the site. James Freyholtz from MDT noted the city approves the approaches onto Meridian Road. Mr. Calaway will be in this afternoon to discuss the project with the city. Pre -Release Center: Jentz briefly reviewed the plans for a Pre -Release Center between Penco and Jackola Engineering on Highway 93 South. The facility will have 40 beds when they open and will be designed to hold up to 100 residents. They are planning an addition for the kitchen and bathroom facilities in the back of the building. Jentz said their parking needs are small since the facility has 23 employees and the residents are not allowed cars until they are at the last 2 months of their sentence. There will be a bus shelter installed at this location in the future. Jentz will bring the site plan in next week and he added they will be required to submit a conditional use permit. SHOP Grant: Jentz reported the Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana (CAP) (formerly Northwest Montana Human Resources) is applying for a Self -Help Home Ownership Program (SHOP) Grant to assist in the acquisition of 32 lots in Spring Creek Estates on Three Mile Drive. The grant will assist 32 qualifying low-income families in the construction of affordable single- family residences. Jentz said agency referral letters were sent to Public Works, and the Police and Fire Department. OTHER REPORTS: Bus Shelter Locations: Zavodny said he had hoped the Police Department would have been present for this discussion. He reviewed the following 4 requests for transit shelters: Sykes Grocery: The location is between the 2 access points into their parking lot on their property. The committee approved this location. Meridian Post Office: The location is a concrete pad between the sidewalk and curb, located on their property. The committee approved this location. West Center Street — Quick Lube: The location is where the long non -used curb cut is and it is a natural handicap accessible location. The committee approved this location. Smith's Food & Drug: The requested location is between the 2 access roads into the parking lot. Public Works feels this location is too close to the 3rd Avenue EN and East Idaho Street intersection and during rush hours would interfere with the free -flow of traffic at this busy intersection. Zavodny and the committee agreed the location should be near the crosswalk adjacent to the grocery store building, south of the first driveway into their parking lot. The new location would be safer and accommodate more people using the grocery store, credit union and other businesses in the area. The committee disapproved the location requested in their application. The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.