02-26-09 Site Review MinutesSITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Lower Level Main Conference Room
201 First Avenue East
ATTENDING:
Charlie Johnson, Construction Manager Paul Burnham, Assistant City Engineer
Tom Jentz, Planning Director Dwain Elkins, Plans Examiner
Frank Castles, Deputy Public Works Director Chad Fincher, Parks Superintendant
Sean Conrad, Senior Planner Dan Diehl, Acting Fire Chief
P.J. Sorensen, Chairman
Guests: Rory Young (Jackola); Cory Johnson & Steve Herzog (CTA); Mark Peck (911)
Hear the Public: No one wished to speak.
Performance Bond Reminders: None.
OLD BUSINESS:
WalMart: Public Works has sent a letter allowing demolition work on the utilities, but specifically
stating that any additional work is not approved. The primary remaining issue is the traffic study,
which both the City and MDOT believe is necessary. WalMart has been reluctant to provide one.
NEW BUSINESS:
911 Building: Spring Prairie/new emergency services building. Corey discussed some recent
revisions to the landscaping to meet drainage/easement concerns. Frank commented that the contours
on the drainage pond need to be recontoured. He also said that any storm pipes in the well protection
zoned need to be pressure rated pipes. Irrigation of landscaping to use city water. Chad had no
additional comments relating to landscaping. Fire has no problems with the site plan. There are two
significant zoning issues. First, the PUD requires 20 ft side setbacks rather than the 5 ft typically used
in the R-5 zones. The setback impacts the future addition as well as the communications tower.
Second, the communications tower raises a possible question relating to its use, although it is
probably acceptable if the use is limited to 911 only. The height is more problematic. When a tower
other than a cell tower has been reviewed, it has been limited to the maximum height for the district,
which in this case is 40 ft (the proposal is for 80 to 100 ft). The tower is necessary for the function of
the building. The issue is not line of sight, but is the equipment. Could it be two 40 ft towers? They
will look into available alternatives. Both issues potentially could be PUD amendments. They
presented fence details (8 ft with barbed wire on top) — should be set back to keep canted part from
encroaching on adjoining property.
PLANNING OFFICE ITEMS:
Pre-release center: Tom presented the project. There are two key issues. First, there are
easements around the building and easements which are split by the frontage road. Second, the
parking on the east and north of the building presents problems. On the east side, they should
eliminate the existing parking and replace it with parallel spaces. On the north side, the curb
along the frontage road should be replaced with a 5 ft landscape boulevard, with the existing
parking replaced with a single row of perpendicular spaces near the building (or angled spaces for
a one-way aisle). The easements need to be cleaned up. Need curb instead of railroad ties along
frontage road. Curb/fire access needs to be better defined.
Other items: Jerry Nix proposed some adjustments relating to the 40 acre site along Cemetery
Road, which will be re-routed to the south for the airport expansion. Beginning discussion for
replacing the land lost to the road with Siderius property. Also, the county is talking about
putting in a parking lot south of the Earl Bennett building in an R-4 zone. There are zoning
issues, but they can do an agency exemption. Discussion included stormwater regs, impact fees,
and paving requirements (including health dept regs).
OTHER REPORTS:
Polson deck collapse: The state supreme court just made a ruling affirming the lower court decision.
In that case, the city was held 5% liable based on a duty of reasonable care relating to its permits,
inspections, and an anonymous phone call. A copy of the decision is available on-line.
Soccer concession: They wired it for a stove/oven, but were specifically told not to have any
commercial cooking in the facility. Fire Dept has told them a stop work order will be issued if the
stove is placed in there. Concerns regarding the sprinkler and fire flows.
Windward Way: Remodeled office building is not occupied, but has a number of cut sprinkler
lines that are a cause of concern. The cut lines were a result of the work which has been done to date
on the building.
Appleway/Spring Creek Apts.: Concern over accessibility for emergency vehicles during
construction.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.