Loading...
11-26-08 Site Review MinutesSITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE SUMMARY Wednesday, November 26, 2008 Lower Level Main Conference Room 201 First Avenue East ATTENDING: Tom Jentz, Planning & Bldg Director Frank Castles, Deputy Public Works Director Sean Conrad, Senior Planner Chad Fincher, Parks Superintendent Dan Diehl, Acting Fire Chief Michelle Anderson, Recording Secretary Guests: Jiro Atkinson, Agency on Aging Hear the Public: No one wished to speak. Charlie Johnson, Construction Manager Dwaine Elkins, Plans Examiner P.J. Sorensen, Chairman Performance Bond Reminders: Johnson said the bond has been released for the Amended Plat of Lot 2, of Western Acres. OLD BUSINESS: 227 1st Street West — conversion to an ice cream shop: Sorensen noted the city was unsure whether this business was proposed as an ice cream shop or a gift shop that serves coffee. Either use works with zoning & parking requirements Sorensen said, however the difference would be the number of fixtures required for the restrooms and the ERU charges for impacts fees. The committee reviewed the site plan and the following issues were discussed: A better site plan needs to be submitted; the gravel parking lot will need to be paved; landscaping and drainage needs to be addressed; handicap parking and ownership of the parking lot needs to be determined; and Public Works added the approach onto 15t Street from the alley should be eliminated if possible; it does not appear to be part of their property. Sorensen said he and Elkins will be meeting with the owner/leasee next week to discuss these issues. Super 1/Tidyman's Parking lot renovation: Sorensen said the city has not yet received the revisions on the parking lot, however he has spoken with TD&H and they were going to look at incorporating the suggestions by the committee. TD&H will probably submit the updated plans for the parking lot and the committee will review them hopefully next week. Sorensen added they plan to close one of the two doors which would eliminate the need for additional handicap parking at both door locations. The committee's recommendation that the current straight -in alignment of the entrance road is the major issue with them. NEW BUSINESS: Cornerstone Church PUD —1970 Hwy 93 North: Conrad said he has done a preliminary review of this PUD proposal and he added the city has already granted preliminary plat approval to create the one acre lot at the corner of Northridge Drive and Highway 93 North. Conrad reviewed the site plan for the committee. The following issues were addressed: MDT approval for the right-in/right-out approach onto Highway 93 North has to be verified; the approach closest to the intersection of Northridge Drive and Highway 93 would have to be eliminated because it is too close to the intersection; the structure should be moved closer to the highway to so the focus is on the building and not the drive through bank and then the internal traffic would need to be redirected; provide a landscape buffer between the highway and the building to mimic the development across the highway from this site; the right -in landscape berm would not work for emergency vehicles and should be moved and hydrants may have to be added; sewer may have to be run down Parkway Drive to service the additional lots on the site that will not be immediately developed; pedestrian access from the buildings and the church need to connect with the bike path and sidewalk along Northridge Drive, and the sidewalk has to extend from the highway to Parkway Drive. Sorensen noted the city would request one common sign for both the bank and the church in order to be consistent with other commercial bank signage in the area. Jentz said he would be prone to allow monument signs. Fincher noted he had sent a letter regarding the landscaping and trees along Northridge Drive which planning should receive soon. Conrad will send a letter to TD&H that will address the comments from the committee. PLANNING OFFICE ITEMS: None. OTHER REPORTS: Armory/Samaritan House - Sorensen reported that he met with representatives of the Samaritan House, who acquired the Armory across from Peterson School. About 15% of the building will be used for office space for the Samaritan House staff and the remainder will be leased out to School District 5 to be used as overfill classrooms, a centralized kitchen facility, and storing some of the district's vehicles. There was discussion regarding environmental cleanup of the property, the possible need for the building to be sprinkled, and whether or not it would be appropriate to put school children in the facility. Sorensen stated that although these issues have not been discussed with planning staff the uses will have to be reviewed by the planning board and city council and can be addressed at that time. A text amendment related to the non-profit office use in the P-1 (Public) zone will be applied for first, probably in January. Silverbrook Estates - Jentz noted that the final plat for phase IA of Silverbrook Estates will be coming in soon and he had a pre -application meeting with Silverbrook's representatives for the preliminary plat of Silverbrook Estates Phase 2. Phase 2 consists of 260 residential units and 20 — 30 acres of commercial development. Johnson asked if the easement and R/W issues have been resolved and Jentz said this information should be coming in with the plat. Recycled Cardboard Container - Fincher asked if the cardboard recycling bin at the former city hall is used very often and if not maybe it should be moved to the new city hall. Diehl didn't have any problem with it being moved however, the new location of the bin has yet to be determined. Coordination between Parks & Public Works - Fincher said on 6thAvenue West the Water Department approved a water tap in the boulevard and when the developer did the work they ended up taking out 2/3rds of the roots of a maple tree. The tree has become a liability to the city and will have to be removed. In order to avoid this type of damage to trees and cost to the city, Fincher asked for Public Works' help in trying to improve communications between the 2 departments before these types of issues arise, such as calling Parks to the site. Castles wasn't sure if they would always be able to anticipate problems before they occur but he agreed to talk to Ben Van Dyke and Randy Vickhammer from the Water Department. Transportation Impact Fees - Diehl suggested that WalMart, Kohl's and some of the other companies who are concerned with the cost of transportation fees should be contacted and encouraged to submit their building permit applications before the fees are approved. Jentz noted that the City Attorney has already discussed this with certain companies, and he added Kohl's is already exempt. Sorensen further explained in the past when the city gets a complete building permit application before the fees are adopted, even if the permit hasn't been issued, the city would not charge them the impact fees. Diehl noted that he has attended all of the impact fee meetings and the community, developers, chamber of commerce, and building associations are all against the fees. Diehl added the city depends on those groups to support the City of Kalispell. Johnson noted that these companies have faced and paid these fees, which are far greater than the ones proposed by Kalispell in other cities. Further discussion was held. Weeds — Diehl noted that they are receiving complaints daily regarding weeds and the Fire Department is responding that weeds are not a priority at this time of year but they will be addressing this issue next year. Abandoned Buildings — Diehl noted they have been meeting with the city attorney's office on the issue of vacant, abandoned buildings and are trying to arrive at a method to deal with them. In the meantime the Fire Department will continue to monitor those properties and they will be working with the property owners to eventually get the buildings secured at the owner's time and expense. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.