A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 27th day of July, 2015 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Larry Steidl, Bill Dropik, Jr. and Linda Dokken-McFann. Also present were Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk, and Ben Oleson, Township Zoning Administrator. As said members formed a quorum and the meeting was called to order by Chairman Steidl at 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Dropik, seconded by Dokken-McFann, made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to approve the minutes of the 6/22/2015 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the conditional use request of Jeremy Tilleskjor (Masters Plumbing) located at 3446 State Highway 29 North.
Public Hearing: Chelee Jasmer, representing Mr. Tilleskjor, stated they are requesting a 64 square foot lighted sign. Commissioner Steinbrecher asked if the lighting would be external or internal. Ms. Jasmer replied it would be external on a timer.
Zoning Administrator Oleson stated that per our ordinance, a lighted sign requires a conditional use permit. He said the proposed sign would adhere to our height and size restrictions. The area is zoned Commercial – Urban.
Chairman Steidl asked if there were certain hours that the sign could be lit. Oleson stated our ordinance has no specific guidelines; however, the staff report includes two recommendations concerning the timing and hours of illumination. Commissioner Dropik commented that the light would become more of an issue in the fall and winter months.
Chairman Steidl opened the hearing to the public for comment. Hearing none, he closed the public hearing and resumed the meeting.
Commissioner Steinbrecher asked if there were concerns about the lights bothering traffic. Ms. Jasmer stated the light would be shining more down the highway as opposed to across and the timer would shut off at 10 p.m. Oleson stated the light needs to be directed and referred to the zoning ordinance, Section V. Performance Standards as follows:
“A. Signs, 8. General Provisions, f. Illumination. Where allowed, illumination for signs, whether internal or external, shall be so constructed and maintained so that the source of light is diffused and not directly visible by a motorist or pedestrian viewing the sign.”
Steinbrecher, seconded by Dropik, made a motion to recommend approval of the conditional use permit for Jeremy Tilleskjor allowing a lighted 64 square foot sign with the two conditions as outlined in the staff report. Roll: Dropik – yes, Dokken-McFann – yes, Steinbrecher – yes, Steidl – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the conditional use request of Kyle Thompson, 2503 Hazel Hill Road SE.
Mr. Thompson stated he is requesting a daycare sign of up to 16 square feet in size. Oleson stated that the maximum size of any one daycare sign in the residential zoning district is 12 square feet. A 16 square foot sign can be allowed via a conditional use permit. The existing sign is considered about 18 – 19 square feet in size based on the ordinance (it contains two parts; i.e. a 15 square foot portion along with a 3 – 4 square foot portion hanging from the bottom).
Chairman Steidl asked the applicant if he was planning to reduce the sign, to which Mr. Thompson responded he will take the bottom portion off thus reducing it to 15 square feet. Steidl also asked if there was any lighting for this sign to which Mr. Thompson replied no.
Chairman Steidl opened the hearing to the public for comment. Hearing none, he closed the public hearing and resumed the meeting.
Chairman Steidl asked the applicant if he would be able to comply with the 45 day time constraint indicated in the staff recommendation, condition no. 1. Mr. Thompson stated that would not be an issue.
Dropik, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to recommend approval of the conditional use permit for Kyle Thompson allowing a 16 square foot daycare sign with one condition as outlined in the staff report. Roll: Dropik – yes, Dokken-McFann – yes, Steinbrecher – yes, Steidl – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator’s Report: Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the town board had approved the final plats for Lake Jessie Meadows 2nd Addition and Lake Victoria Estates 1st Addition and Patty’s Paradise. He also provided an update on the Zunker scrapyard cleanup. The commission discussed the issue of holding tanks and state and county requirements regarding maintenance.
New Business: none
Old Business: Oleson stated the commission had asked him to follow up on the DNR’s policy regarding pervious paver credit. He reported that the DNR gives no credit for pervious pavers. Dokken-McFann asked if the county has any method for following up on existing paver systems. Oleson responded that they have not conducted any inspections thus far. Due to the DNR’s policy, the town cannot allow any pervious paver credit.
Oleson stated the commission had also asked him to research other municipalities regarding their road approval policies. Oleson found one township’s criteria was to require 50% of the homes in a development needed to be substantially completed before they would consider taking responsibility for maintenance of the road. Consensus to table further discussion until further research regarding costs for maintenance of roads has been done.
Adjournment: Being no further business Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2015
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Larry Steidl, Chairman