A regular meeting/public hearing of the Planning Commission of Alexandria Township was held on the 22nd day of June, 2015 at the Alexandria Township Conference Room, 324 Broadway.
Roll Call: Commission members present were Shad Steinbrecher, Mary Hacker, Larry Steidl 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: Hacker, seconded by Steinbrecher, 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 5/27/2015 meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Steidl recessed the meeting to open the public hearing on the conditional use permit application for a dual purpose shop for auto repair and floor coating systems, John Keener, applicant (Gerald Krebs, property owner).
Public Hearing: Mr. Keener stated he is proposing to operate an automotive repair shop (hot rods and Harley motorcycles, as well as family cars and trucks) and a floor coating business out of an existing building at 4353 County Highway 82 East. He would be cutting out samples for the floor coating business.
Zoning Administrator Oleson reported that the property is currently zoned for the Commercial – Urban district and is serviced by public sewer and private water. The property has historically housed several commercial businesses, such as commercial painting, parking of semi tractor-trailers, auto body repair and used car sales. The applicant anticipates minimal outdoor storage. Oleson noted the property was originally platted as two lots and later combined into one parcel. Lot 3 (the east side) would house Mr. Keener’s business(es) and Lot 4 (the west side) would encompass Mr. Kreb’s parking of semi tractor/trailers.
Chairman Steidl opened the meeting to the public for comment. Hearing none, he closed the public portion and resumed the meeting.
Oleson stated that the floor coating business could be considered light industrial (manufacturing), which is a permitted use by ordinance. The commission determined that since the work on the floor coating business would be conducted totally inside the building, that portion need not be considered as part of the conditional use application but rather as a permitted use under the zoning ordinance.
Hacker, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to recommend approval of the conditional use permit application for John Keener, applicant (Gerald Krebs, property owner) for an automotive repair shop and floor coating business (Lot 3) including the three conditions as outlined in the staff report, and to amend the last line of condition no. 3 to read: “All previously granted conditional use permits are deemed abandoned except for the 1998 approved CUP for parking of semi tractor/trailers (Lot 4).” Roll: Hacker, Steinbrecher, Dokken-McFann and Steidl – yes. Opposed: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator’s Report: Zoning Administrator Oleson introduced Russ Henningsgaard, who stated he was seeking the commission’s comments on a possible business venture for his property located on South Lake Jessie Road. Mr. Henningsgaard has a 13 acre site (an inverted “L” shape), where he is proposing to build storage garages on five acres off of S. Lake Jessie Road (the longer portion of the “L”) with his homestead on the remainder. The storage buildings would be accessed off his driveway. He would be willing to widen the driveway in the area of the storage buildings. The buildings would be metal single garage storage units. Oleson stated this area is currently zoned Urban Residential. The commission advised Mr. Henningsgaard to contact his neighbors within a quarter mile of his property to garner their response to the project. If favorable, he will come to a future meeting for further discussion.
New Business: Oleson reported that the town board had requested the commission revisit the township’s policy on pervious paver credit. Currently the township allows no credit for pervious pavers due in part to concerns over proper maintenance, installation and design. He stated that the county requires a conditional use permit and will allow up to 100% credit in certain circumstances. Consensus to have Oleson meet with county, city and DNR staff to ascertain their current policies on pervious paver credit and experience with long-term maintenance of pervious paver systems.
Oleson reported that the town board had requested the commission to begin discussing whether it would be good policy for the town to not take over new roads built as part of an approved subdivision until a certain percentage of the lots within the subdivision are built. Current township road approval policy is as follows: “The township’s current policy is to consider acceptance of private roads in new developments based upon the following criteria: 1) after township standards are met and 2) once the final lift is applied, the developer assumes a one-year maintenance period and can then petition the town to take over the road. A one-year warranty ensues after the town accepts the road and the warranty can run concurrently with the maintenance period.” The premise for this addition to our current policy would be to protect the township and its taxpayers from maintaining long stretches of road without the tax base to cover the costs and/or taking over roads that may be inadequately built or which become damaged due to heavy traffic associated with the building of new homes. Dokken-McFann stated if the township instituted a requirement that a percentage of the homes be built before the town’s assuming responsibility for the road, it may encourage developers to have a more carefully thought out process when considering new development. Hacker agreed that adding the requirement could lead to more responsible development. Consensus to have Oleson conduct further research and report back to the commission.
Old Business: Oleson provided a packet with all the revisions made on the comprehensive plan. Consensus to have Oleson forward to the town board for their comments.
Adjournment: Being no further business Dokken-McFann, seconded by Steinbrecher, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted…
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Bonnie Fulghum, Deputy Clerk
Approved this ____ day of ___________, 2015
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Larry Steidl, Chairman