MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION,
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2004, 7:00 P.M.,
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL,
1. Roll Call
PRESENT: Baker,
Eyre, Kozakiewicz, Mead,
Senesac, Svenson and Wieland
ABSENT: Kanuch (Dowling submitted
resignation)
OTHERS PRESENT: Jon Lynch, Assistant City Manager;
Daryl Poprave, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Community Development Specialist;
and 1 other.
2. Approval
of Minutes
Regular Meeting of November 9, 2004.
It was moved by Mead and supported by Baker to approve the minutes of
November 9th. The minutes
were unanimously approved.
3. Public
Hearings
None
4. Public
Comments (not related to agenda items)
None
5. Old Business
None
6. New Business
a. Vacation
of Public Right of Way – Benson Street between St. Charles Street and
Whitman
Drive.
Benson Street is located at the end
of the Tridge. Benson Street runs all
the way from Whitman Drive to River Street.
The petition was initiated by the Department of Public Services,
predominantly for recreation purposes.
The aerial photo shows Poseyville Road, the 4-D facility, St. Charles
Street, and Benson Street. The request involves the vacation of Benson Street
between St. Charles Street and Whiteman Drive.
This street lies between athletic fields, which would be converted to
parking for the adjacent ball diamonds.
There is one residence at the north end of the subject area.
The petition is also examined by the
municipal operating departments. The
Engineering Department and Fire Department have no objections to this street
vacation. The role of the Planning
Commission is to offer a recommendation to City Council regarding the vacation
of this public street.
Commissioner Kozakiewicz asked if
this is something they would take action on tonight, since there is no public
hearing required.
Lynch stated that yes the Planning
Commission does not have to have a public hearing on this matter. However, the City Council must publish and
hold a public hearing, giving substantial notice to the public.
Commissioner Wieland drives through
there once in a while. He has no
problems with this.
Commissioner
Svenson feels this would be a better solution to the parking problem.
It was moved by Svenson and seconded
by Wieland to recommend approval to City Council the vacation of Benson Street
from St. Charles Street to Whitman Drive.
The vote proceeded as follows:
YEA: Baker,
Eyre, Kozakiewicz, Mead, Senesac, Svenson and Wieland
NAY: None
ABSENT: Kanuch (Dowling submitted resignation)
Motion passes unanimously.
b. Discussion
of Subdivision Ordinance Update Process
Mr. Lynch reviewed the process by
which the subdivision ordinance could be reviewed and considered by the
Planning Commission. We could revisit
the process we used with the zoning ordinance, or we could use a committee of
the Planning Commission, that would also involve community members who deal
with the Subdivision Ordinance. This
committee could offer suggestions to the entire Planning Commission, prior to
going to public hearing. This, again,
will require the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing to obtain input
from the general public. Staff is
looking for direction on how the commission would like to proceed.
Commissioner Wieland and
Commissioner Senesac are the only remaining planning commission members who
worked on the last master plan update.
At that time, they used the committee process and it seemed to work
pretty well. Those committee meetings
would be open to the public.
Commissioner Mead would like a
monthly or bi-monthly update from the committee so they do not get to the end
of the process and have it all piled on.
However, he would like to see the committee process used.
Mr. Lynch would like to see the
committee meet during the first several months of the new year. He suggested the public hearing be held in
April, and have the document in place by May or June.
The consensus of the Planning
Commission was to have a sub-committee review and comment on the language and
report back to the entire commission.
7. Communications
Mr. Senesac reported they received a
letter of resignation from Troy Dowling.
His work took
him out of town too much to be able to
consistently attend the meetings.
8.
Report of the Chairman
None
9.
Report of the Planning Director
The Director reported on the
following matters:
November 22nd
PUBLIC HEARINGS
§
Zoning
Petition No. 513 – William Weckesser: 5512 W. Wackerly St., OS-2 to BC
(approved)
ACTION ITEMS
§
Site
Plan No. 245 – Bennett Retail Center (approved)
December 13th
PUBLIC HEARINGS
§
Special
Use Permit No. 14 – Bickford House: NE Jefferson Ave / Joseph Dr. (approved)
ACTION ITEMS
None
January 11th
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
ACTION ITEMS
Discussion of Capital Improvements Plan
January 25th
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
ACTION ITEMS
None
December 21st
a.
No. 04-19 – Midland Curling Club for off
premises sign at 700 Gerald Court.
10. Adjourn
Adjournment at approximately 7:27 PM was moved by Wieland, seconded by
Svenson and
unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Lynch, AICP
Planning Commission Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION