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MINUTES –
PLANNING COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 15, 2008
The regular meeting of the Morris Planning Commission was
called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 15th day of April, 2008, by
Chairperson Kuchenreuther in the Council Chambers of the Morris Senior
Citizens/Community Center.
CALL OF THE ROLL: Roll call was taken with the following members present: Commissioners Granger, Rudney, Johnson,
Hoffman, and Chairperson Kuchenreuther.
Commissioner Carpenter was absent.
Also present were City Manager Hill and Ex-officio Miller.
READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 2/19/08 Regular Meeting: Commissioner Granger moved, seconded by
Rudney, to approve the minutes of the 2/19/08 regular meeting as present. With all present voting in favor,
motion carried.
3/18/08 Regular Meeting: Commissioner Granger moved, seconded by Hoffman, to approve
the minutes of the 3/18/08 regular meeting as presented. With four voting in favor and
Chairperson Kuchenreuther abstaining because she was not at that meeting,
motion carried.
4/9/08 Special Meeting: Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by Granger, to approve
the minutes of the 4/9/08 special meeting as presented. With four voting in favor and
Chairperson Kuchenreuther abstaining because she was not at that meeting, motion
carried.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Strobel Variance Request: This hearing is for a zoning variance request from Section
11.23, Subd. 2 D 5 (b) of the Morris City Code which requires a 10’ rear yard
setback in a residential (R) zone.
This request is by Steve and Kris Strobel, 902 Columbia Avenue, legally
described as Block 45, Lot 1, First Addition, parcel number 20-0479-000. This variance, if granted, would allow
a deck within 3’ of the rear yard line.
City Manager Hill provided pictures of the site. He indicated the split rail fence along
the back side of the property is 3’ from the back property line. He received no calls or comments on the
request. If the variance is
granted, the deck would be built to the fence.
Strobel provided a letter from Fred Geyen, the owner of the
property to the rear of this property, indicating he has no objection to the
Strobel’s request.
Hill pointed out a patio could go all the way to the
property line. However, a deck
requires a setback.
Rudney indicated the Strobels have made a lot of
improvements to this property. He
indicated a deck would still provide drainage. He feels the hardship would be the size of the lot, which is
50 X 140.
Johnson indicated he feels the deck would fit the property
appropriately.
Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by Granger, to approve
this variance request as requested with the hardship being the narrow lot. With all present voting in favor,
motion carried.
Zoning Amendment Hearing: This hearing is for a zoning amendment request from Chapter
11, Section 11.41, Subd. 2 of the Morris City Code which does not allow
churches in an I2 Heavy Industrial Zone.
This request is by the City Council of the City of Morris in response to
a request from the Morris Community Church, for the old UBC lumber yard located
at 10 West 6th Street, property legally described as 35 125 42, Lots
C & D of SE ¼ SW ¼.
This amendment, if granted, would allow a church as a conditional use in
the I2 Heavy Industrial zone.
Kuchenreuther stated the only conditional uses permitted in
the I2 zone now are feedmills, elevators and billboards.
Rudney indicated he feels it is important that this is
surveyed so there is not a problem with the property lines between Caseys, this
property, and Morris Commercial Print.
Hill indicated there is a metes and bounds description on this property
which he indicated is common with property along the railroad. He stated the only comment he received
was from Carl Moser, owner of Commercial Print. He has a concern about the southern property line between
his property and the old UBC property.
There is a fence between the two properties, and he owns property on the
UBC side of a fence. Hill stated
with railroad property there is railroad right-of-way, so he suggested this be
looked at very close.
Hill stated that when the City Council addressed this issue,
City Attorney Glasrud suggested that instead of amending the ordinance to allow
churches as a conditional use in the I2 zone, the City consider rezoning the
area. Granger agreed it would be
logical to rezone this area from I2 to Central Business District (CBD). Hill indicated churches are permitted
as a conditional use in the CBD.
Kuchenreuther agreed that rezoning the area would make more sense.
Granger indicated the comprehensive plan talks about trying
to get industrial uses focused in the Industrial Park to protect the
residential areas from adjacent commercial and industrial development.
Kim Gremmels, 108 West 5th Street, indicated she
is not a member of the Morris Community Church, who is interested in purchasing
this property. She indicated she
is in favor of the church going into this property.
Philip Drown, 7 Brook Street, indicated he is in favor of
this and thinks it would be beneficial to the community.
Dennis Lindor, 210 West 7th Street, indicated he
is in favor of this and is interested in seeing the buildings being used and
there being improvements made to the property.
Hill indicated he feels the City Council would consider
either adding a church as a conditional use in the I2 zone, or changing the
zoning from I2 to CBD. Hill
indicated that once the Planning Commission makes this recommendation to the
City Council, the Council will make the final decision. At that time, the church can apply for
a conditional use permit.
Granger indicated the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Goal #4
says to redevelop the City’s core.
She feels this would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan by
improving the aesthetics of downtown Morris.
Ex-officio Miller indicated that because of the location of
the property, if there were a business interested in the property, he would
rather see that business there.
Johnson asked if there is any other property in the CBD that is
available. Hoffman indicated there
are not many properties available in the CBD. He indicated that he has had a couple of contacts that have
asked him as a realtor to look into this property, so he feels that shows it is
possible someone else might be interested in the property for a commercial use.
Johnson indicated he is surprised the church would be
interested in locating so close to a railroad track. He indicated he would have a problem with eliminating
options for business opportunities.
Commissioner Rudney moved, seconded by Johnson, to recommend
to the City Council that the land between West 5th Street and West 7th
Street between Pacific Avenue and the railroad tracks from rezoned from I2 to
CBD. With four voting in favor and
Commissioner Hoffman abstaining due to the contacts he has had with individuals
interested in the property, motion carried.
Pat Franey of the Morris Community Church stated he feels
changing the zoning to CBD is the most logical choice.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Kuchenreuther informed the Planning Commission of three items they had
asked about at a previous meeting:
1) The final plat for
Riley’s Commercial Lots north of Coborn's was approved by the City Council
3/28/06; 2) the land south of the Michaelson property that is not in city
limits is owned by Riley Brothers, not UMM; and 3) Riley’s Riverside Townhomes
Phase 1 was rezoned from MC to R on 3/22/05.
Granger asked when Riley Brothers are going to plant the
trees in the Riverside Townhomes and Iowa Avenue Townhomes which was a
condition when the plats were approved.
Hoffman indicated he will check into that. He stated the outer perimeter on
the Iowa Avenue Townhomes is about done now. He thinks Riley’s have intentions of
putting trees in there.
Hill indicated another issue is the flood zone in town. He indicated a resident on the east
side of town is looking to refinance and his finance company indicated he has
to purchase flood insurance. He
feels Riley’s Riverview Townhomes is in a flood zone. He indicated he feels the City will have to have the area surveyed
to find out the 100-year flood area.
Kuchenreuther indicated the Planning Commission asked about a flood zone
before the Riley’s Riverview area was rezoned, and they were told there is no
flood designation.
Kuchenreuther indicated climate change modeling indicates
rainfall events will become more intense.
She suggested if a survey is done, the current level of 100-year floods
and some of the signs of a 500-year flood should be understood.
Outdoor Woodburner Ordinance: Kuchenreuther indicated she has no new information on
this.
Stevens County Courthouse/Jail Issue: Hill indicated he needs to know what
the City will be requiring of the County in regard to their intention to add a
jail to the Stevens County Courthouse.
He and the building official have met with the architects for the
Courthouse project to discuss potential plans and requirements of the City
Code. Their discussion included
setback requirements, parking, screening and other items required in a single
and two family residence zone. He
indicated in his mind the biggest issue is whether the City will require them
to obtain a conditional use permit.
He asked the Planning Commission’s stance on this issue. He stated there used to be a jail at
the courthouse, but now it is being used as a holding cell. Hill has asked the City Attorney for
his opinion on the conditional use permit issue.
Rudney indicated it seems to him they are going beyond the
bounds of their building. He feels
there are a lot of complications to their plan.
Hoffman indicated he feels the City Attorney should make the
call on whether or not a conditional use permit would be required.
Kuchenreuther indicated she doesn’t feel there has been any
opportunity for the public to comment on this project. She feels requiring the County to go
through the conditional use permit process would allow the public to weigh in
on this subject. Hoffman indicated
he feels it needs to be determined if legally a conditional use permit can be
required.
Miller indicated there is a 3D model of the proposed
building.
Kuchenreuther indicated it would be her preference to have
someone knowledgeable about the project present information to the Planning
Commission, let the Planning Commission consider the information, and then formulate
its questions.
Outdoor Woodburner Ordinance: Hill explained the reason this was on
the agenda is that the owner of the laundromat that has the outdoor woodburner
has informed his neighbor that he will no longer use the outdoor woodburner
during the summer months.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Commissioner Hoffman moved, seconded by
Johnson, to adjourn. Motion
carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:35.
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