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MINUTES – PLANNING
COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING – JANUARY 20, 2009
The
regular meeting of the Morris Planning Commission was called to order at 5:16
p.m. this 20th day January, 2009, by Chair person 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 Johnson, Hoffman, Granger, Rudney, Gades, and Chair person
Kuchenreuther. Commissioner
Carpenter arrived at 5:21. Also
present was City Manager/Zoning Administrator Hill. Ex-officio Miller arrived at 5:25.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF 12/16/08 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Several typographical errors were pointed out: on the second page, fourth paragraph,
first sentence, the word “tress” should be “trees”; on the third page, second
paragraph, last sentence, the word “talked” should be “talk”. On the same page, fourth paragraph, the
first sentence should read, “Nels Enberg, 404 East 4th, stated he
feels there would be a lot of congestion at 5th and California
during a day when there was a funeral at First Lutheran, along with
all the cars from the Courthouse.”; on the fourth page, sixth paragraph, the
last sentence should read, “Hill indicated the Safety Committee looks at
those types of things.”; and on the last page, the word “city” should be
capitalized in the second condition of the conditional use permit. Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by
Rudney, to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC
HEARINGS: None.
OTHER
BUSINESS: Elect Chair and
Vice Chair for 2009:
Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by Rudney, to nominate
Kuchenreuther as Chair person for 2009.
Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner
Granger moved, seconded by Hoffman, to nominate Rudney as Vice Chair person for
2009. Motion carried unanimously.
Elementary
School Redevelopment Update:
Chair person Kuchenreuther indicated there will be a work session at
about 6:00 p.m. after the City Council meeting January 27 on this issue, and
the Planning Commission is invited to attend. Treeline and Stahl, the architects on this project, will
present their ideas for the school site.
She indicated that ultimately the Planning Commission will have to do
some zoning for this site.
Kuchenreuther also invited the Planning Commission members to tour a
grow home in Fargo on January 31 that was designed by Stahl.
Commissioner
Johnson asked how this project will affect the funds of the City. Hill indicated the next step is to
figure out how to develop this property.
Gades
asked if the floor plans will be dictated for homes on this site. Hill indicated size will be
dictated. Kuchenreuther indicated
setbacks will also be dictated for the geothermal systems. Discussion was held on various aspects
of the development, and how much interest may or may not be generated with this
type of development.
Zoning
Map: Granger asked if the zoning
going west out of Morris by Olson Implement on the south side of Highway 28 and
past the marsh on the north side of Highway 28 should be HB. It was the consensus HB would be
correct.
She
questioned the zoning north of Westwood Acres. It was agreed that RM is appropriate in that area.
Granger
asked about the zoning at the ethanol plant. On the map it is I2, heavy industrial. She suggested that because of noise it
should be I1. She feels I2
property should be moved farther from residential areas. She stated there is a hammer mill at the
ethanol plant that is not enclosed and that produces the noise. Currently the ethanol plant has
temporarily closed due to economic conditions. Hoffman indicated he does not want to make it impossible for
them to reopen by rezoning this.
He does not like the timing of changing that zoning. Kuchenreuther indicated according to
the City Code the correct zone would be I2 because brewery and malt house are
allowed in the I2 zone. Granger
stated if the nuisance ordinance were enforced this would not be a
problem. Hill pointed out that
even if it were changed to I1, that industry would be grandfathered. Ex-officio Miller indicated he would
hate to see the City put a regulation on that property that may prohibit certain
industries from pursuing it if it were to go up for sale. Carpenter indicated that by changing
the zoning the City would not be saying there couldn’t be an ethanol plant
there. Granger indicated that
according to statute, a legal nonconforming use can be continued, but a zoning
ordinance can prohibit expansion, extension or rebuilding. It was the consensus to leave this area
I2.
Going
back to the area by Olson Implement on the west side of town, Hill asked if it
was wise to put HB next to R.
Miller indicated Ken Lesmeister rents out parts of his building for
trucks and there is the potential of someone purchasing a portion of the
Sullivan property. Hill indicated
he doesn’t feel the City can force Sullivan’s to clean up their property, but
feels they may be willing to let the City help them clean it up.
At the
November meeting the Planning Commission discussed the CBD district extending
to the east of California Avenue between 5th and 6th
Streets. At that time it was
decided that should be RM. Kuchenreuther
questioned why that should be RM instead of R. Given the uses in that neighborhood it was decided that the
lots the Morris Dental building are on on the north side of East 6th
Street and the lots Schuster Agency and Raymond James are on on the south side
of East 6th Street should be CBD, and the lots to the east of these
should be RM.
Granger
asked if the area of Mohr Plumbing and Carrie Melchert’s home should be zoned R
instead of HB. Carpenter
questioned why we wouldn’t rezone Denco, but we would rezone Mohr
Plumbing. She feels it would be
hypocritical to do this if Mohr Plumbing is interested in expanding his
business. Hoffman indicated Mohr
Plumbing does not own the property the business sits on. Hoffman suggested having someone call
Mohr Plumbing and see if they intend on making any changes. Hill suggested making a list of all the
zoning changes, identifying any that may be controversial and making contact
with those individuals. Rudney
indicated he feels the Planning Commission will have to make good arguments on
any changes recommended. It was
the consensus to change the Mohr Plumbing/Melchert area to R.
At prior
meetings the Planning Commission identified areas to be revisited on the zoning
map. The first item was whether homes
should not be allowed uses in the HB zone. Hill indicated all present houses in the HB district would
be grandfathered in. Granger
suggested moving homes from being a permitted use to being a conditional use in
the HB zone. Hill indicated as a
conditional use they would be easier to control. Granger indicated there are no front yard setbacks in the HB
zone unless it is across the street from an area zoned R. It was the consensus to have Hill write
a modification of the ordinances to make houses in the HB zone a conditional
use.
Another
revisted item discussed was whether the area east of the high school where the
University fields are should be R or RF.
It was the consensus that the school property should be R and University
property should be MC.
Hill will
make a list of all the proposed zoning changes discussed by the Planning
Commission.
ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Hoffman moved, seconded by
Rudney, to adjourn. Motion carried
and the meeting adjourned at 6:35.
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