MINUTES –
PLANNING COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING – JULY 17, 2012
The
regular meeting of the Morris Planning Commission was called to order at 5:17
p.m. this 17th day of July, 2012, by Vice
Chairperson Rudney 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, Gades, Kurpiers, Livingston and Vice Chairperson Rudney. Chairperson Kuchenreuther arrived at
5:19. Commissioner Hoffman was
absent. Also present were
Ex-officio Miller and City Manager/Zoning Administrator Hill.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF 6/19/12 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Granger moved, seconded by
Kurpiers, to approve the minutes of the 6/19/12 regular meeting as presented. With all voting in favor, motion
carried.
PUBLIC
HEARINGS: None.
OTHER
BUSINESS: Comprehensive Plan Review (pages 29
– 35): Number 3,
Commercial Land Use on page 29 notes the fact that the downtown business mix
had changed and they conclude the downtown focus has changed to offices,
specialty services, and community facilities. Commissioner Granger does not feel that
is the case anymore, and suggested this paragraph be rewritten to read, “Retail
businesses are concentrated downtown, along Highway 28 East, and along Highway
9 South. The downtown has been changing since 1980 with more offices and
services and less retail. Despite this shift, however, the downtown
remains the commercial hub of the city.”
Rudney agreed.
Hill
noted that a lot of the trends discussed in the Comprehensive Plan did not come
true, and feels the Planning Commission needs to address what is happening
now. He stated there are areas in
the Plan that discuss the County and schools, things the City does not have control over. He feels the Comprehensive Plan needs to
be a tool the City can use, and noted there is a lot of purpose to this
document. Kuchenreuther feels the
reference to the school in this document came out of the community visioning
meetings and it was a big deal when this was written.
Kuchenreuther
feels there is a lot of redundancy in the Plan and feels all like information
should be grouped together. Hill
noted this document needs to provide specific guidance, and feels the zoning
map is a good example of that.
Hill
noted there is a section that discusses negotiating with major institutional
landholders about possible land swaps.
He stated the City has never had a discussion along those lines.
Number 4
on page 29 discusses the Industrial Park.
Kuchenreuther asked if the Park is full. Hill noted it is full, but stated the
City is working on an option to purchase more land to the south. Granger feels this entire section needs
to be rewritten to state the current size and information regarding the
Industrial Park. In that section,
it was also felt manufacturing should be added to the uses that appear to be
increasing in the community.
Hill
noted he feels the City should be looking at shifting businesses to more
appropriate zones.
Kurpiers
asked why, on the zoning map, the City’s ½ mile zoning jurisdiction does
not extend north of the Hillside Addition.
Hill explained the City’s zoning jurisdiction does not extend a true
½ mile outside City limits, rather, it is a
legally described area. The City’s
zoning jurisdiction moves out as the current zoning jurisdiction is filled to a
certain percent. Kuchenreuther
stated she thought State law granted the City control out ½ mile. Hill will check on that.
Kuchenreuther
stated she feels the City should get the commercial and industrial businesses
along Pacific Avenue off of the lake.
She noted there is no turf on 3-4 blocks in that area. She also asked that the City talk to the
elevator about controlling their dust.
Hill
noted it appears that when the Comprehensive Plan was written, the Industrial
Park was not a very pleasant place to be.
He feels the top paragraph on page 30 needs to be rewritten.
Kuchenreuther
questioned #5, Agricultural Land Use, on page 30. She feels it may be moot as there is an
Orderly Annexation Agreement in place that directs if and when any of that
agricultural land will change in use.
Number 6,
Environmental Issues, on page 30 lists the most critical features in need of
protection and/or proper management.
Granger feels environmental issues should be way more important in this
document so it influences decisions.
She feels the language in this paragraph is way too soft. She feels the tree canopy should be
listed because it is a significant community asset. She stated 1/3 of the City’s tree canopy
is ash, and the City should support redevelopment of the tree canopy with more
diverse species. Hill agreed trees
should be included. Kurpiers noted
rivers should also be included in this section. Kuchenreuther feels the Natural Habitats
bullet should specifically list Pomme de Terre, along with shoreland. Granger feels the MC zone should be
added also.
Livingston
asked if the City has a storm water plan.
Hill indicated it does not, but there are some regulations that may
require the City to do something with storm water before it leaves the City and
goes into the river. Granger noted
that should also be a goal, along with noting the value of wetlands. Hill feels there
needs to be a discussion on where trees are planted. Kuchenreuther also feels night sky
lighting should be included in this section.
On page
30, C. f. states growth management and community development should promote
planned use of land surrounding Highway 59 bypass. She asked if that is superseded by the
MC zone. Hill noted that is
correct.
Page 30,
C.g. discusses reserving sufficient land to allow for needed expansion for
community facilities such as hospital clinics, schools, etc. Granger feels all categories of use
should be considered when talking about expansion. Kuchenreuther and Hill both feel this
section is moot.
Page 30
C.d. discusses park land. Hill feels a statement should be made in
the Comprehensive Plan about parks and where they should be located, along with
how to get to parks. Granger noted
parks have several purposes such as providing breathing space, passive green
space and add to property values. Kuchenreuther
noted a park does not have to be 100% bluegrass, and feels the City should be
smart about what kind of green space is put in. Granger asked if there is a sidewalk or
trail plan. Hill noted there is
not. He noted he will
be working on a sidewalk plan that will focus on the main routes first.
Page 30
C.c. discusses street extensions and alignments. It was felt that can
be removed.
Granger
questioned what C.b. on page 30 means.
C.1. on page 30 should read, “be consistent with the Official
Zoning Map.”
Hill
noted the City does not have a flood plain map. Granger asked if it is relevant to the
Comprehensive Plan. Hill indicated
he did not think it was relevant.
Rudney noted that when the Riley’s Riverside area was platted, the
Planning Commission did discuss the flood plain. Kuchenreuther asked if the City could
petition the Federal government to do a flood map. Hill stated he does not think the City
wants to do that.
Hill
noted that on page 31, the top paragraph (h), there should be language added
that the mixed uses should be buffered from other uses.
Granger
feels language should be added about cleaning up the railroad corridors and
current underdeveloped areas.
Hill
noted all the information that the UMM was going to update is now ready.
Homework
for the next meeting will be to review pages 31-35 of the Comprehensive Plan.
ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Livingston moved, seconded
by Rudney, to adjourn. Motion
carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:28.
|