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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-01 Minutes PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 1, 2005 7:00 PM The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm. By Chair Szurek. Roll Call: Present: Schmitt, Szurek, & Fiorendino Also present were Pat Smith (City Planner), Shelley Hanson (Secretary), and Tami Ericson (Council Liaison). Motion by Schmitt, second by Fiorendino, to approve the minutes from January 4, 2005 as written. All Ayes. MOTION PASSED. PUBLIC HEARINGS None NEW BUSINESS Planner Smith held a training session on Comprehensive Plans and the Role and Responsibilities of the Commission. He explained there are four main goals of the Commission. 1.To implement the Comprehensive Plan using various tools including the Zoning Ordinance, the Building Code, the Subdivision Regulations and the Capital Improvement Programs. 2.To keep the Comprehensive Plan up to date. 3.To stay non-political. The Planning and Zoning Commission members must rely on established policies and represent the community as a whole. 4.To gather public input and hold public hearings as required. Smith stated the most important task they are responsible for is updating the Comprehensive Plan and seeing that it is followed. The Plan must be updated every 10 years. This must be done again by 2008. However, Planner Smith said it is staff’s goal to update the Comprehensive Plan within the next year. He addressed the differences between the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance. He reminded commission members that when receiving public input which is required, they must remain objective and make their decisions based on the established policies and goals that have been set. Some residents can get very vocal regarding some issues that affect them, but that isn’t necessarily indicative of what is best for the community as a whole. Planner Smith reviewed the steps taken to prepare the Comprehensive Plan— 1.Assess current conditions of the City. 2.Develop goals for the community. 3.Develop Plan Elements of what the community will look like in the future. 4.Prepare Land Use Map. 5.Decide how to Implement these goals. Smith then reviewed the steps taken to amend the Comprehensive Plan. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 1, 2005 Smith covered the ethics involved in serving on the Commission. He stated why ethics are so important when making decisions and upholding the Comprehensive Plan. While sometimes the Commission is just a recommending body to the City Council, other times it is the body that holds the Public Hearings, or in the case of an appeal, it is the body that has the final say. The members will review this section more closely and may have some of the key principles added to the Agenda Page as a reminder to the members and the public what role they serve and what principles are followed when making their decisions. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Planner Smith updated the members on the Industrial Site Project, Grand Central Lofts Site, and various properties along Central Avenue. He explained the City is currently working with Ryland on the possible construction of 280 townhomes for the first and second phase of the Industrial site. The third phase would be done by Schaffer-Richardson for the condos and flats. There was a discussion regarding recent inquiries to open used car lots at various sites along Central Avenue. The commission directed staff to look into passing a moratorium to prevent this type of use along Central Avenue until the proper action can be made to the Zoning Ordinance to prohibit this as a permitted use in that zoning district. They all concurred, in keeping with the intent of the Comprehensive Plan, this is not the type of business we want to allow along Central. Motion by Fiorendino, second by Schmitt, to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm. Respectfully submitted, Shelley Hanson Secretary