February 2017
Welcome / Call to order – Jayne Buchanan - at 7:00 pm Jayne called the meeting to order.
Admin Items – Jayne
Roll Call – Planning Board members attending: Steve Brown, Lee Budahl, Jayne Buchanan, and Jack Brown.
Planning Board Liaison – Clark Corwin
Professional Planner – Kenny Armstrong and Kristy Carter (via Skype)
Absent: Nilofer Couture – Councilmember Corwin noted that Nilofer had decided to resign her seat on the Planning Board.
3. Approval of Minutes: Lee made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from January, unanimously agreed.
4. Approval of Agenda: Jack made a motion to accept the agenda, unanimously agreed.
5. Administrative Reports & Council Action: Clark thanked Jayne for renewing her seat on the Planning Board and noted since Nilofer had resigned that we need a new Planning Board member. He noted that Paul Heckert’s son was a potential candidate.
Clark said that the Village Council is in support of the Planning Board hearing tonight and of the Council hearing at the March 7th meeting. He talked with Kristy about sign issues and a form for Ordinance Violations.
6. Old Business/Unfinished Business:
Zoning Ordinance Amendment Public Hearing – Kenny is facilitating the meeting with Kristy attending via Skype. Kristy prepared a Staff Report distributed to members. Kenny distributed a handout of the Village Mixed Use District draft copy with changes discussed. Clark said the Public Hearing is to review the documents and suggested changes and vote to recommend them to the Council.
In Kristy’s Staff Report, she summarizes that the proposed ordinance changes would change the structure of the zoning ordinance, clarify existing standards, and remove police power type ordinances from the zoning ordinance.
Lee suggested changes to the Village Mixed Use District outlined to eliminate commercial and business to protect the residential aspect of the Village. Clark noted that mixed use includes business and that a motion to eliminate that would be contrary to mixed use. He noted that the land owner can de-annex if the Village cannot adopt mixed use. Clark said for the viability of the Village, we need to consider mixed use; growth in the Village is declining. He feels that the Planning Board should discuss the motion. Steve said that he feels the processes are in place to prevent undesirable commercial development such as limiting the size of buildings, design standards, and the building restrictions that are in place.
Clark said that the district in question is approximately 64 acres; he noted that a typical Dollar General is approximately 9,000 sq. ft. Jack asked if it is primarily the 64 acres in question, Clark said that there is also approximately 13 acres of frontage property in the ETJ area that can be annexed into the Village if the owner voluntarily agrees.
Clark asked Jayne from a Real Estate point of view how these changes affect business. Jayne said that she feels there are not a lot of available and affordable housing options and feels that anything to enhance opportunities would be advantageous.
The Planning Board voted on proposed eliminations to the Mixed Use and one member voted for the changes and three members voted against, the motion does not carry.
The Planning Board discussed the Village Mixed Use as outlined, Steve made a motion to approve the Village Mixed Use District to create Section 3.8 as outlined in the draft of the Zoning Ordinance and find that the request is reasonable, is in the public interest, and is consistent with the Guiding Land Use plan in that the district:
Offers a Greater Variety of Housing Options in the Village to meet the Evolving needs of Aging Residents and Potential Homebuyers
Preserves the Open Space and Natural Character of the Village
Ensures that New Development Contributes to a Sense of Place and Community in the Village, and
Develops a Network of Greenways and Sidewalks to Connect Village and Nearby Destinations.
The Planning Board voted to approve the Zoning Ordinance as outlined, one vote against and three for the Ordinance.
Jayne opened the Public Hearing, there was no public, and Jayne closed the hearing.
Lee made a motion for Technical Corrections to approve the revised wording amendments to the Village of Forest Hills Zoning ordinance, as stated in items A – E of the February 2017 Staff Report. I find that the requests are reasonable, are in the public interest, and are consistent with the municipal land use planning practice. Planning Board members unanimously agreed.
Jayne opened the Public Hearing, there was no public, and Jayne closed the hearing.
Steve made a motion for changes to existing requirements in various sections to approve the removal of the police power ordinance standards from the zoning ordinance, as they are not land use regulations. I find that the requests are reasonable, are in the public interest, and are consistent with the municipal land use planning practice. Planning Board members unanimously agreed.
Jayne opened the Public Hearing, there was no public, and Jayne closed the hearing.
7. Meeting Space: Jayne noted that the Jackson County Recreation Center had been reserved for Planning Board meetings and was available all months except for June and July. Clark said that he would email Sarah and check with the Southwestern Commission to see if their meeting room might be available for those two months. Jayne said she would also check at the Jackson County Library for room availability.
8. Next Meeting: Kristy noted that Lee will chair the Planning Board meeting to be held on Monday, March 20th at 7:00 pm at the Jackson County Rec. Ctr.
9. Public Comment: None
10. Adjourn: at 8:00 pm Jayne made a motion to adjourn, unanimously approved.