Council Subcommittee

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, FEBRUARY 7, 2019, AT 7:00 A.M., ROOM 236, 90 EAST CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Chair Brigette Peterson Vice Mayor Eddie Cook and Councilmember Jordan Ray COUNCIL ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Town Clerk Lisa Maxwell, Development Services Director Kyle Mieras, Interim Planning Manager Catherine Lorbeer, and Interim Principal Planner Amy Temes, Assistant Town Attorney Nancy Davidson CALL TO ORDER Chair Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:04 a.m. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of the minutes of the January 24, 2019 meeting. A MOTION was made by Vice Mayor Cook, seconded by Councilmember Ray, to approve the minutes of the January 24, 2019 meeting. Motion carried 3-0. 2. Review of previous discussions. 2.204 – Site Development Regulations: Interim Planning Manager Lorbeer said she would like to review Table 2.204 Site Development Regulations – Multi-Family Residential Districts to make sure it will still work if someone splits parcels. 3. Review and Discussion of Land Development Code Division 2 Article 2.2. 2.204.C Common Open Space Amenities: Interim Principal Planner Temes suggested adding language to exempt things like 55+ communities. She asked if requiring some form of shading was needed. Chair Peterson said she does not like adding restrictions but this is something the Town is adding to all parks. Interim Principal Planner Temes said most developers come back and add shade later anyway. It is recommended during the review process. Councilmember Ray asked if staff could tell people it is more cost effective to add at the beginning without forcing it. Interim Principal Planner Temes said this was not the norm when the Land Development Code was written. Vice Mayor Cook asked if a developer could pick a tree that creates shade. Interim Principal Planner Temes said any tree within reason but trees cannot be near play structures for liability reasons. 2.204.D Street Frontage Landscape: This will move to the section regarding landscaping. 2.205.A Additional Use Regulations: Interim Principal Planner Temes said some of this is section is contradictory. 2.205.A.1.b Location: Interim Principal Planner Temes said parking canopies, garages play equipment, trash compactors and storage buildings should be located within the building envelope. There have been conflicts in some cases in the past. Since this section is regarding multi-family residential districts these structures deal with the functions of shared living space. Vice Mayor Cook asked what most builders are doing now. Interim Principal Planner Temes said most are staying within envelope but some are pushing the limits. There was discussion about what could happen if this section is removed. Interim Principal Planner Temes said it would allow encroachment next to commercial buildings. 2.205.A.1.c. Location: This is set backs next to single family residential zoning districts and it will be removed. 2.205.A.2 Maximum Height: Interim Principal Planner Temes said there have been time where people have asked for higher canopy. This will be removed and the height limit for the district will be followed. 2.205.B Multi-Family Design Guidelines: Interim Principal Planner Temes said the Design Standards and Guidelines have never been created. 2.205.C Gate Facility Entrances: Interim Principal Planner Temes said “security control point” will be replaced with “public street” and the rest of the section after the first sentence will be removed. 2.205.D Recreational Vehicle Storage: Interim Principal Planner Temes suggested removing this section because it is not the same as recreational vehicle storage in a single family neighborhood. Vice Mayor Cook suggested leaving this section and letting each apartment community control it. Interim Principal Planner Temes said she believes this is covered under the parking section but it is written more towards single family neighborhoods. Interim Planning Manager Lorbeer said the references need to be cross referenced. Chair Peterson said she cannot imagine complexes would want recreational vehicle storage at their complex. Interim Principal Planner Temes said she will check with Code Compliance to see if there have been any complaints. 2.205.E Access to Nonresidential Property: Interim Principal Planner Temes said she is still researching this section and she will move it to another section where it is a better fit. Most commonly requested topics to add: Design Standards and Guidelines: Staff has been referring developers to the commercial guidelines. Vice Mayor Cook asked how long it would take to write the guidelines. Development Services Director Mieras said it could be two months or it could be a year depending on the process. Interim Principal Planner Temes will start writing a draft. Roof Access: Exterior ladders are not allowed. If there are common open corridors access to the roof can be through there. Interim Planning Manager Lorbeer said the code that bans exposed mechanical equipment is used to ban the ladders. Vice Mayor Cook said he is more open to allowing the ladders if there is no way to get to the roof from a common corridor. Interim Principal Planner Temes said the commercial and industrial guidelines do not allow exterior ladders. Exposed Down Spouts: These would not be allowed. Vice Mayor Cook asked if there provided drainage to flat roofs. Interim Principal Planner Temes said this is regarding downspouts and tacked to the building. The gutter is built-on and this is providing for overflow. Stairwell Screening: This would be defined. 4. Review and Discussion of Land Development Code Division 2 Article 2.3. 2.302 Commercial Districts: There is confusion around the statement “per user and stand-alone building”. One thought is saying the Target is a user and not a stand-alone building. Interim Principal Planner Temes asked if this means the store’s footprint. How would this apply to two story buildings or in-line shops with an anchor store. Vice Mayor Cook said he sees two story buildings having a different user on each floor. Interim Principal Planner Temes said she would like to clarify this section with a diagram. Table 2.304 Site Development Regulations – Commercial Districts: Interim Principal Planner Temes said she would like to leave the building height and remove the reference to the number of stories. Vice Mayor Cook said he would like to allow people to build building as high as they want. Chair Peterson said there is a vertical district that would allow that. There was discussion about how the height is what matters, not the number of stories. Chair Peterson said there is a process in place if a builder wants to build a taller building. Interim Planning Manager Lorbeer said she will do a cross check and look for any mention of number of stories. Interim Principal Planner Temes said about partially exposed basements and how those are defined. If a large portion if above ground then it would be considered a floor. 2.304.A Building Step-back: This section is confusing. Interim Principal Planner Temes asked if “residential use” should be changed to “single family.” She would like to clarify Right of Way is not included in the measurement. The measurement would start at the back of the residential lot line. There was discussion about parking lots. Councilmember Ray said often the design makes no sense and it is difficult to exit the parking lot. The Town does regulate the number of parking spots and the size of the spots. The developer can lay out the spaces however they want. The next meeting will be on February 27, 2019 at 7:00 a.m. ADJOURN Chair Peterson adjourned the meeting at 7:58 a.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Chair Brigette Peterson Lisa Maxwell, MMC, Town Clerk