Redevelopment Commission

TOWN OF GILBERT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes of January 16, 2019, 6:30 P.M. Municipal Center Building I, Council Chambers 50 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, Arizona 85296 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Tyler Hudgins, Chair Ryan Hamilton, Vice Chair Boe Bigelow, Commissioner COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Peter Sciacca, Commissioner Tyler Jones, Commissioner COUNCIL LIAISON: Scott Anderson (Absent) STAFF PRESENT: Daniel C. Henderson, CEcD Economic Development Director John Baird, Assistant Town Attorney Sydney Bethel, Planner II CALL TO ORDER: Chair Hudgins called the meeting of the Redevelopment Commission to order at 6:31 P.M. ROLL CALL Dan Henderson called the roll and declared that a quorum was present. COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS Chair Hudgins opened the floor to the public for any comments or communications on items not on the agenda. The Commission’s response is limited to responding to criticism, asking staff to review a matter commented upon, or asking that a matter be put on a future agenda. There were no communications from Citizens. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 1. Minutes – Consider Approval of the regular meeting Minutes of November 21, 2018. MOTION: Vice Chair Hamilton moved to approve the meeting minutes of November 21, 2018, seconded by Commissioner Bigelow. The motion passed 3-0. PUBLIC HEARING Items will be heard at one Public Hearing, at which time anyone wishing to comment on a Public Hearing Item may do so. Once the hearing is closed, there will be no further public comment unless requested by a member of the Commission. After the Public Hearing, the Commission may act on all items not requiring additional staff, public, or Commission comment with a single vote. Chair Hudgins opened the Public Hearing and first invited staff to make a presentation.  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission January 16, 2019 Page 2 of 4 2. S18-18 Aspire Heritage District: Preliminary Plat for Aspire Heritage District, for 32 residential home lots (Lots 1-32) on approximately 2.47 acres of real property generally located at the northeast corner of Vaughn Avenue and Palm Street in the Multi- Family/Low (MF/L) zoning district. Sydney Bethel, Planner II, reviewed S18-18 Aspire Heritage District. On November 21, 2018, the Redevelopment Commission reviewed the Preliminary Plat along with the Design Review for this project in a Study Session. Tonight, the Commission will review and consider a recommendation of approval of the Preliminary Plat with modifications or conditions or denial to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will grant final approval or denial on February 6, 2019. The subject site is located at the corner of Vaughn Ave and Palm Street within the Heritage District overlay zoned Multi-Family/Low, which allows 8-14 dwelling units per acre. Ms. Bethel reviewed several items that have changed on the Preliminary Plat since the last meeting. A minor modification has changed the minimum lot size to 21’ by 53.5’, with the maximum being 27’ by 56.5’. There were minor modifications in the lot area. The density has changed, although there has been no change to the number of units, but a correction of a clerical error. The Site Plan will be approved with the Design Review at a later date. It is being referenced with regard to the Study Session discussion on the refuse containers. The recycling and trash will be placed in individual containers on the street for pickup, and the containers will be stored in the individual garages. The refuse plan does meet code and has been approved by Environmental Services. Staff is still concerned about the refuse containers being stored in the garages due to the tight space and the parking impacts. Staff is recommending an additional refuse plan, exterior screened storage area, or commercial compactor. The Open Space Plan is now in compliance with the approved Heritage District plant palette, with only two plants in deviation. The Date Palms have been removed from the front and are concentrated only around the pool area, and Rosemary is included as a ground cover along the unit entrances and the courtyards. The site wall to the south has been changed from 6 to 8 feet. The rest of the perimeter fences are all 6-foot walls. The screen walls and courtyard walls range from 3 to 4 feet. The site wall at the northern end up against the canal has been modified with steel slat view fencing at the top. The fence at the front of the development has been changed to metal slat view fencing. There were concerns at the Study Session that the primary vehicular gate may close the area off and create a dead end visually. The gate was opened up with metal slats as well. Staff is looking for a recommendation of approval of the Preliminary Plat, which will be brought forth to the Planning Commission on February 6, 2019. Questions/Comments from the Commission: Chair Hudgins was surprised that the trash issue had not been resolved. He asked if there had been any interest from the applicant in other alternatives to resolve the issue. Ms. Bethel stated staff has some recommendations for alternatives. Right now, the refuse plan is per code and it was modified so that the roll-out containers would not be in the fire lane. Staff would like to see an additional plan brought forth if possible and will request that in the third review.  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission January 16, 2019 Page 3 of 4 Chair Hudgins anticipated a big problem with the refuse containers and recommended that the applicant look at some options moving forward. Commissioner Bigelow appreciated the follow-up on the Commission’s comments regarding the visibility factor with the front fence as well as adhering to the approved plant palette. He agreed with the palm trees by the pool. He seconded Chair Hudgins’ comments regarding the trash containers, although he understood the predicament with the lack of space in the side yards of the units. He has seen similar projects with a lot of curb appeal, but when it comes down to the fine details, it is hard to figure out with dump trucks coming in and out and the parking. Vice Chair Hamilton asked for clarification on how the items were separated out tonight. He understood that the Preliminary Plat was up for Commission review and recommendation and the discussion on the refuse and plants would be ongoing with the Design Review. Ms. Bethel confirmed that tonight the Commission will consider recommending approval of the Preliminary Plat. The refuse plan is part of the Site Plan that would be approved by the Redevelopment Commission at a future date. The Open Space Plan was part of the original Preliminary Plat approval. However, if it is under 20 acres, it can be approved administratively by staff after approval of the Preliminary Plat. It was reviewed tonight as to the modifications and to obtain additional comments from the Redevelopment Commission. Chair Hudgins opened the floor to members of the public who wished to speak on this item. There were no comments from members of the audience. Chair Hudgins closed the Public Hearing. MOTION: Commissioner Bigelow moved to recommend to the Planning Commission approval of the Findings of Fact and S18-18 Aspire Heritage District: Preliminary Plat for Aspire Heritage District, for thirty-two (32) residential home lots (Lots 1-32) on approximately 2.47 acres of real property generally located at the northeast corner of Vaughn Avenue and Palm Street in the Multi-Family/Low (MF/L) zoning district, subject to conditions as listed in the Staff Communication dated January 16, 2019. Vice Chair Hamilton seconded, and the Motion passed 3-0. COMMUNICATIONS 3. Report from the CHAIR on current or future events. None. 4. Report from COUNCIL LIAISON on current or future events. The Council Liaison was not in attendance. 5. Report from COMMISSIONERS on current or future events. There were no reports. 6. Report from STAFF LIAISON on current or future events. Dan Henderson reported that the work continues on the Heritage District Design Guidelines. There are discussions with the various stakeholder groups to provide internal and external feedback. That component of the Redevelopment Plan should be wrapped up by the end of the fiscal year. There are a number of construction projects underway. Improvements to Hale Theater are moving forward. That will continue to be a wonderful amenity for the Heritage District and the community. Sites A and B are both under construction. Site A is south of Vaughn and north of Hale Theater and Site B is north of Joyride and south of Oregano’s. Those sites will bring additional retail, office, and mixed-use development to the downtown. Road projects  Gilbert Redevelopment Commission January 16, 2019 Page 4 of 4 RD-120 and RD-211 are both in the final stages with additional modifications in RD-211 taking place through April. The Yard has a tentative opening date of March 24, 2019. The town is currently in negotiations for the 9.1-acre site that went out to RFQ and RFP. Staff will bring additional updates in future meetings. Staff is drafting an RFQ and RFP for what is commonly known as the Christmas Tree lot at the northwest corner of Gilbert and Elliot Roads. ADJOURN With no further business before the Commission, Chair Hudgins adjourned the meeting at 6:46 P.M. ___________________________________ Tyler Hudgins, Chair