Planning Commission

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE Spearfish Planning Commission TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 - 3:00 PM The Spearfish Planning Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. in the council chambers of Spearfish City Hall. Members present: Toby Bordewyk, Dan Green, Jim Hopewell, Greg Kruskamp, Bob Meyer, Larry Vavruska and Barbara Zwetzig. Members absent: None. Also present: City Planner Jayna Watson and City Attorney Eric Davis. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bordewyk at 3:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Kruskamp moved to approve the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of February 7, 2017 as presented. The motion was seconded by Zwetzig and passed unanimously. DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Bordewyk asked for any potential conflicts of interest to be identified. Bordewyk disclosed his continued involvement with the Spearfish Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Board of Directors however no conflict of interest exists at this time. 1. A Request to Amend the Light/Restrictive Industrial District Zoning Ordinance Text Regarding setbacks and landscape requirements. Applicant: City of Spearfish. Location: All areas zoned Light/Restrictive Industrial. City Planner Jayna Watson presented a detailed summary of the information conveyed in the staff report dated February 21, 2017. She referred to various site plan scenarios provided to serve as visual examples of two setback options for consideration today. Choice one (1) is based on discussions that occurred at the Planning Commission meeting on February 7, 2017 supporting a minimum front setback of twenty five feet (25’) with a total front/rear setback of forty feet (40’) and a side setback minimum of ten feet (10’) with a total of fifty feet (50’). Watson also presented an another option for consideration using the same front and rear aggregate previously mentioned with a minimum side setback of fifteen feet (15’) which will allow more space for trees between buildings. Staff recommends the landscaping requirements in Chapter 19, Article III be amended to require a minimum number of street trees along each lot street frontage working to maintain the “park-like” setting in the industrial park. [City Attorney Eric Davis and Commissioner Vavruska entered the meeting at this time 3:08 p.m.] Meyer initiated discussion on procedures currently place when lot lines are jagged or irregular and referred to a concept he referred to as “average setback area”. Watson explained the current process of setback averaging fully described in Article V, Supplementary Regulations, Section 2, Item B, of the current zoning ordinance. Green spoke in favor of a minimum front setback of twenty five feet (25’). Having done some calculations on a sampling of parcels in the business park, Green feels side and rear setbacks might be a non-issue when one factors in maximum lot coverage restrictions, required easements and building code regulations. Bordewyk favors a side yard setback of ten feet (10’) for utility purposes. Hopewell stated the biggest impediment to development in the light industrial district at Exit 14 appears to be the cost of the land, not the setbacks. Kruskamp questioned the motivation driving the zoning text amendment regarding setbacks discussions and is frustrated when text amendments appear because one person is told a project will not be allowed to proceed as planned. Watson explained this matter arose during conversations with the former SEDC executive director regarding economic development activities in that area. Kruskamp Page 1 of 2 3/3/2017 2:28 PM  also questioned the proposed zoning ordinance change striking the phrase “Buildings with sidewall height over twenty feet shall have a forty feet front setback”. Bordewyk conducted an informal poll at this time and heard support for a twenty-five foot (25’) minimum front setback. The commission agreed it would be advantageous to spend some time just “doing some calculations” to determine what, if any, changes are necessary. Motion was made by Vavruska seconded by Green to conduct “a workshop” at the next regularly-scheduled Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Larry Klarenbeek, interim director of SEDC will be invited, in addition to property owners in the Spearfish Business & Industry Park at exit 14, Property Maintenance Code Officer Scott Deaver, Building Official Tom Paisley and Fire Chief Mark Sachara. The purpose of the workshop will be to reach a decision regarding the light/restrictive industrial zoning district ordinance text. Bordewyk suggested some local developers be invited. Hearing no further discussion, upon vote taken thereon, the aforementioned motion passed unanimously. Meyer initiated further discussion regarding the term “setback area”, which is referred to and defined in the Spearfish Business & Industry Park Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions to Run with the Land. Watson explained that site plan review frequently involves fairly unsophisticated, sketched drawings; another limitation is that our plan review staff does not have AutoCAD which is the only way to accurately measure/confirm an area. He agrees a zoning text amendment is needed and a straight line minimum side setback distance needs to be determined. DISCUSSION AND INPUT ITEM: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES: At this time, Watson referred to a memorandum dated February 21, 2017 which proposes possible changes to the format and content of the planning commission meeting minutes. She explained that, at the present time, she prepares a staff report for each planning commission agenda item which, among other details, includes a summary of comments made by the commission and the public in previous meetings. The City Council is briefed in a similar fashion in their council packets. She referred to a brief summary of what other cities are doing for minutes and illustrated how staff proposes the minutes appear in the future. Kruskamp supports the proposed changes but requested public access to audio recordings of the meetings which, according to city attorney Davis, the city is under no obligation to provide. Audio recordings are inadmissible in any court proceedings. He also made reference to the fact that local news reporter, Kaija Swisher attends every meeting and proceedings are thoroughly detailed in the newspaper. Vavruska supports changing the content of the minutes to report only the official action taken by form of a motion. Bordewyk agreed the current meeting minutes are too detailed and supports changing to a template similar to the format of the city council minutes possibly including bullet points recording the discussion items; in meetings involving a public hearing perhaps more details would be recorded. Meyer concurred and would like to see Watson’s reports to the city council. Hopewell stated the issue of meeting minute content is a policy decision to be made by city council. Kruskamp inquired as to who the city council representative for the planning commission. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS: None. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the commission, Bordewyk adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m. Page 2 of 2 3/3/2017 2:28 PM