District 4 Advisory Board

District IV Advisory Board Minutes March 6, 2017 www.wichita.gov The District IV Advisory Board meeting was held at 6:30 p.m. at the Alford Library at 3447 S. Meridian, Wichita, KS 67217. There were five (6) District Advisory Board members and Council Member Blubaugh. There were four (8) City Staff, and thirty (30) members of the public present. Members Present Guests Michael Gomm Carter Girrens Nick Hoheisel Carl Witle David Kapaun Jr. Lewis Erickson Don McManamey Fred Berry Jason Platter Susan Urban Rebecca Robertson Russ Ewy Jeff Blubaugh – City Councilman Robert & Neva Wilson Members Absent Oscar & Gina Canales Benny Boman Terry & Charlene Corr Kit Corby Lisa Hayden Matt Lashley Corine Porter Alex Martinez Dave Neal Vacancy Craig Batson Edward Bosley Sr. Staff Present David Navarro Rebecca Fields – Community Services Rep - DIV Tyler Ummel Fire – Cpt. Chris Bowen Sonny Bosley WPD – CP Ronald McHenry – Patrol West Anthony Cortest WPD – CP Officer Robert Kempf – Patrol South Bert & Mary McClard PW Engineering – Mike Armour David & Tory Mitchell PW Engineering – Gary Janzen Jim & Freda Chapman MAPD Planner – David Clements Bailee Fosse Library – Robyn Belt Ann Egerhof J.A. Bliss ORDER OF BUSINESS At 6:32 p.m. Councilman Blubaugh asked everyone to take their seats and called the meeting to order, and then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda for March 6th was then approved (motion made by Michael Gomm, 2nd by Nick Hoheisel), and the minutes for the 2017 January meeting (there was no February meeting) were approved (motion made by Don McManamey and 2nd by Michael Gomm) Page 1 of 4  District IV Advisory Board Minutes March 6, 2017 www.wichita.gov STAFF REPORTS CP Officer Rob Kempf deferred to CP Officer Ronald McHenry of Patrol West. Officer McHenry reported that auto thefts and larcenies had significantly dropped in numbers during February. WPD Patrol West was going to be monitoring Orient Avenue between Seneca & Meridian for street racers who had been reported in the area. He then spoke about the upcoming April 8th Support Local Law Enforcement Community Parade, beginning at 10:30 am, Central & Main St. that will be followed by a Community Block Party until 2 pm (same location). The block party will entail activities for children, law enforcement displays, and food trucks. For more information, their website is www.supportlewichita.org Member Nick Hoheisel then commented to CP Kempf about the no parking signs that were installed in the 3100 block of South Millwood as a safety measure for the children at Kelly Elementary School. He thanked Officer Kempf for working with the school principal in getting that done. Member Rebecca Robertson then asked Officer McHenry if he knew about the incident of fishing line being strung across bike paths in Wichita. Rebecca then relayed how there had been an incident at Sedgwick County Park where fishing line had been tightly put across a bike path at throat height, and another one had just been found in the development she lives in, Cambridge Estates southwest of Maple/Maize. Officer McHenry said that he would ask around and see if this was known by other CP Officers at Patrol West. CM Blubaugh then asked for the first item on the agenda for New Business, and Mike Armour with Public Works Engineering gave a presentation on the proposed changes that will take place on West Street between Kellogg and Harry. (Mr. Armour had conducted a public open house at the Alford Branch Library before the DAB meeting and many stayed for his PowerPoint presentation) Mr. Armour stated that the area around this portion of West Street has been projected for creating the most concentrated area of new jobs, and that is why it is important to improve West Street with a dedicated middle turn lane and installing dedicated left turn lanes at West Street and Walker in order to accommodate the already busy street to handle even more traffic in the near future. DAB Member Michael Gomm asked how the Prairie Sunset Trail (bike path) would enter into this, and Mr. Armour stated that they are aware of the Master Bicycle Plan and they have not settled on an exact location for this bike crossing, but it could be at Walker or it could be closer to Kellogg, and that this was still in the planning. DAB Member Don McManamey asked if they were considering any dedicated right turn lanes, but it had been decided not to incorporate right hand turn lanes. However, all approaches to any cross streets will have much more room than is current which will help large trucks to make these turns. A citizen then asked if the signal light at Walker would have a dedicated left turn arrow, and Mr. Armour replied yes, but it was undecided at this time if the arrow would turn red while ongoing traffic had a green light, or if the turn signal would remain green during the duration of the ongoing traffic green light. Page 2 of 4  District IV Advisory Board Minutes March 6, 2017 www.wichita.gov Member Nick Hoheisel then made a motion to approve the West Street plan, and Member David Kapaun gave a 2nd. The motion passed unanimously. The 2nd item on the agenda under New Business was CUP2017-00001, a Community Unit Plan that was wanting to amend from a maximum 8,000 sq. ft. building to a 16,000 sq. ft. building maximum. (It was later discovered that instead of the word “building”, Mr. Clements should have used the word “business”) MAPD Planner, David Clements, presented the overall history of this parcel, stating that the zoning for building was approved 21 years ago as part of a development improvement plan. He further stated that Item #7 of the CUP states that sq. footage of a building cannot exceed 8,000 sq. ft. and that the applicant, Kanza Bank, has asked that this be amended as previously stated. The agent for the applicant is Russ Ewy with Baughman Company was on hand to answer questions from citizens and guests attending the meeting. Mr. Ewy shared that this site is a 55,000 sq. ft. development and there would be a limit of 3 total buildings (businesses) for their proposed project. Councilman Blubaugh asked about the attempt to do the same on the north side of Maple Street almost directly across from the site that was currently being discussed. Mr. Ewy replied that yes, and it was specifically for a Goodwill Store (2nd hand store), and that the case had been withdrawn. The ensuing conversation consisted of many local residents from the Auburn Hills (south side of Maple St.) and The Glen (north side of Maple St.) asking questions of Mr. Ewy. Mary McClard of 514 S. Nineiron stated that she was concerned about increase in traffic, and that Maple at that point was only a 2-lane street. DAB Member David Kapaun asked if 54,000 sq. ft. could be under one roof, how big was the parcel. Mr. Clements responded that the land is 3.6 acres, about 156,000 sq. ft. DAB Member Rebecca Robertson asked Mr. Ewy if there is a “limit” on the building materials, and Mr. Ewy replied “no” as long as the materials are uniform with the building to the east. Kathy Ast (not signed in) of 318 S Nineiron stated that she is against the approval due to any late hours that might be incurred by the new owners. Mary McClard, 514 S Nineiron, stated her concerns about an increase in traffic as Maple Street is only a 2-lane road in front of this property. She further asked if the case that Mr. Ewy presented on the north side of Maple had restrictions, and if it was possible to add restrictions to this current project. Mr. Ewy replied that the City Council can approve this CUP with restrictions if they want, and that pushback would be argumentative. Frieda Chapman, President of Ironwood HOA, asked Mr. Ewy if the property was owned by Kanza Bank, and Mr. Ewy replied “yes”. Frieda then asked who is purchasing/moving on this property, and Mr. Ewy replied that there are 3 businesses, all between 10,000 – 16,000 square feet. (But Mr. Ewy refused to give anyone the names of these businesses) Page 3 of 4  District IV Advisory Board Minutes March 6, 2017 www.wichita.gov Mr. Jerrod Bliss, member of The Glen HOA is concerned that no one is being told what the uses (businesses) will be. He stated that doubling the square footage would be doubling the trash, traffic, noise, etc. Gina Canales asked Mr. Ewy if the building has to match the one to the east, and Mr. Ewy replied yes. Gina asked about screening, and Mr. Ewy stated that a 6 ft. wall had to be built for screening purposes. Gina then asked the DAB not to approve this CUP. Neva Wilson (who lives in The Glen north of Maple St.) asked the board to consider what type of businesses might be in moving in across the street since she can see the property from her windows at home. DAB Member David Kapaun pointed out that this project could also allow for 6 – 10 smaller businesses, and that those could also be a variety of unknown businesses. DAB Member Don McManamey commented that if he lived in this area that he would want more restrictions unless the neighborhood approves it the way it is. Member Jason Platter agreed with Don, and also realizes that other businesses that could be worse (than Goodwill) might move in to this development. DAB Member Michael Gomm asked if anyone had researched the property values of the homes that back up to strip mall at 13303 W Maple (just east of the Dillon’s parking lot) before and after the strip mall had been built. No one replied, but Rebecca Robertson stated that the wall behind that strip mall was 8 ft. high, not 6 ft. high. Mr. Ewy then stated that he was willing to put up an 8 ft. high wall, and further commented that there were already landscaping and lighting restrictions to help with buffering the noise and lighting. At that point Member Michael Gomm made a motion to approve CUP2017-00001, AND David Kapaun gave a 2nd motion. The DAB voted and it was tied at 3 for and 3 against, so motion failed. Member McManamey suggested to the audience that the homeowners get with Mr. Ewy and work this out. The Fire Department had not been present during the initial staff reports, and WFD Cpt. Chris Bowen stood up and addressed the question from guest Steve Cranmer as to what happens to a house after it has been gutted by a fire, and Cpt. Bowen replied that there is a public number to call 1-800-boardup for structures that need to be secured after a fire. Councilman Jeff Blubaugh let everyone know that he was scheduled to be in Washington D.C. the following week to speak with legislatures and policy makers. DAB Member Don McManamey then motioned for the DAB meeting to adjourn, and all other DAB members made a 2nd motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm. Page 4 of 4