District 4 Advisory Board

District 4 Advisory Board Minutes Monday, November 01, 2021 • 6:30 p.m. In-person and virtual Meeting • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Order of Business The District 4 Advisory Board meeting was held at the Alford Branch Library, 3447 S Meridian, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was also available by via Zoom. Nine (9) DAB members, six (6) City staff, and two (2) guests in attendance. DAB Members Present Staff Present Grant Delmar Rebecca Fields – Community Rep Dalton Glasscock Philip Zevenbergen - MAPD Michael Gomm CP Officer Atlee Vogt - WPD June Johnson Deputy Chief John Eck - WFD Alex Martinez CP Richard West - WPD Johnathon McRoy James Wagner - PW Laura Rainwater Rebecca Robertson Ngoc Vuong Guests Present Levi Bond - Agent DAB Members Absent M Philips Wally Bell Matt Lashley Council Member Jeff Blubaugh DAB Member Michael Gomm, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Mr. Gomm proceeded with the agenda and asked approval for the November 1, 2021 agenda. DAB Member Alex Martinez made a motion to approve and DAB Member Rebecca Robertson gave a 2nd. Motion was approved 9/0. The next item was approval for the September 13, 2021 DAB 4 meeting minutes. DAB Member Alex Martinez motioned to approve and DAB Member Rebecca Robertson gave a 2nd. Motion was approved 9/0. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Page 1 of 7 Staff Reports Chairman Gomm asked for the Police staff reports. Officer Atlee Vogt, Patrol South Beat 299, took the floor. Officer Vogt stated that the South Lakes football league at South Lakes Park finished up last week and was a huge success. Over 800 students attended. Officer Vogt came up with a traffic plan to help with the overflow parking. Next year they anticipate an even larger turnout because several team did not meet the application deadline. Officer Vogt relayed that he was moving to a new beat (325) and that Officer David Stull would take over beat 299. Officer Richard West, Patrol West Beat 18, then gave a report. Officer Kimrey had told the CP Officers at Patrol West that there was a problem with TikTok challenges, the last one being the destruction of bathrooms. The bathrooms at Pawnee Prairie Park were vandalized with significant damage. The newest TikTok challenge is to kick a door. 2nd Chance Thursday will be held December 9, and again at Wichita State University next to Koch Arena. The last event at WSU was very successful. WPD partnered with the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and they were able to reinstate many suspended driver’s licenses. The WPD Christmas Crusade is accepting names of families to aide through November 10. DAB Member Rebecca Robertson asked about WPD drug enforcement. Officer West stated that the Community Response Team (CRT) is who mainly handles the drug complaints and that this has resulted in several arrests. The CP Officers who take complaints pass them on to CRT. Ms. Robinson stated that they have an apartment complex on N Emporia near the QuikTrip (at Murdock & Broadway) and see drug activity. Officer West suggested that she talk with the CP Officer for that area. Councilman Blubaugh told Officer West that he had been hearing about cars being vandalized and broken into at Pawnee Prairie Park. Officer West confirmed that there were issues like this going on at Pawnee Prairie Park and that he had been patrolling that area just early in the day. Officer West noted that the zip line has attracted more people and there was lots of after-school activity. Chairman Gomm then moved on to the report from the Fire Department. Due to audio difficulties, Chief Eck, DAB Members, and others who had joined the meeting via Zoom were unable to speak. Library staff checked their speaker system but were unable to find the in-coming audio problem. The library manager was not able to attend the meeting, so DAB Member Rebecca Robertson read the following library report.  The Children’s STEAM Learning Garden at the Advanced Learning Library is now open. This space features interactive play stations that promote learning skills related to science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The creation of Page 2 of 7  this space celebrates the importance of play in early child development. This garden represents the first opportunity for parents to combine an outdoor play- destination with early literacy tools at the Library. The project was funded through generous donations from Spirit Aerosystems and Georgia and Keith Stevens through the Wichita Public Library Foundation.  The Library has received ARPA funding from the FCC to create 250 internet bundles into circulation for customers to borrow. These internet bundles will include a hotspot, unlimited data and a Chromebook 3100. Staff is working on the policies and procedures for these bundles, as well as a robust marketing and communications plan to spread the world. We are hoping to begin circulating internet bundles this month.  November is Kansas Reads to Preschoolers month, a program that creates young readers through early learning activities and sharing a common book, promoting reading to Kansas children from birth to age five. This year’s book is Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard. The State Library of Kansas selected Wichita Public Library to record virtual story times in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. These videos, along with other online activities, can be found at wichitalibrary.org/prek. Reading is an important component of early childhood development. Children gain empathy and a deep understanding about their world, and also learn about people, places and events. It also helps caregivers and educators create trusting bonds with children.  Teens ages 12-18 can join us here at Alford next Friday, November 5, to make Pet Toy Crafts. We'll make toys for cats and dogs that you can give to your own pet, or we will donate to an animal shelter. Drop in from 4-6 p.m.  As a reminder: Wichita Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, November 11, Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26. All locations will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 24. This concluded the library report, so Chairman Gomm moved on to the next staff report from Public Works. James Wagner, Civil Engineer with the City of Wichita Public Works Department, presented an update on the West Street improvements in the form of a PowerPoint presentation as follows: FINAL West Harry to Pawnee DAB New Temp.pptx There was some slight discussion about the old railroad bridge that crosses the Big Ditch just south of Kellogg. KDOT has approved going forward with using this plan, but according to Mr. Wagner there is a portion of the bridge that will have to be replaced. The Page 3 of 7 contracted design firm is working on what this will cost and other concerns with this connection. There were no further questions or discussion. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Public Agenda Scheduled Items NONE Off-Agenda Items There were no comments from the public. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • New Business Chairman Gomm moved on to the next items on the agenda. Philip Zevenbergen, Associate Planner with the Metropolitan Area Planning Department, presented the following case. CON2021-00051/ZON2021-00045: This application is to establish the 47th and Meridian Community Unit Plan CUP DP-360 on property located at the northeast corner of South Meridian Avenue and West 47 th Street South (4756 South Meridian Avenue). The entire parcel is 7.25 acres and is primarily zoned LC Limited Commercial. The eastern 0.8 acres is zoned SF-5. The applicant is requesting a zone change to unify the zoning to LC. The subject property is unplatted. Platting the property will be required in order to obtain building permits. The application states the intended development is to be mixed-use with commercial parcels and residential development with duplex or higher density. The CUP will contains three parcels: one large parcel occupying the north portion and two smaller parcels fronting West 47th Street South. The drawing shows two full-movement access drives: one, 60-foot full access drive onto West 47th Street South and one, 60-foot, full access drive onto South Meridian Avenue. In addition, the drawing shows two right- in/right-out access drives—one for Wes 47th and South Meridian Avenue respectively. All parcels without access to the public street will be accessible through internal cross lot access. The CUP states a 60-foot building setback along arterial frontages. This is 25 feet greater than the minimum 35-foot building setback required for CUPs in Section III- C.2.b.(2) of the Unified Zoning Code. The applicant states that this is to ensure uniform development, and it provides the minimum space for a single drive aisle and two rows of parking between the right-of-way and the building(s). The text of the CUP states that all uses permitted by right in the LC Limited Commercial zoning district will be permitted on each parcel with several exceptions (see CUP text Page 4 of 7 attached). The CUP permits a Nightclub in the City use if it is associated with an event center, restaurant, or church. In essence, this will permit an establishment to serve alcohol and provide entertainment (such as live music, etc.) as accessory to their main function. Staff recommends adding that Tavern/Drinking Establishment as a use be prohibited within 300 feet of the east boundary due to the abutting public park and the nearby public elementary school. The property of Cessna Elementary is within 750 feet east of the subject site. The CUP text also states that “outdoor storage and display as permitted in the GC General Commercial zoning district shall be allowed as an accessory use to an approved use in the CUP. Outdoor storage as a primary use shall be prohibited.” The intent of this is to not be restricted by the maximum square footage requirements that LC Limited Commercial zoning places on accessory outdoor storage. LC zoning restricts the area of accessory outdoor storage to 10 percent of the floor area of the principal use within a building. Accessory outdoor storage area between 10-20 percent would require a Conditional Use. Staff is recommending that the area of outdoor storage be permitted up to 20 percent of the building floor area of the principal use and outdoor display as permitted in GC General Commercial. Limited Commercial zoning would restrict display to be within 10 feet of the building. The applicant is proposing the following that staff believes are reasonable departures from the standards in the zoning code:  General Provision 6.D: light poles within 100 feet of residential uses are limited to 15 feet in height. Section IV-B.4 of the UZC limits the height of light poles to 15 feet if they are within 200 feet of residential zoning districts. Staff has determined that the request for light poles 15 feet in height within 100 feet of residential uses is acceptable in this situation given the abutting residential zoning to the east is an established public park. The provision as written should provide appropriate mitigation for nearby residential uses to the north as the code intends.  General Provision 7.C: no additional screening shall be required along the north property line of development unless the existing masonry wall is removed or significantly modified/reduced in height. The north property line is still required to adhere to the requirements of the Wichita Landscape Ordinance for a landscape buffer.  General Provision 7.D: the applicant is proposing that the screening requirement for a six-foot masonry wall be reduced to a six-foot wood fence along the east property line where the development abuts a public park. Staff is recommending approval of the six-foot screening fence with the addition that the required landscape buffer be 1.5 times what is required by the Wichita Landscape Ordinance and one-third of the trees be evergreen. The applicant’s proposed CUP has the standard architectural, landscaping, cross-lot circulation, and parking language. All buildings within the CUP are to share uniform architectural character, color and similar predominate exterior building materials. Landscaping is to be per the Wichita Landscape Ordinance. Rooftop mechanical equipment, trash receptacles, and loading areas shall be reasonably screened from ground level view. Outdoor storage and work areas, mechanical equipment, heating and air conditioning units and dumpsters located within 150 feet of a street require screening. Page 5 of 7 Cross-lot circulation agreements between parcels will be provided. Parking is to be per code unless specified otherwise within the CUP. Property to the north is zoned SF-5 Single-Family Residential and is developed with a single-family dwelling with accessory structures in addition to agricultural land. Property to the east is zoned SF-5 and is Sunview Park. Property to the west is zoned LC Limited Commercial and is undeveloped. Property to the south is zoned LC and is agricultural land. DAB Member Rebecca Robertson asked what concerns the neighbors to the north had, and Mr. Zevenbergen explained that because there was an existing wall along the south edge of the abutting property, that a wall not be built along the north edge of the new development to avoid an area that would cause blind spots between the two (2) properties and probably cause trash and weeds to accumulate. After discussion at the MAPC meeting, it was decided that only some landscaping would be required along the north edge of the new development. There were no further questions for Mr. Zevenbergen. DAB Member Alex Martinez gave a motion to approve, and a second to that motion came from DAB Member June Johnson. Motion passed 9/0. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Board Agenda Chairman Gomm remarked that he would have introduced Ngoc Vuong, DAB 4’s new board member at this time, but due to receiving no incoming audio from those who joined the meeting via Zoom, we will try again at the next meeting. Councilman Blubaugh stated that it is exciting to see all the new infrastructure improvements in the District and new residential developments out west. CM Blubaugh pointed out that we receive the same amount of funding for street improvements (paving, etc.), but District 4 has a larger geographical area than the other districts, so District 4 should receive more funding accordingly. Paving dirt roads becomes a double-edged sword because those with paved roads have paid specials (via property tax) for their pavement. Still, he is hoping that there can be a creative way in which to fund or help fund paving the many dirt streets that are in District 4. DAB Member June Johnson commented that her neighborhood has blacktop roads with ditches (no curbs) and does not understand why the dirt roads that still exist cannot just be the same. Councilman Blubaugh pointed out that election day is tomorrow and urged everyone to vote. Those in District 4 will be voting on school board members only. DAB members June Johnson and Laura Rainwater are both working at polling stations and will have to arrive at their assignments before 6 am in the morning. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Page 6 of 7 Adjournment Chairman Gomm asked for a motion to adjourn. DAB Member June Johnson made a motion to adjourn and DAB Member Rebecca Robertson gave the 2nd motion. Motion was approved 9/0. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The next DAB 4 meeting will be held in person at the Alford Branch Library as well as via Zoom, December 6, 2021 at 6:30 pm. Page 7 of 7