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Planning Commission Minutes 12-18-1979 tJ-. ." . . ,_\iA MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, December 18, 1979 - 7:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dick Martie, Ed Schaffer, Fred Topel, Loren Klein (ex-officio) MEMBERS ABSENT: Jim Ridgeway, Dave Bauer. 1. Consideration of Approval of Minutes. Motion was made by Ed Schaffer, seconded by Dick Martie, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the November 20, 1979 meeting. 2. Public Hearing on the Consideration of a Rezoning Request from R-I to R-2 by Bradley Larson. Mr. Brad Larson has requested that the property presently owned by the First Baptist Church on West County Road 75 be rezoned from R-l to R-2. This site is approximately 2.75 acres. According to Mr. Larson, the intent would be to allow for the construc- tion of five 4-unit condominiums. Additionally, the present church building would be converted to a duplex. Initially, the First Baptist Church, at the time of the construction of the Church, had indicated that this would eventually be used as a parsonage if the First Baptist Church had expanded in this area. Mr. Larson explained that the First Baptist Church has now entered into a purchase agreement to buy another piece of property currently owned by the Assembly of God Church in Monticello. Mr. Larson further explained that the condominiums would be owner-occupied, and would be alternative housing for people who want to eliminate the care and maintenance of yards. According to Mr. Larson, there would be only one curb-cut from County Road 75. At this point, the meeting was opened for the public hearing portion and Mr. Steve Johnson, a property owner within approximately 350' on Sandy Lane, made the following comments: A. Mr. Steve Johnson had initiated a petition (copy of which is attached to these minutes). This petition indicated opposition to the rezoning from R-l to R-3. Upon a question from the Planning Commission explaining that Mr. Larson had now changed his rezoning request to R-2, Mr. Steve Johnson explained that in his opinion, he felt that the petition would still be in opposition to the request. B. Felt area was incompatible with the surrounding uses and with the over- all comprehensive plan. C. Felt problems would be incurred with congestion and that the number of units proposed by Mr. Larson could result in additional density of 100 to 120 people in the area. Mr. Johnson felt it was too dense a population for an R-l zone. I MINUTES - PLANNING COMM. 12/18/79 . D. Traffic and congestion problems would be created on County Road 75 and Sandy Lane. Mr. Johnson explained there is already a problem with congestion and traffic on Sandy Lane. E. Mr. Johnson explained that he felt that the City did need condomin- iums, but felt that other areas within the City that were zoned properly, that is R-2 or R-3, should be proper sites for such a complex. Mr. Larson, in response to the concerns expressed by Mr. Johnson, indicated that he had reviewed other available R-2& R...3 properties, and in fact, at one point, a particular lending agency had indicated that one of the R-3 sites he was looking at lended itself more to commercial usage as opposed to condominiums. According to Mr. Larson, this site was in the Lauring Hillside Addition. Mr. Larson also indicated that he felt the present site is ideal, since it was buffered by the railroad tracks to the south, commercial property to the west, a school to the east, and County Road 75 to the north, along with pine trees which served as a barrier between the project and the single family residential areas along sandy Lane. . Mr. Denton EriCkson, another property owner on Sandy Lane, indicated he was concerned about the one entrance onto County Road 75 and the congestion this would cause. Mr. Erickson did indicate he realized the site was an isolated parcel, but he was very concerned about the traffic and the congestion, especially in light of the fact that the school property by itself generates quite a bit of traffic. Mr. Bill'Swan, also a property owner along Sandy Lane, indicated that he was concerned with the devaluation that the rezoning of Mr. Larsons parcel to R-2 may cause. He initially bought his property on Sandy Lane with the idea that the surrounding area would continue to be R-l or single family residential. Consensus of the Planning Commission was that the congestion caused by this project would be minimal in light of the present congestion caused by such developments further west - mainly, Anders-Wilhelm Estates, Hillcrest Addition, Balboul Estates, and Northern States Power Plant. Generally, it was felt that it was an ideal situation to have congestion flow to a major thoroughfare, such as County Road 75, rather than to have it flow onto a residential street. Additionally, it was felt that the area was somewhat isolated and was well buffered as indicated by Mr. Larson. Additionally, it was felt that there could be as much or more concern about the congestion caused by the First Baptist Church if it decided to expand on its present site, as opposed to Mr. Larson's project. Motion was made by Ed Schaffer, seconded by Dick Martie and unanimously carried to recommend to the Council that the parcel in question be rezoned from R-l to R-2. Motion was made by Dick Martie, seconded by Ed Schaffer and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting. -~.- ----........- G GW/ns ATTACH.