Planning Commission Minutes 10-01-2013 (Special Meeting)MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, October 1, 2013 - 5:00 PM
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Present: Bill Spartz, Brad Fyle, Charlotte Gabler, Grant Sala
Absent: Sam Burvee
Others: Angela Schumann, Ron Hackenmueller, Steve Grittman, Lloyd Hilgart
1. Call to Order
Bill Spartz called the special meeting to order at 5 p.m.
2. Purpose
The purpose of the special meeting is to revisit amending the native landscaping ordinance
and consider issues related to Residential Amenities (R -A) lot standards.
3. Workshop
Native Landscaping Ordinance Amendment
At their December 0, 2012 meeting, the Planning Commission had tabled a native
landscaping ordinance amendment pending further information. Commissioners had a
recent opportunity to tour on their own area residential, commercial and industrial
properties that incorporate native plantings in an effort to establish a visual reference from
which to consider native landscaping standards.
The commissioners seemed to agree that native landscaping would be allowable in the
front and side yards of properties in industrial and commercial districts subject to right of
way setbacks and professional installation and maintenance. Such landscaping would also
be allowable in 35% of the rear yard subject to a five foot buffer from neighboring yards in
residential districts. Although there was some concern noted about the potential for
increased blight, the majority of the commission seemed to prefer that native landscaping
be subject to inspection upon complaint in residential areas, rather than include a
requirement that it be professionally installed and maintained.
The commissioners also discussed permitting requirements. Native landscaping would be
subject to review to ensure that it meets planning and zoning standards. The permit
application would include a project narrative and a site plan that specifies the planting
schedule (including area appropriate type, quantity and seed grade) and a maintenance
plan. The permit would expire if planting did not begin within three months of the permit
date. The permit would otherwise be permanent as long as the site remained in compliance.
The City would arrange for mowing if the site were found to be in noncompliance.
Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes: 10/01/13
It was also suggested that it may be usehil to consider approving an interim ordinance
subject to review after one year. Staff agreed to redraft the ordinance based on the
discussion and bring the matter back for consideration as part of an upcoming regular
Planning Commission meeting agenda.
Residential Amenities (R A) Standards
Lloyd Hilgart pointed out that the majority of houses recently built in his Carlisle Village
neighborhood had been ramblers which, due to size, required that the design be modified to
fit on a single lot or that the structure be located on two adjacent lots. He recommended that
the 90 foot minimum base lot width be increased to accommodate the structural and
outdoor space requirements of the larger houses in demand in R -A districts. He suggested
that adding five feet on either side of the structure would address the move -up type housing
objective specified in the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan).
Staff indicated that contractors have voiced similar concerns about lot size. The average
base lot width is 90 feet with the requirement that at least 40% of the lots created through
subdivision exceed 100 feet in width. After some consideration of both base lot width and
base lot area, there seemed to be general agreement to increase the minimum base lot width
to 100 feet and to eliminate reference to a percentage of the average. Staff cautioned that
doing so may set up a slower development pace. This matter will be brought forward for
formal consideration at a future regular Planning Commission meeting.
Although some residential land within the city boundary is preliminarily platted R -A, the
majority of that land is zoned Residential (Single- Family) or R -1. Staff noted that the
previous Comp Plan had guided all land in the annexation area as low density residential
with certain areas directed as higher amenity districts. The current Comp Plan provides less
direction related to density and guides residential land in the annexation area as Places to
Live.
4. Adiournment
BRAD FYLE MOVED TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING AT 5:52 PM. BILL
SPARTZ SECONDED THTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Recorder: Kerry Burn
Approved: Nov (
Director