Planning Commission Minutes 11-11-1980
.
.
.
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, November 11, 19S0 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present:
Jim Ridgeway, John Bondhus, Dick Martie, Ed Schaffer,
Loren Klein (ex-officio)
Members Absent:
Bill Burke
1. Approval of Minutes - October 14, 19S0 meeting.
Motion was made by Ed Schaffer, seconded by Dick Martie and unanimously
carried to approve the minutes of the October 14, 19SO meeting as presented.
2.
Public Hearing - Consideration of a Conditional Use for the Rivercrest
Christian School.
At the time of the advertising for the conditional use for Erv Radunz and
Terry Mick's to build two lS-unit apartment buildings in Lauring Hillside
Terrace, it was brought to the City's attention that the Rivercrest
Christian School had moved students into the house to the west of the pre-
sent Assembly of God Church. This information was brought to the City
office's attention by one of the people receiving a conditional use hearing
notice.
What had happened, was that the administration of the Rivercrest Christian
School, knowing they needed more room to expand their educational classrooms,
chose to expand into the house to the west of the Assembly of God Church
facility, which they already owned. They did not, apparently, know that
the School's expansion would require a conditional use, as provided by
Monticello Ordinance, in order that they might expand into that house.
At the Planning Commission's meeting on Tuesday night, there were repre-
sentatives of the neighborhood and also the Rivercrest Christian School to
ask and answer questions. Those people commenting were as follows:
william Everett, Administrator of the Rivercrest Christian School, presented
a petition with some 100 signatures on it requesting the consideration of
the conditional use in order that they might continue to have classes within
that dwelling. Included with that petition were the signatures of several
of the neighbors who supported the request that the conditional use be granted.
(It might be interesting to note that those neighbors who supported the
request for consideration of the conditional use contained only one member
of the Assembly of God Church).
- 1 -
.
.
.
Planning Commission Minutes - 11/1l/S0
Jerry Brooks was opposed to the expansion of the School because he felt
that the kids trespassed on his property and also he said that he objects
to kids leaving the school area during the day. (Mr. Everett. Administrator
of the Rivercrest Christian School, countered the second objection. because
he said that the kids were not allowed to leave the school and drive in
their vehicles during the day.)
Gene Putnam. who spoke as a representative for Hedtkes, expressed an objec-
tion to the expansion of the School. He stated that he was aware that the
Hedtkes and the Klatts had sent letters of objection to the school; he was
also aware that Rasmussen's had sent a letter in favor of the school.
Duane Rajanen indicated that he was in favor of the school, that his
property directly abuts the school. and he had no objection.
Our Building Official met with Mr. Gahart Decker. a representative of the
Rivercrest Christian School. and toured the dwelling in which the classes
were held. There would be some Building Code requirements to upgrade por-
tions of the dwelling. and should permission be granted to continue the
educational use within that residential facility, Mr. Decker stated they
would be willing to make those improvements. Mr. Decker also stated
that presently, they are in the planning stage for a new Church/School
facility. but that at this time, no tentative plans have been completed
and they are unable to reveal any plans as to what the future might be.
On a motion by Ed Schaffer. seconded by John Bondhus, it was a unanimous
vote to recommend approval until June 1. 19S1. to hold the classes in
the dwelling facility adjacent to the Assembly of God Church. If School
were going to be held in that dwelling next year. it would be necessary
to return to the Planning Commission and Council for a reconsideration for
the following year.
3.
Consideration of Extending a Conditional Use - First Baptist Church of
Monticello.
At the August 23, 1976 regular meeting of the Monticello City Council, a
building permit was granted to build a residence and use that residence
as the First Baptist Church of Monticello for four years. At that time,
the residence was to become the parsonage for the First Baptist Church
and a new church facility was going to be built.
Three years later, during 1979. an effort was made to purchase another
Church facility within the community; however, that plan fell through,
and later in the fall of 1979. the representatives of the First Baptist
Church began plans and preparations for a new church facility on the site
of the existing First Baptist Church. However, since that time, available
mortgage money has evaporated. and it is near to. if not. impossible for
them to obtain a mortgage which they can use to build their new church.
- 2 -
.
.
.
Planning Commission Minutes - 11/ll/80
Reverend Jerry Oas, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, was present and
presented his request that they be allowed to move two UBC structures
onto their property, to use as classrooms, for a period of not more than
two years, and that they be allowed to continue their conditional use for
not more than two years, until, hopefully, there would be mortgage money
available for them to build a new church facility. (At this point, it was
clarified that there is a difference between a UBC structure and a mobile
home. Although a UBC structure may be designed and look similar to a
mobile home, a UBC structure does meet all the requirements of a building
which was built under the building code, and therefore is eligible to be
placed within a community within the proper zoning district, provided it
bears a UBC seal showing that it was manufactured under the supervision
of a building official in a manufacturing plant. A mobile home, is a
structure which does not conform to any particular building code, and there-
fore, is most often required to be placed within a mobile home park, with
structures of similar kind.)
This request is being made because of the lack of space within the present
residential/church facility.
A motion was made by Dick Martie, seconded by Ed Schaffer to:
Recommend approval of this request for a two-year extension to
continue the present residential building as a church facility; and
Recommend approval of this request to use UBC structures as temporary
classrooms facilities for two years, or until such time as a new
church facility is built.
All voted in favor of this motion.
4.
Consideration of Rezoning Lots in Riverwood Estates - Floyd Kruse & Kermit
Lindberg.
At a recent Planning Commission meeting, it was recommended to approve the
Riverwood Estates for Mr. Floyd Kruse and Mr. Kermit Lindberg. However,
at that time, there was a possible discrepancy in the zoning line for
portions of several lots, and also the Lindberg's, on their portion of the
property, proposed rezoning Lot 1, of Block 2 from R-1 to B-3. At a sub-
sequent meeting, the Planning Commission recommended granting rezoning of
Lot 1, Block 2, from R-l to B-3; however, it became necessary to define the
area of B-3 from the area of R-l on Block 1, that portion owned by Mr.
Floyd Kruse. In order to clarify that rezoning, it would be necessary to
rezone Lots 1, of Block 2, and Lots 1, 2 & 3 or Block 1, to B-3 and leave
the balance of the lots zoned as R-l. However, because Mr. Kruse was uanb1e
to be at the planning commission meeting, it was determined there would be
no recommendation made as to whether or not Lot 4 of Block 1 would be zoned
R-l or B-3, and that decision would be left to the discretion of the Council,
based on Mr. Floyd Kruse's comments, which could be made after the
Planning Commission meeting or at the Council meeting. A motion by John
Bondhus, seconded by Dick Martie with all voting in favor of rezoning
Lots 1, Block 2 and Lots 1, 2 & 3, Block 1 to B-3 and leaving the balance of
the lots as R-l.
- 3 -
.
.
.
e'
Planning Commission Minutes - 11/11/80
5. Consideration of Ordinance Amendments to Simplify the Permit Process.
As a result of the inquiry by John Bondhus at a previous Planning Commission
meeting, Gary Wieber did some research on the possibility of simplifying
the process for variances.
As a result of the information brought back to the Planning Commission by
Mr. Wieber, it was determined that a public hearing should be held in the
future, at which time a discussion could be held as to the possibility
of restructuring the ordinances to allow simplification of variances, par-
ticularly those on setbacks.
g adjourned.
LDK/ns
- 4 -