Plan Commission - Regular Meeting

I'll go ahead and call to order the April 14th plan commission meeting. Can we have a roll call, please? Chris here. Joseph here. Here John Good here. Davis here. Susan May. Deon Bolan here. Tammy Bailey here. Logan super here. I can confirm that we do have a quorum. Um on to the minutes. You should have all received the March 10th, 2026 minutes. Questions, comments? If not, I'll entertain a motion.

Motion to approve as distributed. Second. Have a motion, a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor of approving the minutes signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Is there any need tonight to modify the agenda? Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to old business, of which we don't have any. Um, on to new business. So, we have two items tonight. The first being Bridgewater section 7 primary plat. This is PC primary plat 2026-1. I will go ahead and open the public hearing and turn it over for st uh to the staff for presentation.

Thank you, sir. Uh Jim Kataret, city planner for Auburn. So this request for primary plat uh filed by Walt Fuller, the property owner, uh requesting the primary plan approval for what would be a 43 lot single family subdivision uh to be located at the track of land. It's south of Morning Star, west of County Road 35. It's highlighted on the aerial there to identify the property location. The primary plant does require a public hearing. It was advertised in the STAR on March 24th and there were 20 adjacent property owners to this parcel that were notified of the public hearing as well as we placed the public notice signs um along Virginia Lane at the uh what would be the entrance to the subdivision. Uh the primary plat itself is on the screen. Again, it's a uh single family subdivision. It's upon property that is uh zoned R2, 43 lots. Uh Virginia Lane would be the the main roadway to connect to the existing Virginia Virginia Lane to the south and to the north. And then there are three culde-sacs coming off the uh roadway. The uh R2 zoning um it's of course a single family district. Uh lot sizes vary. Uh looks like the smallest lot of the subdivisions right at 11,400 square feet. So that's above the what would be the minimum. The the lots go up to as large as 22,000 plus which is almost a half acre. So there's a a good size lots of this subdivision. I mentioned the property zone R2. the uh Bridgewater 5 to the north, the Cove uh lots, that's actually zoned R1. The timber trace property to the south is zoned R2. Uh this property has been

designated for future residential development in our 2040 plan. Just a few photographs if you're not familiar with the property, this is actually from the coes at Bridgewater. The top photo looking south, you see Virginia Lane at this point just dead ends. Uh the um county drain is just beyond uh the end of Virginia Lane. This shows the again from the coes looking along uh the west edge of the subdivision which is the uh where the first tea is. And then on the south side from uh Timber Trace subdivision again the roadway dead ends into the property. And this just shows there's an existing tree row uh for some of the uh southern property line along the timber trace lots. And uh this photograph actually shows there are some fire hydrants within the field and there's uh sanitary sewer identifiers. It's um utilities were provided for this lot many years ago and uh as part of a proposed extension of the uh Bridgewater subdivision. Uh the primary plant was routed uh went through several reviews. Um all of the comments uh from the routing committee have been addressed by the project engineer. Uh so it's recommended for approval and then the project advisory uh met to consider this on April 9th. Uh this project has garnered uh quite a few public comments. Um I've talked to uh six residents at this point uh with different just questions about the the development. I've said a few of them, the plans and uh just discuss things like the extension of Virginia Lane, lot sizes, uh the storm water runoff from uh there's an existing pond that I'll talk

about. Um and so just general questions um from the from the uh public. So the uh property itself, the uh section 7, it's been a planned phase of Bridgewater for a long time. Initially it was primary platted in 1999. Um and again infrastructure was installed at least water and sewer through the property along what is in essence the the proposed route of Virginia Lane through the property. Uh the coes at Bridgewater to the north again timber trace to the south both plan for the extension of Virginia Lane um when they were developed. And uh this primary plan of course includes that roadway. Virginia Lane is a it's a little bit wider ride ofway than our standard. It's a 70 foot wide ride of way. Standard new roads are typically 60. Um and then the uh other roadways the culde-sac um within the subdivision will have the 60oot ride ofway. pavement width uh Virginia Lane both to the north and to the south is 30 foot 34 foot wide curb to curb. That's a little bit more than what our standard 32 foot is for new roadways, but the developer has agreed to continue the 34 foot width of pavement that is to the south and to the north. So, it's consistent so you don't narrow down going through the subdivision. So, they've agreed to do that. the other roadways, the culde-sacs will be at 32 foot pavement, which is standard. Um, with the connection of Virginia Lane, um, the development does meet our connectivity requirements. That was a point of discussion early on in the planning process for this subdivision where crossing the county drain uh is a challenge, is certainly an expense. Um, but it was a very important connection

from the city standpoint. And we we were pretty adamant that this Virginia lane needs to be connected. Uh and they have provided that within again within this uh proposal. The existing pond uh to the north, if you can see on the uh the plan itself um to the what would be the northeast, it's an existing pond uh that's actually located on the golf course property. It's not technically as part of this plat. Um the uh pond itself is proposed to be slightly increased to the south. So it will be enlarged. Um I think the primary reason for that would be to uh gain dirt uh for the site. They're going to have to do some leveling of the site. Of course, uh the pond is is actually been one of the main topics I've had with the residents uh specifically because under an agreement that was uh with the developer, the overall developer for the subdivision, the pond is used for irrigation for the co development. That's a maintenance provided development. Um and so they have a a pump and piping to do irrigation from that pond. So it's very important that they continue to be allowed to do that. Um again that that that pond is not part of this development but the ownership of the golf course same ownership as this this land itself. They've agreed to continue to allow that and again the pond's actually get bigger if they have a little bit more surface water in it. Um so I think that's a positive thing. Um overall for the developments, the storm water from the new streets, storm water from uh some of the the households will be directed to a new pond they're going to construct to the west. Uh you see it again on the uh the plat map. That is a new pond. It would actually be along the uh west property line on the golf course property. Um, and it would affect a

little bit of realignment for the first hole. The T station, I believe, has to get relocated or at least slightly moved to allow for this pond. This pond would be a wet pond. Um, and again, the storm water from the roadways and everything would be directed to that pond, not to the other existing pond. This pond would then outwet the county drain uh to the north. um portions of the property itself. Uh you can see on this uh picture here, this uh drawing, there is some flood plane that extends into this field uh along the south side of the county drain. So it's actually highlighted and visible in red on this drawing. So it will require a floodplane development permit from the city. It's flood French, so it's controlled by the city, regulated by the city. We do allow fill to occur. Um that does has to be a permit and a specific plan um basically to come up with the compensation area. If they're filling in one location, they need to remove soil in another location within the general flood plane area. Um, and so that's part of what they're doing with the pond uh expansion. And um, and so they will before they can actually do anything with those lots, they'll have to go through the process to get the permit and show that those lots are elevated out of the flood plane. That is part of the process. Again, as we get into the what would be the next step if the primary pl approved, there will be uh sidewalks through the development uh 5 foot wide and the sidewalks will uh connect the existing sidewalks on Virginia Lane to the north and to the south. And so that would be there would be required to be over the over the crossing of the stream uh which is still being uh determined what type

of crossing uh whether it's a box culvert or just a a pipe or what what I don't want to say a bridge per se but the crossing the type of crossing hasn't been determined yet. It's still part of the engineering. the county highway, county drainage board will have a part in that uh when that time comes. Again, if they get the primary plat that simply shows the crossing, they've got to come back with infrastructure plans that show all those details, get drainage board approval, and possibly county highway approval depending upon the size of the uh the crossing. The uh site utilities again are existing. There's a actually a 16inch water mane. So, a pretty significant water man crossing through the property. 8 inch gravity sewer uh serves the property currently. There's also a forest main that that crosses uh through the property. Um as well identified the the standards for the R2 uh zoning of the property. All the lots meet all the requirements. Um, corner lots are increased in size because when you have a corner lot, you in essence have two front yard setback areas. So, corner lots need to inherently be a little bit larger. They've met those requirements. Again, for storm water control, uh, they will have to get drainage board approval. Um, because the Walter Smith regulated drain does cross adjacent to the property. I already mentioned the collection of the storm water and then formal action of the drainage board will occur as part of the infrastructure plans. Uh so with that uh staff uh has looked at the primary plan. All the UDO development standards are met uh which includes lot size, lot width, lot frontage, the pedestrian connectivity requirements and all the street standards. So staff does recommend approval of the primary plat. We

recommend six con or five conditions. Actually, the first condition has been met. Um the routing comment, the last routing comment we had on the the width of uh Virginia Lane was addressed. So, the plan that is in your packet shows the the 34 foot width. So, all those routing comments have been taken care of. the other uh conditions. Again, the flood plane development permit has to be obtained. The storm water plan approved by the drainage board. They're required to um establish easements for the ponds uh which will be offsite easements, but also they'll have to work with the ownership group for the golf course to get um uh basically drainage easements over those ponds. And then there's also going to be required to have then a maintenance agreement um a storm water management plan maintenance agreement uh done as part of secondary plat and then of course the infrastructure plan for the roadway and the bridge crossing or the stream crossing and they are going to have to do of course the the water and the sewer currently along the path of Virginia Lane they'll have to be extended you know for the culde-sac streets and those lots. So all those plans will still have to be submitted and approved. So with that I do have the proposed findings of fact uh from staff recommend recommendations and that concludes staff report.

Well thank you. Is there any uh questions from the commission for staff? Uh Jim on page eight of the um your report item number three it says all roads proposed construction of 32 feet back of curb to back of curb width. So you're telling us that that changed to 34 foot. It is the third 34 foot is uh what they have agreed to do on Virginia Lane. So the minimum standard is 32 foot. But again with the the road the current road being wider to the north and south it only makes logical sense to continue that same width. They have agreed to do that and the primary plat reflects that. The plat does reflect. Okay.

Yes. Any further questions? Thank you.

Thank you. Would anybody like um to speak on behalf of the petitioner? Please come forward. State your name, address. Good evening. My name is uh Bob Gaffer. I work at MLS Engineering um at 100060 Bent Creek Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am uh the engineer of record for this plat and then will be unless something else changes in my office for the uh secondary infrastructure plans. Um Jim did a really good job covering all the aspects. Um some of the easements aren't the 1999 plat didn't quite line up. So there'll be work on vacating easements and putting new easements in for where the sanitary um and water need to follow the road to the culdeac. Um work quite extensively with the engineering and planning departments on this layout. Um, I think for the bridge right now, and none of these are finalized design plans, but it is our intent to maybe put the sidewalks, and it's shown on the plat closer to the road just so the bridge isn't as wide, meaning the pipes underneath um won't have to be quite as long. Um, what was the other one? the norththeast pond. One of the reasons for expansion or the bigger one is for the mitigation of volume of what we fill in the flood way fringe we also take out. So that's we'll be cutting in that pond so they have larger pond areas so use out of it storm on the other side. Um I think that was just about it on there.

Um, we'll work with any existing easements that have on and ensure that all utilities are in the rightway easements of the or in within the rightway or an easement for the the lots. Um, the big um caveat on this so to speak is going to be that finalize of the the bridge across the the legal drain there. So we we'll get with and engineering and I have talked extensively on where we're going to start, but we we'll get with planning department surveyor's office as well.

So as uh Jim had mentioned, it seemed like a few of the residents were concerned about the irrigation. Can you speak to that a little bit to maybe ease concerns? That's irrigation for the golf course. I don't know. for the residential uh the subdivision. They use it on the subdivision to pull out of there into that pond. I don't know too much about how they're doing that. Um as far as irrigation, I don't have any I can ask uh owner, which would be the Fuller Development Company on that, how much they're doing and where they are. I know there's some I guess it's not part of your development. So,

right ponds on the north side where they do that too. Um I don't know where they're pulling those off. I do know that there is an easement along this east curved line of the plat for the timber tray subdivision that runs storm water up to that northeast pond but we will not be using that northeast pond for detention. Um it is right now used for detention that timber trace but and that easement is in place. Um, we'll be using the pond on the west and both of them together are for sight balances to what we can lift our roads out. I do know that it's been asked or considered hasn't been final design that the intersection of Potter Cove Potter Cove sorry and Virginia Lane um considering putting a four-way stop on there as traffic control. So people aren't it was considered it hasn't been decided. Just a question somebody raised. I know um putter wouldn't necess sorry Virginia Lane wouldn't necessarily need one, but it was the developer actually asked if we wanted to do that or if you wanted to do that, it wouldn't be a problem, but just long way in between stop signs, I guess. Um

any further questions? Thank you. We may call you back if there's some other Thank you very much. Okay, I'm going to open this up to the public. Um, you're more than welcome to come up. When you do, uh, ask your question, direct your comments and questions to the commission. We'll forward it on to either staff or to the developer and hopefully get your questions answered. When you approach the microphone, please state your name and address and then proceed with your your comments, questions. Thank you. Go ahead.

Good evening. I'm Cindy Parrot, um, 2112 Bunker Court. Um, I'm the president of the COE's association. So, I'm here with a list of questions that the homeowners had for you all tonight. Um, there was a question concerning, do you have a target date as to when construction would start and when it might end? I'm writing them down. Can you go ahead and I mean, I can't answer that, but I'll direct it. But I if you've got more um I I have a list.

Okay. Um, and if there's an idea of the type of homes that would I know they're single family, but if they're um more homes like Timber Trace or in one of the other home uh because I'm not sure what the difference between R1 and R2 is that was described tonight. Um, and then, um, I know it's the golf course and it's not this this group that's going to be addressing our pond for that we use for irrigation, but when they make that larger, I'm just curious if they will also be dredging that. Um, if that's included with making it larger. Um and uh we wondered if there was any anticipation of the amount of increase in traffic that would occur and so it was interesting to hear that there was a proposal of possibility having a stop sign over on the other side. So I don't know um that we would have we already have a stop sign there at Morning Star. So, um, and it sounded like from the picture that the only road then or the the only road to get in and out of there will be Virginia. Is that correct?

Right. Okay. And um I think those are all our questions. Okay. Well, I may I'm going to direct the questions right now and if there's something I missed, please let me know. But and I'll try to direct it to the right person.

Target date. I just know it's always hard with getting permitting and everything and how long it goes through drainages and anything, but do you have kind of a target date? That would be for I guess the developer. I mean, it all depends on how fast things go through. But do you want to come up and speak to that? That's why so we can share the microphone. That's why I have you for target day. I'm starting picking or picking up the design plans where I left off tomorrow morning. Um so submitting them in the next probably six to eight weeks um to be done with construction and these are tentative kind of get those done in that time but start breaking ground mid to end of summer and then however long it takes to put in three roads um Virginia Lane's approximately 1,000 ft long. So, um, and then probably utilities late this fall and then into the winter type of, um, so maybe end of the year, beginning of next year, selling lots right now is the schedule.

Okay. The second question was type of home and that could be either for staff because of the requirements we have within our UDO or also the a little bit with you but can you either staff or I know it was talked about once that that won't be sold to a just for lack of a a Dr. Horton but more of an individual home builder. I don't know if that's still the case. I know it was talked about once. I don't know if that's the way you're sticking but they may do both of those. So

and that's my understanding as well. Um the the minimum requirements for homes in size in R2 is less than the R1. So that that's one standard. But based upon the lot sizes, I was uh under the understanding the the homes will be comparable to what's being constructed in Bridgewater North. So they won't be villas. They won't be villas. They will be each lot independently built and sold. But I I compare it to Bridgewater North a lots.

Okay. Um, next question was the irrigation. I know you kind of tal spoke on that, but Jim, I don't know if you've talked with Mr. Fuller or not. We had a conversation because I had somebody contact me first and I directed them to you. Do you have more information on irrigation?

Just I have had contact directly with with the developer who is also again one of the owners with the golf course. Um, and so to this point of time, it's been more of a gentleman's agreement that the coves could utilize the pods for irrigation. It's certainly set up that way and has been done that way. Um, and there's no intent on the developers end to change that at all. Again, like I said, they're even making the pond bigger. So, they're not decreasing the amount of water that would be available. They're increasing it. Um, but it and there will be now an easement over the uh pond itself. test point just because of drainage purposes. But I think it's recommended that that the HOA ownerships within the cove get with the developer to maybe have a more formal agreement for use of that pod with the golf course ownership group. Um that would be a recommendation just so there's no question in the future they have the right to use that beyond just a handshake agreement if you would.

Gotcha. And you said it was going to be enlarged, right? Correct. Correct. Would would that probably entail some extra dredging of the existing area as well? I have not heard that talked about. I can take that back to the developer. I do know that we talked about anything we dig new to meet depth requirements for aquatic purposes and life in there, but I can't tell you what was built in 1999. I was in the Persian Gulf then, so I got um my apologies.

Well, thank you for that, too. So, um, and the last question I believe was on traffic and discussion. Um, she worried about Virginia Lane and more traffic. It will exit to the south and to the north. My envisioning if you're going into Auburn, it would be more going to the south and not go through the coes, but you're still going to have some going through the coes coming to the north. Um, but the four-way stop, I I don't know where the discussion went on that um if there was any at the last meeting last Thursday on the 9th. discussion on that at the

there wasn't directly but I do know it was a uh comment at from the routing committee that was discussed it wasn't placed as a requirement or anything I think it would be looked at uh the board of works of course would have to approve believe it's board of works is that am I correct with that that would have to approve a stop sign location but but I know it's been discussed that's that's all gotcha and with the curve that's kind of there it'll slow down the traffic anyway So, I don't think that'll be that big deal. So, um and I think that takes care of your four questions. So, thank you very much. We may call you back up. Um anybody else from the community that would like to ask a question or have a comment again, please state your name and address.

My name's Ron Manor and I'm 2110 Bunker Court. question I have is uh will this uh new section be under the management of the Bridgewater Association? We have covenants. Uh we are as various organizations or sections in Bridgewater and we are under overall uh umbrella of of Bridgewwater which is managed by the Nukem group which I understand now is going to be the Westwood 360 group and they are the ones who say these are how the properties need to be managed and care for and so forth. And my question is, will this be the case here?

Again, that's something we can try to answer. That's really outside the privy of what we're trying to do here. But that would be a question for the developer if they know off the top of your head. But but then again, you would need to contact Mr. Fuller. Thank you. And I do appreciate the comments you raised about the pond. Uh it's very important for our organization. Um thank you very much. Thank you. And oh one other question. The bridge uh will the bridge be such that uh construction vehicles can move across it uh or will that all come from Elaine up from the backside?

Well, it's going to meet whatever standard the county drainage and everything and engineering state. So, are you saying during construction or after everything's finalized? No, during construction, will they be will big trucks with bricks and depends on when the bridge is installed during the construction phase? That may be one of the first things they do. So, they can come in from the north,

which would be the most convenient. Obviously, it's most accessible coming in and off Morning Star Road. That's to be determined and the size and type of the bridge is yet to be determined. That'll be with infrastructure which is the next phase of the development. All right. So that that's a good question. Bob, I don't know if you can address when the bridge will be constructed. Will it be first or last or sometime in between? Can I ask one more then? Sure. Uh, and has a study been done of what traffic flow might be as it relates to Morning Star Road?

No, no traffic study. I mean, those are not cheap to run. Um, you can do informal ones if you hire one out. That's a lot of money. Um, but the city's not going to put forth. I mean, we do appreciate the uh police department of Auburn patrolling it. Uh, I mean, we have people who will pass you on Morning Star Road when the speed limit's 30 m an hour. Were you going to say something?

Just that. Yeah. I mean, for 43 lot infill development, we don't require a specific traffic study, but certainly again from uh one of the comments at the routing committee meeting from police was the potential for trying to control speed. It is a long distance not having to stop on Virginia Lane and so that you know it may be a a point where we could create a a stop you know after the subdivision gets started.

Gotcha. You can you answer that come up for and answer that other question on the timing of the bridge. Uh the timing of the bridge is going to be 100% dependent upon what type of bridge and is it going to take after we get permits and start building is it going to take six weeks to get the bridge there? Is this a part that's going to take six months lead time kind of where that goes in is right at this point in the design phase that we really haven't started. I can't give an accurate answer on that just because of its materials. It's going to be a concrete box. If it's going to be two 8ft culverts, we don't know that answer yet. And so, one, do they have it sitting in the yard? It only take a few weeks to deliver it. Or the other one, do they have to make it? It's going to take eight weeks. I There's just no way to accurately answer that right now.

Okay. Thank you. Anybody else from the public like to come and speak or have any questions? Anyone else? Good evening.

Hi, I'm Deb Smith. I live at 1915 Virginia Lane. Um not to belabor the irrigation uh issue but from the existing pond we are 16 homes and we do our irrigation from that pond. So if we're adding 43 more homes where will their irrigation come from the existing pond or the new pond going in? I makes sense. Yeah,

I was unaware any homes were drawing from that other than the cove, but farther south I wasn't aware. But can you somebody can correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I believe because the cove is maintenance provided community is why you have the irrigation systems for all for all the properties there. Uh typically in the where each lot is owned independently, there's not a central irrigation um coming off of a pond. Now you don't see that often, but when it's a maintenance provided community, that's where they draw from a a source to do all the yards. I believe that's what happens in terms.

And then again, they are part of Bridgewater, which is also part of that pond then. And then this may or may not be depending on what answer they get from Mr. full or as if it's connected and has to follow the same covenant or whatever. So, and just to to comment on that, this is Bridgewater section 7. The intent that I was uh advised to me is that yes, it will fall under the overall umbrella of Bridgewater. It'll probably have its own covenants, you know, separate from the Cove and the others, but it would still falls under the umbrella of Bridgewater. Okay.

Any any other questions from the public? Any following questions? Okay, I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing, turn it over to discussion from the commission. Are there any further comments or questions? I think staff did a great job again of covering everything and the petitioner did a good job of trying to explain everything. And um seeing no further questions or comments, um let's take a look at the findings of facts because we do need to approve those first. So they are there are five of them. They're basically our standard ones for primary plat. Um, I need to have a motion to approve. Um, unless somebody feels like one of them may not um be thought of as in the affirmative, we can do them individually. Um, but if nobody feels like we're going to do any of them in the negative, we can go ahead and do all five at once.

Move to approve the findings of fact for PC primary 2026-001 all in the affirmative. I'll second. I'll second. Is there any further discussion on that? Nobody feels like we need to break any out. Okay. All in favor of um passing the findings of facts for PC primary plaid 2026-1 signify by saying I

opposed. Motion carried for the findings of facts. Now we need the approval or the um the um motion on the ordin or the primary plat. One thing I do want to ask before we do anything because there are listed five conditions and you mentioned number one has already been met. So if we leave it in there, it's already been met. It's okay to leave it in, but would it be better to remove it and renumber the other ones through four or do you just want to leave it? that keeps it clean. If you just eliminate it and just approve conditions two through five, it just makes it clean. They have addressed number one already. So,

all right. So, entertaining a motion to remove number one and renumbering two through five as one through four would be appropriate. Correct. Yes. Okay. I'm going to go ahead and make that motion. I make a motion that underneath the uh staff recommendations we remove number one and then re number two through five as one through four. I'll second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carried. Now we have four conditions and we need a motion to approve or reject um this plan with the four conditions.

Move to approve PC primary 20261 with the amended one through four conditions. Second. We have a motion and a second and any final discussion. All right, seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. Opposed. Motion carried. Thank you very much and good luck. On to new business item number two, the downtown Auburn revitalization plan. This is PC other 2026-1. I will go ahead and open the public hearing and turn it over to the staff for the report. some good work in this one.

Thank you, sir. The uh city of Auburn who worked uh collaboratively with Auburn Main Street uh board of directors uh we engaged HWC Engineering uh to assist in the creation of what's called the 2026 Downtown Auburn revitalization plan. This is a an update of the um 2018 downtown plan. It is a requirement for the city to participate in certain uh grant programs offered through the state to have a upto-date downtown revitalization plan. And so this plan was done to meet that requirement. Um there was a steering committee um that was established uh to work on the plan to work with the consultant. There were local officials, downtown business representatives, city staff, community partners helped guide the plan through the process. The boundary lines for the downtown revitalization area have not changed from the 2018 plan and it's shown on the map. uh basically uh extends from uh Fourth Street on the north down to uh 12th Street and then from Cedar Creek over to West uh Van Beern. The uh project really started in uh May of 2025. Again, there were a number of committee meetings, a number of uh public um discussion. Um there were individual meetings with community uh leaders as far as trying to engage and vision the downtown plan. They had uh public surveys were conducted um and several public engagement opportunities the project were held and then there was a final presentation in February uh on the plan uh which allowed for final public comments and it evolved into the

plan that was included uh in your documents that were shared with you. Uh the overall vision statement uh for the uh downtown area um is it's short, but it's downtown Auburn is the destination in northeast Indiana. The plan establishes four themes um which also has individual goals for the each theme. The four themes uh dynamic development, thriving businesses, memorable visitor experience, and vibrant and welcoming spaces. Um and those are all again um working around the core uh vision for the downtown area. An important component of the plan is the implementation matrix which is the very end of the document. It basically provides it identifies those themes I mentioned and then it identifies action steps and then uh implementation partners to help execute those action steps or to complete those action items. Um so that provides the actual uh bones of the of the plan and shows the the specific things that need to occur to uh fulfill the plan. Uh so uh the overall downtown revital revitalization plan is a document that gets recommended by the planning commission. Um ultimately uh adoption is up to the common council. they do it by resolution um as they have approved you know the 2040 plan and and the downtown plan or the park plan. It's just it's another another document that works with the 2040 plan to better the city of Auburn. Uh so staff does recommend the commission forward this plan uh with a favorable favorable recommendation to the common council uh for adoption.

Thank you very much. Any questions for staff? Jim, what what does this document actually do?

It it kind of sets the the tone if you would for projects. So, some of the things that happened, for example, out of the 2018 plan, the downtown facade program, some of the sidewalk, you the revitalization that you've seen within the downtown area that uh you know, the public sidewalks and and improvements of those spaces, uh the fifth street parking lot, uh came out of this, some of the redevelopments, so the uh the straw building, the credent, uh Auburn hotel development site, all things to talk about revitalization of the downtown. So, if we had an area that needed revitalization, the plan basically guided what we were looking for as a downtown community. As we look forward, um things that I I see out of the this plan, you know, to continue, of course, the redevelopment, the seventh street redevelopment where we have all the vacant buildings that needs to occur. Um the sidewalk project to continue on. um a reuse for the old YMCA, an important component of the north part of the downtown area. Wayfinding, I know that was kind of a big topic during this process was just trying to help ident people identify where things are at within the downtown area. Um you know, the Veterans Memorial, all things that maybe not specifically pointed at in the plan, but certainly the plan supported it and and encouraged that kind of development. So that's what we're hoping to get out of it. And along with that, a lot of grants that people apply for, this has to be like the backbone that then justifies awarding the grant. So this type of downtown improvement where grants go toward that. This needs to be in place to get that award granted to us.

So yes, that's that's all of that, but the backbone is getting money, the grant money to do these things. Okay. Any further questions? Okay, it was a very long document. It was good. I went to one of the public things here where we're putting little dots on the board where we thought we need to make improvements and things. So, I thought it was very well done and intended. And I want to thank Auburn Main Street and the city of Auburn for going through this process because it does help. Um, so we need a recommendation, favorable recommendation to go to the common council for PC other 2026-1.

I'll make a motion to send favorable recommendation to the common council for the uh 2026 downtown Auburn revitalization plan. I'll second. We have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed.

Motion carried. Thank you again. Uh on to reports. Address report. I don't believe we have one. Um anything from the board members, county leazison, city county leazison. Our last meeting we just had one agenda item and that was to to suggest a moratorum to the commissioners on any new data on any data centers coming to the county until we can write an ordinance. Gotcha. So is that a favorable recommendation for that? Okay. Um project advisory committee anything? Nope. City staff,

we will have a a meeting. Okay, we will have a meeting. Anything from attorney? Okay, awesome. Good to know. Anything from the public? They seem to have disappeared. Okay, we're good there. Um, next meeting will be May the uh May the what? 12th. 12th. There it is. May the 12th. I entertain a motion to adjurnn. Move to adjurnn. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I I. Motion carried.