Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'll call this meeting in order. I'd like to welcome those in attendance to tonight's meeting. The City Planning Commission is a nine-member commission whose function is to make recommendations to the City Council regarding requests for land use, classification changes, subdivision plats, conditional use permits, zoning ordinance amendments, and other matters. The commission makes their recommendation based upon the adopted comprehensive plan for the physical development of the City of Brookings and the surrounding area. As a matter of policy, all motions are made in the positive. After a motion is moved and seconded, it is open for debate. Those supporting the motion shall, in turn, give their reasons. Those opposing the motion shall then offer their reasons. After everyone has been given a chance to be heard, the Commission shall review the testimony and information presented, make findings of fact, and forward their recommendation to the City Council. Bailey, can you call the roll, please?

Roll is noted with Braun, Letty, and Aitken absent.

Thank you. We'll now move on to item two, approval of the agenda. Can I get a motion and a second? So moved. Second, Solon. Any comments on the agenda? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Item three, approval of minutes from the August 4th, 2026 meeting. Can I get a motion and a second? So moved, so long.

Second, Heinrich.

Thank you. Any comments or amendments to the minutes? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed, same sign. Okay, we now move on to item number four, open forum. At this time, any member of the public may make a brief announcement or invitation or request time in the agenda for an item not listed. Items to be added to the agenda will be scheduled at the end of the meeting. Any requested action items may be scheduled for a future meeting date. Individuals will state their name and city of residence for the record. Public comment is limited to a maximum of three minutes per person. Comments and views expressed by the public are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the City of Brookings or the City Planning Commission. Anyone interested? Seeing none, we will now move on to Item 5, Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest Relationships to the Applicant or Ex Parte Communication. All right, moving right along, we'll now convene as the Board of Adjustment. Board of Adjustment is a seven-member board which has the power to hear requests for variances and special exceptions. The concurring vote of two-thirds of the full membership is necessary for approval of any action by the board. A seven-member board requires five votes. A six-member board requires five votes. A five-member board requires five votes. In accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, we require a motion to approve a request before the request can be debated. As a matter of policy, all motions are made in the positive. The board under specific powers granted it by the state shall authorize variances from the zoning requirements where special conditions existing on the land will result in unnecessary hardship for the applicant. Financial disadvantage to the property owner shall not constitute proof of unnecessary hardship. All right, we'll move on to the only item on tonight's agenda for action, which is item 6, variance for lot area and lot width. Kyle Prodahl has made a request for a variance on lots 10 and 11 of block 2 of Matthews and Scobie's addition, also known as 2216 Avenue South. The request is to build a two-family dwelling on a lot that is 50 feet wide and has an area of 8,250 square feet. Per section 94-128, two family dwellings require a minimum lot area of 8,400 square feet and a minimum lot width of 65 feet. Bailey, can you introduce the topic?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So like he said, the variance is a request for lot area and lot width on lots 10 and 11 of block 2 of Matthews and Scobie addition. The applicant is Kyle Prudell, and it's zoned. The residents are a three-apartment district. The request is for a two-family dwelling on a lot that's 50 feet wide and has an area of 8,250 square feet. Staff's recommendation is for approval and the Board of Adjustment action would be to approve, amend, or deny. Section 6615, hearing and deciding petitions for variances conditions. Due to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance will result in unnecessary hardship, and the variance shall not violate the spirit of the ordinance, and substantial justice may be achieved as a result of the variance. Unique circumstances apply to the property which do not apply to other properties in the same vicinity or district. The variance is necessary for the preservation of a property right that is substantially the same as that possessed by owners of the property in the same district. The variance requested is the minimum variance which would alleviate the hardship and reasonable use of the property is not permitted under the terms of this chapter. So this is a map of the property right here, 221 6th Avenue South. It's just to the east side of 6th Avenue South. It's a 50-foot lot, frontage. And here's a copy of the proposed site plan. This would be north up here. Like I said, it's 50 feet wide. This is the proposed two-family dwelling. They located it so it does meet the other site requirements apart from the lot width and the lot area. They provide a 20-foot front yard setback, seven feet on the side yards, and then... adequate distance on the back. They also have alley access, so they're able to provide all the required Parking between the alley access, I think there's one, two, three, four, five spots at the back, and then they also have a garage off the front, so they have the additional driveway in the front to provide parking. They meet the yard requirements of 50% of their rear yard, so they were able to meet all other site requirements apart from the frontage and the area. There's just another view and then here's a rendering of the proposed house And that ends staff report and I'll stand for any questions Thank you very much at this time.

We'll entertain a motion a second for approval Mr.. Chair I move to approve solo. Thank you second Michael. Thank you I At this point we'll open to public testimony if the applicant would like to talk about the project Please thank so the viewers at home can hear you Well, thank you

I'm looking for the two variances. I think they're minimal in comparison to what is needed. This is an area, like I explained in my variance request, that I think is seeing a lot of new development or redevelopment, I should say. And this particular house is an example of one of them. that needs to be demoed and new built. And this is just one of many that has been done in the last 10 years, 15 years. And I think the improvements have been very good. I know like the apartments where the church used to be, I think they got quality tenants. I expect the same in this place. I found that my tenants that are in this type of a house are very respectful and would add to the community.

Yeah, anything else?

That's it for now.

Okay, thanks. Yeah, well, I think if we have any other questions, we'll call you back up. There you go. Thank you. Appreciate the time. Anyone else here wish to speak in favor of the motion? Seeing none, anyone wish to speak in opposition? Seeing none, we'll close public comment and open up to board questions and comments.

I have a question.

Yes.

What is there right now or what has been there in the past?

It's a small two-bedroom house.

So it's a single family now or was?

Actually, I think it did qualify. Would you mind?

I'm sorry. Would you mind coming back up?

It is more of a single-family house. It did qualify for a boarding house at one time, but I think I let it lapse because it's just too small.

Okay. It does look like there are two buildings on that property.

There's a garage that will be removed.

That will be removed as well? Yep. And how wide is that property now?

How long is the lot?

Wide. 50 feet I'm having trouble seeing how you're gonna get to 65 with excuse me what I don't Understand how you're gonna get to a 65 width when it's a 50 width right now correct. That's why I'm asking for that variance And what I'm having trouble with is if you're going to 50 or if you're going to 65 and it's 50 now I What are the variances on the side? Didn't you just say that the variances on the side are going to be the same?

I believe the house is 36 feet wide, and so he would still meet the side yard setbacks. He would have seven feet on each side.

Okay. So it's just the house itself that would be wider. But it's still going to be within?

The requirement for a two-family home is to have a 65-foot wide lot. And he only has 50 feet. However, the house he's proposing to build on there, that would be a two-family. It's small enough in width that it would meet the side yard setbacks. If that makes sense. Well, it does in one way, but I'm having trouble physically seeing it on the plan. So they'd be removing that house and building a new one.

So it's just going to be what's here now is going to be widened. No, they're going to fit a house on the lot. The house is 36.

It's not going to change the width of the lot.

Well, then where does the 65 come in?

Our zoning ordinance requires the lot to be 65 feet wide. His lot is not that wide, so he's requesting to allow a two-family on a smaller lot.

Much smaller.

Yep, the width is much smaller. The area is also a little bit short. I think it's 150 square feet short of the requirement.

So the second family would be on a second floor? Yes.

Okay.

That makes the difference, okay? And what's going to happen to the back part of the property if the garage is gone?

I cannot hear you.

You can't hear me?

Okay.

Okay, better?

Much better.

What's going to happen to the back part, the back lawn? That garage is going to go?

All buildings on that lot will be demoed. They will be removed.

And what will be put in? Will it be replaced with anything?

One house.

Okay. Thank you.

Do you have any feedback from your neighbors in any direction on this project, negative or positive?

I've asked David Houck. I've asked the neighbor to the north. They have no issue. Yeah.

Any other questions or comments up here?

Yeah, Mr. Chair. In the drawing, it looks like, is this one family going to be in the basement? Or is it going to be, OK, so it's still single level. OK. Thank you.

Last question. So what is the width of the current home that sits there in comparison to what you're planning to build?

I couldn't even tell you.

Do we have that information?

It looks like it's about 22 1⁄2 feet wide, the existing house.

That is... On the narrow part, yeah. Yep, and that is the porch. So I would add maybe 5 feet to that.

That may be more like 29 feet, 28 1⁄2 on the wider part. 30.

So it's roughly the same. And then it looks like you'll have a positive impact by removing the garage, because it looks like it's encroaching on the property on the other side anyway right now.

It's right on the edge.

OK, thank you.

Mr. Chair, can you, that drawing that you did for the feet, can you just take the top edge of that and go all the way to the edge of the garage?

I'm sorry, on the existing?

Take this 28-foot, just take it to the edge of the garage, the top part of it.

From here to... No, go down to the bottom.

Start on the bottom of the house.

On the porch on the west side?

No, just on the bottom here.

Right here?

Yep, and then go all the way up to the lot line.

Okay.

So it's essentially...

Couple feet smaller than what the impact is now if you think about full width of house and garage Thank you Is this garage face face street side or alley side The garage is meant to face the street On your drawing on the new home the garage will face the street. Yeah, okay Well, we need to make any variances for a driveway I

No, because the driveway is leading into the garages. He can have up to the 36 feet, which is shown on his drawing. And then his additional required parking is in the rear off the alley.

Great. Thank you.

I do have a related question for staff. Because what I'm noticing in the area is there's not really any other buildings that seem to have Street facing garages.

They're all either in the back and there's alley access is there any sort of ordinance in relation to alley access lots that Garages have to be behind the building or anything like that I'm not sure if I understand your question, but like if a garage was off the alley There is a certain setback that it would need to be off the alley. There's but they would be permitted to have one facing the back that they could access from the alley and But then they wouldn't be permitted to have parking off the street in front of their house without a garage there, because it would be front yard parking.

Commissioner Jameson, if I can add on to that, there isn't any regulations in regards to that in this particular zoning district. We do have one zoning district, I believe it is the R1D, where we have a small lot development where if you have alley access, garages are not allowed to be on the street facing. That's for small lots. I believe... Maybe 40 feet of frontage and 4,000 or 4,500 square feet, but you have to have alley access There is an exception on corner lots, but that is the only zoning district so not applicable in this particular zoning district All right. Thank you very much Any other questions comments?

Thank you seeing now we'll close a board comment Bailey can you call the roll Michael

Yes.

Jameson?

Yes.

Speer? Yes. Heinrichs? Yes. Solom?

Yes.

Limmer?

Yes.

Motion passes.

I think that's it, but there were a couple questions about the status of some subcommittees, the onboarding and also bylaws. Any updates on those?

Mr. Chair, I had request staff to move that to November.

On the onboarding?

Correct, on the onboarding and training. Thank you.

Chairman, on the bylaws, many of your questions have been forwarded on to the city attorney, and we have not received a response yet. yet on that.

Okay, great. Thank you. All right, at this time I'll entertain a motion and a second to adjourn.

So moved.

Second. All in favor? Aye. Adjourned.