Planning & Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

Well, there's always that toiletry. So, yes. Am I gonna lose anything or is it going to go through? You know, now you don't have no matter what age you are, you don't have to take your shoes. I've often thought if I wanted and I just turned 75 was able to see if they got something in the construction department there that they beauty. They might There's so much to maintain in my goodness. All those buildings probably need to have surveys done and this one needs a roof and that one needs windows and this one needs whatever you know over time because some of them are pretty old. I mean Marston and Beardure and so the architect

I kept them in good shape. I think they're done. [Music] This is the direction we're headed in. Obviously, I mean, just the stadium alone has got to be I can't imagine what they have to put into that thing. Keep it clean, organized, and maintained. So, how long are you gone? We get back on the on Labor Day on So, it's a good week and a half. So, only just Ireland. uh going to head south after this one and a guy just showed up I believe a few years ago join us and we're going to call southern Ireland

and they set up all those courses. You never know though. You never know. I'd like to call the meeting to order for the August 18th uh 2025 Poke City Planning and Zoning Commission. Uh could we have a roll call, please? Hkins here. Here, here. Triplet here. Ben Austin here. Okay. Number three on the agenda is appointment of a vice chair. Uh could you kind of step through the history of what we've been doing recently?

I would be happy to. Um so Amber Pregnance has resigned from the planning and zoning commission. Um she is moving out of Pulk City. So she has submitted her resignation effective this month. She was serving as the vice chair for the commission. Um, so the planning and zoning commission can appoint their own chair and vice chair. Um, you do not need city council approval for that. So it is up to the commission to make that appointment and we're asking for you to do it this evening. Any questions? And typically the history of that is we have predominantly gone with the newest person on the board. Is that correct?

Oh, I don't know about that, but I do think you all are trying to serve two-year terms, right? So you the chair is a two-year term and the vice chair would also be a two-year term. So I will let the five of you discuss that matter, but that is uh kind of the rules you've all set in previous years. And I think as long as that individual would be willing to serve and you would get a year and a half as the uh vice chair before becoming chairman. So have a lot of time to get kind of worked into the situation. So I know personally I feel you'd be quite capable. Yeah. So I'd like to have a motion for that. I'll make that motion.

Second. Sorry. All in favor say I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. So that motion passed. Congratulations. Good job. Uh item four on the agenda is Bridge View Plat 2 lot 14 plat of survey. Could we have a developer report, please? And could you state your name and address?

Good evening. My name is Bart Turk. I'm with Civil Engineering Consultants in Urbanddale, Iowa. Um, I'm uh helping Paul Clawson out in our office here. Paul had asked me to attend the meeting since I live here in town. Um before you tonight is uh the plat survey for lot 14 of Bridge View Plat 2 which we will are proposing and splitting into two parcels. Um this lot originally contained a detent storm water detention basin in which um it was determined to split the lot into two parcels. So, one parcel would be wholly the detention basin and the other parcel is actually a buildable lot. So, that's basically it in a nutshell. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Just a a quick question before we go to the uh city engineer. uh staff is uh provides us a report and they're normally quite concrete in their language. Uh and they use a sentence that says uh it is staff's understanding that the unbuildable portion will be retained and maintained by the homeowners association. Is that correct? That is that is my understanding. Yes. Okay. Yeah. So it's your understanding and their understanding. Okay. Understood. There's a note on the plat of survey that says it's going to be

okay. That's where we go. That's what I needed to hear. Guarantee that transfer until it happens. That's why it's written. Okay. So, uh, city engineers report.

Yep. As Bart mentioned, they're going to split lot 14 into two parcels. The key component of that is the parcel that's going to include the detention basin is unbuildable. It's noted as such on the flat survey. um which is why it's appla survey and not appla subdivision. P city code does require a previously plotted lot to um be split via plat subdivision, but give staff the latitude to be able to make a judgment determination on whether or not a plat survey is necessary when when no additional buildable lots are created. Um so lot 14 will uh basically be the same buildable area. It'll have the same functional area. is just being split to where the unbuildable parcel will be on and maintained by the homeowners association and then lot 14 can be built upon um some key components as part of this. So when this goes to council they'll be approving a construction drawing sidewalk exhibit. So with plats of subdivision, pulk city code requires sidewalks across unbuildable outlots um overland flow adjments and uh trail outlots to be constructed as part of the plat improvements. Obviously this wasn't done as part of bridge view plat 2 because it was an entirely buildable lot at that point. So what we've done is we've had CEC prepare a sidewalk exhibit. That will be approved just as any other construction drawing will be and then that will be required to be completely done and inspected by public works and then accepted by the city before a certificate of occupancy can be issued on law enforcement. So that protects both the city and having that sidewalk gap and doesn't overburden the potential property owner building sidewalk across parts they don't own. Um, I think that's pretty comprehensive of what you're seeing. It's kind of a unique situation where it's a previous applied lot, but we're allowing it to be split applied to survey, but that's because we're still only going to have

one buildable parcel at the end. Yeah. Okay. I'm not seeing anyone in the audience for public comment. Do we have any questions uh from the commission? Oh, makes sense. Really? Then I'd entertain a motion. I'd make a motion to approve the uh Bridge View Plat 2 lot 14 plat of survey subject to the recommendations and comments of engineer and staff. Second. Uh could I have a roll call, please? Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you. Uh item five on the agenda is vacation plat of city-owned property near 113 West Broadway Street uh block 8 of uh of town of Poke City. And we'll start with the city engineer. So, for the commission's consideration tonight is a a plat of survey um as well as some easement documents for the vacation splitting of the existing alleyway um in block I always get the two mixed up. Is it block eight?

Block eight of the original town of Pulk City survey. Um more you may be more familiar with um the property directly to the northwest of this alley is the uh Susie Sheldall Realy Building. There's a vacant lot to lot to the southeast. Basically what's being proposed is the splitting of the existing lot into four separate parcels and then being uh transferred to the adjacent property owners. Both property owners are agreeable to this situation. Um, typically you would see a plat survey like this splitting it into two parcels right down the middle, but somehow someway there was a portion of that alley that got vacated at some point. And then there's also a little itty bitty piece that's less than 0.01 acres that is belongs to nobody that has any other real estate um in that area. I think it was just something that probably got lost in transfer. Um, and the adjacent property owner has said that they've they have a way of being able to go through that and get that fixed. But basically for council's consideration tonight is that plat survey for the vacation. Um, we would be looking for a recommendation on the vacation. And then just for your information, there is an existing sanitary sewer easement, which is part of the reason the city has retained that alleyway for so long. Um, so as part of this action, there is a sanitary sewer easement that's being established. um that sanitary sewer is somewhere between 6 and 9 ft deep across that parcel. So we have a 20- foot easement that's being granted to us which meets Pulk City code. Um I'd be happy to answer any or yeah answer any questions you may have, but that's the the long and short of what what you're considering tonight.

Again, I see no one for public comment. Uh any questions from the commission? Just cleaning up detail. Yep. And and disposing of city- owned property that's unnecessary at this point. So again, would entertain a motion. I make a motion that we um approve the project block 8 alley vacation uh dated August 14th. and um upon the recommendations of the staff. Second and roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Power. Yes.

Okay. Item six on the agenda is block 18 of town of Poke City Plat of Survey. Uh future Poke City Police Station. Uh start with the engineers report. So for the commission's consideration tonight is a plat survey for the block directly southish of the city hall. Um the city over the last several years has acquired all but the one piece of that block. It used to be single family residential homes and then the piece in the that be the southwest corner is the century link building that will be retained. But basically this plat survey comes in and consolidates all those lots um into a single lot for the future redevelopment. Um as far as I know the redevelopment of that lot is not particularly imminent. Um but this was just something that we had um concepting in the CIP. So getting this item cleaned up was something that needed to happen. Um during Snyder and Associates research on this plat survey, we did find that there are two pieces of alleyway in that block that have never been vacated. Um the and you would think that because it's all city-owned, it doesn't really matter, but we have to vacate those alleyways because there are certain rights um placed on those parcels, particularly as it relates to franchise utilities, and vacation cleans that part up. So, as part of this action, we will be vacating um those two al remnant alleyways and then consolidating all of those parcels into a single parcel for future redevelopment.

Okay. Okay. See no one in the audience at this time. So, any questions uh from the commission?

I do have a quick question. So, let's just say I I love the idea. I love the cleanup. Um, but let's just say we have a developer come to town and say, "Oh, I love that parcel. Are we wedded to the police station there, or is that something that is potentially as as an opportunity?" Okay. Um, the council purchased the property with the intention of it being a police station, but I think that if there was a proposal, they'd consider it. In all honesty, like doing the plat of survey here does make sense though because it makes it even better for that type of scenario as well. You would want it done either way.

Yes. No, absolutely. I agree. No, I think it's I think it's great. I was just thinking that there might be more interest that way. I'm just saying. So, I'd entertain a motion. There's no further questions. I'd make a motion that we approve the um plat of survey block 18 uh subject to the recommendations and comments of staff and engineer. Second. And roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And number seven on the agenda is architectural standards update.

Yeah, we just wanted to give a quick verbal update to the commission. We haven't forgot about our conversation in June. Um you know, summer gets super busy and um we're still working on those. Our intent would be to take them to bring them back to you um for further discussion either in September or October. Um depending on how schedules shake out and how I'll tell you if it gets really cold the first week of October, it's going to get really really busy cuz co everybody's going to freak out and want Cody to inspect their stuff. But um that's kind of our intent. We'll continue to take the feedback that we got at the last meeting, continue to do research around the metro um and hopefully bring you something that's all-encompassing for the for the discussion we had previously. And then did you want to talk about something that wasn't on the agenda?

Yeah, I've got another item.

Any questions about architectural standards at this point? Okay. And uh yeah, we don't have uh I guess staff comments on the agenda, but I'm assuming we want to go through th that exercise. Uh thank you. I do see that. And I think Cody just has an up asking you to take action. Okay, great.

Yeah, I just wanted to provide a little update. There was a permit that came across my desk. It's been it was early this year uh 1,200 fillups for an accessory structure. council received some complaints recently in the last month or two uh from an adjacent property owner concerned about accessory structure I guess standards or code requirements. Um thought it maybe took up too much area of the adjacent neighbors yard. Um if you have a chance to ever drive by, you can kind of look and see what they're talking about. Um the structure was permitted properly. It met all the current code requirements. Um, but there has been talk that council may like to discuss that further. Um, so just bring it to your attention more or less tonight to to have that on your radar. Um,

is this size and uh and appearance or just one or the other?

I think it was mainly related to the size in the backyard. Um, there were no real architectural standards that applied. It all met current code requirements. So, um, kind of on the flip side of that, I've dealt with, um, some newer construction builds out on Big Creek Ridge, and those estate lots definitely hold the ability to have a lot grander building than what our codes kind of require right now. Um, I've dealt with the builder recently over the last couple weeks having to get him to more or less restrict what he's wanting to build to match the house out there. So, I don't know if that's something that the commission entertains down the road. Um, I don't feel like that'll be the last scenario out in that plat that somebody wants to build a really large accessory structure for added use, but just wanted to bring that to your attention and put it on your radar as well. So, I don't know how you proceed with that, but just kind of my two cents on what I'm seeing with applications recently. So,

what was the address on that again on Phillips? Uh 1,200 1200. Okay. That's what I thought you said. Okay. And currently, do we have any size limitations? I I I thought we we do. Um I kind of administered the cumulative of the rear and sideyard can't be occupied by more than 30% of an accessory structure and it's limited to 16 foot average height. Um and to be frank, um accessory structures are almost always controlled by the building height. Yep.

Because it that building height is the average between the peak and the bottom of the roof. And so you basically I mean you're controlled by that roof slope and how big you can make it and still get the slope to get the water off. Okay. That's mostly what drives the size is, and Cody can say in more detail, but very rarely do I think do we ever get close to the percentage of accessory structure. It's almost entirely driven by that building type.

Yep. And I think the the general idea behind it is to prevent massive post frame buildings going up in backyards, whereas I don't the covenants won't allow that on a place like Big Creek Ridge. um a lot of those are going to match the character of the primary structure. So, um I don't know how you move forward with that if it if it is needing or wanting change, but like I said, just trying to give you my two cents on what I'm seeing for a permit application so far. And we're just kind of getting started out there. So,

has anyone seen other ordinances in the metro that are more limiting than ours? I haven't put any time into researching that currently, but uh definitely can look into that and see what's being administer administered around the metro.

Okay. So, that's a topic for future discussion and we we appreciate you giving us a head heads up on that. Thank you. Okay. Thanks, Okay. So, uh not uh I guess we don't have on here anything related to uh uh commission comments, but does anyone have any comments before we adjourn? No. So, uh and anything else from staff? I don't have anything. Thank you. And uh councel. Okay. Thanks. Uh so number eight, I'd recommend a moved ajourned. and and a second for that. Oh, and all in favor I

and opposed and meeting is adjourned. Thank thanks folks. Good job.