Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

5:15. I'd like to call the planning commission meeting to order. Please stand for to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. A call been taken. Looking for a motion to adopt the agenda. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Motion's been made by Susie. Second by Donna. All in favor signify by saying I.

All opposed. Motion's carried. Okay. Okay. I'm looking for a motion for review of approval of June 26, 2025 planning commission meetings read in your packet. I'll second it. Motion been made by Jay, second by Susie. All in favor signalify by saying I.

All opposed to car. Okay. Is there any public comment? Any public comment? Seeing none, we'll move on to the next item. It's for front yard fence request for 302 West Beacon Avenue. Okay, I'll take this one. Um, the owner approached us looking to install a fence in their front yard. As you can see, they're on a corner lot. They don't have a lot of side or rear yard, so they wanted to be able to fence that area, corral a couple dogs and some of their children. So, where it shows that gate. Uh if you right between those two lines there at the top is where their walkway is. He's going to put an arbor there with a gate to allow access to the the back of the house there. And

when I went past that uh that house though, it's not really the front of the house. It is on the side correct of the house. Yeah. Technically, it's got two front yards, but yeah, it's not it's not the main entrance. Okay. Do I have the right one? Yes, you do.

I'll make that motion under the circumstances that I don't believe that you can have two front yards. I'll second. Okay, we got a motion to approve the front yard fence at 302 West Beacon Avenue and seconded. Is there any more discussion on this? The only discussion I have, as I always have, is this going to be something that is in our new zoning stuff, so these kinds of situations do not have to be brought to the planning commission all the time or is this just a special uh situation? Again,

we're still reviewing that ultimately the planning commission decide if they want to get these going forward. Okay. But to your point, yes, we're trying to bring it to the point that a lot of these things can be done administratively based on the ordinance that you guys got guys create. I always have to bring that up. We're working on to eliminate that. We are working on I would assume that this would fall within the parameters of the new ordinance that I believe so. I don't have everything memorized, but yeah, I mean, we're trying to minimize what we have to bring back to plan commission for some of these things. It's going to change from 3 foot to 4 foot. So could allow a chain of fence is probably the biggest change. Okay.

And then we'll take into account whether they need a gate or not for fire access and all that. So Okay. Thank you. Yeah. And I'm I'm with Mayor Mark on looking at this situation. Um when you said front yard, I went what? because it it is street facing on NASA street but there if you looking at the house the the front it would be the Beacon Street area and their backyard and their garage and stuff is all in the back. So basically we're letting them fence their backyard butdding it up to the sidewalk on front on forward facing NASA. Right.

Our ordinance calls that a front yard. I had to refer to it as that. But yeah, you're correct. Yeah. Any other houses be their backyard. Correct. Okay. Yeah. Motion. Yep. Any more discussion? Okay. All in favor of approving it signify by saying I. I.

All oppose. Motion's carried. Okay. Next item is a preliminary plot review to seek approval of Irish Metal Subdivision. Okay, this was actually introduced at the last meeting. Um, we missed the it's supposed to go to the planning commission 15 days before it's taken an action on it. That's the reason we didn't take action on it at the last meeting. Um, it's the same proposal that was here at the last meeting. Uh, McMahon and Associates has put this together. They're actually our city engineer as well, so they're the ones that kind of review this stuff to make sure it's accurate. So, uh, uh, the public works department and utilities have looked this over and I think they're both in agreement to move this project forward. So, tonight we're here to take an action, whether it be to approve, approve conditionally or reject the plan. So, this is going to be an action item recommended approval from the zoning administrator's office that meets current And just kind of um update there will be some updates in the final plat.

Correct. And the final plat will be we anticipate the final plat coming to the next plan commission meeting. But like this one there has to be so many days in advance which is more than when we send out the packets. So just a heads up that we'll probably be emailing it to the committee to hit that timeline before the next packet comes out. So just keep on keep an eye on your emails as as things go on. So, so we're delivering it to the plan commission within that window that we need to I think the final plant has to go to the chair of the plan commission 20 days before.

They told me they're ready for the final plat. They're kind of waiting for this to get approved because there's a process that the state requires for these plats. So, we're just kind kind of following that to the letter. So the first process is to uh take a action on this tonight whether to like I said to approve approve conditionally or reject. So zoning administrator's recommended approval. Okay. I'm looking for a motion for approval for the preliminary review for me Irish metal subdivision. I'll make that motion.

I'll second it. Okay. Motion's been made by Don and seconded by Troy. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

All opposed. Motion's carried. Okay. Next item is consider proposal for an accessory structure in excess of 1100 square ft for 1825 South Mill Street. So, the owner is here should anybody have questions, but uh he has reach recently purchased this twounit home on Mil Street. It's kind of tucked into kind of a commercial industrial style area. Anyway, uh the existing building there is currently 40 foot long. He's looking to widen that building. So, from the roadway, it won't really look a whole lot different than it does now. And plus the new building would have a obviously a lot cleaner lines and window space in the street and uh it's since it's over 1100 square feet it does require planned commission approval. So uh I've looked this over beats all zoning code requirements for that area. It we don't believe it's going to impact any of the neighboring properties because like I said there is a lot of residential to begin with. I don't think you'll see much of a change. If you look there, you can see the building kind of in the back. It's pretty much what it's going to look like when it's completed as well. It's just going to be wider going deeper into the lot. So, the owner is here. Uh, if anybody has questions, this is for his own personal use. He's got tenants that are going to house their vehicles at one site. He'll be parking at the other side. I am recommending approval of this. So, the building that's there now is going to come down.

Yep. And then it'll go up. Okay. Yep. What about the sign that's out there? That's for the business that sets out behind there. That's kind of a shared driveway. Okay. Like I said, it's this house is kind of probably kind of a leftover that area got developed. So, and the house has a new roof. It's got a nice clean new look to it. So, I think this will benefit the area. Okay. Anyone discussion?

Okay. I'm looking for a motion to consider the approval for 1100 excess of 1100 foot at 1825 South Mill Street. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Okay. Motion been made by Mayor Mark, seconded by Troy to approve an accessory structure on Mil Street. All in favor signify by state I. I.

All opposed. Motion's carried. Okay. Next item is consider proposal for an accessory structure in excess of 1100 square ft for 910 East View Drive. This is another building that obviously in excess of 1100 square feet kind of the same thing. It's kind of a remote part of the city. It's kind of on the city's edge out there. I don't believe this will impact neighboring properties either. Um, it's going to be taller about 20 foot, which is our current code at 15. [Music]

My only concern is it seems to exceed the limits by quite a bit. Seems to be a rather large building. Yeah, it's almost double. And I the owner's here, but he said it is for personal storage and personal use. Yeah, obviously this building wouldn't fit into some of the more dense parts of the city, but as you can see by where it is city, it's kind of a quite a bit in the outskirts. Is that railroad there to the south of it there? Chad, can you blow that up a little bit? Yeah, that's it. You want this one? Yeah, it's good. and the owner does.

He is also here if anybody has questions. Can we see what his property where his property lines are?

So quite a big that big big pie shaped parcel right there. Okay. As you can see, there is a lot of residential around him for it to, you know, someone have to look at some big, you know, monstrosity out there. So, about where in there, like where those trees are, just to the left of that group of trees on the right. Oh, okay. So, it's actually got to get tucked in those trees a little bit. Not the trees might be. Yeah. So, it's not going to exceed the height requirement. It will as well put that in the pack and I think it was I want to say 2021

just so we're aware where if we make that exception it's going to be difficult to do the same for any other building. That's my only concern. We're not going to be consistent. If somebody on Mill Street wants to do the same size building, we're gonna have difficulty saying no to that parcel if we approve this. That's my only concern for the commission. Yeah, I think he wanted to house all in there. The reason height,

how big is that parcel? I don't feel like it a building that size on three acres of land is too much. I mean, it would be different if it was sitting on a a smaller I hear what you're saying with the roadway on the north and the tracks to the south. Like I said, like Dave, how big was that one that we approved out off the house road a couple about a year ago? Say it was that was pretty big, too.

Oh, no. That was the one for Yeah, I remember that. That wasn't quite that big. That was pretty good size, I believe. I think so. We approved that one. That was the one on the house. Yeah. And there was another one went down

pretty good size. Okay. Any more discussion? I'm looking for a motion to approve accessory structure ex excess of 1100 ft at 910 East Field Drive.

I will make that motion. You look for a second. Second. Okay. Motion's been made by Donna, second by Jeff. All in favor signify by saying I. All opposed. Motion's carried. Okay. Next item on the agenda is pipeline review for the proposed addition to block Chevrolet 1101 North Channel Street.

This came to me relatively recently. I talked to both public works and utilities. They both looked at this plan. think that have any changes as far as I know Jay's here to speak to utilities. I did talk to Robert head of the public works division and he he's comfortable with what they got going on there. I've checked it against our current zoning ordinance and what they're proposing beats current zoning standards and recommending approval site. So again, Dave, to be clear, it's um both the areas in the dotted lines, right? So two addition, it's hard for me to see it, but I think the additions going on the back there, right? Is that what you were asking?

A little bit here. It says proposed addition here in the the dotted lines. Yeah. And then also correct. Yeah. So bring up the So again, this is for PL automotive. Yeah. Addition here. Yeah, they're obviously expanding operations a little bit out there, which is a good sign. Didn't we approve a one time uh addition? There's somebody behind you, too. Actually, the small addition, well, is not part of this project that was designed. It's just the addition on the back side.

7,800 square feet. Yes. Didn't we approve a a building thing maybe four or five years ago? I mean, and then it did it not happen this site plan probably during there project was put on hold because of that.

Okay. and uh wishes to go ahead with it. The small addition is not uh going to be part of this project and really doesn't affect any of the grading or anything but the addition and it and it size will stay the same. The use is going to change a little bit on the inside. Not a lot of the inside the rest of the building won't be functioning as Okay. Any more discussion on this? Okay. I'm looking for a motion to approve the site plan for Chevrolet. I'll make a motion.

I'll second it. Okay. Motion's been made by Troy, seconded by Susie. All infl favor signify by saying I. I.

All oppose. Motions carried. Okay. Next item on the agenda is a land detachment petition for review and recommendation. So where in the past we've uh annexed properties in the city. This is my first I guess you'd call it a deanexation but uh for a project they've got going there. They need this 20 foot strip of land. So they've approached us about having that detached from the city and added is it Hortonia if I recall correctly.

So part of the process is to have the plan commission make a recommendation on council whether or not to allow that 21 section of the city. The reason for that is um the owners found out that evidently this shed right here is built on the property line. So what the and and the items in yellow highlighted in yellow are in the township, the Hortonium. This area is in this area is in the city. And what they want to do is clean this up so that this shed is not half in the city, half in the township. So they're proposing to cut off a little bit of this acreage in the city and then tie it in dean it or detach it and tie it into this parcel where they feel that the shed belongs to in this parcel at N3762 in the township. So that's the purpose of why they're deanexing that or detaching that little section. What

is that land now? The top or bottom? Top top I believe is um I think that is building supply if I'm not Chris Chris. Yeah. Okay. So it's basically a 20 foot strip the length of the property there. Ultimately, the decision will be made at council, but uh they're looking for a recommendation for commission council.

And I talked to Adam about what the the tax implication for that is that little bit of a um area is nothing to really get excited about for a tax value situation. Okay. Any more discussion on it? Looking for a motion for a landing catch petition for review and recommendation. I'll make that motion. I'll second.

Okay. Motion's been made by Jeff, second by Jade. Landy Catchman. All in favor signify by saying I. I all opposed motions carried. Okay. Next item on the agenda is to review upcoming agenda items.

The only thing I have um is probably we're going to have the uh final plat ready for the next meeting. Look for that probably within the next week in uh email or if you want to pick up a packet, we put one together for you. But they're telling me they're ready to roll that out. So, uh try to get that get that out. And then secondly, we've talked in the past about the International Property Maintenance Code. The state of Wisconsin did adopt the 2015 version of that and it's up to municipalities if they choose to adopt that as well. A lot of them will do it with their own amendments. So, it kind of fits into their what they're trying to do in their city as far as it's mostly deals with housing and blight. It's a lot more comprehensive than what we have and then like I said, you can strengthen it or weaken it depending on what you want, city council, but um I'd like to see us adopt this at some point. There are several municipalities that have already adopted it. Um, I'll try to have that in your packet next week of the cities that are that have already adopted and there's like eight or 10 that are looking that haven't yet to adopt it as well. I think it'll work better for the city. It's got a lot more legs nationally. It's it's tried and true and most other states some form of this and it's basic housing standards and property maintenance standards. So anyway, I'll probably have something in the next meeting for you guys to look over.

If I remember right, we looked at this before we did and that was the issue. it was such a huge document that that you wanted us just to approve it and we had a lot of uh you know like that doesn't fit with us and that doesn't fit with us or what and it was it was overwhelming as to you know us to look at and so I'm not sure if that is still the issue and uh it you know do we want to do we want to break that down or you know or are you asking us just to pass it just the way that it is. I mean, but that would be it's going to be a lot. I mean, it's it's

current currently we have a housing code that's x amount of pages and we also have a nuisance code. Combining those that what we have now is currently bigger than what that would be small volume. It's it's a lot in it, you know, and that's not the direction we want to go. Yeah. But I want to at least bring it to the Yeah. table. I've used it before. It works very well. Okay. So that may be on the next meeting as well. And I think there's going to be a process, you know, for that. So Dave's doing research to see I asked them to see what other communities have done with that. But to your point, yes, I mean there's a lot with that.

Piggybacked that we're doing our zoning code right now, right? There's a lot with that. So at the next meeting for another agenda item, um we might have Ben from um our consultant come in to do another section of zoning code as well. So the zoning, the property maintenance and stuff like that, that's all kind of tied in together. So just working on it.

And the one problem I've run into is like our ordinance deal with junk is in the zoning code. It's in our nuisance code and it's in our housing code. And none of them say the same thing. So this is kind of a one-sizefits-all. And we could actually get rid of two of the codes we currently use and probably utilize this one. But uh like I said, be happy to discuss it if anybody has any questions. I'm very very familiar with the code. Like I said, every municipality I've used it in has made their own amendments. So they can kind of tailor now we don't like this bring that out or and maybe we want to clean up the language is what we term as trash like we might decide to brush pile that might be trash. So and then whether something's maybe stored in a completely enclosed structure as opposed to just maybe behind a fence or something. It's it's attempt to kind of clean up our current code to make it actually make it a little easier on me but uh or whoever takes over. I got about a year left. So trying to just kind of get stuff cleaned up the zoning code and everything before I leave so whoever comes in has some nice tools to work with. So anyway, that's all I have for

Okay. Next meeting date would tenatively be September 25th, 2025 at 5:15.

Okay. Look, seeing now we have nothing else. I'm looking for a motion to adjurnn a meeting. Also move. I'll second it. Okay. Motion made by Donna, seconded by Sue a meeting at 5:41. Need a vote.