COUNTY OF SEVIER

CITY OF RICHFIELD

1.     ROLL CALL.  Roll Call was answered by Stan Chappell, Sue Southwick, Pat Hansen, Stan Poulson, and Steve Kunzler.  Eugene Beck was excused. 

Others Present:  Building Official Paul Hinrichs, Deputy City Recorder Michelle Curtis.

2.     MINUTES APPROVAL.  The minutes of May 7, 2008, and July 2, 2008, were reviewed.  Sue Southwick motioned to approve the minutes of May 7, 2008, and July 2, 2008.  Steve Kunzler seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. 

3.     ANNEXATION – ROBERT PARKER.  The Commission reviewed the Petition for Annexation for property owned by Robert Parker and located at the northwest corner of College Avenue and 530 South.  This property is commonly known as the old church dairy property.  The property is comprised of approximately 6.5 acres and is actually an island which is in the County.  The owner does plan to construct apartments on the property.    

Stan Chappell motioned that the Robert Parker property located at the northwest corner of College Avenue and 530 South should be annexed into the City.  The motion was seconded by Steve Kunzler.   The motion carried unanimously.

Blake Zobell arrived.

4.     PHASE 4 CENTENNIAL PLAZA.  Kara Morgan is present on behalf of Centennial Plaza.  The original site plan for the Centennial Plaza development was approved by the City Council and Planning Commission about five years ago.  The development has been done in phases and they are now ready to do phase 4 which would include the construction of two office duplex buildings.  This is just another phase of the original master plan. 

There was discussion concerning the streets and sidewalks that have sunk at this park.  Commission members wonder when all of that will be repaired.  As far as Mrs. Morgan knows, the City keeps voting to put that off as long as possible in order to let the ground settle.  The Commission wondered if the developer is the one who is holding up the improvements of those streets and if the developer has kept his end of the deal.  The Morgans have done everything they agreed to do and have actually donated extra to the cause.  Every time they sell a unit, they put money into the fund to contribute to those improvements. 

The Commission wondered about the road going between the most recently constructed townhouses.  That road has not been completed yet.  Mrs. Morgan said they construct the roads as units are sold.  They have had a number of sales fall through because of the economy.  The bank won’t give them more funding for the road until they have more sales.  On construction loans, they can only get a certain amount of money until they are ready to close on some of the units and they can’t get the construction loan closed until they have the road done.  The road is completed in front of all occupied units.    Before any of the townhouses can receive a Certificate of Occupancy, the road has to be completed.  That is typically how that is done, with the road being the last thing to be done.

The townhouses that will be located next to these office buildings are not yet under construction so the road that ties these offices with the townhouses has not been started and won’t be done until the townhouses are built.  A street will be completed going from Centennial Park Drive and past the existing office building in order to get to these buildings. 

As far as repairs needing to be made at the park itself and Centennial Park Drive, Paul Hinrichs confirms it is the City’s responsibility and has not been delayed by any negligence on the developer’s part.  The road was accepted and constructed upon engineering recommendation, knowing that there would be some settling, and it turned out to be worse than anticipated.  Blake Zobell said he discussed this with Parks Superintendent Karl Anderson and it sounded like they are going to let everything sit over the winter so that it can settle further. 

Stan Poulson motioned to approve the plat for Centennial Plaza phase 4.  Sue Southwick seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. 

Chairman Zobell asked about the last unit that was built and the landscaping that goes with that.  Mrs. Morgan said that will be coming.  They have cleaned out the weeds.  They have one more unit under contract and when they get that money, it will go toward landscaping.  They have sold 4 of 12 units.    

Chairman Zobell asked about tenants parking on Centennial Park Drive.  Mrs. Morgan said they shouldn’t be parking there, but the City police can’t enforce no parking until it is marked.  Woody Farnsworth will be purchasing no parking signs and then the police can issue tickets if people park there.    

5.     WILLOW CREEK HOUSING.   Jed Memmott is present for Willow Creek Housing.

        A.  DISCUSS FENCE AROUND PERIMETER OF PROJECT.

        B.  DISCUSS PROPOSED CLUB HOUSE AND OTHER AMENITIES.

               Paul Hinrichs said when the project was reviewed and approved, the plan showed a 6-foot fence around the perimeter of the project including along College Avenue.  As Mr. Hinrichs has reviewed the project, he is not sure if the City really wants a 6-foot fence along College Avenue.  Usually a fence is required in order to separate zones which is not the case here.  It seems like the Planning Commission was concerned about separating the housing from the school use.  This is a Conditional Use Permit and the Planning Commission can require conditions so there is nothing wrong with requiring the taller fence, but Mr. Hinrichs thought the Commission might want to review it.  The fence is already under construction on the north side of the property. 

As far as fencing on the south side of the property, Mr. Memmott would like to request that the construction of the fence could be done with construction of each phase of apartment buildings.  He feels like it really should tie in with the phasing part of the project.  Along the south side, as they go ahead and improve the buildings for tenancy and have the parking lot taken care of, part of that will be a live construction site.  They will go ahead and get started on the north side with a 6-foot fence, but on the south side they would like to close that off for the construction site.  That is where concrete trucks, etc., will come to deliver things.  They also would like to construct a club house towards the south side of the property and this would give them better access for that project as well.   They won’t be able to do that if the entire fence has been constructed. 

They propose constructing the club house between buildings 1 and 2 and buildings 3 and 4.  It will be 26’ x 24’.  It will have a basement for an office and a main level with an activity room for work-out equipment and a pool table.  Upstairs there will be a lounge and bonus room. 

It would be easier for them to complete construction of this building if the south fence can be constructed with one of the later phases of the project.  Mr. Memmott also wonders about the possibility of having a 4-foot tall fence going east/west between the buildings and college parking, and then have the fence graduate to 6 feet as it goes east and gets closer to the Event Center.  They think it would look more appealing with a shorter fence and landscaping.  The fence will be masonry.  There will be two pedestrian gates going from the housing complex to the college. 

Chairman Zobell said it doesn’t make sense to him to have a 6-foot fence along College Avenue.  However, he would be concerned if there are families living in the complex.  There should be at least a smaller fence to stop a child from getting on the street or into the canal across the road.  Paul Hinrichs thinks the fence should be masonry because it holds up better and if someone goes astray on the bicycle path, a masonry fence will block them better than a picket fence.  Mr. Memmott said he might want to check into the composite-type fences and consider that later on in the development of the project, maybe sometime next year.

Mr. Memmott was asked if construction was the only reason he wants to delay the fence.  He said mostly, but they really have a lot to get done for this fall.  The City Council wants them to really concentrate on getting 650 West fully developed before the end of the month.  They will also have finished a good portion of the fence on the north side.  That is a pretty big portion of the expenses for the first phase.  Stan Poulson wondered if it would be possible to withhold occupancy for the next two buildings until the fence is done.  Two buildings are done and ready for occupancy.  The next two buildings are getting close to being done and the City Council has given them some stipulations as to what has to be done before they can have occupancy and that is the 650 West road and the north side of the fence. 

They want to build the club house fairly soon.  He wants an approval for the location and then they can design it and make it fit.  Mr. Hinrichs commented the clubhouse will have to be set back 20 feet.  Mr. Memmott said it will be lined up with the other buildings.  Mr. Hinrichs said there won’t be a problem with the hot tub being set closer to the property, but if it has a roof over it, then it would have to be set back to the 20-foot line.  Paul Hinrichs also advised Mr. Memmott when they put in the hot tub, that will have to be separately fenced and if there is a basement, it might cause some accessibility issues as far as Building Code so Mr. Hinrichs and Mr. Memmott will look at that together. 

Chairman Zobell said as far as the fence, he hates giving a delayed approval for phase 1 and tying it to be finished when phase 2 is done because sometimes phase 2 never happens.  With the down turn of the economy, the fence might not happen for several years.  Mr. Memmott wondered if they could delay the construction of the fence going east from the dorms and where the parking lot will eventually be built.  Part of it is a cost issue and the other part is just what they think would work.  They would like to do the north fence just to where parking ends for phase 1.  There will be a gate between this property and the dorm property so the fence isn’t being installed to keep anyone out.  It will just line the property.  The east entrance is the construction entrance and the west is the tenant entrance. 

There was discussion that a 3-foot fence would be alright along College Avenue.  Paul Hinrichs suggests if they are doing the club house right away, it would be reasonable to complete the fence on the south side in conjunction with the final inspection and occupancy of building 4.    

Blake Zobell summarizes what has been decided:  The location of the clubhouse is alright.  The fence on College Avenue can be 3 feet tall instead of 6 feet tall.  On the north the fence will be 6 feet tall and will go east to where the phase 1 parking ends.  Concerning fencing on the south side, there is a good argument that 6 feet is sterile and not warm and inviting.  A 3- or 4-foot tall fence would probably alright there.  Stan Poulson said as far as the fire department is concerned, a tall fence probably isn’t desirable on the south side because it makes fire fighting difficult. 

The question would be when should the east arm of the north fence be completed?  Which phase should that be tied in with?  Mr. Memmott suggests tying it to phase 5.  He said they are looking to have buildings 5 and 6 ready to go for financing some time during this month.  Buildings 7 and 8 they are playing a little soft based on the market.  

Paul Hinrichs also advises there has been some talk between the college and Kay McIff that 650 West should go through to the college parking lot.  That needs to be worked out between the college and this developer.  The problem is that is where drainage for the site is going to be located.  They may have to look at putting in dry wells.    

Drainage from phase 1 drains into the retention pond that is on the east side.  Mr. Memmott said it really isn’t that deep, only about 18 inches, and it is more informal now than it will be when the entire site is developed.   Presently it will be bermed until it is determined whether or not 650 West is going to go all the way through to the college.  That will affect where the sumps are put.      

Chairman Zobell recalls there had been quite some discussion as far as the retention basin is concerned.  Mr. Memmott said it is going to be landscaped in grass and possibly a fence around it although it really won’t be that deep, maybe up to 3 feet deep when it is completed for the entire project.

Mr. Memmott said when they see how the retention basin actually looks, they may come and see if they can get some relief on the fence around it.  If it isn’t fenced, it could turn out to be a place that tenants actually use as far as a grass area.  Chairman Zobell said seeing the amount of water that accumulates at Home Depot makes him think they will probably want a fence.  Mr. Memmott said they can do a chain link fence and that will be no big deal if it is decided they need to do that.    

Mr. Memmott said they aren’t sure when they will construct the club house.  It could be right away, Christmas break, or next summer.  Mr. Hinrichs points out construction of that could be a problem when the fence is in so he will probably want to do at least concrete for the club house before the fence is in.  The fencing for phase 1 should be completed before building 4 is occupied and also before phase 2 can be started.

Steven Kunzler motioned as follows:  The fence on the west side of College Avenue will be a 3-foot fence with the fence stepping up to 4 feet on the south side.  Going to the east, the fence will step up to 6 feet where it is next to the retention pond area.  The fence along the east boundary will be 6 feet.  The fencing on the north will be completed as it coincides with each phase of the project.  The entire area of phase 1 will be fenced before building 4 can be occupied.  Construction and placement of the club house is approved with a 20-foot setback.  Sue Southwick seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

They do have plans to landscape on the west side of College Avenue with phase 5.  Mr. Memmott does not know who has the final say on that ground and if the canal company has a say in the bridge that is supposed to be built over the canal.  There isn’t a huge area across the canal.  If the canal company won’t let them put a bridge over the canal, then he won’t be able to get a mower over there to mow grass.  He thinks there is drainage there coming from the west side of the freeway that empties into the canal.  They will need to meet with all parties concerned and come to an agreement.  Chairman Zobell wonders if it will actually be used even if it is landscaped.  Mr. Memmott said that Richard Davis thinks it will enhance the property and have visual appeal. 

6.     GAYLE AND KAREN EYRE FENCE REQUEST.  Gayle and Karen Eyre were not present.  The matter was tabled. 

7.     ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA.  The sign ordinance will be set for public hearing for next month.  The Commission would also like to discuss corner setbacks on commercial property.    

8.     ADJOURNMENT.  The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

PASSED AND APPROVED this 3^rd day of September, 2008.

 /s/ Michelle Curtis

      Deputy City Recorder