Minutes - 03.07.2012

Minutes of the Richfield City Planning Commission meeting held on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., Chairman  Blake Zobell, presiding.

1.    Roll Call.

2.    Approval of Minutes.

3.  Public Hearing.

     A.   Accept comments concerning subdivision application filed by Poulson Family Trust regarding property located on 1080 South between 675 West and approximately 1005 West. 

4.  Annexation:  Consider recommending approval of an Annexation Petition filed by Poulson Family Trust concerning property located on 1080 South between 675 West and approximately 1005 West. 

5.  Subdivision:  Consider recommending approval of a Subdivision Application filed by Poulson Family Trsut concerning property located at 1080 South between 675 West and approximately 1005 West.   

6.  Other Business.

7.  Adjournment.

1.    Roll Call.  Roll call was answered by Blake Zobell, Eugene Beck, Stan Chappell, Pat Hansen, Brion Terry, Steve Kunzler, and Monte Turner.

City Staff Present:  Building Administrator Paul Hinrichs and Deputy City Recorder Michelle Curtis.   

Also Present:  Brayden Gardner, Tom Torgersen,  and Earl Barrett were present. 

2.    Minutes  Approval.  The minutes of February 1, 2012, were reviewed.  Eugene Beck motioned to approve the minutes of February 1, 2012.  Stan Chappell seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. 

3.    Public Hearing.  7:08:12  A public hearing was held to receive comments concerning a subdivision application filed by the Poulson Family Trust regarding property located on 1080 South between 675 West and approximately 1005 West.  There were no comments.  The public hearing closed at 7:08:55 p.m.

4.    Poulson Estates Annexation.  Consideration is given to recommend that the Council annex the property located on 1080 South between 675 West and approximately 1005 West.  Brayden Gardner and Tom Torgersen represented the property owners.  The petitioner would like to annex a portion of a 22-acre parcel in order to develop an 11-lot residential subdivision.  A total of 3.29 acres will be annexed. 

All utilities are available at this site.  Street improvements will go to the west boundary of the subdivision and the East corner of Indian Springs Subdivision.  Steve Kunzler wondered about the width of the road on 800 West. Paul Hinrichs said that should be a 60-foot wide road as the Transportation Plan shows a local collector street.

There was discussion about 1080 South Street going all the way to College Avenue.  A portion of that road is dirt, but it is traveled by a lot of people.  Mr. Gardner said he really pushed for the road to be finished all the way to College Avenue.  The gentleman who owns the property north of Indian Springs Subdivision was in favor of doing that, but when they ran the estimates for improvements, it didn’t work out because he would have to buy a portion of the road from the school district which owns the property across the street.  He would also have to buy a portion of the triangular piece of property owned by Annalynn Abraham.  Those purchases don’t work out cost-wise.  The school district has agreed to dedicating a portion of the road and waived compensation on this subdivision because it is such a small amount of property.  But the school district said it will want compensation for the property going to the west and they will want fair market value of that property.  Chairman Zobell said he thinks the fair market value of that road is zero because they will have to dedicate it for a road when they develop their property.

Chairman Zobell would like to encourage the City to at least write a letter to the school district and let them understand what the fair market value of that property is zero. 

Pat Hansen motioned to recommend to the City Council that it approve the annexation of the property located on 1080 South between 675 West and approximately 1005 West.  Monte Turner seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. 

5.    Poulson Estates Subdivision.  Brayden Gardner and Tom Torgersen presented plans for the subdivision of property located on 1080 South between 675 West and approximately 1005 West.   

Mr. Gardner advises they have complied with the DRC recommendations.  Mr. Hinrichs agrees that all items have been addressed and a new drawing has been received. 

Mr. Gardner said one change he would like to request concerns drainage to be installed along the north side of lots 1 through 5 and then turning South on 800 West.  He is proposing that rather than piping to 800 West, they would rather run the pipe between between lots 4 and 5.  There will be a box at the northwest corner of the subdivision and piped to the south across the top of the subdivision and then a ditch will be created down the back to get water to the field behind the subdivision.  There is a lot of fall on the property so they don’t anticipate there being any problems. 

Piping between lots 4 and 5 is the most direct route which makes sense.  As the school district property develops, this drainage won’t be needed.     

Brion Terry points out that page 37 of the Subdivision Ordinance states that if a block is more than 1000 feet long, the Planning Commission may consider requiring a right-of-way for pedestrians.  The block from 400 West to 800 West will be 1250 feet long.  This was discussed in detail and it was decided in this situation a pedestrian right-of-way wouldn’t accomplish a lot because of the types of developments anticipated in this area.   If a school were to be built in this neighborhood, it would be west and north of these lots.  Pedestrians could walk down 800 West and 1080 South to get to the school.  It appears that pedestrian traffic will be adequately served by the streets.   Therefore, the Commission does not recommend a pedestrian right-of-way for this project. 

Mr. Gardner said it is likely that only one more row of houses will be built behind these lots because the balance of the property is more valuable as commercial property. 

The Transportation Plan Map was reviewed and it was determined that 800 West Street is designated as a major collector which requires a right-of-way width of 66 feet. Therefore, the lots will have to lose 3 feet on each side of 800 West street. 

Steve Kunzler motioned to recommend to the City Council that the Poulson Estates Subdivision be approved as presented based on the condition that 800 West is to be widened to that of a major collector having a 66-foot  wide right-of-way and compliance with the DRC recommendations with the exception that the drainage pipe, rather than going south on 800 West, will be installed between lots 4 and 5.  Brion Terry seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

6.   Other Business.   There was no other business. 

7.   Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 

PASSED AND APPROVED on the 4^th day of April, 2012.

/s/  Michelle Curtis

      Deputy City Recorder