Minutes - 04.04.2012

                                            COUNTY OF SEVIER 

            Minutes of the Richfield City Planning Commission meeting held on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., Chairman Blake Zobell, presiding.

1.      Roll Call.

2.     Approval of Minutes.

3.      Public Hearing

         A.   Subdivision application filed by The Sportskeeper regarding

                property located at 4 North Main Street (D zone). 

4.     Subdivision

        A.   Recommendation concerning subdivision application filed by the

               Sportskeeper located at 4 North Main Street (D zone). 

5.     Sevier Valley Medical Center Expansion.

6.     Discuss Mt. Catherine Gardens and Vesper Hills projects (530 South

        College Avenue). 

7.     Other Business.

8.    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.  Deputy City Recorder Michelle Curtis was excused.     

Also Present:  Dean Roundy.

2.    Minutes  Approval.  The minutes of March 7, 2012, were reviewed.  Steve Kunzler motioned to approve the minutes of March 7, 2012.  Stan Chappell seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. 

3.    Public Hearing (7:09:53 p.m.).  Comments were accepted concerning a subdivision application (lot split) filed by The Sportskeeper regarding property located at 4 North Main Street (Downtown zone).  There were no public comments.  The public hearing closed at 7:10:22 p.m.

4.    Subdivision Application Filed by The Sportskeeper. Consideration is given to a subdivision application filed by The Sportskeeper regarding property located at 4 North Main Street (Downtown Zone.)  Dean Roundy represented The Sportskeeper.  Mr. Roundy said they have not gotten any closer to a definite future use for the property, maybe a food business, maybe some office space.  They basically want to put this out of the reach of the bank’s ability to encumber it if they should have to loan on the other property. 

Mr. Roundy said in referring to the DRC recommendations, item 5 proves to be a little bit of an obstacle.  It states that a subdivision map will not be recorded until the utilities have been installed.  In lieu of that requirement, Mr. Roundy is asking that the installation of these requirements be triggered at the time of development.  Paul Hinrichs said in order to make sure the required items aren’t lost with time, a deed restriction would need to be recorded. 

Another issue is that The Sportskeeper’s sewer line will be located underneath the new building. There will need to be an easement recorded so a prospective property owner would know that that sewer line is there. The sewer line would need to be replaced with materials suitable to be used under a building. 

Mr. Roundy said he doesn’t really have any issues with anything else on the list.  Number 5 is the critical one for him.  He felt like if they can attach some type of contractual agreement or restriction on the deed that nothing can happen until the utilities are stubbed. 

Chairman Zobell said he is comfortable recommending  it be approved with a recommendation to the City Council that a deed restriction be recorded concerning items 2 through 8.  When the lot is purchased, the buyer will know that these are the conditions. 

Monte Turner motioned to recommend that the City Council approve a subdivision application (lot split) filed by the Sportskeeper regarding property located at 4 North Main Street (D zone) with the recommendation that the a deed restriction be recorded against the property to cover items 2 through 8 of the DRC recommendations dated March 27, 2012.  Brion Terry seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously with Steve Kunzler voting nay. 

5.  Sevier Valley Medical Center.  Plans were presented for the expansion of the Sevier Valley Medical Center located at 1000 North Main Street (CG zone, C2 use).  Paul Hinrichs explained that the west wing of the hospital will be torn down and replaced with a two-story structure.  The new area will be 43,000 square feet which doubles the square footage of the hospital.  There are no beds in the new section.  It will house medical offices, administration offices, and out-patient services, ie: laboratory, radiology, drive-through pharmacy, nuclear medicine, CT. 

The new addition will cover most of the existing parking area on the west side of the hospital. Parking will be added on the north side of the hospital.  Also, there will be additional parking across the street where Family Practice Clinic sits as that building will be torn down.    

Steve Kunzler said he does not like how close the entrance is to Main Street.  They want to move it even closer to Main Street. There will be three more doctor’s offices there.  It will be a very busy entrance.  He said a problem is created when cars are coming from the south and make a right off of Main Street and then want to make that first immediate left.  If one or two cars are backed up there waiting to get onto Main Street, they will be blocking the driveway entrance causing that have turned off of Main Street to have to wait to turn left and possibly backing traffic onto Main Street.   A problem is created any time there is a driveway that is sitting parallel that close to the highway.  Blake Zobell said he knows that the plan for the second and third phase of the hospital expansion includes more parking which would be to the north and require another access from Main Street.  Steve Kunzler said if the hospital is actively looking toward another entrance on the north side, that will help the situation in the future. 

Paul Hinrichs said according to Gary Beck, they are trying to get another outlet to tie into that property to take some of the traffic to the north.  The main entrance is 81 feet from Main Street.  There will be 245 parking spaces plus 87 and then the dialysis center will have about 72 spaces. 

Stan Chappell asked if it would be possible to move the entrance east a little bit.  Blake Zobell points out if it is moved east, there will be quite a sharp turn back to the west to get around the building and back to the front door to the hospital. 

This site is 7 acres. Landscaping as drawn is adequate. 

Eugene Beck and Blake Zobell declared conflicts of interest.

Pat Hansen motioned to recommend that the City Council approve the plans for the Sevier Valley Medical Center expansion at 1000 North Main Street with the condition that the main entrance at the southwest corner will have to be monitored for traffic safety and the curb between the entrance and Main Street should be painted for no parking.  Steve Kunzler seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. 

6.  Mt. Catherine Gardens and Vesper Hills Projects.  A discussion was held concerning the Conditional Use Permit for Mt. Catherine Gardens and Vesper Hills projects to be located at 530 South College Avenue.  These projects have been approved by the Commission in previous meetings. Apparently they are applying again for tax credits which will happen in October.  However, their Conditional Use Permit expires on April 25, 2012.  What they are requesting is that a recommendation be given to the City Council that their Conditional Use Permit be extended for another six months.  There have been no changes to the plans.  The Ordinances have not been changed since the approval of the plans.  The Building Code hasn’t changed. 

Pat Hansen said she has a concern with the Petitioners’ last paragraph of their letter where they say “We feel that in order to have a successful development we will need to gather support from the City of Richfield along with many of the community businesses and organizations.”  She points out the Commission already knows how the neighbors feel.  The letter also asks “Currently how does the community as a whole feel about these two developments?  Does the planning commission have any suggestions for boosting community support?”  She said she has no suggestions.  Paul Hinrichs met with the applicants yesterday and told them that he doesn’t think they will get an endorsement from the City Council or the Planning Commission.  If a project meets the ordinances, it is approved with reasonable conditions. 

Chairman Zobell feels it would be inappropriate for this body to endorse one project over another one. It is not the Commission’s job to garner support for a particular project.  The Commission’s job is to look at plans and applications and if they meet the criteria, approve it with conditions.  Chairman Zobell said he would say it is an appropriate use of the property, probably the best use of that property based on the studies they presented.  It appears there is a need in this community for this type of housing.  Going further than that, he doesn’t feel comfortable as an individual nor as a body to do that. 

Paul Hinrichs said they have 180 days to start construction after approval, but they can extend that.  There is probably no real reason to go through the entire process again unless the ordinances change or something changes on the plans. 

Steve Kunzler recommend to the City Council that they extend the Conditional Use Permit for Mt. Catherine Gardens and Vesper Hills projects to be located at 530 South College Avenue, with all of the same conditions as previously imposed as nothing has changed from our last approval.  Monte Turner seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. 

Eugene Beck points out that they meet in October to apply for the tax credits.  If it is extended for 180 days, it will probably run out before they hit their October application.  Paul Hinrichs said the 180 days would start whenever the Council approves it which will likely be on April 24^th and will extend it through October.  He believes they could ask for another extension in another six months.  If anything changes in the Ordinance, then the Commission could require them to reapply and comply with additional items.   

7.   Other Business.   Paul Hinrichs advises an application for rezone has been received.  A meeting will be noticed for April 18, 2012, at 12:00 noon. 

Paul Hinrichs also advises he has been contacted by somebody who wants to put a meat market where Movie Gallery was located.  He doesn’t believe a meat market would generate any more traffic than the video rental store.  The building complied with parking requirements when it was built in 2003. There are 15 parking spaces. This will be a C1 use changing to a C1 use, or retail changing to a different type of retail.  The Commission feels it will be alright for Paul Hinrichs to handle the change in office.     

8.   Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. 

PASSED AND APPROVED on the 6^th day of June, 2012.

/s/  Michelle Curtis

      Deputy City Recorder