Minutes subject to approval at next Commission Meeting
Lakewood Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting – April 29, 2008
Call to Order: Deputy Clerk Gene Bromenshenkel called the April meeting of the Lakewood Planning and Zoning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. on 4-29-08 at the Lakewood Town Hall. Due to this being the annual reorganization meeting for the Commission, the Deputy Clerk chaired the meeting until a new Chair was elected.
Present: Commission members: Inese Holte, Dick Bodine, Bob Wolfe, Angie Dickison-Palmer, Peter Miller, Jim Levang, Diane Holliday-Welsh, and Ann Cutts. Member Chris Roningen was not in attendance. Also, Zoning Administrator Brennan Mears and Deputy Clerk as Recorder, Gene Bromenshenkel. Public Register of attendance attached.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited by all present.
Introductions: Members of the Commission including the two new appointees and staff were introduced.
Oaths of Office: The two new appointees took the Oath of Office to serve on the Planning Commission---Diane Holliday-Welsh for a three-year term and Jim Levang serving for one year to complete a term. The Deputy Clerk administered the Oaths of Office.
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for Year:
For Chair: Bob Wolfe was nominated for Chair. The Deputy Clerk called for nominations three times and hearing no additional nominations, declared Bob Wolfe as Chair.
For Vice-Chair: Dick Bodine was nominated. The Deputy Clerk called for nominations three times and hearing no additional nominations, declared Dick Bodine as Vice-Chair.
Chair Bob Wolfe assumed the responsibility for facilitating the meeting from this point.
There was discussion about parliamentary procedure and use of Robert’s Rules of Order and also the use of consensus as a method for decision-making by the Commission. It was agreed that both may be used and that official decisions be made with a motion, second and vote; with votes recorded for certain items.
Determination of Voting Members: All eight members present were deemed as the voting members for this meeting.
Review of Minutes:
- March 25, 2008 Commission Meeting---A correction was noted under the Town Board Meeting report---Dick Bodine and Brennan Mears are on the committee for developing fill-importation language. Bob Wolfe agreed to help if needed. Motion by Peter Miller to approve the minutes as amended. Second by Inese Holte. Motion Carried.
Representative to May 7, 2008 Town Board Meeting---Chair Wolfe suggested following the format of reporting by alphabetical order of Commission members. He would be available to report if others could not at the May meeting.
Zoning Administrator Report by Brennan Mears:
- Two zoning permits were issued in the past month.
- Two variance requests have been made with Public Hearings scheduled for May 1st and May 8th. The May 1st Hearing is scheduled for a non-conforming setback due to a wetland issue. The request is to build a garage with lesser setback than defined in the Zoning Ordinance.
- The May 8th Hearing is a continuance for the Moose Mt. location. Inese Holte had a question on driveways related to this request. Mears indicated that Attorney Ken Butler is reviewing the interpretation of the Ordinance regarding driveways. There was discussion about use of private driveways. Mears indicated that the Ordinance defines private driveways as a minimum of 12 ft. in width to a maximum of 32 ft. in width.
- Peter Miller: Has a question on the variance request for non-conforming setback. Mears indicated that wetlands are a problem on the property in question and that wetlands are a problem to meet the required setback. The property owners desire to build an unattached garage and would need to build closer to the property line to allow for construction. The property owner applied for wetland credits with the St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation District, but the application was denied.
There was discussion about how wetland credits are determined and obtained. Mears gave a briefing on the definitions and process.
- Non-Conforming Lots: Mears referenced the County’s proposed Zoning Ordinance changes. He also cited some of the guidelines in the Town’s Zoning Ordinance. The Town’s language appears to be vague at this time. The Commission requested Mears to draft recommendations regarding dealing with the ambiguity of the Ordinance language related to non-conforming lots. The Town Attorney has advised the township that under some circumstances, it would be illegal to claim a non-conformity.
Public Comment:
1. Jerry Norick: Has a question on the process of variances and the role of the Board of Adjustment in relation to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Chair Wolfe and Zoning Administrator Mears reviewed the process of variance requests and the roles, noting that the Planning and Zoning Commission is not directly involved in the decision-making of variances, the Board of Adjustment is the decision-making entity.
Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update: Report from Steering Committee members.
- Inese Holte reported. The Committee is continuing work on finalizing a draft of the update. They are currently discussing issues of types of housing, especially assisted living. There was discussion of how this might be written into the CLUP update. Holte indicated that the plans for the Committee is to wrap up the input by the second meeting (third Tuesday) in May. Following that, an open house for Town citizens will be held and a public hearing before a final copy goes to the Board of Supervisors.
A motion was made by Jim Levang to recess the meeting for 5 minutes at 8:10 p.m. Second by Dick Bodine. Motion Carried. The meeting was reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
Unfinished Business:
1. April Town Board Meeting Report – by Peter Miller. Issues were raised by the public about the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update and about the survey validity.
2. Lipe Conditional Use Permit Status---The Board of Supervisors finalized the appeal on April 16, 2008. The amended conditional use permit was presented to Lipe Bros. attorney. Some minor changes were made in the amended CUP recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. There was some discussion about the details of what the final amended CUP contained. It was noted the CUP contains a requirement for additional screening with a plan to be submitted by Lipe’s by May 15, 2008. The Commission will be given an update on the screening plan at the May meeting.
3. Fill Importation Language for Ordinance---the committee will be meeting during the next month; the item is referred to the May meeting agenda.
4. Sign language for Ordinance---no action, referred to the May meeting agenda.
5. Cell Tower language for Ordinance---no action to date.
New Business:
1. CLUP Update---Progress and process. Peter Miller: Should the planning and Zoning Commission recommend to the Town Board that there be additional involvement of the Commission and Board of Adjustment before a final document is forwarded to the Board of Supervisors. Inese Holte: It is planned for the last meeting to be the third Tuesday of May. An open house for the public and a Public Hearing will be held after that date. Peter Miller suggested that there be a meeting of the Commission to provide input into the Plan before the final copy goes to the Supervisors. Motion by Peter Miller to recommend to the Town Board that the Planning and Zoning Commission have the opportunity to review and comment on the CLUP update before it goes to the Town Board. Second by Bodine. Motion Carried unanimously.
2. Correspondence was received from St. Louis County regarding proposed County Zoning Ordinance changes with the comment period ending soon.
There was no other business brought forth to the meeting.
Motion by Diane Holliday-Welsh to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. Second by Jim Levang. Motion Carried.
Respectfully Submitted;
Gene Bromenshenkel
Town of Lakewood Deputy Clerk