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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 8/14/2004 - Community Development Committee COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMIVIITTEE MEETING Wednesday,August 18, 2004 Aldermen's Conference Room at 7:00 p.m. �. In Attendance: Committee Members Chairman Alderman Wimmer, Alderman Condon, Alderman Glab. Absent: None. Also in attendance: Director of Community Development Napolitano, City Planner Martin. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Alderman Wimmer at 7:00 p.m. Discussion: Outdoor Lightin�Resulations Director of Community Development Napolitano reviewed the agenda supplement noting Staff has conducted extensive research relative to other communities and their lighting regulationslrequirements. It is the consensus of Staff there are three area which should be addressed at this time: • Glare(brightness causing inability for others to see) • Light trespass(spillover onto adjacent property); and • Light pollution(glow from auto dealerships and other over-illuminated areas). Director Napolitano noted Staff has assembled several definitions which would clarify the lighting regulations in the city's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Development and Control Ordinance. Sta.ff suggests the following be incorporated into an ordinances governing lighting: • Purpose and definitions; • Prohibit glare(useless light)from direct and indirect lighting; • Photometric plan for non-residential and multi-family development. `— Alderman Glab raised the issue of providing a very succinct definition regarding "glare' so as to not provide an exemption for dual purpose lighting (i.e. building lighting should not also serve as parking lot illumination as this wouldlcould produce glare). Chairman Wimmer concurred noting sometimes glare is more noticeable as a presence in the air rather than actual light emanation visibility. Planner Martin suggested a way to prevent this ty�e of glare might be to require both building lighting and parking lot lighting to be shielded. Planner Martin also suggested special provisions be incorporated for gas stations, automobile sales lots, and recreational facilities. Director Napolitano continued with the following items to be included in the lighting regulations: • Prohibit light trespass for non-residential and multi-family development; • Establish minimum illumination levels for parking lots and security; • General nuisance provision. • Maximum luminaire height; • Provision for certain specific uses, such as service stations, recreational facilities and automobile lots; • Provision for temporary uses; • Permitted exceptions to the ordinance regulations; • Non-conformity provisions including time frame for compliance; • Enforcement and violation fines assessable through the Administration Adjudication process. � Some discussiun followed regarding the use of seasonal and/or temporary/emergency lighting. Planner Martin stated the ordinance could include exceptions for this type of illumination. Community Development Committee Meeting August 18, 2004 Page 2 � Discussion followed regarding the amount of trespass lighting which would be permitted in the residential district. Alderman Glab cited the West Campus tennis courts and inquired whether the spillover would exceed the .5 candle power maximum permitted. Planner Martin responded this issue would hest be regulated through recreational use permitted maximums, luminaire height maximums, and hours of permitted increased illumination. Discussion continued regarding existing lighting spillover in various locations in town and the impact on adjacent residential properties. It was the consensus of the committee to direct Staff to take actual foot candle measurements at property lines of existing spillover sites and provide a survey report of current spillovers to the committee at the next meeting. Places suggested to be included in the survey were Gary Lang Auto Crroup, Buss Ford, West Campus tennis courts, gas stations, McCracken Field, Target parking lot and periphery, Meijer parking lot and periphery. Alderman Condon opined lighting spillover is more desirable to regulate than the permitted height of luminaries. It was the consensus of the committee to table the issue of a lighting regulation ordinance until Staff provides a survey of existing properties and examples of existing candle power at property lines to the committee for further review, discussion and consideration. Update: Downtown Overlav District,Design Standards,and Redeveloament Inventory Director Napolitano stated with the adoption of the Downtown Revitalization Plan and the TIF � District, Staff has determined in order to market the city and its downtown, a more proactive role is necessary. Staff has been meeting monthly to discuss the downtown and what can be done to make the downtown more viable, increase redevelopment, more aesthetic improvements and enhancements. Discussions included: • Creation of an overlay district; • Development of downtown design guidelines; • Creation of re-development parcel inventory. Director Napolitano suggested one way to enhance the downtown district is to require rear of building improvements and encouragement of rear building entrance/exit use in anticipation of Riverwalk development. Business advertisement from both front and rear of building should be permitted in the downtown overlay district. Boundary af the proposed overlay district is currently being discussed by Staff. It is Staf�s perspective to include only commercial property in the overlay district at this time. The district would potentially include tear-down provisions. Discussion followed regarding the potential boundary of the overlay district. Chairman Wimmer referenced the recent request before Council to permit 10-minute parking in front of Green Street Cleaners. He suggested the alleyway in the rear of the west side Green Street businesses be cleaned up and rear door entry to those businesses be encouraged. He noted businesses on the east side of Green Street have made use of rear building entries, i.e. Alley ;� Buys. Community Development Committee Meeting August 18, 2004 Page 3 '`.- A lengthy discussion followed regarding the fact that downtown locations have reduced rental costs and induce a different caliber of businesses than the higher cost rent demanded in the commercial district north ofthe downtown district. Chairman Wimmer suggested an overlay district could be created for each of the downtown areas: Main Street, Riverside Drive and Green Street. He also noted there are many absentee landlords who own property in the downtown areas. It was the consensus of the committee that residential properties not be incorporated into the overlay district. Alderman Glab noted establishing an overlay district will not change existing uses and property owners within the district. Until growth begins in the downtown area, nothing will prosper or change in the downtown district, whether or not an overlay district is created. Chairman Wimmer noted a prime example of how an overlay district could enhance the downtown would be the redevelopment of the China Light Building. At this point the city has no control over the exterior improvements, the canopy, window, and the color of the siding. If an overlay district is implemented, the city might be able to have more input in these types of characteristics in downtown redevelopment. Alderman Condon suggested the Chamber should be involved in providing input in the downtown district boundaries and regulations. Staff is seeking Chamber comment and input regarding the proposed overlay district. � Chairman Wimmer inquired what Staff would include in tear-down guidelines. Would Staff be looking at restoring a downtown site to its original appearance or renovating according to a newly created theme? Director Napolitano stated he envisions tear-down applying to smaller residential homes existing on narrow lots. The city does not want someone to come in and purchase two adjacent lots, take down both houses and construct one sprawling mansion. Planner Martin noted a more far-reaching impact would be on storm water runoff as larger homes would create more storm water runoff following tear-down and reconstruction of larger buildings. Another issue would be safety and protection during tear-down and reconstruction on the site. Safety fencing should be required to protect the neighborhood during the redevelopment process. Alderman Glab suggested monies earned in the TIF District could be utilized to preserve some of the downtown district facades. Director Napolitano noted guidelines should include, building setback to sidewalk, space rhythm between buildings, fa�ade conformity to existing buildings, etc. Planner Martin noted the aesthetics of the rear of the buildings is just as important as the building facades in the downtown district, particularly as the city moves closer to the Riverwalk becoming a reality. It was suggested the city host an open house introducing the downtown overlay district to the public. This would facilitate downtown merchant and property owner buy-in to the district and � further encourage compliance once the district is established. Additionally, many questions and concerns could be addressed in advance of the creation of the overlay district. Community Development Committee Meeting August 18, 2004 Page 4 �. It was the consensus of the committee to keep the overlay district boundary consistent with the TIF District boundary. The sole exception would be to institute a Main Street overlay district as it is not included in the TIF District. Chairman Wimmer stated it is important to have the redevelopment guidelines established prior to the actual process of redevelopment of the downtown district. Director Napolitana noted the Downtown Parcel Inventory was drafted from the Downtown Plan which identified 20 different priority improvement and development sites. The inventory includes photos, property statistics, cunent zoning, proposed Downtown Plan designation, ownership, assessment information. Providing this information to a potential buyer andlor user lets them know the city recognizes that these sites need help in marketing. Having an inventory of available sites available provides a tool for marketing the city to potential developers. The inventory could be added to the city's web site as an economic development tool. Suggestion was made to send letters to landowners of the sites which would be included in the inventory on the web site as a courtesy to let the property owners know of the city's intent to advertise their property. General discussion followed regarding ways to assist business owners in working hand in hand to redevelop the downtown area pursuant to the terms of an overlay district. � It was suggested a meeting with the Chamber executive director occur to facilitate Chamber membership buy-in to the overlay district concept. It was also suggested input be sought from the real estate firms who have the inventory properties listed. Director Napolitano stated the EDC is becoming active in the Parcel Inventory and overlay district as well. Director Napolitano stated the next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at 7 p.m. in the Aldermen's Conference Room. The Agenda will include Lighting Guidelines and Downtown Overlay District Updates. Adiournment Motion by Glab, seconded by Condon, to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 p.m. Voting Aye: Glab, Condon, Wimmer. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. Respec lly s bmitted, �� Richard W. Wimmer, Chairman �