12-04-00 PCCITY OF OTSEGO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 4, 2000 - 8 PM
1 _ Chair Carl Swenson will call meeting, to order.
Chair Swenson called the December 4, 2000 Planning Commission Meeting to order at 8
PM.
Roll Call:
Planning Commission: Carl Swenson, Steve Schuck, Pat Moonen, Arleen Nagel, and Ken
Fry. Jim Kolles arrived at 8:03 p.m. Absent: Christian Mbanefo.
.o incilm embers: Council Representative Vern Heidner, Mayor Fournier,
Councilmembers VirginiaWendel and Suzanne Ackerman, and Councilmember-elect Jerry
Struthers.
City Staff: City Administrator Mike Robertson and City Planner Dan Licht.
2. Consideration of the Planning Commission Minuted f November 20, 2000
Commissioner Nagel motioned to accept the November 20, 2000 Planning
Commission Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Schuck. Carried 5-0.
3_ Public Hearing - Consideration of a Zoning Text Amendment to Tnnre+i" the Maximum
Allowed Driveway Width to 30 feet
City Planner Licht gave the staff report. Chair Swenson opened the Public Hearing at
8:06 p.m.
Steve Camps, 14715 71st Street, spoke in favor of the proposed amendment.
Jerry Olejar, 7170 Ogren Avenue, spoke in favor of the proposed amendment
Randy Kessler, 9429 Nason Court, spoke in favor allowing driveways to be as wide as the
garage foundation. Stated he lived on a cul-de-sac and so there should not be any
concerns about traffic effects on the street from his wider driveway.
Chester Leshovsky, 9443 Nason Court, indicated he was concerned about having to
reduce his driveway width in the future if he replaced his driveway and asked if he would
be "grandfathered" in. He said he also would like driveways to be as wide as the garages.
City Planner Licht said that City ordinances would allow the use to remain but whenever
in the future the driveway had to be replaced it would have to comply with City
ordinances.
Fay Cote, 14670 72nd Street, spoke in favor of the proposed amendment. She stated that
she thought wider garages looked better with wider driveways.
Planning Commission Meeting December 4, 20000 - Page 2.
Doug Schubert, 7230 Odell Avenue, stated his builder told him he could have a wider
driveway and he was upset when he found out that wasn't true. He spoke in favor of the
proposed amendment. He also suggested that the City could use a percentage of garage
width standard rather than a set maximum.
Mike Ottman, 13514 94th Street, spoke in favor of the proposed amendment, saying he
thought wider driveways were safer for kids by helping to keep them off the street.
Art Bulow, 13515 94th Street, , spoke in favor of the proposed amendment, saying he felt
it would cheapen his house for him to cut down his driveway width.
Robert Makela, 9401 Naughtor, spoke in favor of allowing driveways to be as wide as the
garage, stating he feels that improves resale value.
Tom Block, 9361 Naughtor, said that his neighborhood looks better with wider driveways
and they make it easier to back up trailers.
Randy Kessler, 9429 Nason Court, indicated he would be upset if required to reduce his
driveway width in the future. City Planner Licht stated that the ordinance would require a
reduction in width to meet the City standard only if the entire driveway was replaced. If it
was a sealcoating or overlay that would be considered maintenance and the driveway
could remain at its present width.
Bob Cote, 14670 72nd Avenue, stated that if 24 feet is kept as the maximum width he
would like his $1,000 escrow back.
City Administrator Robertson said that the escrow was held to insure compliance with
City ordinances and that when his driveway was in compliance with City ordinances his
escrow would be returned.
Hearing no more comments, Chair Swenson closed the hearing at 8:50 p.m. and asked
Commissioners their opinions.
Commissioner Schuck said he favored the proposed amendment. Commissioner Kolles
said that he did too but that he would not favor wider driveways than 30 feet.
Councilmember Heidner asked if someone could define a "too wide" driveway for him.
Commissioner Nagel was in favor of the proposed amendment, but thought that if people
with wider driveways received special "grandfather" rights that those rights should be
granted for other parts of the City Zoning Ordinance.
Planning Commission Meeting December 4, 20000 - Page 3.
City Planner Licht said that he would discourage the extension of special "grandfather"
rights for any use. Chair Swenson agreed, saying that it would be unwise to allow special
"grandfather" rights.
Commissioner Fry wondered how much of the problem was caused by contractors
deliberately ignoring the ordinance.
Commissioner Moonen said he favored the wider drive in both the rural and urban areas.
Commissioner Schuck, seconded by Commissioner Nagel, moved to recommend to
the City Council the proposed amendment allowing an increase in driveway width
to 30 feet on urban section streets be approved. Carried 4-2, Commissioners
Moonen and Kolles opposed because they thought the standard should be the same
in both urban and rural areas.
4. Any other Planning Commission Business
Councilmember Heidner updated Commissioners on Council actions at the last Council
meeting. Administrator Robertson noted that a Concept Plan for a mixed use
development for the southeast corner of State Highway 101 and County Road 39 will be
on the agenda at their next meeting of December 18.
I Adjournment
Commissioner Schuck, seconded by Commissioner Fry, moved to adjourn at 9:10
p.m. Carried 6-0.
Arleen Nagel, Secretary
Recorded by: Michael Robertson, City Administrator