CITY OF EAU CLAIRE
PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES

Meeting of January 3, 2012

City Hall, North Conference Room, 7:00 p.m.

Members Present: Messrs. Kayser, Weld, Klinkhammer, Strobel, Pearson, FitzGerald, Duax

Staff Present:  Messrs. Tufte, Reiter, Genskow

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Kayser.

1. REZONING (Z-1495-12) – I-1, P-Public, and R-3P to C-3P, Park Ridge Drive
and
SITE PLAN (SP-1201) – Marketing Focus Building Addition

Wayne Volland has submitted a request to rezone property located at the northeast corner of N. Clairemont Avenue and Park Ridge Drive from I-1, P-Public, and R-3P to C-3P, and to approve the site plan for expansion of the existing business at the site.  The Comprehensive Plan identifies the site as being appropriate for commercial development.  The proposed rezoning consolidates the zoning for this property into one zoning.  The site plan shows a small addition to the existing business on the site that connects it with an existing building to the south.  The new addition will be improved with a pitched roof and siding to match the existing building on site.  The parking lot is expanded to the west of the addition with 10 additional stalls.

Brian Bessinger, 1320 Woodland Avenue, Eau Claire, spoke in support.  No one appeared in opposition.

Mr. FitzGerald moved to recommend approval with the conditions in the staff report.  Mr. Duax seconded and the motion carried. 

2. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CZ-1201) – Outdoor Storage Yard, 1710 Truax Boulevard

Daniel Wiersgalla has submitted a request to allow an outdoor storage yard at his business at 1710 Truax Boulevard.  The Gateway West Business Park General Development Plan requires a conditional use permit for any outdoor storage yard that is over 200 square feet in size.  Mr. Tufte indicated that parking on dirt/grass has been occurring immediately east of the paved parking lot on the site plan.  All parking must be paved in this development.

Daniel Wiersgalla spoke in support of the request.  He stated that with the new storage yard he will not have any vehicles parked on the side yard and can replace the eroded area with grass.

No one appeared in opposition.

Mr. Fitzgerald moved to grant the request with the conditions listed in the staff report, amending Condition #2 that either parking areas be paved or reseed the area for lawn.  Mr. Klinkhammer seconded and the motion carried.

3. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CZ-1202) – Electrical Substation Reconstruction, 1245 Galloway Street

Xcel Energy has submitted a request to allow the reconstruction/replacement of an electrical substation at 1245 Galloway Street.  The property has I-2 zoning, and the facility will be enclosed within a 8’ high chain link fence with screening slats.  The recreational trail will be shifted slightly to the north (closer to Galloway Street) with the proposed new substation.  The existing trail is partially on Xcel Energy property.  The project was recommended for approval by the Waterways and Parks Commission.

Sarah Schwartz, Xcel Energy, spoke in support and described the need for upgraded service to Banbury Place for American Phoenix Company which needs to be completed by June 1, 2012. 

No one spoke in opposition.

Mr. FitzGerald moved to grant the request with the conditions in the staff report.  Mr. Pearson seconded and the motion carried.

4. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CZ-1203) – Ground Floor Dwelling Units in CBD District
and
 SITE PLAN (SP-1201) – Ground Floor Dwelling Unit

Everett Blakeley has submitted a request to allow a ground floor dwelling unit in a CBD zoned property at 318 N. Dewey Street and to approve the site plan for the project.  First floor dwelling units are reviewed as a conditional use in a CBD zone to assure compatibility with surrounding uses and within the downtown area.  First floor dwelling units are required to be set back at least 20’ from a street.  The site plan shows 8 parking stalls on site, with a 10% reduction for proximity to a bus route.

Everett Blakeley Jr., applicant, spoke in support.  He described the facade and the type of building that he believed to be popular in the downtown areas.

No one appeared in opposition.

Mr. FitzGerald moved to grant the request and approve the site plan with the conditions listed in the staff report.  Mr. Duax seconded and the motion carried.

5. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CZ-1204) – Indoor Recreational Use in I-1/I-2 District, 3213 Louis Avenue, #1

Lynn Wingert has submitted a request to allow an indoor recreational use (gymnastics facility) in an industrial district at 3213 Louis Avenue, #1.  The building is the west unit of an industrial building with office, industrial service or sales, and warehouse use.  The gymnastic training facility will mainly operate during the evening and on weekends.  Class sizes are up to 8 students, with rarely more than 2 classes held at the same time. 

Lynn Wingert, 5735 184th Street, applicant, spoke in support.  She stated that the property manager will provide the missing trees and shrubs that were identified in the staff report.

Mary Lancette, 4120 Davey Court, spoke about noise concerns that she has from the existing businesses within the complex.

Mr. Duax spoke about a possible need for a time limit on the conditional use and proposed an amendment for an 8 p.m. limit.  The motion died for lack of a second.

Mr. Klinkhammer moved to grant the request with the conditions listed in the staff report.  Mr. FitzGerald seconded and the motion carried.

6. DISCUSSION/DIRECTION

A. Allowed Uses in Sky Park Industrial Center

Mr. Tufte presented a request to review the permitted uses within Sky Park Industrial Center.  He noted the limited manufacturing and research items that are allowed.  Over the years industry has changed and industrial services are now a more common request for businesses within Sky Park.  Currently these uses are not allowed.  Staff has discussed this with the current occupants of Sky Park and has had positive feedback from the business owners on this request.  It was the consensus of the commission that staff return with a proposed ordinance amendment that would review other business requests as conditional uses within the park at a public hearing.
 
B. Waterways Plan Meeting

Mr. Tufte informed the commission that the next meeting on the Waterways Plan will be Thursday, January 12, 2012, at 7 p.m. in the RCU community room.  There will be an initial draft of the first two sections of the plan for comment.

7. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of December 5, 2011, were approved.

_________________________________
Thomas Pearson, Secretary