Eureka Planning and Zoning Commission
October 20, 2011
Minutes

The Eureka Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order by Chairman Mick Simenc.  Present were Wertz, Hinnen and Cuffe.  Mr. Ken Knepp was absent.  Also present were Anne Sandvik, Melissa Brown, Michael Davis, Janet Davis, Linda Hillman, Louise Barber, Don Barber, Sarah Stoller, Dennis Jording, Karen Whitman, and Don Whitman.   

The corrected minutes of the September 15, 2011 meeting were moved for approval by Hinnen, second by Wertz. The corrected minutes will correct the address for Huck’s from 406 N. Main to 205 W. Center and will correct the grammatical error on page one, paragraph four where the word “know” should actually be known.   

All votes yes.

The residents of Highview were present to request permission to construct a six (6) inch water main to service their homes along Highview Drive.  Chapter 3-20, letter A, of the Eureka Subdivision Code states that no smaller than an eight (8) inch water main shall be constructed unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission.  The water mains servicing the surrounding areas are also six (6) inch mains. Ms. Wertz stated that through her inquiries with Melissa Brown and Anne Sandvik, prior to the meeting, she learned that this neighborhood could not be expanded at any time in the future, and therefore she concurs with the recommendation from Mayor Scott Punke and Alderman Milt Hinnen to accept the request to construct a six (6) inch water main.  Mr. Hinnen stated that the code requiring an eight (8) inch water main referred, primarily, to new subdivisions.  Mr. Hinnen inquired about the number of houses that would be served by this main.  Anne Sandvik indicated there would be seven homes served by the water main.  Chairman Simenc inquired about when the code requiring an eight (8) inch main was written.  Anne Sandvik answered that it was written in 2005. Mr. Cuffe confirmed that all the surrounding service lines were six (6) inch mains.  Audience member, Mike Davis, commented that the installation of a fire hydrant would not serve the people that are considering the water main construction.  He stated that the only people to benefit from a fire hydrant would be those at the end of the street that were allowed to connect to the water line running behind their homes.  He stated that he should not be required to pay for a hydrant when there is one two houses away at the corner of Sunny Lane and Forest Hill.  Chairman Simenc stated that these matters should be left up to the civil engineer that designs the plans.  Mr. Cuffe stated that there are legal requirements involved in the construction of a water main.  Mr. Mike Davis stated that the City should contribute to the payment for a fire hydrant since the City would benefit from its installation and the homeowners would not benefit from this addition.  Mr. Dennis Jording presented the question “Where do we go from here?”  Chairman Simenc said that the Council will consider the recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission to reduce the size of the water main from eight (8) to six (6) inches.  Anne Sandvik stated that if the homeowners were willing to build the six (6) inch main and place the fire hydrant, they could hire an engineer to design the plans, submit those plans to the City for approval, once approved the plans would go to the E.P.A. for approval, then it comes back to the City, at that time, the homeowners can get bids for their project and begin construction.  Mr. Mike Davis stated that the homeowners don’t feel they should have to pay for all of this.  In this case, Anne Sandvik said the homeowners could approach the Enterprise Committee. The homeowners thanked the Commission for their time and exited.  Mrs. Louis Barber inquired about when the next Enterprise meeting would be. Anne Sandvik indicated that the next meeting date would be set at that next Council meeting and the homeowners would be
notified. 

It was moved by Cuffe and second by Hinnen to approve the request from the residents of Highview Drive for a six (6) inch water main.  All voted yes.
The Commission discussed the draft of Ordinance 11-10 amending the definition of duplex and adding a definition and specifications for a detached two family dwelling.  Components of this ordinance were considered by the Commission.  The components of the Ordinance that will be modified will be the definition of duplex, the percentage of livable space that must be forward facing on the ground floor, the definition of ownership options for varying lots, and requirements for fire-rated walls.

The Commission chose to table this discussion to the November Commission meeting. 

The Commission discussed the question “Should we have all multiple family home site plans be reviewed by the Planning Commission?”  Ms. Wertz stated that these types of plans should be presented to the Planning Commission first.  Chairman Simenc indicated that one function of the City Administrator is to review building plans and in the event that something is not within the requirements of the City’s Zoning Code, then those plans would be sent to the Planning Commission for review.  The Commission decided that the City Administrator would continue to first review all building plans and send to the Commission only those plans that contain a variance. 

The Commission then discussed Ordinance 11-__, an ordinance amending the Eureka Zoning Code Chapter 17.190 to state code requirements consistent with Chapter 17.720-Supplementary Regulations.  It was moved by Hinnen, second by Cuffe to recommend approval of Ordinance 11-__ to the Eureka City Council. 

Simenc moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Wertz.

Chairman Simenc adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted
  
Melissa Brown