HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.10.2007•
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
December 10, 2007
4:45 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Hurley, Kincaid, Welper, Gunderson, Getty, Schmitt.
Members absent: Greenwood, Cole.
Moved by Schmitt, seconded by Kincaid that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes:
Five. Absent: Greenwood, Cole. Motion carried.
Aric Schroeder, Senior Planner, reviewed changes to the City of Waterloo Zoning Ordinance.
The Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission held a hearing on December 4, 2007 and
recommended approval of the amendment that would create multiple changes and updates to the
Zoning Ordinance. The proposed changes are numerous and cover almost all sections of the
Zoning Ordinance, including the following: Definitions; General Regulations; "C-2"
Commercial District significant changes to principal permitted uses; "C-3" Central Business
District significant changes to principal uses; "M-1" Light Industrial District significant changes
to principal permitted uses; Floodway and Floodplain Districts which has minor changes based
on recommendations from IDNR; "H-C" Highway Corridor Overlay District with significant
changes to entire district, including considering the addition of Design Review for development
within the Highway 20 Corridor, and the creation of a Corridor with Design Review along
Highway 63 and Highway 21; Off -Street Parking Area Required with significant changes to
parking requirements, including the number of stalls required for many uses; Sign Regulations;
Special Permit Required; Utility Exemption, which is the creation of a new provision regarding
utilities; Special Permits, Appeals and Variances with significant changes to the process and
guidelines for the Board of Adjustment to consider for approval of special permits, appeals, or
variances; Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission which creates a section to indicate
the process and guidelines for requests; all sections involving Site Plan Amendments and the
distinction between major and minor amendments; All Districts, with significant changes
including the addition or rewording of an "intent" paragraph at the beginning of each district.
The Definition of Kennel was discussed concerning how to define a kennel and how many
animals to allow, with staff and the Planning Commission recommending to leave the wording as
currently proposed.
Fence Regulations. There was significant discussion on how to regulate fences on corner lots,
how retaining walls should affect the fence height allowed and if the 20' triangle of visibility
should be changed, with staff and the Planning Commission recommending to leave the wording
as currently proposed.
Accessory Building Metal Siding Exemption. Currently, certain metal siding like vertical metal
siding is prohibited on residential accessory buildings, except for shed that are 120 square feet or
less. A shed builder has requested that the City consider increasing the allowance for metal
siding up to 200 square feet. Staff recommends leaving the exemption at the current 120 square
foot, which is the same size limit that structures are exempt from needing a permit. The
Planning Commission recommended to increase the exemption from 120 square feet to 200
square feet.
Highway Corridor and Design Review Expansion. Currently, there is a Highway Corridor and
design review along Highway 218. There is also a Highway Corridor, but no design review over
Highway 20. The Commission and Design Review Board have indicated that they want the
existing Highway 20 Corridor to include design review and they want to establish a new
highway corridor with design review on Highways 63 and 21. Staff has serious concern on the
impact of such a change which will significantly change what property owners within those
corridors can use their property for, or what size, type, or design of buildings they will be able to
build. The Planning Commission recommended to include design review for Highway 20 and to
add a Highway corridor with design review to Highways 63 and 21.
Council Work Session
December 10, 2007
Page 2
Councilperson Schmitt asked if there were any discussions on the size of the Planning
Commission as he feels a 13 member commission is too large and could be reduced to a 7
member commission. Mr. Schroeder responded the commission did not discuss this issue, and
he noted that the size of the Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission is dictated by the
Waterloo Code of Ordinances, not the Zoning Ordinance. An amendment could be made to the
Code of Ordinances to change the size of the commission.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the council to not make the 200 square foot change to
the Accessory Building Metal Siding Exemption Section and to leave the allowance at 150
square feet. It was also the consensus of the council to remove the language that would include
design review for Highway 20 and the addition of a Highway Corridor with design review for
Highways 63 and 21.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Gunderson, seconded by Schmitt
that the meeting be adjourned at 5:20 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Greenwood, Cole. Motion
carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk
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