Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Zoning Commission Minutes 11-13-2024CITY of CAPE GIRARDEAU PLANNING St ZONING COMMISSION PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES · November 13, 2024 City Hall -Council Chambers 44 North Lorimier Street Commission Members Present: Trae Bertrand, Scott Blank, Kevin Greaser, Robbie Guard, Derek Jackson, Gerry Jones, Chris Martin, Nick Martin, Emily McElreath Commission Members Absent: None Staff Present: Carol Peters, Trevor Pulley, Ryan Shrimplin · Call to Order Chairman Blank called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Chairman Blank welcomed Emily McElreath, who was appointed to fill the remainder of Sommer McCauley-:Perdue's term after her resignation. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the October 10, 2024 meeting were unanimously approved upon a motion made by Mr. Bertrand and seconded by Mr. Nick Martin. Public Art Presentation Ms. Kelly Downes, Director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and Chair of the Public Art Committee, presented a proposal for establishing an arts district in Cape Girardeau. She outlined the steps and discussed options for funding the various activities, including collective branding and marketing. Mr. Chris Martin noted that the proposal mentioned Catapult Creative House, operated by Southeast Missouri State University. He asked Ms. Downes to consider what role the University would play in the development of the arts district. He encouraged her to share the proposal with the University. He mentioned that the University tecently completed an economic impact study, which might be of interest to the Public Art Committee. REZONINGS, SPECIAL USE PERMITS, AND EXCEPTIONS 1. A public hearing was held on the request of Columbia Construction Corporation, on behalf of Eye Care Specialists, for an exception from Development Code Section 25-226(a}, screening, for property located at 360 South Mt. Auburn Road. M·r. Grady Wooten, Columbia Construction Corporation, and Mr. Tom Webber, Eye Care Specialists, presented the request. Mr. Wooten explained that the rear of the property is being developed for additional parking and a future building expansion. As part of the project, the existing dumpster, which is unscreened, is being moved from the south side of the building to the southeast corner of the property. There is a hill with evergreen trees along the east side of the property, which will screen the dumpster from the adjacent properties to the east. Mr. Webber explained that he did not want to install a screen around the dumpster because it could get damaged by the trash truck. He added that the dumpster would be used mainly for paper and cardboard refuse. In response to a question from Mr. Jackson, Mr. Wooten indicated City of Cape Girardeau Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024 Page 2 of 5 that the dumpster would not be visible from the adjacent residential property at the southeast corner due to the hill and the evergreen trees. Chairman Blank opened the public hearing. Seeing no appearances to speak, he closed the public hearing. A staff report was submitted to the Commission, which contained the following findings of fact: Criterion #1: As part of the exception request, a "substantial equivalent" is proposed. "Substantial equivalent" means an alternate design, method or feature that accomplishes the same purpose as the applicable Development Code requirement. Finding: The subject property contains an existing development, which is occupied by a · business. The owner has submitted plans for a parking lot expansion in the rear of the property. The plans show the dumpster, which is located on the south side of the building and is not screened, being moved to the southeast corner of the property. A retaining wall (having a height of 7 feet +/-in the location of the dumpster) is proposed along the east and south property lines, which will screen the dumpster from the adjacent properties. The owner is requesting an exception to forego screening the other two sides of the dumpster on the basis that the dumpster is currently not screened at all and the new location is further away from the streets than the current location. This constitutes a substantial equivalent because the dumpster will be closer to being in compliance with the screening requirement. The dumpster will be screened from both adjacent properties by the retaining wall, and it will be placed over 250 feet away from each street. Criterion #2: Approval of the exception request is consistent with the general spirit and intent of the Development Code. Finding: The substantial equivalent proposed by the applicant ensures fairness among property owners and tenants, which makes approval of the exception request consistent with the general spirit and intent of the Development Code. Based on the above findings, staff recommended approval of the exception request. A motion was made by Mr. Nick Martin and seconded by Mr. Jackson to approve the exception request. The motion passed with a roll call vote of 9 in favor, 0 in opposition, and 0 abstaining (Aye: Bertrand, Blank, Greaser, Guard, Jackson, Jones, C. Martin, N. Martin, McE/reath). 2. A public hearing was held on the request of Tenmile Holdings, LLC for an exception from Development Code Section 25-137(g)(1 ), electronic, video, or digital message signs, for property located at 824 Broadway. Mr. Ben Traxel, Tenmile Holdings, LLC, presented the request. He explained that he is renovating the Esquire Theater building and is keeping its signature marquee. The marquee contains four panels, which held changeable letter boards prior to the theater's closure in the 1980s. He would like to replace two of them with video boards. The total area of the two video boards exceeds the maximum area for the electronic, video, or digital message portion of signs. Reducing the size of the video boards would look inappropriate because they would not fill the panel openings completely. Chairman Blank opened the public hearing. Seeing no appearances to speak, he closed the public hearing. A staff report was submitted to the Commission, which contained the following findings of fact: City of Cape Girardeau Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024 Page 3 of 5 Criterion #1: As part of the exception request, a "substantial equivalent" is proposed. "Substantial equivalent" means an alternate design, method or feature that accomplishes the same purpose as the applicable Development Code requirement. Finding:· The subject property is permitted one freestanding sign with a maximum area of 1 square foot per 1 linear foot of street frontage, up to 150 square feet. The property has approximately 66 feet of street frontage, so the maximum area is 66 square feet. There is no freestanding sign on the property, and the owner is not proposing one. This leaves 66 square feet of allowable sign area that is not being used. Transferring 21 square feet of allowable sign area from the freestanding sign to the video boards would serve .as a substantial equivalent becau_se the owner would be giving up allowable sign area for one sign type in order to gain allowable sign area for another sign type by the same amount. Criterion #2: Approval of the exception request is consistent with the general spirit and intent of the Development Code. Finding: The substantial equivalent described herein ensures fairness among property owners and tenants, which makes approval of the exception request consistent with the general spirit and intent of the Development Code. Based on the above findings, staff recommended approval of the exception request, subject to the following condition: 1. The maximum area for a fr~estanding sign on the property shall be reduced from 66 square feet to 45 square feet. A motion was made by Mr. Nick Martin and seconded by Ms. McElreath to approve the exception request, subject to the condition in the staff report. The motion passed with a roll call vote of 9 in favor, 0 in opposition, and O abstaining (Aye: Bertrand, Blank, Greaser, Guard, Jackson, Jones, C. Martin, N. Martin, McE/reath). SUBDIVISION PLATS 3. The record plat of Midamerica Crossings Fourth Subdivision was reviewed by the Commission. A staff report was submitted to the Commission, which recommended approval of the record plat. A motion was made by Mr. Greaser and seconded by Mr. Bertrand to recommend approval of the record plat. The motion passed with a roll call vote of 8 in favor, .1 in opposition, and O abstaining (Aye: Bertrand, Blank, Greaser, Guard, Jackson, Jones, N. Martin, McE/reath; Nay: C. Martin). OTHER ITEMS AND COMMUNICATION Commission Communication Mr. Chris Martin noted that no one was in attendance to present the Midamerica Crossings Fourth Subdivision record plat, which is why he voted against the motion to recommend approval. The Commission discussed the importance of the applicant or their representative attending the meeting to present their request and answer any questions. Mr. Shrimplin stated that staff sends the meeting agenda to each applicant along with the applicable staff report and a letter stating that they or their representative must attend the meeting or the Commission may table taking action on the request. City of Cape Girardeau Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024 Page 4 of 5 Staff Communication Mr. Shrimplin gave the following updates: 1. Update on items from previous Commission meetings going on to City Council The City Council approved the following on October 21, 2024: • 560 Silverado Trail Annexation, Zoning & Ward Boundary Extension - 2 nd & 3rd Readings J • Cape West Crossing East -Third Subdivision! Record Plat - 2 nd & 3 rd Readings • Chapter 25 Amendment regarding Improvement of Parking Areas -1 st Reading • Chapter 25 Amendment regarding Access Management - 1 st Reading • Chapter 25 Amendment regarding Utilities - 1 st Reading • Chapter 30 Amendment Regarding Accessory Structures and Uses - 1 st Reading The City Council approved the following on November 4, 2024: • 716 & 718 Broadway Special Use Permit-2nd & 3rd Readings • Chapter 25 Amendment regarding Improvement of Parking Areas - 2 nd & 3rd Readings • Chapter 25 Amendment regarding Access Management - 2 nd & 3rd Readings • Chapter 25 Amendment regarding Utilities - 2 nd & 3rd Readings • Chapter 30 Amendment Regarding Accessory Structures and Uses - 2 nd & 3rd Readings • 3849 Business Park Place Special Use Permit - 1 st Reading • Kneezle Shed Subdivision Record Plat - 1 st Reading • Lutheran Home Southwest Subdivision Recor:~ Plat - 1 st Reading • 3082 County Road 620 Annexation, Zoning & Ward Boundary Extension - 1 st Reading • 3268 Perryville Road Annexation, Zoning & Ward Boundary Extension -1 st Reading 2. TTF-7 Update Mr. Shrimplin reported that the TTF-7 Committee had met earlier in the day and voted to submit the following recommended project list to the City Council: I I f General Maintenance Projects 11 I Project T~12e Annual Cost Five-Year Cost 1 .. , .. i ....................... , ...... ...... !Asphalt Maintenance and Overlay IJ $600,000 • $3,000,000 jconcrete Repair (Streets, Curbs, Gutters) I . $1,450,000 $7,250,000 ' ,w"= Streetscape and Sidewalk-New Connectivity and Repair I $250,000 . $1,250,000 ' General Maintenance Projects Subtotal $11,500,000j ...... Mount Auburn Road from Hopper Road to Independence Street {New Pavement, New Curb and Gutter, Sidewalk Repair) City of Cape Girardeau Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024 Page 5 of 5 I Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Estimated Cost ~-~-$5,500,000 "" '"" -1-r:--,--------~, -, , _____ , Perryville Road from Cape Rock Drive to Perry Avenue · · Reconstruction & $3,500,000 (Pavement Repair, Addition of New Sidewalk on East Side) Rehabilitation I I -~ ,··-,+={·~. ----Reconstruction & $4,500,000: Sprigg Street from William Street to Route 74 (New Pavement, New Curb and Gutter, Sidewalk Repair) Rehabilitation [ Specific Projects Subtotali Safety Improvements/Contingency, Alternate Specific Projects Project Name jMount Auburn Road from Kingshighway to Hopper Road !(New Pavement, New Curb and Gutter, Sidewalk Repair) • Project Type Reconstruction & Rehabilitation William Street from Sheridan Drive to West End Boulevard : Reconstruction & {Pavement and Sidewalk Repair, Addition of Pedestrian Crossing I Rehabilitation; Signals to Traffic Signals at Sheridan Drive and West End Boulevard Intersections) ,Streets cape 1Enhancements ~--·· "''"~"""'t"" . $13,500,000 $2,000,000 $27,000,000 Estimated Cost -----·r•mm $3,500,000 .... ,-,---0'»"'"' $4,000,000 He stated that TTF-7 Committee Chairperson Maurer will present the list at the December 2, 2024 City Council meeting. Adjournment There being no further business, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6: 15 p.m. upon a motion made by Mr. Nick Martin and seconded by Mr. Guard.