10-10-2002 Planning Comm. Minutes

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 10, 2002 PRELIMINARY Knudsen noted that the Planning Commission had previously tabled action PLAT -THE on the Preliminary Plat for The Preserve pending the Williams Pipeline PRESERVE review of the plat. Knudsen noted the number of reports before the Commission and asked for a summary of the issues. The City Planner reported that one of the issues that the City was waiting to hear about was how the policies that Williams Pipeline has would affect construction within this plat. Williams Pipeline has indicated that they feel comfortable with construction of the project as proposed. However, one of their conditions is that should they need to do maintenance on their pipeline and it is necessary to tear up the street or disturb utilities, Williams would not be responsible for the restoration of the street or utilities. The property owner would be responsible for this restoration. The City Planner noted that this restoration would be costly and the City's experience is that property owners would not take kindly to having to absorb these costs. Therefore, it is the City's position that the street and utilities should be placed off the Williams Pipeline easement, except for the crossing of Preserve Trail over the easement to connect to Viking Drive. The Planner pointed out that the plat as submitted still shows the westerly portion of Preserve Court paralleling on top of the Williams Pipeline easement. The Planner noted that relocating Preserve Court off the easement will significantly impact the design of the plat. The City Planner noted his report as well as the report of the City Engineer, each of which contains a list of recommendations with regard to this plat. The Planner also noted that there has been confusion as to exactly where the Williams Pipeline easement lies, and this still needs to be clarified. The Planner noted that his report does not recommend approval of the Preliminary Plat at this time given the number of unresolved issues. Tom Duray asked if the specific pipeline locations have been determined as of yet. The City Administrator reported that the developer has met with Williars and has located the pipeline in three locations, at the east end of the plat, at Preserve Trail, and at the west end of the plat. Given these three locations, it pipeline location through the area can be reasonably determined. The bigger issue, however, is the location of the pipeline easement and that has yet to be defined. Knudsen asked the status of the pipeline policy that the Council was considering. The City Administrator reported that the Council adopted a pipeline setback policy of 50 feet from the edge of the easement at their meeting last evening This policy is applicable to all plats and subdivisions, but will not be applied to existing lots of record when there is the need to re-establish an existing structure. -4-