01-26-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 9, 2021 4 Commissioner Quarles asked how closely staff working with the applicant related to home placement near the wetlands. The Community Development Director commented that cluster development does provide benefit in allowing the natural environment remains and for protection of the wetlands. Commissioner Quarles stated that she does prefer the cluster development. She asked if there should be a conservation easement over the wetland to provide that protection rather than includes those areas within the home lots. The Community Development Director commented that she would assume the developer wants to maximize the land area for the homeowner. She stated that staff would be able to monitor the wetland area. She stated that a comment was received from a resident with stormwater questions and wetland management concerns. The resident wanted to ensure that the drainage would be handled on the site and not impact adjacent properties. She stated that staff would require as- builts to be submitted for each lot to ensure the properties would not impact anyone else. Commissioner Johnson commented that she likes that the buildable area is much more compatible with this plan. She stated that she understands the depth needing to be adjusted because of the wetland. She stated that she is struggling to find a reason to issue a lot width variance as the reasoning would seem to be to support 15 lots rather than 14 lots. She stated that the variance of 77 feet equates to one lot and therefore she struggles to see a justification outside of financial factors. Chair Schwalbach commented that while he agrees, he also acknowledges that in the previous case the City increased density. He stated that he also could not imagine the cost to complete the elements of this project and therefore is unsure that this project would be feasible without the last lot. He stated that he is happy to see there is a developer willing to make this project work. He stated that he would prefer this path over having the property sit vacant. Commissioner Johnson stated that she does agree with this comment as opinion but struggles to find justification outside of financial hardship. The Community Development Director stated that the previous discussion of the Commission focused on the density that would be needed to meet the guiding for the property. She stated that if one lot were removed, the site would not meet the required density for the site. Commissioner Kwapick stated that when a previous plan for this project was reviewed about three years ago there was a much more compact plan because of the difficult topography and soil conditions on the site. He stated that proposal was denied because it was too much. He appreciated the creativity that was put into this plan and acknowledged that it is a tough property. He believed that this would be a good development for the site.