ANDOVER CITY PLANNING COMMISSION /

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

May 16, 2000

Minutes

The Andover City Planning Commission met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2000 at the Andover Civic Center.  Members present were John McEachern, Joe Robertson, Ron Roberts, Charles Malcom, Lynn Heath and Quentin Coon.  Others in attendance were Jim Orr, City Council Liaison; Les Mangus, Zoning Administrator; Jeff Bridges City Clerk/Administrator and Pam Darrow, Administrative Assistant.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman John McEachern at 7:00 p.m.

Call to Order

Review of the minutes of the April 18, 2000 Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.  Motion to approve minutes as presented by Charles Malcom, seconded by Quentin Coon.  Motion carried 6 to 0.

Planning Commission member Lori Hays arrived at 7:02 p.m.

Minutes of May 2, 2000 Site Plan Review Committee minutes were received and filed.

Minutes of the April 25, 2000 City Council meeting minutes were received and filed.

Review of the minutes of the April 18, 2000 Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. 

Committee and Staff Reports. 

Jeff Bridges told the Commission that Jim Orr has been appointed to an additional seat that was created on the City Council.  He will no longer be on the Planning Commission as a member however; he is replacing Tim McFadden as the City Council liaison.

Les Mangus told the Commission that this is the organizational meeting of the Planning Commission and Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary needed to be elected.  Motion by Charles Malcom to re-elect Chairman John McEachern, Vice Chairman Joe Robertson and Secretary Lori Hays.  Lynn Heath seconded the motion.  After general discussion of the issue, a vote was taken.  Motion carried 7-0.

Jim Orr commented that his leaving the Commission also leaves a vacancy on the Subdivision Committee.  Motion was made by John McEachern to appoint Quentin Coon to the Subdivision Committee in place of Jim Orr.  Charles Malcom seconded motion.  Motion was approved 7-0.

In regard to the committee and staff reports, Les Mangus told the Commission that the sign sub-committee has met again and the proposed changes to the sign regulations are on the agenda for review at this meeting.

Les Mangus stated that there had been an additional sub-committee meeting regarding telecommunication towers, which had gone very well.  He stated that the zoning regulations are in the process of being changed and would be presented at the next Planning Commission meeting.

Committee and Staff Reports

Butler County Planning Case RZ-00-16, an application for zoning classification change from Agriculture to Commercial at 12737 SW Butler Road.  Les Mangus stated that this property had a legal non-conforming use, however, the property has been vacant for longer than 6 months and has therefore lost the legal non-conforming use.  Les Mangus stated that this change in zoning would eliminate the need for conditional uses.  Mr. Mangus stated that this change would make the property easier to rent or sell by providing a variety of permitted uses.  Les Mangus gave the Commission members a copy of the Butler County Regulations regarding the zoning which was Article 13 Commercial District (C), to assist them in their determination for this case.  John McEachern stated he went by the property, which is basically located across the street from the Flint Hills National Golf Course maintenance shop.  Les Mangus stated this property is approximately 1½ acres in size.  Les Mangus stated that RWD #8 water is available and it is not on City Sewer.  The sewer could be available by connecting to the sewer line across the street. 

There was general discussion regarding this issue regarding City or Rural Water and City Sewer.  There was a question by Les Mangus to Ron Roberts if the County Sanitarian could look at this case and recommend that the property have city services.  Ron Roberts stated that this could be done. 

Motion was made by Charles Malcom to recommend approval of Butler County Planning Case RZ-00-16.  Discussion followed regarding uses allowed in the Commercial District.  This also included additional discussion concerning the adequacy of current water and sewer for all the permitted uses.  The motion was changed to recommend approval of Butler County Planning Case RZ-00-16 and to include the requirement that Butler County Planning Commission require city water and city sewer be connected to this property.  Ron Roberts seconded motion.  Motion was approved 7-0.

Butler County Planning Case RZ-00-16

Streetscapes Guidelines.  Les Mangus stated that these guidelines are an effort to give the Site Plan Committee a more effective set of guidelines.  This also gives a concept for planting on arterial streets.  Joe Robertson asked if the lighting for arterial streets would change.  Les Mangus stated that this would go along with what has been done on the recent Central Avenue upgrade.  John McEachern asked about a Tree Board that is referenced in the Guidelines.  Jeff Bridges stated that the City Council hasn’t addressed this issue.  The Council is waiting for the Planning Commissions approval of this document in order to address this issue.    Motion was made by Lynn Heath to recommend approval of the Streetscapes Guidelines to the City Council.  Joe Robertson seconded motion.  Motion was approved 7-0.

Streetscapes Guidelines

Zoning Regulations Article 7, SIGNS.  Les Mangus stated that the presented revisions to the Sign regulations are a product of the Subcommittee meetings.  He stated that there are a lot of good changes.  There is a recommendation that portable signs and billboard signs be deleted.  In the regulations, the darkened areas are changes or additions, and the items being deleted have a line through it.  After general discussion the following revisions were requested. 

Section 103 B 6.  Change “Temporary signs which do not exceed 24 square feet in gross surface area” be changed to “Temporary signs which do not exceed 6 square feet in gross surface area”

Section 104 A 4 c.  Change “Construction signs:  20 square feet” to “Construction signs:  32 square feet.”

Section 101 B 5.  Change “…intended for temporary display of not more than 60 days at a time” to “…intended for temporary display of not more than 30 days, 4 (four) times per calendar year.”

Motion was made by Lynn Heath to hold a public hearing on June 20, 2000, regarding the revised Article 7, Sign Regulations with the following changes. 

Section 103 B 6.  Change “Temporary signs which do not exceed 24 square feet in gross surface area” be changed to “Temporary signs which do not exceed 6 square feet in gross surface area”

Section 104 A 4 c.  Change “Construction signs:  20 square feet” to “Construction signs:  32 square feet.”

Section 101 B 5.  Change “…intended for temporary display of not more than 60 days at a time” to “…intended for temporary display of not more than 30 days, 4 (four) times per calendar year.”

Ron Roberts seconded the motion.  Motion was approved 7-0.

Zoning Regulations Article 7, SIGNS

Member Items:  Lynn Heath reminded the Commission that there is a vacancy on the Commission and everyone needs to consider recommendations of others for the Commission.

Quentin Coon asked if there was any way to preserve the trees on the property on South Andover Road, south of Bill Blair’s office.  Les Mangus stated that the only way to preserve the trees is if the City owned the property.  Les Mangus stated that whoever brings a plan before the Site Plan Review Committee will be under close scrutiny by the Committee to keep as many of the trees as possible.  Jim Orr wanted to thank whoever did the Streetscapes Guidelines.  He feels they did a wonderful job.  Mr. Orr also stated he learned a lot on the Planning Commission while he was a member and he appreciates the spirit of “what is best for Andover” that the Commission has. 

Lori Hays asked that the Commission be given an updated address and phone list of the Planning Commission and of the City Council.

Member Items

Motion was made to adjourn by Charles Malcom.  Joe Robertson seconded motion.  Motion approved 7-0. 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.