06-01-1976 Regular MeetingPLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
A meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was held in the Council
Chambers on Tuesday, June 1, 1976. The meeting was called to order at
7:30 P. M. by Chairwoman Ray with the following members present: Messrs.
Sullivan, Norquist, Knowles, Czech, Jones and Sargent. City officials
present were Councilman Charles Beals, City Manager Tiffany and Building
Official Nagel.
The Invocation was given by Chairwoman Ray.
The Minutes of the meeting held on May 4, 1976 were approved as written.
Definition of "Structure" and Maximum Lot Coverage
City Manager Tiffany advised that as a result of research regard-
ing tennis courts in residential areas, he had discovered that
the definition of "Structure in our zoning ordinance, in relation
to the maximum lot coverage requirements for each zoning district,
needs to be clarified. City Attorney Baird advises that all
structures, including private recreation facilities, must be
considered in the computation of maximum lot coverage, and
recommended that this problem be referred to the Planning and
Zoning Commission for consideration. As the ordinance is now
written, the administrative staff feels that all structures must
be considered in maximum lot coverage computation.
In discussion of this problem, it was general consensus of the
commission that the present code as written is too stringent in
its definition of "Structure" by including "anything constructed
or erected on the ground or attached to something located on
the ground". No recommendations were made and Chairwoman Ray
referred the matter to the Planning Committee for further study
with their recommendations to be discussed at a future meeting.
Mr. Norquist questioned what our stringent ordinance would do
to the value of property because as it now stands it appears
to restrict propert y owners from improving their property. The
Secretary was requested to obtain copies of zoning ordinances
from several communities in Lake County for study of definitions
of structure and maximum lot coverage computation.
Rezoning C-2 to R-3
City Councilman Charles Beals asked if the Commission had
considered rezoning for the south half of the block between 7th
Street and Lake Avenue in view of their recent recommendations
on a new Central Business zoning district.
After due discussion, motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by
Mr.Norquist and carried that recommendation be made to City
Council that the zoning of the south half of Block 75 (Lots 4 thru
6 and 14 thru 20) facing Juniata Street be rezoned from the
present C-2 zoning to R-3 zoning. The commission felt that
it was an oversight in their recommendations on rezoning of
the CBD to leave these lots in a C-2 zone.
Fire Protection
With regards the City's fire protection, motion was made by Mr.
Jones that recommendation be made to the City Council that full
time personnel be available 24 hours a day, on a rotating shift,
to be responsible to drive the fire truck to a fire. The motion
carried with Messrs. Czech and Sargent voting Naye. Mr. Cech stated
he voted Naye, as he would like to see this recommendation referred
to the City Manager and the Fire Chief for them to explain more
fully the cause for the delay in the fire call to the Stephens'
residence and what the normal procedure is for answering fire
calls. Mr. Sargent stated he voted Naye as he felt that first
a study should be made on ways and means to cut down response time
on fire calls. City Manager Tiffany interjected the comment that
the delay in a fire call earlier in the week was not a typical
situation since the primary pumper was at the garage at the time
of the fire call and had an unusual distance to travel to the fire.
Street Lights
As a result of a request from Mr. Jones that street lights be
installed between East Avenue and past Orange Hill Subdivision
along Grand Highway, the Chairwoman referred the matter to
the Safety Committee to make a survey of areas in the City where
they felt lighting was needed.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 P. M.
Ruth Alice Ray, Chairwoman
M. Dollar, Secretary