FLUSHING PLANNING COMMISSION

 

MINUTES

 

OCTOBER 3, 2007

 

A Regular Meeting of the Flushing Planning Commission was called to order by Chairperson   Robert Matsko on October 3, 2007 at 7:30 P.M. at City Hall.

 

Present:          Dennis Bueche

                        Kevin Keane

                        Ron Johnson

                        Robert Matsko

                        Dan Borgerding

                        C Neil Blackmore

                        Jack Owens

                        John Olson

                        John Gault

 

Absent:           None

 

                       

 

 

Also Present: Dennis Bow, City Manager

                        Marlene C. Stone, Deputy Clerk

                        Douglas Piggott, Rowe Planner

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

 

 

             Approval of Minutes:           JUNE 26, 2007 (SPECIAL MEETING)      

 

            MOTION by Olson, supported by Gault, to approve the minutes of June 26, 2007 as written.

           

            Yea: 8

            Nay: 0

            Motion carried.

            (Kevin Keane arrived at 7:38 p.m.)

 

Meeting open for public comments:

 

            Terry Reechko

            1214 Coutant Street

 

Meeting closed for public comments:

 

 

FLUSHING PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES

OCTOBER 3, 2007

PAGE 2

 

New Business:           POSSIBLE AMENDMENT TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE

                                                            (ELECTRONIC SIGNS)

 

            MOTION by Keane, supported by Olson, to recommend City Council set

                        up a Committee to revisit the sign ordinance to address possible changes

                        with regard to new technology in a changing community.

           

            Yea: 9

            Nay: 0

            Motion carried.

 

 

Discussion:

  • Mr. Bow advised the Commission that he believes the City of Flushing needs to address electronic signs, which are not covered in our Ordinance.  Mr. Bow had asked Mr. Piggott, Rowe Planner, to look into and provide some ideas on what we could do to modify our Sign Ordinance to address the future requests for this type of sign. Mr. Piggott provided a memorandum to the Commission with some information and discussed the different types of signs possible and advised the Commission to try to come to some type of consensus on how they would want to address these signs.
  • Mr. Piggott advised the Commission that some municipalities limit or address animated signs for:

1.      Traffic safety.

2.      Flashing lights in the evening near residential homes.

3.      Frequency of message changes.

4.      Size & height.

5.      Allow in certain Zoning districts.

6.      School signage – may want a legal opinion because of court decisions.

  • Mr. Piggott advised the Commission that they can do an annual review of Special Use permits to determine if they are in compliance with the regulations approved with the permit.
  • Mr. Piggott stated some communities have set up sign overlay districts to solve the problem of using zoning districts where the sign could be workable in part of a zoning district but not another.
  • Mr. Bow suggested we may want to set up a committee to address the sign ordinance and include a good mix of residents, business people, City Council and Planning Commission.

 

 

 

 

FLUSHING PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES

OCTOBER 3, 2007

PAGE 3

 

  • Mr. John Delehanty, Delehanty Car Dealership, said that when we review the Ordinance we may want to have some sign companies demonstrate the different types of signs to be aware of what the signage looks like.  He could help contact the sign companies.
  • The Commission also would like to set up a time frame to work on and complete the proposed changes to the Sign Ordinance.

 

 

New Business:           SET A PUBLIC HEARING – SPECIAL USE PERMIT WITH SITE

                                                                                           PLAN – DELEHANTY PROJECT

                                                                                                (Pending final submission of plan)

Discussion:

 

·        Mr. Bow advised the Commission that Mr. Delehanty will be submitting a request to expand parking cars on three lots adjacent to the car dealership. (One lot to the east and two to the west.)  Mr. Delehanty later stated they were only interested in parking cars on the two properties to the west.  Mr. Bow advised the Commission that at present the ordinance would only allow for one car to be parked on each lot.

·        Mr. Bow advised the Commission that the Ordinance site plan requirements are quite detailed and asked them to address how much detail they will need.  The Commission has some discretion on the amount of detail needed. (The ordinance requires such items as drainage, adjacent properties, fencing, signs etc.)  Mr. Bow believes we would not need engineering/drainage on the plan because the property drainage is already established and would not be changed.  We will need to address signs not in compliance by variance or removal.

 

 

General Discussion:              CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN

 

  • Mr. Bow provided a copy of the Capital Improvements Plan to the Commission to review for additions, subtractions or changes.  We will discuss this at the

December 3, 2007 meeting.

 

 

Adjournment:

 

            MOTION by Gault, supported by Borgerding, to adjourn.

 

            Yea: 9

            Nay: 0

            Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

 

mcs