Evansville Large Scale Commercial
Development Study Committee
Thursday, May 11, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
UNAPPROVED MINUTES OF
FINAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Present: Chair Chris Eager, Alderman Bill Hammann, Dean Arnold, Kelly Gildner, Sandy Decker, City Planner Tim Schwecke.
The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. by Chair Chris Eager.
The minutes of the April 13, 2006 meeting were approved as written.
Committee members Chris Eager, Janis Ringhand and Sandy Decker, as well as City Planner Tim Schwecke, attended the Chamber of Commerce membership meeting on April 20, 2006. Mr. Schwecke gave a brief description of the work of the Committee and explained several draft ordinance sections. Members of the business community were invited to attend the public information session on April 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Chris Eager made brief comments, mentioning the benefit to the community of taking a proactive approach to planning for future commercial development.
No citizens appeared at the April 27 listening session. One business owner did contact a committee member to suggest the inclusion of standards for fences, such as style, direction of “right” side of fence, etc. Verbiage will be included that fences will be compatible with surrounding buildings and properties.
The Committee discussed the benefits of requiring an economic impact analysis for smaller commercial projects. The costs of an analysis can easily exceed $10,000. The consensus of the committee was to keep 40,000 square feet as the point at which an economic impact analysis becomes a requirement.
Adjustments were suggested to the border of the Main Street and Allen Creek Districts. Because the Historic District ends at Allen’s Creek, the properties between the Creek and the railroad tracks should be included in the Allen Creek District. The western boundary of the Allen Creek District should follow Allen Creek north of Main Street.
There was discussion regarding incorporating possible future development on Highway 213 on the south edge of the city as another Gateway District. The Committee decided that with the current zoning of the area, it was unnecessary to include a separate area at this time.
The Committee suggested 500 trip ends as the trigger for the requirement of a traffic impact analysis. City Engineer Dave Sauer will be consulted for his recommendation.
Tim Schwecke will research typical opacity levels for commercial properties in the Main Street District.
The draft ordinance will be presented to the Plan Commission at its June meeting. The actual implementation of recommendations will occur through multiple, enacted ordinances over a number of months, e.g. parking, lighting and landscaping ordinances.
The Committee identified the top priorities in implementation of its recommendations to be:
Passage of Large Scale Commercial Development ordinance.
Establishment of Allen Creek, Main Street and Gateway commercial districts.
Incorporation of detailed design standards.
Tim Schwecke will provide a Power Point presentation of the Large Scale Commercial Draft Ordinance, seek sponsors of the proposed ordinance and go forward with a first reading at the June 5, 2006 Plan Commission meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Prepared by:
Sandy Decker, Secretary
Once again it seems a committee oversteps its charge. This committee was supposed to decide standards for big box stores. We should have expected things like square footage and lot size alone. Instead they appear to have expanded that to include recommending district boundaries and fence standards.
ReplyDeleteThey even blatantly go on to include smaller commercial projects. What’s "Big" about small projects?
These committees should stick to the task at hand and not expand into areas they don't belong in order to push personal agendas.
I agree. Just look at the names on some of these committees. These committees are not appointed with diversity in mind. They seem to be appointed with a predetermined outcome ensured.
ReplyDelete