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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-19-J12 Fence Amendment 1060 SE Grant Woods Court AGENDA ITEM: CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMMUNICATION MEETING DATE: June 19, 2017 AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of approval of a resolution approving Agreement Concerning Construction of Fence [1060 SE Grant Woods Court] FORMAT: Resolution SYNOPSIS INCLUDING PRO & CON: At the June 5th City Council Meeting, the property owner of the property located at 1060 SE Grant Woods Court requested the City Council consider allowing for the construction of a fence within a landscape buffer easement located along University Avenue which backs up to the property. Please see attached memo regarding further information on the issue as well as staff’s recommendation. FISCAL IMPACT INCLUDING COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS: COMMISSION/BOARD/COMMITTEE COMMENT: STAFF REVIEW AND COMMENT: Based upon the analysis provided in the staff memo dated 6/9/17, staff would recommend that the proposed resolution not be approved. RECOMMENDATION: Deny the resolution. ATTACHMENTS: I. Proposed Resolution II. Staff memo dated 06/09/17 PREPARED BY: Brad Deets, Development Services Director REVIEWED BY: M emo Waukee City Hall 230 Highway 6 Waukee IA 50263 Office: (515) 987-4522 Cell: (515) 250-7986 Facsimile: (515) 987-1845 To: Mayor and City Council Members CC: Tim Moerman, City Administrator From: Brad Deets, Development Services Director Date: June 9, 2017 Re: Request for Modification of Landscape Buffer – 1060 SE Grant Woods Ct. Attach: Request: At the June 5, 2017 City Council Meeting, Justin Washburn, Caliber Homes, on behalf of Jonathan Ewing, the property owner of 1060 SE Grant Woods Court, requested that the City Council consider eliminating the landscape buffer requirements along University Avenue to allow for the property owner to install a privacy fence up to the property line. Background: Requirements for landscape buffers along double frontage lots were modified in 2012 to require a minimum 25 foot landscape buffer along the frontage that would be considered the rear of the property. Previously, there had been a requirement for a 10 foot buffer. The purpose of the landscape buffer is to provide space between the public street and the adjoining yards to allow for adequate landscaping to be installed to create a natural buffer along the adjoining street and to reduce the appearance of fences being constructed right up adjacent to the sidewalk. The required buffer is pretty universal across the metro area and is very apparent in other neighboring communities such as Clive, Urbandale and West Des Moines. In Waukee, perhaps the most complete area where the current 25 foot buffer requirement has been implemented is along Douglas Parkway between Alice’s Road and Warrior Lane. There are also areas along LA Grant Parkway that were developed with the current 25 foot buffer requirement. As a part of the final platting process, a Landscape Buffer easement is established and recorded with the plat which among other things, restricts the construction of fences within the easement area. In April, City staff noticed that a fence was in the process of being constructed at 1060 SE Grant Woods Court without the issuance of a building permit. The owner at the time, Caliber Homes, was contacted and told that a permit was required for a fence and that it could not be located within the 25 foot landscape buffer along University Avenue. Work stopped on the fence until the owner could approach the City Council to make the request to eliminate the buffering requirements specific to this property. Process: Because the landscape buffer is established as an easement, the City Council is the only body that can either modify or eliminate the easement language. In order to allow for the fence to be constructed as originally proposed, the City Council would have to approve an Amendment to the Easement to modify the language to allow for the construction of a fence within the easement area. If the City Council chose to move forward with the amendment to the easement, then the property owner would be required to request a height variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment as the fence could M emo Waukee City Hall 230 Highway 6 Waukee IA 50263 Office: (515) 987-4522 Cell: (515) 250-7986 Facsimile: (515) 987-1845 only be a total height of four feet within what is considered a front yard setback. In this case, the property owner desires to construct a 6 foot tall fence. Recommendation: It would be staff’s recommendation to not amend the easement language to allow for the fence for the following reasons: 1. Landscape buffering requirements are established within the Zoning Ordinance and in addition an easement was established upon the property which included specific provisions restricting the construction of fences within the easement area. 2. The purpose of the landscape buffer is to provide relief from the appearance of large fences abutting the public sidewalk. 3. A modification related to this specific property would be contrary to other property owners within the City that have the same landscape buffering requirements and have complied with the setback. 4. Finally, in this case, the fence was in the process of being constructed without a fence. There was no communication between the property owner and City staff prior to the commencement of the proposed fence. Should the Council have any questions regarding any the information provided within this memo, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 978-7899. THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA RESOLUTION 17- APPROVING AN AGREEMENT CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION OF FENCE [1060 SE GRANT WOODS COURT] IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA WHEREAS, the City of Waukee, Dallas County, State of Iowa, is a dul y organized Municipal Organization; AND, WHEREAS, JOHNATHAN EWING, is the owner of Lot 16 in Grant Woods Waukee Plat 1 (“Property Owner”); AND, WHEREAS, the Property Owner is desirous of installing a fence on the property; AND, WHEREAS, Grant Woods, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company, predecessor in title to the Property Owner, granted that certain Landscape Buffer Easement, recorded in Book 2015, Page 14711 (the “Easement”) AND, WHEREAS, the fence is intended to be erected within a portion of the Easement; AND, WHEREAS, the Easement prohibits the Property Owners from locating any fence or other structure within the Easement area without the written consent of the City of Waukee; AND, WHEREAS, the City of Waukee is agreeable to the construction of a fence within a portion of the Easement area pursuant to the terms of the Agreement Concerning Construction of Fence. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Waukee, Iowa on this 19th day of June, 2017 that the Agreement Concerning Construction of Fence in connection with the Property is hereby approved and accepted by the City of Waukee, and the City Clerk is hereby authorized to file such first amendment to easement with the Dallas County, Iowa Recorder. ____________________________ William F. Peard, Mayor Attest: ___________________________________ Rebecca D. Schuett, City Clerk ROLL CALL VOTE AYE NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN Anna Bergman R. Charles Bottenberg Brian Harrison Shelly Hughes Larry R. Lyon WHEN RECORDED RETURN TO: Rebecca D. Schuett Waukee City Clerk 230 W. Hickman Road Waukee, Iowa 50263 Preparer Information: Bradly M. Deets, City of Waukee, 230 W. Hickman Road, Waukee, Iowa 50263 Phone: (515) 987-4522 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ AGREEMENT CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION OF FENCE [1060 SE GRANT WOODS COURT] This Agreement of Consent (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between JOHNATHAN R. EWING, (the “Property Owner”) and the CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA, a municipal corporation (hereinafter called “City”). WHEREAS, Property Owner own that property legally described as: Lot 16 of Grant Woods Waukee Plat 1, City of Waukee, Dallas County, Iowa WHEREAS, GRANT WOODS, L.L.C., an Iowa limited liability company, predecessors in title to the Property Owner, granted that certain Landscape Buffer Easement, dated August 26, 2015, recorded on September 8, 2015, in Book 2015, Page 14711 (the “Easement”) to the City, which prohibited the construction of permanent improvements within the Easement area, as such real estate is described on Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference (hereinafter called "Easement Area"), without the consent of the City. WHEREAS, the Property Owner desires to construct a fence on a portion of the Property that is located within the Easement Area, and the City has agreed to consent to the erection of such fence on a portion of the Property that is located within the Easement Area, subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2 in this agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows: 1. CITY CONSENT TO ERECTION OF FENCE. The Easement prohibits Property Owners from locating any fence or other structure under, over, on, through, across or within the Easement Area without obtaining the prior written consent of the City. Property Owners desire to construct a fence on a portion of Property that is located within the Easement Area at the location identified on Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. The City hereby consents to the construction of the fence at the location identified on Exhibit B, within the Easement Area subject to, and conditioned upon, the provisions of this agreement. 2. MAINTENANCE AND LIABILITY. The Property Owner acknowledges and agree that in the event that the City exercises its rights under the Easement, including the rights to construct, reconstruct, repair, replace, enlarge, inspect and maintain the landscape buffer area, the City's duty of restoration for the portion of the Property located in the Easement Area shall be limited to grading and replacing grass, sod or any other ground cover (but not including repair or replacing any paved roadway, driveway, sidewalk, parking, curb, trees or shrubs). In no event shall the City be responsible for any reconstruction, replacement, repair or maintenance of the fence or any improvements or structure located on the Property within the Easement Area. Property Owners further understands and agrees that upon 30 days written notice from the City, Property Owners shall remove the fence and associated material from the easement area, and restore the easement area to its state prior to the installation of the fence, at property owners sole cost and expense. 3. NO CHANGE. This agreement does not alter, modify or otherwise change any the Easement. The consent afforded hereunder is conditional and subject to revocation by the City as provided herein. The consent afforded by the City under this agreement is limited to the specific fence and location provided herein. The Property Owners are aware of the terms of the Easement and understands that the consent afforded herein does not alter or otherwise change Property Owners responsibilities as more particularly set forth in the easement in any way. 4. HOLD HARMLESS. The Grantor(s), subsequent property owners, their successors and assigns agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the City, its elected officials, employees, officers, agents, representatives, contractors, and attorneys from and against any and all claims or demands for liability, loss, damage, costs, expenses, or attorney's fees of any ki nd for actions or omissions of the Grantor(s) in the easement area, or in any way arising out of or in connection with any occurrence in any way related to this Easement or the location, placement, construction and/or erection of the fence within the easement area. 5. RUNS WITH THE LAND. This Agreement shall be deemed to run with the land and shall be binding on the Property Owners and on the Property Owners’ heirs, successors and assigns. 6. APPROVAL BY CITY COUNCIL. This Agreement shall not be binding until it has received the final approval and acceptance by the City Council by Resolution which approval and acceptance shall be noted on this Agreement by the City Clerk. The Property Owners do HEREBY COVENANT with the City that (i) the Property Owners hold said real estate described in this Agreement by title in fee simple; (ii) that the Property Owners have good and lawful authority to convey the same; and (iii) the Property Owners covenant to WARRANT AND DEFEND the said premises against the claims of all persons whomsoever. Words and phrases herein, including acknowledgment hereof, shall be construed as in the singular or plural number, and as masculine or feminine gender, according to the context. Signed this ___ day of ______________, 2017. PROPERTY OWNERS ________________________________ JOHNATHAN R. EWING CITY OF WAUKEE By: ___________________________ William F. Peard, Mayor Attest: _____________________________ Rebecca D. Schuett City Clerk STATE OF IOWA ) ) SS COUNTY OF __________ ) On this _____ day of __________________, 2017, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State of Iowa, personally appeared JOHNATHAN R. EWING, to me known to be the identical person named in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that this person executed the instrument as the voluntary act of the person. _______________________________ Notary Public in and for the State of Iowa My Commission expires ________ STATE OF IOWA ) ) ss. COUNTY OF DALLAS ) On this ____ day of _______________, 2017, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State of Iowa, personally appeared William F. Peard and Rebecca D. Schuett, to me personally known, and, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that they are the Mayor and the City Clerk, respectively, of the City of Waukee, Iowa; that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of the corporation, and that the instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of the corporation, by authority of its City Council, as contained in Resolution No. _________ adopted by the City Council, under Roll Call of the City Council on the ____ day of _______________, 2017, and that William F. Peard and Rebecca D. Schuett acknowledged the execution of the instrument to be their voluntary act and deed and the voluntary act and deed of the corporation, by it voluntarily executed. ______________________________ Notary Public in and for the State of Iowa My Commission expires ________ EXHIBIT A EASEMENT AREA A LANDSCAPE BUFFER EASEMENT LOCATED IN GRANT WOODS PLAT 1, AN OFFICIAL PLAT IN THE CITY OF WAUKEE, DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA, THAT IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: THE SOUTH 25.00 FEET OF LOT 16 IN GRANT WOODS PLAT 1. EXHIBIT B LOCATION OF FENCE = Fence Location