HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-04-11-Work Session MinutesCITY OF WAUKEE
DEVELOPER ROUNDTABLE MEETING
City Hall Council Chambers
April 11,2005
Persons Present:Mark Arentsen
Jody Gunderson
Michelle Durand Adams
Dennis Dowell
Nick Gruber
Rick Tollakson
Bob Lundstrum
J erry Steele
Chad Weaver
Tony Oberman
Darlene Stanton
Jeff Mertz
John Gibson
Frank Hoifeldt
Bill Spencer
Don Bailey
Council members Nick Gruber,Darlene Stanton,Jeff Mertz and Don Bailey,Jr.were present at
the meeting because of an interest in the subjects being discussed.Nick Gruber and J eff Mertz
were scheduled to be at this meeting.Darlene Stanton and Don Bailey,Jr.felt it important to be
present and were interested in the topics scheduled for discussion.This was not a planned
meeting for the Council and there was insufficient time to post a notice.
Meeting called to order at 6:16 P.M.
Old business:
Roll call:Mayor Oberman,Present.Council Members Mertz,Gruber,Stanton,Bailey Present.
Council Member Peard Absent.
Agenda Item A.Approve minutes of January 31 st meeting
Discussion:Motion to approve minutes made by Council Member Gruber.Seconded by Mertz.
Minutes approved unanimously,
Agenda Item B:Status of New Development Directional Signage
Discussion:The signage subcommittee reported they have several quotes back,the lowest being
from Aztec Signs in Dallas Center.Rick Tollakson reminded the committee of the
significance of the project;other communities are looking at what the City of
Waukee does as an example for their communities,The committee agreed that a
few extra dollars might be added to the original costs if they felt quality was being
sacrificed.The subcommittee had a basic design of the signs to share with the
committee;however,nothing is definite.Council Member Stanton reminded the
committee they needed to submit a conceptual plan to the City Council as soon as
possible to ensure the Council was behind the directional signage.The committee
agreed to present the subcommittee report to the Council at the next meeting to
inform the Council of the project and its'benefits.
Agenda Item C:Review of Multifamily/Townhome Design Standards Ordinance
Discussion:Mark Arentsen informed the connnittee the new ordinance had passed its first
reading in Council and was scheduled for second and final readings.With much
discussion,the current copy ofthe ordinance implemented many ofthe suggested
changes from the developers on the committee.However,Bill Spencer expressed
concem over the hard surface requirements;he does not want to see projects get
rejected because they did not "fit the grid."Chad Weaver suggested the ordinance
allows for flexibility so that each project could still be reviewed on an individual
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basis,and exceptions could be made.There was some disagreement among the
committee members about this particular interpretation ofthe ordinance;some
council members suggested they would adhere to the grid as minimum
requirements while other members intimated these restrictions could be lifted to
allow for more creative designs.Rick Tollakson encouraged a process that would
allow for more creative projects in Waukee,and many ofthe developers at the
meeting did not feel this hard surface requirement was the best way to approach the
problem.Mayor Oberman encouraged all committee members to speak at the next
Council meeting regarding the ordinance.
Agenda Item D:Continued discussion of utility pedestals location
Discussion:Bill Spencer brought the issue of the utility pedestals to the utility companies at his
last scheduled meeting with them;the utilities appeared to be willing to discuss the
issue with the City of Waukee.Bill Spencer said he would email the utility contact
list to Mark Arentsen;Mark will set up a meeting with them to discuss options to
make the utility pedestals less obvious and more uniform,Requests to have a
utility representative at the next meeting were expressed by connnittee members.
Currently,the City does approve submitted utility plans;however,once the plan is
approved,no follow up inspections are done.As long as the pedestals are located in
the utility easement,the City has limited jurisdiction.John Gibson,Director of
Public Works,will research whether or not such an inspection system could be set
in place that would allow the City to have more control over final appearances of
the boxes.
Agenda Item E:WRA Status
Discussion:Mark Arentsen updated the committee on the WRA progress.Currently,RFP's
have been sent to approximately six engineering firms in the area.At least one
finn has expressed interest in responding to the RFP although no responses have
been received.The deadline for responses is Monday,April 18.
Agenda Item F:Review of Overland Park,Kansas ordinances
Discussion:Chad Weaver,Director of Planning,is in the process of aggregating all tile data
from the initial stages of review from meeting with members of Planning and
Zoning,The ordinances have been pared down to those the P &Z committee felt
would benefit Waukee.As soon as the final report is completed,it will go before
the P&Z connnittee to begin formal review of those remaining ordinances.
New Business:
Agenda Item A:City Attorney Search status
Discussion:Notices have been published in the paper,sent to firms,and posted online for a new
City Attorney,The City has begun to get some responses from local films.The
deadline is Monday,April 18th.
Agenda Item B:Status of potential new plats
Discussiou:Many of the new plats coming to Waukee are in the southern portion of Waukee.
Agenda Item C:Review of2005 building permits issued
Discussion:According to Dennis Dowell,Waukee Code Compliance Officer,issued building
permits are on a record pace for 2005.
Agenda Item D:2005 Home Show Update
Discussion:Mark Arentsen remarked that the Home Builder's Association has met with the
City three times so far.Many ofthe details are coming along well within the time
line for the Home Show,There will be parking,hard surface walks going to all
houses,and the park equipment plan is almost done.
Agenda Item E:Clarification of allowable front yard fencing
Discussion:It has recently come to the attention of the City there is confusion regarding what is 'I
or is not a front yard.The city code is being amended to clarify that only a 4 foot
fence can be built in a front yard setback,providing covenants allow for a fence.
Agenda Item F:Potential reduction oftownhome densities from 17 units per acre.
Discussion:Chad Weaver informed the committee that in the past there has been an
unintentional blending ofR-3 and R-4 zoning.This proposed reduction of
densities would help further separate the two classifications.R-3 would remain for
apartments and condos with a density of 15-17.The change would occur for
townhomes;the densities for these structures would fall from 15-17 to 8-12.This
change would not affect ally current buildings or proj ects in Waukee.Mr.Weaver
also mentioned there were no townhomes in Waukee that he was aware of that did
not already meet this requirement.This change would merely bring Waukee up to
similar standards with metro communities.
Motion by Gruber to adjourn.Seconded by Mertz.Motion approved unanimously,
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Sara Mullen,Recording Secretary
Attest:
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TOGi)'~an,Mayor
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