City Council - 02/23/1976 - Joint Meeting M I N U T E S
JOINT COUNCI L P LANNING CONISSION MEETING
approved
T Monday, February 23, 1976 6:00 PM City Hall
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COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Penzel, Tim Pierce, Joan Meyers
PLANNING CO'.[AISSION PRESENT: Chairman Don Sorensen, Rod Sundstrom, Richard Lynch,
Herb rosnocht, Norma Schee.
COMCiL ABSENT: Billy Bye, Sidney Pauly .
C(Z24ISSION ABSENT: William Bearman, Sidney Pauly
STAFF PRESL'':T: Roger Ulstad, Dick Putnam, Jean Johnson, Harlan Perbix
I. K'ELCChfE BY MAYOR PENZfiL A.N'D PLANNING Cat%ITSSION CHAIPXkN DCN SORENSEN.
Mayor Penzel and Chairman Sorensen welcomed the members to the meeting. r
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II. DISCUSSION. TOPICS.
A. The role that the City assumes in land use planning and development
controls.
B. The relationship between City policies such as environmental, social
and fiscal and their impact upon community development decisions .
Sorensen questioned what are City policies, and if they are uniformly applied
to all projects.
} Penzel believed a land use plan and policies are necessary to retain the
desirable character and amenities of a city.
Sorensen inquired if market factors are used to evaluate projects. . Penzel
did not believe such a statement could be said about the council as a whole.
Meyers stated some developers have said policies established in the 1968 Guide
Plan are not realistic in today's market and the feasibility of the goals should
be evaluated.
Schee remarked that study after study is attempted to establish and clarify
policies, but the studies are not adopted and the Planning Commission is not given
reasons for the action and is left without concrete policies.
Lynch agreed with Schee and stated long hours and deliberation go into
the Commission's recommendations and when recommendations on major issues are not
supported it leaves the Commission in the dark.
Meyers believed it is possible for people to look at the same policy and
interpret it differently.
Pierce believed land is unique and should be considered on its individual
merits and the Guide Plan is a guide and certain decisions may vary from that Plan.
Sorensen stated in the Condon/Nacgelc case the Planning Cummission felt other
developers have successfully dcvclol)ed property with less encroachment in other
areas of the MCA, the CNP. site is unsuited for a6to dealerships, and without a
crack study it is impossible to know what tradeoffs the city is agreeing to.
t, .approved
Joint Council/Planning Commission Meeting February 23, 1976
page 2 - -
Sundstrom stated lie agrees with the Guide Plan policies and feels -things
, .' will become subjective if people do not follow the same policies. He believed
the City should try to influence the use of land within the City because it is k
finite and to do so uniformly policies should be followed.
Lynch believed policy changes occur on the tough decisions and questioned if
fiscal concerns are important factors.
Pierce stated council member' s reasons for voting certain ways on issues are
different and cannot be grouped under one heading.
Fosncoht felt for the Planning Commission to better review proposals it should
be cognizant of how the Council feels on the studies that were ccnducted and
received as references and not adopted as amendments to the Guide Plan. x
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Sorensen questioned if reaction is to individual proposals and not according to
policies. For example,the Skelly and Phoenix requests were similar but different •
action was taken in both cases. Sorensen then asked for the City Attorney's
opinion on the merit of consistency.
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Harlan Perbix said there is merit to consistency, but at the same time the Planning
Commission must be aware the Council does consider other factors than just policies.
L Sundstrom questioned what the City should do in between the completed Guide Plan
update and the present confusion. .
Penzel stated existing policies should govern.
C. Uniform application of City policy to all land development requests.
Sundst'rcni believed 1 purpose of the present Guide Plant is consistency of
application .
Pierce inquired if project review time limits could be established.
Penzel reported the Chamber of Commerce will probably be submitting a letter
addressing the same. topic .
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Sorensen mentioned that consideration should be given to the staffs' limited time
and problems encountered by developers that sometimes delays projects .
D. The desired process for the Comprehensive Guide Plan Update.
Lynch and Sorensen stated they were disappointed with the forum held Feb. Sth. 1
Manager Roger Jlstad suggested a March 1S or 15 meeting be established with the
Council , Planning Commission, staff, and Brauer to discuss the update and the•
contract. . , •
Mayor Penzel thanked the members for their participation and asked for their
continued communication.
111 . ADJ CXII.N.LENT.
Meyers moved, Pierce seconded, to adjourn at 7:55 PM. The motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted
Jean Johnson