REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
October 25, 2007 7:00 p.m.
Public Safety Building
3925 W Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah
Present: Steve Kroes, Chair, Presiding (7:07 p.m.)
Commission: Clifton Chandler, Scott Jackman, Donald Steele, H.R. Brown (7:05 p.m.), Tom Gleason (7:09 p.m.)
Jeff Maag, Building Inspector
Greg Robinson, Assistant to the City Manager-Planning
Courtney Hammond, City Meeting Transcriber
Eric Richardson, Council Representative
Others: Lone Peak High School students, Jim Perry (8:31 p.m.)
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
1. This meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Cedar Hills, having been posted throughout the City and the press notified, was called to order 7:03 p.m. by C. Chandler.
C. Jackman was recognized as a voting member.
SCHEDULED ITEMS
2. Approval of Minutes from the September 27, 2007, Public Hearing and Regular Planning Commission Meeting (7:03 p.m.)
MOTION: C. Jackman - To approve the minutes from the September 27, 2007, Public Hearing and Regular Planning Commission Meeting. Seconded by C. Steele.
Aye-C. Chandler
C. Jackman
C. Steele Motion passes.
MOTION: C. Chandler - To move item 4 before item 3. Seconded by C. Jackman.
Aye-C. Chandler
C. Jackman
C. Steele Motion passes.
4. Review/Recommendation on Amendments to the City Code, Title 10, Chapter 5, Section27, Landscaping (7:04 p.m.)
See handouts. Jeff Maag stated that these amendments cover issues arising from corner lots, landscape bonds, time lines of enforcement, and the landscaping of existing homes. The new language refers to setback areas rather than frontage to cover the side lots of corner houses. Staff felt that any landscape bond would be significant and may result in private property and liability issues. Staff recommended changing the landscaping bond to a landscaping administration bond of $1,000. The bond would be forfeited at the end of the 9-month time period. The bond would then be used for enforcement and legal fees associated with enforcement. This amendment also changes the notification on new construction to the date of final inspection approval rather than the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, because many Certificates of Occupancy are never picked up. For existing dwellings the 9-month time period starts from the voluntary compliance notification.
C. Richardson said that part of the reason the City Council sent this ordinance back to the Planning Commission is because staff interpreted the ordinance to allow 27 months for landscaping. The intent was nine months. He said the philosophy behind the escrow bond was that it would provide a carrot to new homeowners to install their landscaping. It also ensures that money is set aside for landscaping. A change to an administrative bond is a change in philosophy.
Commission Discussion:
• C. Kroes clarified that those with corner lots would have to landscape across the entire lot in both directions.
• Jeff Maag stated that the purpose of the bond was to cover administrative costs associated with administering the fee schedule and possible litigation required. C. Jackman and C. Brown were concerned that the administrative bond may not be enough of an incentive for new owners to put in landscaping in a timely manner. Another concern was that the fee schedule wasn’t severe enough to act as an incentive for timely installation.
• C. Brown stated that he felt the bond amount should be raised to act as a bigger incentive. He proposed raising it to $2,000.
• C. Kroes asked for the following changes:
• In Section F. “or forfeiture of bond” should be added after each reading of “Administrative Citation.”
• In Section D. Landscape Administration Bond Required, the second sentence should read “This bond will be forfeited if the landscape is not completed as per paragraph 2 of this section.”
• C. Jackman recommended that the City Council should review the fee schedule and increase the monthly fine.
MOTION: C. Jackman - To recommend approval of the amended Landscaping Ordinance with the following amendments: section D, paragraph 1 should clarify paragraph 2 as to the time period; in section F add, after administrative citation add “or forfeiture of bond” at the beginning of the paragraph and at the end; and change the amount of the bond in section 1 to $2,000 in place of $1,000. Seconded by C. Brown.
Aye-C. Brown
C. Chandler
C. Gleason
C. Kroes
C. Jackman
C. Steele Motion passes.
MOTION: C. Steele - We make a recommendation to the City Council to review the landscaping installation fine within the fee schedule to increase the fee. Seconded by C. Gleason.
Further Discussion:
• C. Jackman said that he thinks that the Planning Commission should make a recommendation as to what the fee schedule should be.
• C. Kroes stated that when you take away someone’s discretionary income with fees, you take away their ability to landscape.
• C. Steele stated that he wants to leave his motion as a recommendation to increase the fees, with no exact dollar amounts.
Aye-C. Brown
C. Chandler
C. Gleason
C. Kroes
C. Jackman
C. Steele Motion passes.
3. Review/Recommendation on the Final Plat for Cottonwood Hills Estates Subdivision (8:06 p.m.)
See handouts. Greg Robinson stated that the Planning Commission had recommended changing the alignment of the path. The estimate for changing the path is $50,000 and the trail grade would exceed 21 percent. The cost and grade make the change in the trail alignment prohibitive. The trail in front of lots 5, 6 and 7 will maintain the 9-foot trail width and will be concrete. Below lot 7 the trail becomes asphalt. The final plat includes a speed limit sign. It is not anticipated that lots 1-4 can be sold until after the well is completed in the spring.
The other city-owned property to be developed called St. Andrews Estates is moving forward. Development issues have been worked out and the next Planning Commission meeting will consider that subdivision.
Commission Discussion:
The Planning Commission recommended that piers be required, as well as a pull forward from driveways and that the speed limit be reduced to 20 mph. Greg Robinson stated that the pull forward was an oversight that should have been included. The piers are not currently on the plat. David Bunker has recommended piers as a condition of sale. The speed limit could be changed at any time that it is deemed necessary.
MOTION: C. Jackman - To approve the Cottonwood Hills Estates final plat subject to recording on the final plat the use of piers and a pull forward requirement on each driveway. Seconded by C. Steele.
Aye-C. Brown
C. Chandler
C. Gleason
C. Kroes
C. Jackman
C. Steele Motion passes.
5. Committee Assignments and Reports (8:47 p.m.)
• C. Brown He would like to be the Planning Commission liaison to the Golf Course Advisory Committee.
• C. Kroes He will be serving on the Traffic Safety and Livability Oversight Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
6. Adjourn
This meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m. on a motion by C. Chandler, seconded by C. Gleason and unanimously approved.
/s/ Kim E. Holindrake
Approved by Commission: Kim E. Holindrake, City Recorder
November 29, 2007