NEW WHITELAND PLAN COMMISSION
MARCH 27, 2007
7:00 pm
Jim Lasiter began the March meeting at 7:04 p.m. Members present were Jim Lasiter, Scott Alspach, Rudy Reading and Ray Rodgers. Terry Spencer and Tom Hause were both absent. Tim Guyer and Lee Robbins were present.
MINUTES:
Rudy motioned to accept the minutes from the previous meeting as presented. Ray seconded the motion. Vote was 4 affirmative.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Six building permits were issued, total of $286,862.00.
SELF STORAGE UNITS - MARK & DAWN FLICK:
Tim advised the members that he released the building permit for the self storage units on US 31, so we should see construction started soon.
PROPOSED SUBDIVISION - “PLEASANT RIDGE” - 75 WEST:
Jim Lasiter states that a sketch plan was submitted and there was a Tech Review meeting held for the proposed subdivision, “Pleasant Ridge”. Stoeppelwerth and Associates has responded to the Town’s concerns, does anyone have any comments?
Scott Alspach: He agrees with almost everything except the one entrance, he wants two entrances.
Gordon Kritz: At this time, Stoeppelwerth is submitting plans for 1 entrance, with two stub streets on the north and south ends. Gordon cannot speak for Westport if they are willing to change it to have two entrances, but for now they want to move ahead with one entrance.
Jim Lasiter: On the second page of the comments from Stoeppelwerth, the response to Jim’s comments. The comment states that any lots adjacent to the flood way, will be adjusted and no longer in the floodway as requested. In the tech review meeting, Jim suggested that Westport donate common areas 2 & 3 to the Town, and then we could accept the lots being a little smaller in size. They agreed in paragraph three about that, but they put a limit on the driveway. Jim has no idea what that driveway will cost. They must think it’s going to be more than that, so they have limited themselves on that approval.
On #2 - the tornado siren. Jim asked for a transformer to be installed close to the siren, which is an expense, but is cheaper to do it during development. There is no comment except for saying.....”subject to our expense”. That would be an extra expense to the town, and Jim really wanted the power to be supplied and that wasn’t addressed.
Plan Commission
March 27, 2007
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PROPOSED SUBDIVISION - “PLEASANT RIDGE” - 75 WEST:
On #6 - concerning the requested street lighting on 75 West. Stoeppelwerth responded that street lighting is not a requirement. Jim did not ask if it was a requirement, he just asked for it as a request. Jim believe’s that the Town has worked well with other developers in the past, on the subdivision control ordinance.
On # 7 - “Subject” is in capital letters, what does that mean?
#8 - same thing, (cleaning up fence line)...and that is with permission from the adjacent owners. So #7, sounds like there may be a problem if it isn’t what Westport wants.
If they want to go right down the line, then maybe we should request two entrances for sure and then when we go with the subdivision control ordinance, then we stay exactly with what it says. Jim agreed with Scott, that if we want two entrances, we can request two entrances.
Lee Robbins asked who the principals at Triton Development? Gordon replies that he deals with Jim VanNess.
Gordon stated that he cannot speak completely for Triton Development. Gordon isn’t sure how much it will cost to put in a drive to the common areas. Westport budgeted $20,000.00 to cover that. As for the tornado siren, Gordon states that Jim VanNess is definitely willing to donate the easement. Gordon talked about a little lane going to a strip of ground, and get some sort of drive going to it. Gordon can adjust the lots on the south part of the ground with no problem. From Gordon’s understanding from the Tech meeting, he thought the street lights along 75 West were a subdivision control requirement, that’s why he was looking for that information.
Gordon mentioned there are always bargaining tools. If the Town is set on two entrances, he might be willing to do that and put some street lights out on 75 West. Jim VanNess has absolutely no problem donating the ground, it’s just a fail safe for him, he has never worked in this area before. He is willing to donate it but wants to get all the final details worked out. Mr. Van Ness is covering himself on his initial response to your request on the park issue.
Jim Lasiter asked for any comments from the members. There was more discussion about the two entrances. Gordon suggested making the entrance wider, so if one lane is closed, the other lane could be used to enter and exit the subdivision. Scott Alspach mentioned that if there is a wreck on 75 West, no matter how wide the road into the subdivision is, by the time you get all the emergency gear parked on 75 West, it will shut everything down to the subdivision.
Plan Commission
March 27, 2007
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PROPOSED SUBDIVISION - “PLEASANT RIDGE” - 75 WEST
Jim Lasiter asked about the comment “subject to approval”, on the 10" main. Are you saying that you will run a 10" sewer main from the creek all the way to 75 West, straight and not have it tied into any of the subdivision? Gordon stated that the main trunk line from 75 West, from the subdivision entrance over to the interceptor, if the sewer is too big and we don’t have enough flow to push the flow through there, we may have to come in and flush it. In the meantime, we are going to send the sewer through a 10" pipe.
Lee Robbins states that if there are major issues you want addressed, such as the second entrance, if the denial of a second entrance kills the deal, then now is the time to make that known.
Scott Alspach motioned to accept the sketch plan subject to the following:
a) Triton Development is to provide electrical power supply to the area where the emergency siren will be located.
b) Triton Development will revise Plat Plan to include two entrances.
c) Triton Development will install street lights on 75 West in front of “Pleasant Ridge” subdivision.
Ray Rodgers seconded the motion. Vote was 4 affirmative.
Gordon Kritz cannot commit to those requirements, Triton Development will have to do that. The Public Hearing for the Preliminary Plat will now be in May instead of April, due to the need to revise the preliminary plat to include the above stipulations.
Lee stated that unless those conditions can be agreed to, there is no purpose served for acting on the sketch plan that was submitted.
Jim asked who would approve this. Gordon replied Foresight Engineering. It’s not an issue of providing the 10" main, can it be worked out through engineering. Gordon agreed.
It was stated that the hearing for the preliminary plat for “Pleasant Ridge” will be set for May 2007, provided that the notice requirement is met.
PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT / FOUR STAR VIDEO:
Lee Robbins understands the Plan Commission wants to add to the schedule of uses, the rental of vehicles and U-hauls. Lee asked to set a Public Hearing for the next meeting, and Lee will have the amended schedule.
Scott complained that he is unable to park in the parking lot of Four Star because the number of U-hauls. Jim asked Tim Guyer if he wanted to talk to Mr. Reagin, make him aware that he isn’t
Plan Commission
March 27, 2007
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PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT / FOUR STAR VIDEO: (continued)
making it look good for himself for a special exception? Tim said he would talk to him tomorrow.
WILLIAM SCALES - 285 BITTERSWEET:
Lee understands that he didn’t make the deadline of March 1st, to have the carport removed. Mr. Scales did remove it on the weekend of March 10th, 2007. Lee Robbins will file an action for a $600.00 fine.
NEW BUSINESS:
Scott Alspach recommends looking to replace John Sullivan on the Plan Commission. Whoever replaces John has to be of a non democratic party. The Town Council appoints Plan Commission members.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Cindy Yates
___________________________ Recording Secretary
Approved By: