TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
PLANNING COMMISSION
March 8, 2016
Members Present:
Robert Anderson, Chairman
Ben Greener, Commission Member
Arnold Eberhard, Commission Member
Micah Capener, Commission Member
Tom Stokes, Commission Member
Bret Rohde, City Councilmember
Steve Bench, Zoning Administrator
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder
Chairman Robert Anderson called the Planning Commission Meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. The meeting was held March 8, 2016 in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Chairman Robert Anderson, Commission Member Ben Greener, Commission Member Arnold Eberhard, Commission Member Micah Capener, Commission Member Tom Stokes, City Councilmember Bret Rohde, Zoning Administrator Steve Bench, and Deputy Recorder Cynthia Nelson were in attendance. Commission Members Val Bennett and Troy Forrest were excused. Police Chief David Nance was also in attendance.
1. Approval of agenda:
Motion by Commission Member Stokes to approve the March 8, 2016 agenda. Motion seconded by Commission Member Capener. Vote: Chairman Anderson – aye, Commission Member Eberhard – aye, Commission Member Greener, Commission Member Capener – aye, and Commission Member Stokes – aye. Motion approved.
2. Approval of minutes:
Motion by Commission Member Stokes to approve the February 9, 2016 minutes. Motion seconded by Commission Member Eberhard. Vote: Chairman Anderson – aye, Commission Member Eberhard – aye, Commission Member Greener, Commission Member Capener – aye, and Commission Member Stokes – aye. Motion approved.
3. Public Hearing:
Chairman Anderson opened the public hearing at 5:33 p.m. There were zero people in attendance.
a. To receive public input on amending Chapter 1.16 Overlay Zones, Tremonton City Zoning Ordinance amending the sign standards within the Tremont Center Overlay Zone
Zoning Administrator Bench noted the amendments will permit Wall and Monument Signs at Tremont Center. The number and size of signs would be approved through a site plan approval with the Land Use Authority Board.
Chairman Anderson closed the public hearing at 5:35 p.m.
Motion by Commission Greener to recommend the amendments to the City Council for consideration. Motion seconded by Commission Member Stokes. Vote: Chairman Anderson – aye, Commission Member Eberhard – aye, Commission Member Greener, Commission Member Capener – abstain because of conflict of interest, and Commission Member Stokes – aye. Motion approved.
4. New Business:
a. Proposal to eliminate the 50’ road right-of-way from the Development Code
Zoning Administrator Bench stated that roads that are fifty (50) feet are not being used accordingly and parked cars are causing issues. Maintenance is cheaper than bigger roads. Commission Member Stokes noted that the cost is trivial compared to the problems. The Land Use Authority Board recommends that fifty (50) foot roads be eliminated from the Development Code. Commission Member Capener stated there might be a use for some larger lot applications with more frontage. They are a problem where there is high density. Zoning Administrator Bench said they will keep the rural road.
Commission Member Capener noted that on rural roads with bigger lots with animals would not need a big road because of there are less people and less density. Zoning Administrator Bench stated that people will still park on the road. Commission Member Capener said they would need to park in the burrow pit because there is no curb. Commission Member Stokes spoke about parking when snow is piled up. Zoning Administrator Bench said the fifty (50) foot road is twenty-six (26) feet of asphalt, and the rural, low impact is twenty-eight (28) feet of asphalt and a sixty (60) foot right-of-way. The code book has fifty (50) foot right-of-way with twenty-six (26) feet of asphalt. If a subdivision were drawn up now with a fifty (50) foot right-of-way it could possibly be allowed.
Zoning Administrator Bench noted the last one done was in Archibald Estates. Half of the roads are fifty (50) feet. Commission Member Stokes wondered if the roads in Park Meadows are fifty (50) feet. Zoning Administrator Bench said some of the roads are bigger. Some more subdivisions with fifty (50) foot right-of-ways are Chase Estates and Peterson Legacy with manufactured homes. Iowa String is a sixty-six (66) foot right-of-way. It is not built out to that but the asphalt is not even twenty-six (26) feet but more like twenty-two (22) feet. Iowa String would be a good visual for comparison.
Commission Member Capener asked if the regular sixty (60) foot cross section (not rural) is twenty-eight (28) feet of pavement. Zoning Administrator Bench stated the sixty (60) foot standard residential is thirty-six (36) feet of asphalt. The other sixty (60) foot right-of-way is because of the nine (9) feet on both sides for the burrow pit/drainage, two (2) feet of curbing, and four (4) feet of sidewalk. Commission Member Capener asked what process the Planning Commission needs to follow. Zoning Administrator Bench noted there must be a public hearing to add items to the code. If it is required for removing items from code, it will be back to the Planning Commission. Commission Member Stokes noted there was a public hearing for removing tattoos from code. Chairman Anderson stated they will set a public hearing for removing the fifty (50) foot right-of-ways from code.
Commission Member Eberhard asked if it will be replaced with something or just removing it. Zoning Administrator Bench replied that the cross-section will be removed from the code. The sixty (60) foot would be the smallest option. Chairman Anderson noted all roads that are fifty (50) feet now would remain. Commission Member Stokes stated he could see a narrow road if it was only an access with nothing built on either side and no parking, but not in a residential area. Zoning Administrator Bench stated it can be done as part of the site-plan process or planned unit development (PUD).
Commission Member Capener asked how big the roads are in Spring Hollow. Zoning Administrator Bench noted the lots are smaller but the roads are sixty (60) feet.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY BOARD
5. New Business
a. Discussion of parking issues at 800 North near Bear River High School
Chief Nance appreciates the Planning Commission for allowing him to attend. People have contacted him concerning parking on 800 North just south of Bear River High School. It has become a popular place to park. One car was cited because it was blocking someone’s driveway. Another car was five (5) from the intersection. It creates problems for buses turning off 300 East onto 800 North. When garbage day comes, people have to put their garbage cans into the road past the parked cars. Residents have no parking available if they have company. There is a lady who has a hair salon in her home and has no place for anyone to park. When snow is piled up during the winter, it makes the road even narrower.
Several of the residents are older and have a hard time backing out of their driveway and are concerned about hitting a parked car. It also makes it a little harder to see around the cars. The cars are legitimately parked. One solution would be to make it two (2) hour parking between 200 East and 300 East on 800 North. The high school students would have to park in the designated parking lot or possibly park farther west on 800 North. Chief Nance stated there are usually not many kids parking on 800 North west of 200 East as it is too far from school.
Chief Nance spoke with most of the residents. There is a house on 800 North that is in Garland City but 800 North is in Tremonton. Some people were not bothered by the students parking on 800 North but most were not happy with the congestion created. The two (2) hour parking limit would only apply to school hours or daytime hours.
Commission Member Stokes asked if there is adequate parking behind the high school and the other parking lots. Chief Nance stated there is enough parking by the driver’s education course but the parking closest to the school fills up quickly. Another reason student’s park on 800 North is to get out fast after school let out and avoid the rush. Councilmember Rohde noted it will help them get ready for all the walking they will do in college. The police department would not ticket during the summer unless someone called to complain. The residents do not mind people parking on 800 North during the evening when the school has plays and other activities. The corners would be painted red for thirty (30) feet.
b. Discussion of parking issues at Tremont Street and 100 North
Chief Nance stated that people have called to complain about parking on Tremont Street and 100 North. During the winter, people are parking closer to the corner than they should. Chief Nance said he can get the corners painted red for thirty (30) feet to show the no parking areas. Signs can also be installed so the no parking area will be identified during snowy weather. People complain about not being able to see around the parked cars. Commission Member Greener has seen semis parking along the area.
Commission Member Greener noted that on 1000 North around 2300 West there have been semis parking on the north and cars parking on the south side of 1000 North. There are not any no parking signs. Chief Nance noted residents have been told there is no parking on 1000 North. Work vehicles were parked on 100 North recently while a home received solar panels. There is a man who owns a semi that occasionally parks on 1000 North but he knows he cannot stay for extended periods. The curb could be painted red and signs could be installed. Commission Member Greener noted signs were installed on 2000 West that seem to help. Chief Nance noted a semi ran over the sign. Commission Member Greener said semis also park by McDonald’s but noted there are signs posted.
Chief Nance commented that Director Fulgham did speak to the residents on 1000 North and told them it is a no parking zone. Commission Member Greener asked if the turn lane is necessary. It was discussed that it was a UDOT requirement. Commission Member Greener noted that the lines are wearing off. Zoning Administrator said that it was paid with federal money and must abide by their rules. Chief Nance said that at the intersection of 1000 North and 2300 West the road do not match up. When coming east on 1000 North the eastbound lane runs into the turn lane. Chief Nance will talk to Director Fulgham about painting the lines and putting temporary asphalt on the corner. Zoning Administrator Bench noted that Director Fulgham said he is aware of the problem and will be looking for ways to fix the problem. Chief Nance stated the bushes on 2300 West and 1000 North also block drivers view.
Commission Member Stokes asked if the high school students will be ticketing immediately following the installation of the two hour parking limit on 800 North. Chief Nance said they will only issue warnings at first where it is new. The students will be in a hurry and may not notice the new signs. Bear River High School will be notified of the new two hour parking limit.
Motion by Commission Member Greener to approve this plus something on 1000 North. Motion seconded by Capener with the condition that four (4) or five (5) other intersections have the same problem. If you are doing it to one it should be done to all. It was said that they just need to be identified. Commission Member Capener noted that the corner of Main Street and Tremont Street. Commission Member Greener noted that the parking lots are marked at the intersection of Main and Tremont. Zoning Administrator Bench noted the thirty (30) feet does not go from the property line. Chief Nance said that the intersections (except Main and Tremont) have gone a little farther than the thirty (30) feet to help with the driver’s view. Zoning Administrator Bench said the thirty (30) feet goes from the edge of the curb back thirty (30) feet, give or take a little. Chief Nance can look at the other areas but that area has received complaints as people were almost hit because they couldn’t see around the parked cars. Zoning Administrator Bench noted that the City can do a blanket work order and have the streets department workers paint any intersection that has issues. Commission Member Capener thinks the main problem is trucks sticking out into the road in front of Bank of Utah and Napa because it narrows down. Chief Nance agreed that the angle parking is bad. If there are enough fender benders, the Council would look at the angle parking. It is bad if a dual cab truck parks in the angle parking and the truck sticks way out into the road. Vote: Chairman Anderson – aye, Commission Member Eberhard – aye, Commission Member Greener, Commission Member Capener – aye, and Commission Member Stokes – aye. Motion approved.
Commission Member Capener commented about a section on the new section of 1000 North that sticks out and is hit by the snow plows. It is for a water meter.
6. Adjournment
Motion by Commission Member Capener to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Commission Member Stokes. The meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.
The undersigned duly acting and appointed Recorder for Tremonton City Corporation hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Planning Commission held on the above referenced date. Minutes were prepared by Cynthia Nelson.
Dated this _____day of ___________, 2016.
______________________________
Darlene S. Hess, RECORDER
*Utah Code 52-4-202, (6) allows for a topic to be raised by the public and discussed by the public body even though it was not included in the agenda or advance public notice given; however, no final action will be taken.