Crystal Lake Park

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Chairman David Evans called the meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment to order.

ROLL CALL:

Present:  Building Commissioner (BC) Robb Lappe, Chairman David Evans, Commission members Amy Cislo, and Lee Crockett, and Alderperson (AP) Jim Gehringer, as well as Board of Adjustment (BoAdj) members Mary Jane Cusumano, Martin Long and Barry Larson.  Also present was City Clerk Lois LaDriere.   Absent:  P&Z members Rita Brinkmann and Chris Kerckhoff, and Mayor Matthew Balcer, as well as BoAdj members Sue Glarner and Marianne Stuart.

REVIEW ITEMS:

            A.  None

OLD BUSINESS: 

            A.  Review of responses of City Survey and Status of City Comprehensive Plan.    P&Z member Amy Cislo provided a review of the recent survey of residents and their responses.  Cislo stated that a total of 54 responses to the survey had been received to date out of 222 households in the City.  BoAdj member Barry Larson interrupted Cislo’s report and suggested that in the future, resident names and “Current Resident” should both appear on mailings to decrease the amount of returned mail.  Cislo continued her review of the survey process by noting that a number of residents had added opinions and statements to their responses, i.e. someone suggested the City build a 15 foot fence around the park so it could be used as a dog park.  With respect to the building of new homes in the City, Cislo said that some current residents were in favor, while others were not.  She indicated that with respect to almost all of the survey questions, with the exception of how new homes should blend with older ones, responses were almost equally divided among the residents.  Cislo also noted that 50% of responding residents indicated that they believed the new homes being built in the City were too close to the street.  And, she added, brick and stone seemed to be the preferred choice of home materials, according to survey responses, with vinyl being the last choice.

In summary, Cislo stated that Mayor Balcer had recommended that the survey responses should be tabulated in a way that also considers those residents who did not respond.  Gehringer and Larson disagreed with that approach saying that it would dilute the survey results. 

NEW BUSINESS

 A. Review of Municipal League Seminar on Planning & Zoning and Board of Adjustment Roles held Monday, October 30, 2006.  A discussion ensued by those P&Z and BoAdj members who had attended a recent seminar sponsored by the St. Louis County Municipal League on the roles of the P&Z and BoAdj members.  A number of attendees indicated that they were surprised by some of what they learned at the seminar, including that churches are typically exempt from P&Z restrictions.  Also discussed was  if a City does not have a comprehensive plan, it is difficult for it to veto proposed building plans based upon architectural review.  A city’s comprehensive plan significantly strengthens a city’s ordinances, according to information attendees gleaned from the seminar. 

It was noted that the City Attorney for Crystal Lake Park had agreed to review the City’s Comprehensive Plan once it is formulated, to ensure that there are no “loop holes” or language which could allow the City to be sued over development issues.  P&Z member Crockett asked what would happen if someone built a home that deviated from the original plan that was previously approved.  BC Lappe responded that the City can immediately obtain a “Stop Order” to cease construction, although he noted that he is diligent about checking on construction regularly to ensure that those issues do not arise. 

It was also noted that establishing a “moratorium” on new home construction in a city is not uncommon, although a time period of three to nine months is typical for such moratoriums.  AP Gehringer suggested that the P&Z Commission establish a plan to formalize the building process, charge fees, and develop a checklist for builders to utilize during the construction the process.  He added that it was also important for the Board of Alderpersons to get a new permit fee ordinance passed as soon as is possible.  Chairman Evans noted his concern about imposing a moratorium on new construction until the City could develop a Comprehensive Plan.  He reminded the Commission that they had already spent a lot of time on these same issues and that there was no guarantee that the issues would be resolved by the end of the imposed moratorium.  That would mean that people would have to wait until the Commission resolved these issues, which could take longer than anticipated, he added.  P&Z member Cislo suggested that the three month moratorium on construction would allow enough time for the City to develop a Comprehensive Plan only, but not resolve all of the other tangential issues, too.  BC Lappe and BoAdj member Larson then suggested a four month moratorium, which would extend until the end of March 2007.  The time period would allow for enough time to develop both a Comprehensive Plan and revise the ordinances in District D. 

Chairman Evans asked if the Commission needed to notify, or obtain approval from, the Board of Alderpersons relative to imposing a moratorium on new construction.  BC Lappe responded that the issue was one of planning and zoning, and the Board would not need to be consulted regarding the matter.  Chairman Evans subsequently made a Motion to impose a four month moratorium on new construction in the City, from December 1, 2006 to April 1, 2007, which motion was seconded by BC Lappe.  P&Z member Cislo wondered whether there was a quorum present to pass the Motion.  A discussion ensued and the vote continued.  All present voted ayes, with no nay votes, resulting in a unanimous vote in favor of the Motion. 

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Commission and Board of Adjustment was scheduled for Thursday, December 7, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.  

VOTE TO CLOSE MEETING

There being no further business, a Motion was made to close the meeting, seconded and unanimously approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Lois A. LaDriere

Building Commissioner, Robb Lappe