Special Joint Village Council/Planning Commission Meeting

2. Welcome: President Keller welcomed the Planning Commission and Council Members to this important meeting to coordinate and appreciate all of the planning activity that has recently come before both bodies.

3. Downtown Review: President Keller asked Village Manager Cotton to outline recent downtown activities. Manager Cotton outlined the recent cooperative efforts on the Downtown Plan, the Design Manual, the Pueblo area commercial development, the Exchange Street Typical plans and the future Wesco gas station on Exchange Street. Discussion regarding Exchange Street was generally supportive of parking on both sides with a four-way stop at Jackson and streetscape amenities.

Council Member VanStrate registered significant disagreement for safety and cost reasons. Council Member VanStrate was also concerned about not fixing the local streets that need attention. He signified that the residents come first and streets have been delayed far too long. Manger Cotton and Council Member Fischer outlined the different pots of funding and the local streets planned for repair shortly once TIF no longer applies.

The Wesco development was touched upon. The idea of increasing the aesthetics and keeping the current width of curb cut on Exchange were voiced. Discussion ensued regarding moving Tanglefoot Park. There was a general belief that eventually moving it is a good idea, but only when cost efficiencies would enable it and when it could be continued elsewhere.

4. Ideal Number of Condos: Council Member Holland requested more thought on the rash of condos planned for in the Village. He signified there are 140 more in the works. He was concerned about what it would in the wintertime when condo owners are in the south and whether we would be better with single-family homes. General discussion yielded the need to think this through in the context of a General Master Plan update.

5. Master Plan Update Process: President Keller asked Village Manage Cotton to discuss this process. Manger Cotton outlined how the last comprehensive update occurred in 1989. This is the second step of the Downtown Master Plan process, i.e., to widen the scope to encompass the rest of the community. Manger Cotton suggested a steering committee process similar to the one used for the Downtown Master Plan. The group requested that the Planning Commission be invited in total and include two members of every neighborhood along with several members of Council but no consultant. Manager Cotton outlined the need for some mapping and graphics at the end of the process.

6. Zoning Code Update: Ryan Cotton discussed this matter in lieu of John Hansen being able to attend. The group pointed out the need for more consistent sign enforcement. Churches, A frame signs, merchandise displayed on the sidewalks and gas station signs were all mentioned. Ryan Cotton indicated he would work with John Hansen and the attorney to understand our sign code and then educate the community on it prior to enforcement. It was expressed that St. Mary’s Church did not have a legal sign (John Hansen recently verified that they received all permissions required). Manager Cotton indicated the Zoning Code would be comprehensively reviewed for amendment following the Master Plan process. It has currently been entered into a Word file and the maps have been digitized. Ryan Cotton asked whether all Planning Commissioners and Council Members were behind John and himself when sign enforcement begins? The general consensus was yes.

7. Adjournment: There being no further discussion or items of business, President Keller adjourned the meeting at 8:31 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Ryan Cotton

Village Manager

January 10, 2005