PLANNING COMMISSION

GLADSTONE, MISSOURI

 

February 5, 2007

7:30 pm

 

 

 

 

Present:                                                          Council & Staff Present:

                        Ms. Newsom                           Les Smith, Mayor Pro-Tem

Ms. Alexander                          Carol Rudi, Councilman

                        Ms. Babich                               Wayne Beer, Councilman

                        Mr. Boor                                  Scott Wingerson, Assistant City Manager

                        Mr. Garnos                              David Ramsay, City Counselor

Mr. Shevling                             Chris Helmer, Planning Specialist

Ms. Suter                                 Becky Jarrett, Administrative Assistant

Mr. Whitton

Ms. Abbott

Mr. Steffens

Mr. West

Chairman Hill

           

Absent:           None.

                       

 

Item 2 on the Agenda:  Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Chairman Hill led the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Item 3 on the Agenda:  Approval of the January 16, 2007 minutes.

 

MOTION:  By Ms. Suter, second by Mr. West to approve the January 16, 2007 minutes.

 

The minutes were approved as submitted.

 

Item 4 on the Agenda:  Communications from the Audience.

 

None.

 

Item 5 on the Agenda:  Communications from City Council and the City Staff. 

 

Councilmen Rudi and Beer welcomed new Planning Commissioners Mr. Garnos and Ms. Babich.  Mr. Beer thanked them for the time they have committed to spending and hope it will be satisfying to them.  He also thanked all the Commissioners for the work they do.

 

Mr. Wingerson welcomed the new members as well and let them know that they will be invited to a new member orientation they will be asked to attend in the future.  It is always open to the other Commissioner’s if they should wish to attend also. 

 

Mr. Wingerson reminded the Commission of the Boards and Commission Banquet on February 15th.  He believes they will be impressed with the keynote speaker. 

 

The Planning Commission may be aware that the City Council passed a moratorium that expires in June regarding payday loan facilities.  Staff is requesting, from the Council, the appointment of a focus group to study that issue.  Staff has been doing a lot of research into that business and have a couple of ideas on how the Commission may choose to, or choose not to, regulate that type of business in the City. 

 

Mr. Wingerson concluded his comments by stating that there is a cellular tower application pending for the Knights of Columbus Hall at Englewood Road and Flora.  The proposed canister-type tower is approximately 150’ tall.  The application was originally scheduled to come before the Commission at either this meeting or the next meeting; however, staff has been working with them to provide them some alternatives.  The anticipated meeting date is now in March.  Related to that is some marketing that T-Mobile is doing.  Staff is understanding that T-Mobile has sent a postcard to its customers asking them to go to their website and fill out a survey and contact their local elected officials, Planning Commissioners and staff members.  The problem with what they are proposing, Mr. Wingerson explained, is that the tower they mention in their website is in the parking lot behind Tommy’s restaurant on Antioch Road.  In all of the emails that staff has received regarding this website, it states for customers to do whatever they can to support a new facility behind Tommy’s.  Mr. Wingerson said that there has not been an application filed for a tower on the Tommy’s property, however, there have been some inquires made about it.  Staff has so far discouraged those inquires.  He just wanted to make them aware of the situation and will keep them posted. 

 

Item 6 on the Agenda:  Communications from the City Council and the City Staff.

 

Everyone welcomed the new members.

 

Mr. Garnos said it was nice to be here and he appreciated the appointment.

 

Ms. Newsom said she is always looking for volunteers for community activities- Bluesfest and Gladfest.  These two are ones that the City partners with the Chamber to put on.  If you would like to become more involved in the community there are all types of opportunities, so please let her know.

 

Ms. Babich said she was excited to be here tonight.

 

Ms. Suter said that she was accepted into Gladstone’s first Leadership Academy.  It was a surprise and a delight.  The range of ages and life experiences in the room surprised her.  People asked good questions and almost everybody was there because they’re interested in getting more involved in the community. 

 

Mr. Steffens asked if staff could look into a shed that is half way up and half way down that is right across from Westlake Ace Hardware on Antioch.

 

Chairman Hill asked if the public hearing record on the Rose property could be incorporated as reference if a new site plan should come forward.  He was thinking of the new Planning Commission members, since they missed the first public hearing.

 

Counselor Ramsay answered that since staff virtually takes verbatim minutes, they could probably incorporate those minutes into the record of any subsequent hearing.  As long as the new members have been provided with those minutes, he believes that would be sufficient.  He said he would look it up and get back with them. 

 

Item 7 on the Agenda:  Other Business.

 

a.      Election of Officers-

 

Ms. Alexander requested that the Commission continue with the current officers.  Ms. Alexander made a motion to slate by acclimation.  All said “Aye.”

 

Current officers are:  Brian Hill, Chairman; James Shevling, Vice-Chairman; and Anita Newsom, Secretary.

 

b.      Capital Improvements Committee Appointments

 

Chairman Hill stated that he has spoke with Mr. Steffens, Ms. Newsom and Mr. Shevling and they have all agreed to serve as liaisons to the Capital Improvements Committee.  He thanked them for volunteering to serve.

 

c.       MARC Development Review Process

 

Mr. Helmer said that before he got started he did want to point out one typographical error on the “Developer Checklist Guide.”  In the second to the last paragraph, the word “my” in the second line should be “may.”  He apologized for the error.  Mr. Helmer thanked Ms. Jarrett and Mr. Wingerson for their contributions in creating these documents. 

 

He realizes that many of the Commissioners have been in the initial stages and have worked through some of the meetings and key stakeholder group; therefore, what he’s going to try to do tonight is outline the report that was distributed from MARC/One KC Voice.  His presentation will inform them of their recommendations and where Gladstone and staff need to move forward. 

 

Please see attached PowerPoint presentation.

 

In closing, Mr. Helmer stated that he would be seeking input from the Planning Commission on the implementation dates and developer checklist.  After that, staff will present this information to the City Council and begin to move forward with implementing the plan.  He asked for any questions.

 

Ms. Alexander asked if it is legal for the Commission to dismiss an application from an agenda if the developer or representative is not present at the meeting.

 

City Counselor Ramsay replied that he believes it would be at the discretion of the Commission.  There are probably situations where it’s so routine that possibly a representative wouldn’t be here and staff would have all the information, so he would want to say that they can never go forward without a representative.  Mr. Ramsay said that once they start a hearing and it’s determined that no one is here representing the developer and there are significant concerns that they cannot get answers to, they could simply vote against approval. 

 

Mr. Wingerson said that the legal perspective and the strategic perspective sometimes differ and this may be a case.  If the Planning Commission does not receive testimony from a developer, how can they provide a balanced, fair recommendation to the City Council.  He’s almost sure that the developer will be at the City Council meeting in most cases. 

 

Ms. Newsom asked if it would be prudent to have a check-off sheet for developers to sign when they pick up their materials to say that they received this information.

 

Mr. Helmer said that is a good point.  One goal of this entire process is for staff to provide as much information up front as possible. 

 

Ms. Abbott said she would like to see it stressed to the developers that they don’t make any rash promises or declarations on landscape or anything else before they get a permit and whatever they put down that it’s enforced.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the sunseting of building plans/site plans.  Staff will research the topic and see if it would be beneficial or not.

 

Item 8 on the Agenda:   Adjournment

 

Chairman Hill adjourned the meeting at 8:18 P.M.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

______________________________________    Approved as submitted _____

Becky Jarrett, Recording Secretary

 

 

______________________________________    Approved as corrected   _____

Brian Hill, Chairman