04/03/2007 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Minutes of 4/3/2007 housing developments in the city. Ms. Wenger gave an overview of the proposed ordinance that seeks to create new and revised standards for the cluster district including everything from open space requirements, to setbacks, to side yards, to buildable area, height regulations, screening, and sidewalks interior circulation was also included. The Zoning Steering Committee has participated heavily in the process and did a pretty good job of fleshing out the issues as they came along. Many of the questions they had spotted, Mr. Orlowski spotted as well. Ms. Wenger indicated that the ordinance encourages design through flexible as opposed to rigid standards. Mr. Orlowski expressed concern about the ordinance. He was concerned with the flexible standards and felt that a more delineated application would be preferred, setting forth explicit criteria. He was also concerned with the private nature of the non-dedicated streets, the width of the streets, the definition of "open space" and the fact that we regulate open space with the inclusion of such things as catch basins and riparian areas (waterways) in the "open space" calculation. He is also concerned with the process by which Council can override a decision of Planning and Design Commission. He felt that the ordinance was addressing itself to projects like Shadow Wood. Mr. Gareau indicated he didn't believe it was addressed and in the steering committee it wasn't addressed toward Shadow Wood. The committee discussed the fact that there are no parcels in the entire city zoned for cluster. Any cluster project would require a rezone, and any rezone requirement through legislation would require to include a fully reviewed and approved plan to go along with the rezone. A motion was made by the committee to recommend approval of Ordinance 2007-5 with a vote of one yes and one no. There was one amendment discussed at the committee meeting. The amendment is in 1136.10 (a) (4). The Planning & Design Commission recommended the section read: "Curbs shall be concrete and designed as straight barrier curbs." They felt that preserved the landscaping and kept cars from rolling up on the tree lawns. Originally, it stated either rolled curbs or barrier curbs. Consistent with the recommendation of the Planning & Design Commission, Councilman Gareau made a motion to amend Ordinance 2007-5 to include at Section 1136.10 (a) (4) the following: "Curbs shall be concrete and designed as straight barrier curbs." The motion was seconded by Councilman Talton and passed unanimously. After consultation with the Law Director, Councilman Gareau made a motion to amend Ordinance 2007-5 at Section 1136 to include illustrations at 1136.07 (d), 1136.10 (a) (5). These are cut-a-way examples of what it could look like if applied. The motion was seconded by Councilman Miller and passed unanimously. 2) The Building, Zoning & Development Committee met this evening, Apri13. Council Members Gareau, Orlowski, Miller, Barker, Jones, Talton, Council President Kennedy, Planning Director Wenger, Human Resources Director Farver, Mayor O'Grady, Safety Director Terbrack, Law Director Dubelko were present. The committee discussed the Greater Cleveland RTA Park-n-Ride tree removal plan. It was brought to his attention that the mating season of the Indiana bat commences April 15. Because this is a federally funded project for the Park-n-Ride expansion, it requires that trees to be removed for the project must be removed by April 15. At the suggestion of the Planning Director, this issue was brought to City Council for the limited reason of approving the tree removal, not as a final approval of the landscape plan, the Park-n-Ride layout, or anything else. They have to get the trees down by April 15 in order to be able to proceed with the 6