Chairman Leedy called the September 6, 2016, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Bill Leedy, Chair
Charlie Hurt, Vice Chair
Bob Swope, Commissioner
Melanie Barrett, Commissioner
Tom Gribb, Commissioner
Greg Hitt, Commissioner
EXCUSED: Tom Drzazgowski, Commissioner ALSO PRESENT:
Joe Andrews, Chief Civil Deputy Attorney
Council Member, Joe Hornat
Vice Mayor, Lou Waters
Council Member, Mary Snider
Chair Leedy led the audience and the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jeff Jones, Oro Valley resident, commented on the following:
- Use of commercial land in the Sun City area is not viable
- Observation of commercial vacancies in the area
Council member Hornat had no comment.
| 1. |
REVIEW AND/OR APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 2, 2016 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES. |
MOTION: A motion was made by Vice Chair Hurt and seconded by Commissioner Hitt to approve the August 2, 2016 Regular Session Meeting Minutes.
MOTION carried, 6-0.
A. MAJOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL/OFFICE (NC/O) TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (2.1 - 5.0 DU/AC), OV1601094
B. PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT FOR A DEVELOPMENT FROM COMMERCIAL (C-1) TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (MDR) AND CONSIDERATION OF AN ESL FLEXIBLE DESIGN OPTION FOR MODIFIED REVIEW PROCESS, OV1601747
- Rosevelt Arellano, Senior Planner, provided a presentation on the following:
- Issues raised at the last meeting
- Commercial Viability
- Building Height
- Public Participation
- Factors For and Against
Paul Oland, WLB Group, representing the applicant, provided a presentation that included the following:
- Lack of demand of commercial
- Undesirable Commercial Land and Vacant Properties
- Under development of residential property in the area and its impact on commercial viability
- Compatibility
- Market Demand
Key topics raised by the Commission:
- Average height limit for the surrounding homes in Rancho Vistoso
- Explanation of the Environmental Sensitive Lands flexible design options
- Minor design changes to a Modified Review Process
- What if the development never happens
Chair Leedy opened the public hearing.
No speaker request.
Chair Leedy closed the public hearing.
Questions raised by the Commission:
- Previous 24 homes design raised by the resident
- Applicant work with residents
- Conditions of approval
- Traffic numbers affected by the STEM school
MOTION: A motion was made by Vice Chair Hurt and seconded by Commissioner Barrett recommend approval of the Vistoso Highlands Major General Plan Amendment from Neighborhood Commercial/Office to Medium Density Residential (2.1 - 5 du/ac), based on the finding that the request complies with the amendment criteria and the General Plan.
MOTION carried, 6-0.MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Gribb and seconded by Vice Chair Hurt recommend approval of the Vistoso Highlands PAD Amendment from Commercial (C-1) to Medium Density Residential (MDR), including the request for ESL's modified review process, based on the finding that the request complies with the Rancho Vistoso Planned Area Development and the General Plan.
Chair Leedy offered a friendly amendment to include, subject to the conditions in attachment 1.
The friendly amendment was accepted by Commissioner Gribb and Vice Chair Hurt.
MOTION carried, 6-0.
Elisa Hamblin, Senior Planner, provided a presentation that included the following:
- Public Vote November 8
- Project Overview
- Project Phases
- Visions of the Community
- Executive Summary
- Changes to the Final Plan
Chair Leedy opened the public hearing.
Shirl Lamonna, Oro Valley resident, commented on the following:
- Impressed by the hard work done by staff
- Disappointed with the change in the term "small town character"
Diane Bristow, Oro Valley resident, commented on the following:
- Found the changes made in the final draft
- Strongly agrees that the Visions and Guiding Principles were formed out of extensive community research
- Very uncomfortable wit the change of "small town" to "neighborly" or "unique"
- Change to the word "unique" in the Land Use Policy, pg. 41, back to "small-town"
Donald Bristow, Oro Valley resident, stated he supported the comments made by the previous speakers.
Chair Leedy closed the public hearing.
Bayer Vella, Planning Manager, responded that the term "small town feeling" was being misinterpreted. Over the course of the last year staff has heard several remarks that "small town" really applies to geographic boundaries and growth and development. The term "small town" was not intended to reflect growth what so ever, but mainly a neighborly feeling. Staff came up with the idea of using the word "neighborly", not to change the input we got from the community, but to make it clear to represent that input.
Discussion ensued amongst the Commission regarding the terms "small-town" and "neighborly".
MOTION: A motion was made by Chair Leedy and seconded by Commissioner Hitt recommend adoption of the document known as the "Your Voice, Our Future General Plan" as inspired and created by the residents of the Town of Oro Valley as attached hereto as Attachment 2, with a modification
A). Amending the land use of the Vistoso Highlands property from Neighborhood Commercial/Office to Medium Density Residential,
B). Changing the words in the Vision Statement, Guiding Principles pg. 8 and the Land Use and Design Policy, pg. 41, from "small-town" to "small-town, neighborly".
MOTION carried, 6-0.
Bayer Vella, Planning Manager, presented the following Planning Update:
- September 7th Town Council meeting
- September 21st Town Council meeting
- October 4th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting
MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Hitt and seconded by Commissioner Swope to adjourn the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 7:42 PM.
MOTION carried, 6-0.