The Ellettsville, Indiana, Plan Commission
met in regular session on
Roll Call:
Don Calvert, Terry Baker, Lisa Creech, Ed Bitner and Jeffrey York,
Planning and Zoning Administrator were present.
Frank Buczolich, David Drake, Sandra Hash and Rick Coppock were absent.
Approval of Minutes
Ed Bitner
stated the minutes were approved as read by all for
Old Business - None
New Business
Discussion concerning Kinser’s
Mini-Warehouse Facility located at 110 Ridge Springs Lane
Lisa Creech asked Jeff York to give a
brief synopsis of the history of this facility to start off the discussion.
Jeff York stated the development is
zoned C-1 and was approved through a couple of Plan Commission meetings in May
and June of 2003. Long standing issues
of the property being zoned incorrectly needs to be discussed. He stated the Plan Commission relied on two
experts Bill Land, former Planner for the Town and Rick Coppock the Town’s
Engineer in determining if the facility would be allowed in the C-1 zoning. According to the old code, which was in place
when Mr. Kinser started his project, it doesn’t say specifically if it is a
permitted use. But Mr. Land and Mr. Coppock collectively felt due to the
wording of the C-1 regulations would fit, because the traffic amount would be
less than some of the other uses listed under C-1. So it was a permitted use and subsequently
approved by the Plan Commission. Jeff listened
to the original tapes of the minutes from those meetings and that was his
interpretation. The Plan Commission
guidelines in place do not require public notification to neighbors if a
development plan is the only request up for discussion.
The Commission
approved the landscape plan with street screen trees along residential areas
10-20 feet on center at least two inches in diameter. The types of trees were to be deciduous, red
oak, poplar and ash. The landscape plan
showed 20 feet on center and met the standards according to the old code. Mr. & Mrs. Benninger have written several
letters concerning Mr. Kinser’s landscaping.
He has spoken to the Town’s Attorney on the issues surrounding Mr. Kinser’s
facility and landscaping.
Jeff stated
when he was hired as the Town’s Planner Mr. Kinser didn’t have any landscaping
and when Mr. Kinser applied for his second building permit he informed him that
he had thirty days to put the landscaping in place on the first building prior
to getting a second permit issued. Mr.
Kinser has planted a row of deciduous shrubs (spirea) which do not get very
tall. The Benninger’s do not think this
is sufficient and doesn’t meet the requirements. They want Mr. Kinser’s landscaping bumped
up. At the Benninger’s request to add
evergreen trees he and Sandra Hash went to speak to Mr. Kinser and found evergreens
were being planted at the entrance to the facility. They
thought it would be good alternative to have a double row of plantings of the spirea
and the evergreen trees. He found out
today the evergreens normally grow to height of fifteen feet with a width of
four and half feet. The plantings are dense;
there is an evergreen tree or a spirea shrub every three feet alternating a
tree then a shrub. He added the Plan
Commission is the only governing body that can change a plan that was approved
previously and he is requesting they review Mr. Kinser’s current landscaping. He stated the Plan Commission has to decide
whether they want to approve Mr. Kinser’s current landscaping of evergreens and
spirea or whether they want to force Mr. Kinser to return to the original
landscaping plan which was approved last year.
This decision is according to what Attorney Mike Spencer advised the Plan
Commission to do. Mike Spencer’s letter dated
Dear Jeff,
At the request of the Town Council, I have
reviewed the planting issues concerning the mini-warehouse. Specifically, on Friday, May 28th,
you and I reviewed the design plan for this project. That particular plan provided for one row of
trees, two inches caliper, of red oak, ash and poplar, alternately
planted. This row would line the front
of the property which faces the Benninger property. Closer to the intersection, the plan provided
for three 6-foot blue spruce and eight Pfizer junipers. It is my opinion that the Plan Commission can
enforce this planting design plan.
At our meeting, however, you informed me
that you and Sandy Hash, in an effort to resolve this matter, met with the
developer and he agreed to replace the dogwood trees with two to three foot
evergreen trees that would grow to four or five feet in height, alternately
planted with the spirea bushes which would grow to three to six feet in
height. It is my understanding that the
developer has already made this change.
You
indicated that you had also listened to the tape of the various meetings and
nothing specific was heard on tape concerning the planting.
After reviewing the code provisions which
applied at the time the plan was approved, it is my opinion that the planting design
complied with the tree planting requirements according 830-56(g)(3), Screen
Trees. The code provided: “Screen trees shall be planted to produce a
continuous strip 10 to 20 feet on center depending on the diameter of the
mature canopy in either a single or double row… Screen trees should be of
one-inch caliper measure.” The planning
design for this development proposed trees that were twice as large as that
required by the code. The code does not
indicate that they cannot be deciduous and, quite frankly, the reference in the
code to “mature canopy” suggests that deciduous trees were contemplated.
This
position is further supported by reference to subsection (i) that deals with
the screening of outdoor trash receptacles which specifically indicates that
trash receptacles could be “screened from residential view by an evergreen
screen”. Thus, one may conclude that
when the ordinance intends to require an evergreen screen, is so states.
It is my opinion that this issue should be
resubmitted to the Plan Commission. Any
change in the landscape plan should be approved by the Plan Commission. Any person who is not in agreement with the
decision of the Plan Commission can appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Therefore, it is my suggestion that both the
developer and the Benningers be notified that this matter will be addressed at
the next Plan Commission meeting. At
that time both parties can express their positions and the Plan Commission can
make a decision.
Lisa Creech asked how long it will take
the evergreen trees to grow to the maximum height.
Jeff York stated he only asked general
questions when he spoke to the representative at Cedar Bluff Gardens. They told him they would grow quickly.
Terry Baker said generally evergreens
after planted in the first year wouldn’t grow a lot and then after that about
one and a half foot or so a year.
Ed Bitner asked what the purpose of the
trees were, was it for a screen?
Jeff York stated yes. Landscaping for a screen buffer is required
in the Town’s Code and Mr. Kinser’s development plan was approved showing a
landscaping plan.
Ed Bitner asked are screen trees
supposed to totally block it from view on
Jeff York said yes but he doesn’t know
how wide they will get but they will have some depth.
Lisa Creech cited and read the Town’s
Code concerning landscaping pointing out the landscaping is supposed to help
control the noise and glare. The Benninger’s
had mentioned the lighting, glare and noise issues at Council Meetings. The screen trees would help with these issues.
Ed Bitner said according to the Town
Code the landscaping is supposed to be a continuous strip, with no gap.
Terry Baker said when planting you
can’t plant trees so close that they don’t have room to grow because it will
kill them. You have you leave some space
for growth. That is why they went with
the alternating spirea shrubs.
Don Calvert asked if the Benningers
were more concerned with the height or width of the landscape buffer. The height would knock off the glare and the
width would be to keep it from being easily seen.
The Benningers stated they were
concerned with both factors.
Glenn Benninger stated they didn’t want
to see any part of the structures for twelve months out of the year; they want
the entire development to be covered over as if it weren’t there at all. He doesn’t really care how this is done as
long as it is blocked a much as possible from their view, that’s the goal. He went on to explain the different
requirements between street trees which are required on public streets and
screen trees. Ridge Springs Lane is a public
street and the street trees should be a minimum of two and one half inch
caliper measure but Mr. Kinser’s plan shows two inch caliper trees which is
inadequate. The screen trees only have to be one inch caliper measure and they
are okay but on the drawing they more like forty feet on center instead of
twenty. If it was doubled then it would
be an adequate screen. He showed
pictures of Don Kinser’s current landscaping pointing out it appears they are
all in a row instead of a double row.
The landscaping stops at one point by his neighbor’s house. He showed his proposal with six foot
evergreen trees screen that they would find acceptable and the removal of the
telephone poles without the lights to help clean up the view. Mr. Kinser currently has three, large
telephone poles with flood lights and security cameras on them and this doesn’t
go with the neighbor’s surroundings. He
said when the whole issue was started it was determined the facility was zoned
C-1 and it should have been zoned C-3.
He’s spoken with several attorneys that believe it should have been
zoned C-3, so clearly this shouldn’t have be allowed to be built here. It would be hard to remove so he would be
satisfied if it was cleaned up and covered up sufficiently. He said they have four requests and read
aloud to be placed in the official minutes.
They are as follows:
1.
To complete a proper landscape buffer with evergreen
trees as they have suggested. Evergreen
trees do not lose their leaves in the winter months.
2.
To reduce the lighting intensity overnight. They suggest repositioning the lights and
cameras so they are closer to the ground and more beneficial to Mr. Kinser’s
facility as well as for their privacy.
3.
To remove the six, large telephone poles and reposition
the cameras to make the facility blend more with the neighborhood. One of the neighborhood’s selling points is
it has buried utilities to increase beautification.
4.
To finish seeding the bare soil and place sod around
the facility to keep the dust down and increase beautification.
He added the
run off is causing an erosion problem, the silt is washing into the drainage
retention pond.
Don Kinser said he didn’t know what to
say. He then rebutted with the statement
that he did what Mr. York asked him to do.
He took out the dogwood landscaping he had planted and replaced it. He had only went so far with the landscaping
because he is not finished building and would have to just remove it again when
he started on the other buildings and road.
He seeded the dirt again yesterday (6-2-04). It had been seeded once prior to that
also. He is using the same telephone
poles the Town of
Ed Bitner stated the customers being
photographed was a civil matter concerning privacy and the Plan Commission had
nothing to do with that matter.
Don Kinser said the only other
complaint he has received is from the Benninger’s neighbor Joann Bowen at
Jeff York clarified to Mr. Kinser if
the new landscaping plan was approved that the same plantings would have to be
along the entire length of the building.
Don Kinser said he understands and that
the landscaping would be added as the buildings were completed. This is a long term project which will take
probably three or four years. He also
said he was adding additional black fence around the facilities. He said he will build on demand, in fact, he
may never get all of the buildings he originally planned built and he would
just build as needed.
Jeff York said yes, as they are
developed. He stressed if Don makes any
changes what’s so ever differing from the new landscaping plan, if approved, he
would have to return to the Plan Commission to seek approval for any new
additional changes.
Don Kinser reiterated saying he
understood that he would have to either continue this all the way or file for a
change.
Lisa Creech said she was confused
because earlier Don said the landscaping would be done and the buildings were
built but now he’s saying it may take three or four years to finish building
all of the buildings if at all. She
doesn’t want the facility site to set unfinished for years waiting for Don to
complete the landscaping because he’s not finished and may never finish all of
the buildings. She wants to make sure
the site is beautified for the neighborhood.
Joann Bowen,
Don Kinser assured her that the view is
going to change whether or not he’s going to construct another building. He is going to level it out and gravel it
for now and she will be able to see the woods until he puts up the next
building.
Ed Bitner suggested to Don to leave the
additional fencing down for now and bring the landscaping down to where the
fence stops now. He said this would
block off the view for the neighbors and Don would still be able to build.
Terry Baker said this way Don could
come in to construct the other building where the fence stops and that way the
landscaping wouldn’t have to be removed to build as Don informed earlier.
Don Kinser said he could do that.
Jeff York suggested giving Don a time
frame to complete this landscaping.
Ed Bitner asked Don when he could have
the landscaping added to the end of the current fence line.
Don Kinser said he would have it done
by the next Plan Commission meeting which is July 1st. He wants his place to look nice also.
Joann Bowen brought up a point that the
types of shrubs he has chosen get damaged easily because she has had to remove
them from her yard because of this reason.
Jeff York agreed this is a good point
and suggested making the replacement of damaged shrubs and plantings a
condition of approval of the new landscaping.
Ed Bitner stated this main discussion
is about Don’s landscaping but asked if he could put up shields on the lights
to help deflect some of the glare for the lighting issue.
Don Kinser stated the Benninger’s had
contacted Cinergy several times about the lights and there wasn’t anything that
could be done, so finally he took down the back lights that they were
complaining about.
Don Calvert asked if the Benninger’s
would be satisfied with the new proposed landscaping plan because he said there
isn’t a need for the Plan Commission to approve this if all parties are not
going to be happy and further action is going to be taken.
The Benninger’s said no. They wanted six foot trees planted now to
cover the chain link fence, possibly white pine.
Jeff York said the issue is whether the
Plan Commission is going to approve the new landscaping plan or not because the
current plantings do not meet the Code.
Lisa Creech said we should go by the Town’s
Code as well as Indiana Code still keeping in mind what is in the best interest
of all parties. She added she thinks the
Plan Commission should use the original landscape plan that was previously
approved.
Laura Benninger asked for clarification
saying she thought Mr. Kinser was supposed to put in both the street trees and
the screen trees.
Terry Baker was on the Plan Commission
when this was originally approved and he said the original intent was for the
side of the development facing the Ridge Springs neighborhood that screen trees
were to be planted and for the side of the development not facing a residential
side street trees were to be planted.
Ed Bitner said he liked the idea of planting
the evergreens but wished they were bigger when they were planted. They would make a good screen for coverage and
would be good for a sound barrier all year round. He suggested planting the evergreen trees and
moving them closer together, planting them all the way to the end of the fence. He said the spirea weren’t necessary but were
acceptable to use if Mr. Kinser wanted to plant them.
Terry Baker agreed with Ed in favor of
the evergreens being planted closer together the entire length of the fence
now. He added white pines would not be a
good choice; they don’t get dense enough, cedar would be a better choice.
Lisa Creech suggested Jeff York taking a
landscape specialist from
Jeff York said that would be fine with
him.
Ed Bitner asked Don if he was okay with
that idea.
Don Kinser said that would be fine, but
said he would need an extension on the time to plant the recommended landscape
because he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to plant trees in July or
August. October or November would be a
more acceptable month for the tree or shrub to have a good, healthy start.
Lisa Creech said they could a have meeting
soon and make a decision, so that Don could get the landscaping done sooner
than that.
Don Kinser said that’s fine. He knows the evergreens are in stock; he
could get them and get it done.
Don Calvert recommended all parties
sign a mutual agreement ahead of time that they will be satisfied with the
landscape specialist’s advice on the landscaping and that is what will be
done. This would save a lot of trouble.
Lisa Creech said she doesn’t think that
can be done. The next step after the
Plan Commission’s decision would be to go to the BZA if not satisfied and then
after that it would be a civil issue.
Terry Baker said everybody needs to
give a little to make this a workable solution for all parties. He suggested if after the landscape
specialist gives the recommendation then if it is not acceptable then they
should return to the original landscaping plan that was approved.
Glenn Benninger said he wanted to state
for the record that he took the picture from his living room window which is
public view.
Ed Bitner and Terry Baker both stated this wasn’t an issue the Plan Commission
needed to discuss.
Lisa Creech asked for the list of
questions to be decided on and read them aloud.
1.
What height and caliper of trees should be planted? What will be their final growth rate?
2.
If an evergreen tree is chosen, what would be the best
type of evergreen to achieve the goal of a sound barrier, year around coverage
and glare control.
3.
Also if the trees Mr. Kinser has selected are useable
to achieve the same goals.
Don Kinser stated he’s recently noticed
several cars using his driveway entrance to the storage facility and the driveway
to the house across the street as a turn around. He counted twelve cars in a row on Saturday
morning turning around and even followed one to find out where they were all
going and they ended up at the
Ed Bitner said the highway split and
the new traffic pattern has caused some confusion. He said this sounds like a signage issue
which the Plan Commission doesn’t deal with normally. The school does need signs. He suggested Don Kinser consult with the Town
Council or maybe even the State Highway Department.
Lisa Creech
made a motion to have a special session with the tree specialist on June 15th at
·
Special
Session will be Tuesday, June 15th at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall.
Privilege of the Floor - None
Adjournment
Lisa Creech made
a motion to adjourn. Terry Baker seconded. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at approximately