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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-19 Normal Neighborhood Plan_MIN Minutes for the Normal Working Group June 19, 2014 Page 1 of 2 MINUTES FOR THE NORMAL NEIGHBORHOOD WORKING GROUP Thursday, June 19, 2014 Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street Mayor John Stromberg called the meeting to order at 3:19 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Pam Marsh, Michael Morris, Michael Dawkins, Rich Kaplan, Brandon Goldman, and Bill Molnar were present. Mayor appointed Councilor Marsh as chair pro-tem. 1. Group Scope Chair Marsh gave an overview of why this group was formed. 2. Public Input Discussion The group agreed that as is a working group with limited meeting time they will gladly accept input from anyone outside of the meeting, but will limit public testimony in the meetings to 10 minutes at the end of each meeting. 3. Outline Scope of Review Things the group would like to use these meetings to work through (i.e. the fundamental assumptions the group has to work with):  Density  Transportation and connectivity  Other subjects which tie into density and connectivity: a) Railroad crossings ( is the ability to move them or not a deal breaker? what are the financing issues?) b) Role of a master plan processes (how to make one that doesn’t sit on a shelf) c) The role of open space and conservation areas d) Zoning of area lots e) East Main Street (how will we develop, use, and improve it?) 4. Beginning Density Discussion Staff gave overview of the history of the density of the area. The group discussed how the original comprehensive plan’s expected density may have been altered due to development which has occurred in the area since that time and how the Planning Commission process worked through density issues. Staff also informed the group how the RPS plan ties into the density requirements. The group discussed options for housing for families and the need for a wide variety of housing options. 5. Future Meeting Topics The group will focus on one topic per meeting:  Density  Transportation  Conservation  Master Planning on this site  Report backs and follow ups 6. Public Input Randy Jones, property owner in the Normal Avenue area, likes how the group has broken out the discussion topics. He and his group have lots of thoughts and the 10 minute constraint won’t work for him but he will give staff information he hopes will help the group come to good solutions. Minutes for the Normal Working Group June 19, 2014 Page 2 of 2 Bryce Anderson, 2092 Creek Drive, would like to see all the items listed in the Council minutes discussed. He would like the group to consider additional areas nearby which may have an impact on this area. Would like the committee to consider practicalities of open space area planning, he talked about how lawn was approve by Council to be planted around the cottonwood trees in his subdivision and now his homeowners association have incurred high costs to do wetland reparations for needing to remove the dead cottonwood trees. Also the wetlands area above Clay Street is an eye-sore. Carol Voisin, 908 Fox Street, wants to reiterate that the list of Council concerns each be addressed. She is also concerned with limiting public participation to only 10 minutes. Julie Matthews, 2090 Creek Drive, was under the impression that they were going to have more participation in the meetings, and finds the limitation on that to be insulting. She will do her best to submit things in writing to staff so that the meetings can move faster. She thought that the public would be allowed to participate more in the process as a way to break out of the old paradigm. If the committee starts talking about developing things and costing the tax payers lots of money for a relatively unknown part of town, they will get lots more people coming to the meetings upset. She would like to see one or two of the folks from the public on the committee so that they can participate in the discussions. 7. Future Meeting Dates The group decided to try meeting every other week, starting: July 10, 4:30 pm, Siskiyou Room July 24, 4:00 pm, TBD Meeting adjourned at 4:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diana Shiplet Executive Secretary