HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-19 Normal Neighborhood Plan_MIN
Minutes for the Normal Working Group
June 19, 2014
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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
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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