HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity/County Planning Board Minutes 06.06.2002 DRAFT
· MINUTES
LAUREL CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
JUNE 6, 2002 7:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Doug Poehls, City Rep.
Ed Thurner, City Rep.
Kate Stevenson, City Rep.
Ziggy Ziegler, County Rep.
Clarence Foos, County Rep.
Tom Robertus, County Rep.
Laurel Haggart, City Rep.
Steve O'Neil, City Rep.
OTHERS: Cai Cumin, City Planner
Cheryll Lund, City Secretary
John Oakes, City Councilman
Dan Meats, City Councilman
The minutes of the May 2, 2002 meeting were reviewed and 2 changes were made.
Motion by Steve O'Neil, second by Doug Poehls, to accept the minutes as corrected.
Motion carried 7-0.
Motion by Ziggy Ziegler, second by Tom Robertus, to change the date of the July Planning
Board meeting to Wednesday, July 10, 200. Motion carried 7-0.
PUBLIC HEARING - DRAFT OF ENTRYWAY ZONING DISTRICT ORDINANCE
The Planning Board meeting was closed and the Zoning Commission convened.
The question for proponents of the ordinance to come forward to speak was asked three times. No one
came forward to speak.
The question for opponents of the ordinance to come forward to speak was asked three times. No one
came forward to speak.
Motion by Doug Poehls, second by Steve O'Neil, to close the public hearing. Public
Hearing was closed.
Cal stated that he had made several changes to the draf~ from May 2, 2002 meeting. The changes came
about after a discussion with the City Attorney.
Cal stated that the Uniform Sign Code and the Entryway Zoning District Ordinance needs to be heard at
the same public hearing~ Cai recommends approval of the Entryway Zoning District.
Discussion.
Motion by Doug Poehls, second by Steve O'Neil, to recommend approval of the Entryway
Zoning District Ordinance with the changes recommended by Cai, to the City Council. Motion
carried 7-0.
Miscellaneous
Cai stated that Clark's Camp, a new facility on the river has opened, but it is a zoning violation
according to Yellowstone County. It is located in a "recreation" zoning area, which does not allow
commercial ventures.
Saddleback Ridge will go through a final plat this month.
Little Dude's Ranchettes subdivision is having trouble providing service water to the park, as requested
by the Planning Board. He has access to the water but is having trouble getting it to the park.
There is a new subdivision being proposed northwest of Little Dude Ranchettes. Before it goes through
a preliminary platting it will go through a zone change. This is scheduled for the July 10, 2002 meeting.
There is also a preliminary plat being proposed at the July 10, 2002 meeting for Beartooth Pointe
Estates, which is located west of Valley Drive and north of Mountain View Estates Subdivision.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary
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COMMUNITY ENTRYWAY ZONING DISTRICT
(Add to City Zoning Ordinance)
Chapter 17.26. Community Entryway Zoning District
Section 17.26.010. Intent.
Section 17.26.030. Location of District.
Section 17.26.040. Application and Approval Process.
Section 17.26.050. Definitions.
Section 17.26.052. Development Standards.
Section 17.26.054. Landscaping Standards.
Section 17.26.010. Intent.
The natural landscape in the Yellowstone Valley is a major influence on the form and character of
Laurel. Residents appreciate being able to see the Bcartooth Range, the river's corridor of trees,
and the large expanse of sky. The intent of the Community Entryway Zoning District (EZD) is to
promote attractive, high quality development and to provide an appealing image of the City of
Laurel to the traveling public and the people of the community and region. Further, it is the intent
of this district to maintain a sensitivity toward existing development while preserving scenic vistas
and the pastoral ambience and protecting environmentally sensitive areas. Creativity in meeting
these requirements is encouraged with the overall intent of all development representing thc image
and economy of the Laurel area--and not just a reflection of the same commercial buildings,
signage, and parking lots that are seen alongside thc interstate across the nation.
Projects in the vicinity of large natural areas/corridors shall be designed to compliment the visual
context of the natural area. Techniques include architectural design, site design, use of native
landscaping, and choices of colors and building materials shall be utilized in such manner that
scenic views across or through the site are protected and man-made facilities are screened from off-
site observers and blend with the natural visual character of the area.
This overlay district provides requirements that are in addition to the existing, underlying zoning
districts in the jurisdictional area of the City of Laurel and are in addition to the signage standards
of the City of Laurel Municipal Sign Code. Except for signage applications, residential uses in the
Entryway Zoning District are exempt from the provisions herein.
The intent of this Section is to:
A. Promote a physical landscape that will assist in making Laurel an attractive place to
live and work and be inviting to new industries.
B. Encourage creativity in design and quality in site planning and development.
C. Reduce the level of adverse impacts from the transportation system on adjoining
lands.
D. Promote development patterns in harmony with the goals and objectives of Laurel's
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Growth Management Plan.
H. Promote compatible land use transitions with a sensitivity toward existing residential
uses.
Non-commercial/industrial uses falling within the EZD are exempt from the requirements of the
EZD except as such requirements pertain to signage.
Section 17.26.030. Location of District.
The Community Entryway Zoning District (EZD) shall extend 300 feet on either side of Interstate
90 fight-of-way as it extends thrungh the Laurel Zoning Jurisdictional Area, an area that extends
outside of the City municipal limits one mile. Specifically, along the Interstate on the east side of
Laurel, the EZD shall extend as described from the limit of the extra-territorial zoning boundary
west to Bernhardt Road. On the west side of Laurel on either side of the Interstate the EZD shall
extend from the limit of the extra-territorial zoning boundary to Eight Avenue. The District shall
also include that area 300 feet on either side of North First Avenue from the boundary of the extra-
territorial zoning boundary south side through the City to include First Avenue to the point where
South First tums into US Highway 10-312 and exists the extraterritorial zoning boundary.
Section 17.26.040. Application and Approval Process.
A. All plans and applications for development shall be submitted to the City-County
Planning Board. All applications involving signs shall be submitted to the Public Works
Department which shall provide a copy thereof to the Planning Board. All app!ications must be
submitted and signed by the property owner, lessee, the contract purchaser, or the authorized agent
of the property owner. Approval is required prior to any construction activity.
B. Each application shall include, but not be limited to the following information:
a. The name and address of the property owner;
b. The name and address of the applicant;
c. The legal description of the parcel;
d. A map drawn to scale showing the dimensions, acreage, location of the
parcel, north arrow, streets and adjacent land uses;
e. A complete site plan drawn to a scale ofno less than 1" = 40' showing the
dimensions and locations of all structures, streets, paving, parking, landscaping, signage,
waterways or other significant features of the development;
f. Complete elevation drawings drawn to scale including the dimensions and
height of the structure; and
g. Signage Plan specifications, location, and ground lighting pattern
(applications for signs only--see Section 17.26.050).
h. Application review fee.
C. Within fifteen (15) working days following the submittal of a complete application,
the Planning Director, other City designee, or the Public Works Department (in the case of signs)
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shall issue approval for development or sign or a denial of the application, unless the applicant
consents in writing to an extension of the review period. Should the application be denied, the
applicant shall be notified in writing specifying the reasons for the denial.
Section 17.26.050. Definitions.
All terms shall have the same meanings as defined elsewhere in the City Zoning Ordinance or City
signage regulations. The standard dictionary meaning shall be applied to terms not otherwise
defined.
Section 17.26.052. Development Standards.
A. Signage:
1. All signage in the EZD that is not on-premise (see definitions section of the City
Sign Ordinance) shall be monument style signage, i.e., signs mounted directly to the groand with a
maximum height not to exceed ten feet.
2. Review consideration: Signage in the EZD needs to recognize the relationship
between adjacent land uses and the natural features of the location such as existing views and
proxirnity to residences. Although signs perform a function in providing information concerning
services, products, and businesses, a profusion of signs produces a cumulative effect that cancels
out individual effectiveness and detracts from the appearance of the community as a whole. All
signage shall be reviewed with the following considerations and criteria:
a. Use of subdued, low-key colors.
b. Location, size, and height that do not obstruct views of the community, the
river corridor, traditional open spaces, or the mountains.
c. Sign is built of permanent, durable materials.
d. Size and location avoids or minimizes the sense of clutter with nearby signs.
e. The sign is professionally prepared and finished on both sides.
f. The location and placement of the sign will not endanger motorists or
pedestrians and does not interfere with the clear vision triangle at street, railroad, or street driveway
intersections.
g. The sign will not cover or blanket any prominent view of a structure or
fagade ofhistoricai or architectural significance.
h. The sign will not obstruct views of nsers of adjacent buildings to side yards,
yards, or to nearby open space.
i. The sign will not negatively impact the visual quality of a public open space
such as a recreation facility, square, plaza, court yard and the like.
j. The sign cannot be seen from the Yellowstone River or any City, County, or
State park or--if it can be seen--it must be located one thousand feet from the boundaries of such
spaces.
3. Only one sign is allowed per parcel of record and there shall be at least one thousand
feet between signs.
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4. A construction permit is required whenever the sign copy is changed and any
alterations to the sign are made. Each permit must be renewed on a yearly basis. Permits for
renewal and copy change can be obtained via the Laurel Intemet site and can be mailed to the
Public Works Department along with the required fee.
5. Signs shall be limited to one hundred and sixty square feet in copy area.
6. Non-conforming signs are required to be brought into compliance with this
ordinance within six years from the date of adoption of this ordinance or upon the earliest
occurrence of the following events:
a. The sign is relocated or replaced.
b. The structure or size of the sign is altered in any way.
c. The sign suffers more than fifty percent appraised damage or deterioration or
the sign is taken out of service for any reason, such as being knocked down by weather or other
means.
d. If any non-conforming sign is abandoned or voluntarily discontinued for a
period of 180 days, any subsequent use must be in conformity with this ordinance. An abandoned
sign is a sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner,
product, or activity, and/or for which no legal owner can be found. An abandoned sign is to be
removed by the owner within fifteen days of notice from the Public Works Department.
7. No portable signs as described in the City Signage Ordinance are allowed in the
EZD.
8. Lighting: All sign lighting must incorporate cut-of skields to direct light downward.
Luminaries shall not be visible from adjacent streets or properties. A sign's lighting will not cause
hazardous or unsafe driving conditions for motorists and will not glare, reflect, or spill onto
adjacent business or residential areas. All signage lighting shall be turned offat midnight.
B. Building Design Standards.
1. All buildings shall be completed on all sides with one of the following fmishing
material: brick, fluted block, colored textured block, glass, stucco, architectural concealed fastener
metal panels, exterior insulation and finishing systems (i.e., Dryvit, etc.), stone or wood. Exposed
seam metal buildings shall be prohibited unless covered with an acceptable finishing material.
2. Roofs shall be finished with a material that is architecturally compatible in color and
design with the construction of the building. Metal roofs, fascia, and mansards shall be limited to
the following: standing seam, metal shakes or shingles and architectural metal treatments. All
mechanical equipment placed on top of any roof shail be screened by a parapet or other similar
architectural apparatus being at least the height of the mechanical equipment. Pitched roofs are
encouraged whenever possible.
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3. Long, fiat facades that front on the interstate highway, First Avenue North or First
Avenue South having more than one hundred lineal feet are prohibited. Buildings over one
hundred feet in length shall incorporate one of the following: recesses, off-sets, angular forms,
landscaping features or other architectural features such as bell towers, clock towers, to provide a
visually interesting shape. The break in the facade shall be minimum of eight (8) feet in length. A
single uninterrupted length ora facade shall not exceed one hundred (100) lineal feet. It is
encouraged that each offset area contains landscaping or other similar amenities which will
complement the offset area.
C. Additional Provisions for Commercial Uses.
1. Storage of Merchandise. Any permitted storage of merchandise outside an approved
building shall be within an area enclosed with a sight obscuring fence at least six feet in height that
is arclfiteeturally compatible in color and design with the building. However, promotional displays,
vehicle sales lots and plant materials may be displayed outside of an approved building or enclosed
area so long as they are placed appurtenant to a building wherein the business displays the bulk of
its goods for sale. In addition, retail nurseries shall be exempt from the enclosure of plant materials,
and displayed merchandise shall not include any used equipment. Bufferyards or required
landscaping shall not be used for the displaying of merchandise.
2. Site Lighting: All outdoor lighting shall be designed, located and mounted at
heights no greater than 18 feet above grade for non-cutofflights and 35 feet above grade for cutoff
lights. All outdoor lighting shall be designed and located such that the maximum illumination
measured in foot-candles at the property line shall not exceed three-tenths (0.3) foot-candle for
non-cutoff lights and one and five-tenths (1.5) foot-candies for cutoff lights.
3. Storage of Junk: No person shall store junk, partially or completely dismantled
vehicles, or salvaged materials in any commercial zone outside a building. In the case of
automobile repair shops, such materials must be enclosed within a building or an area having a
sight-obscuring fence at least six (6) feet in height.
4. Solid Waste Area: All solid waste storage facilities shall be located within an area
enclosed with a sight-obscuring fence or wall that is architecturally compatible in color and design
with the building.
D. Cell Towers:
No wireless communication facilities are allowed in the Entryway Zone.
Section 17.26.054. Landscaping Standards.
Landscaping in the form of trees, shrubs, and groundcover serve several purposes: The softening
of harsh building forms and paved areas, the absorption of ground water, the reflection of seasonal
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color change, the provision of sound barriers (such as around utility substations or industrial yards),
and urban wildlife habitat.
A. Landscaping Definitions.
Canopy tree: A species of tree which normally bears crown foliage no lower than six feet above
ground level upon maturity. Miuimmn size of canopy tress shall be 2.5 inches in caliper.
Evergreen tree or shrub: A tree or shrub of a species which normally retains leaves/needles
throughout the year. Minimum size of evergreen trees shall be five feet in height.
B. Landscaping.
1. Bufferyard Requirements: All commercial/industrial land uses are required to place
a bufferyard (landscaping strip) adjacent to and along the length of I-90, First Avenue North, or
First Avenue South on which the use tS~onts. Such landscaping buffer shall extend from the edge of
the public right-of-way. Placement and landscaping design shall be at the discretion of the
developer, and the required trees and shrubs may be clustered to enhance the view of the property
from the public fight-of-way as long as such uses conform with Section 17.26.052.C of this
Ordinance. A local design professional or local nursery must be consulted for assistance with the
development of the landscape design. The use of native, drought-tolerant plant material is strongly
encouraged. Evergreen trees are encouraged for bufferyards, and canopy trees are encouraged for
parking areas. The planting of trees should be done in such a manner as to provide maximum solar
efficiency throughout the site.
a. The developer shall have the option of one of the folIowing three
bufferyards. Bufferyard depth is measured from the property line adjacent to the public right-of-
way inward. Any buffer area which overlaps another buffer area shall be subtracted from the total
to avoid double counting. The number of trees and shrubs required is per one hundred (100) feet of
frontage:
(1) 25 foot wide bufferyard: 5 Canopy or evergreen trees, I0 Shrubs
(2) 20 foot wide bufferyard: 10 Canopy or evergreen trees, 15 Shrubs
(3) 15 foot wide bufferyard: 15 Canopy or evergreen trees, 20 Shrubs
b. The following criteria shall also apply to the bufferyards.
(1) The landscape strip may be contoured. Berming shall be one foot of
rise to four feet of nm with a minimum of three feet in height. Depressions shall be no lower than
the existing grade of the site.
(2) All landscaped areas shall contain ground cover such as sod, shrubs,
flowerbeds, or organic materials. No more than ten percent of the landscaped area shall contain
rock, bark chips, stepping stones, or similar material.
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(3) All landscaped areas shall be sub-irrigated, maintained, and kept free
of weeds, debris, and litter. Failure to do so constitutes a zoning violation. Existing mature trees
and shrubs should be preserved and will be credited toward landscaping requirements.
(4) Depth of bufferyard shall depend on density of vegetation.
(5) All new utility lines shall be placed underground.
(6) New tree plantings shall not be constructed so as to grow into
existing overhead utility lines.
C. Off-Street Parking Lot Landscaping.
Landscaping shall be provided within all parking areas as follows:
Parking lots containing more than ten spaces shall contain intemai areas of landscaping totaling at
least ten percent of the parking area. Each planting area shall contain at least 300 square feet and at
least one major tree and groundcover with irrigation. There must be a clearly designated pedestrian
route from the parking lot to the street or main entrance.
1. A minimum of twenty square feet of landscaped area shall be provided for each
parking space on parking lots containing more than ten spaces.
2. Two canopy and/or evergreen trees and five shrubs shall be required for every ten
parking spaces or component thereof over ten parking spaces.
3. All landscaped areas shall contain ground cover such as sod, shrubs, flowerbeds or
organic materials. No more than 25 percent of the landscaped area shall contain rock, bark chips,
stepping stones or similar material.
4. The minimum width and/or length of any parking lot landscaped area shall be five
feet.
5. Internal parking lot landscaping provided shall be proportionately dispersed, at the
developer's discretion, in order to define aisles and limit unbroken rows of parking. The maximum
horizontal or vertical unbroken length shall be limited to one hundred feet. Landscaped areas
provided shall be in a scale proportionate to parking lot.
6. Any development that has parking abutting a required bufferyard, may extend the
width of parking landscaping plant material. The minimum bufferyard width and that bufferyard a
minimum of five (5) feet and include the additional required landscaping material is required in
addition to the parking landscaping.
7. Protection of Landscaped Areas. Landscaped areas within parking lots or the along
perimeter of the property must be protected from vehicular traffic through the use of continuous
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concrete curbs, extruded asphalt or other approved permanent barriers.
8. All new utility lines shall be placed underground.
D. Commercial Uses Abutting Residential Uses.
All commercial uses abutting residential uses shall install a bufferyard. The bufferyard shall be ten
(10) feet wide and shall comaln ten (10) evergreen and/or canopy trees and ten (10) shrubs per one
hundred (100) lineal feet. A solid fence or wall that is architecturally compatible in color and
design with the building shall be required on the property line. The fence height shall be a
minimum of six (6) feet. Chain link or other wire fencing material is prohibited.
E. Fractions in the Calculation of Number of Trees and Shrubs.
In the calculation of trees and shrubs for bufferyards or parking landscaping, all fractions shall be
rounded to the nearest, highest whole number.
Entryway Zoning District,doc
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