HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity/County Planning Board Minutes 05.06.1999•
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MINUTES
CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
May 6, 1999 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT: John H. Smith, Chairman
Gerald Shay, Member-at-Large
Kurt Bal,trusch, County Rep.
Miles Walton, City Rep.
Tom Robertus, County Rep.
Clarence Foos, County Rep.
Ziggy Ziegler, County Rep.
Laurel Haggart, City Rep.
Betty Hart, County Rep.
Ed Thurner, City Rep.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Charles Fischer, City Rep.
OTHERS PRESENT: Cheryll Lund, Secretary
Cory Wolcott
Jim Reno
Jim Pannell
Dan McGee
Gary Temple
APPROVE MINUTES AND BILLS:
Motion by Miles Walton, second by Tom Robertus to approve the
minutes of the April 8, 1999 meeting. Motion carried
Motion by Ziggy Ziegler, second by Laurel Haggart, to approve
the administrative services bill for $200 for May. Motion carried.
PRELIMINARY PLAT- RICHARDSON SUBDIVISION.
No representatives were present to present the plat.
Motion by Ed Thurner to disapprove the preliminary plat due to
his personal policy against urban sprawl and unchecked development.
Motion died for lack of a second.
Motion by Clarence Foos, second by Betty Hart, to table the
preliminary plat until the June 3, 1999 meeting. Motion carried
8--1.
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PRELIMINARY PLAT- MOSER DOME ACRES
Dan McGee presented the preliminary plat for owners Cory and
Darlene Wolcott.
The site consists of 4 lots for a total of 77.9 acres. Lot 3 has
the old Webster homesite on it which will be retained by the owner
and will not be platted. That will make this subdivision 3 lots
and not 4.
Question on whether or not septic systems will be reviewed by the
Yellowstone County Health Department. The Subdivision Improvements
Agreement (#2) that it will not be. Dan stated that they will be
reviewed by Yellowstone County Health Department and the State
Department of Health and Environmental Sciences.
Question on road access and easements. Dan will work with the
County and Cal regarding this issue.
Dan went through the recommendations from Yellowstone County and
stated that he will go by each recommendation, and the
recommendations from Laurel City Planner Cal Cumin.
Motion by Miles, second by Kurt Baltrusch, to recommend
approval of Moser Dome Acres subdivision preliminary plat subject
to all items on letter of recommendations from Yellowstone County
be addressed and Cal's recommendations be met, plus #2 on the
subdivision improvements agreement be amended to read that "the
septic tanks and drain fields be reviewed by the Department of
Health and Environmental Sciences and Yellowstone County Health
Department". Motion carried 8--1.
At this time Ziggy Ziegler introduced the new Yellowstone County
Commission Jim Reno to the audience.
PRELIMINARY PLAT - SKY ACRES SUBDIVISION
Dan McGee presented Sky Acres subdivision preliminary plat to the
board.
Will Metz is the owner of the property and has plans to subdivide
it into 5 parcels totalling 73 acres zoned single family. It is
located at the intersection of Wald Road and South Park City Road.
It is zoned agricultural.
Mr. Metz is a pilot and owns a spraying service and has plans to
have a landing strip, but as it is not a part of this subdivision
it should not be included in the review.
Yellowstone County Public works office has requested that a right-
of-way permit be secured, but that was their only requirement.
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Cal is requesting that there be a non-access strip along South Park
City Road which allows only two accesses. Cal also stated that the
issue of the planned airstrip is not the Planning Board's
responsibility to review and comment on. He recommends approval
subject to his requirements.
Discussion by Board. Question on road access was brought up.
Because a right-of-way permit is required this will be taken care
of to the County's satisfaction.
Laurel Haggart states she would like to see #4 in the Declaration
of Restrictive Covenants be changed to put a time limit of one year
on temporary all living quarters.
Laurel Haggart questions the use of runways in the subdivision.
Dan states that this is not to be an issue on this preliminary plat
because it is not a part of the subdivision.
Motion by Miles Walton, second by Betty Hart to recommend
approval of Sky Acres Subdivision preliminary plat subject to a
non-access strip along South Park City Road and that #4 in the
covenant restrictions be changed to put a time limit of one year on
temporary living quarters. Motion failed by a 4--5 vote.
The Planning Board adjourned and the Zoning Commission convened to
review a special review by Lamar Outdoor Advertising.
SPECIAL REVIEW - LAMAR ADVERTISING - BILLBOARDS
Jim Pannell of Lamar Outdoor Advertising spoke regarding the
application to place 5 billboards on Gill Burdett's land north of
the interstate.
Under Montana Law for highway areas these 5 sign structure
locations qualify under the jurisdiction of the Montana Department
of Transportation. Each of the signs will be built on center mount
single poles with sign faces back to back in a V configuration.
The sign faces will be 10'6" high by 36' wide which is 378 square
feet in area. Montana law allows a maximum sign size of 672 square
feet, which makes the proposed signs 44e smaller in size than
allowed. The tops of the sign faces will be set at 30' off the
centerline of the adjacent highway, which also comply's with State
law.
The signs will be computer generated paintings on vinyl sheeting,
and will be lit.
The signs will start right next to the new modular home sales lot
and extend for a total of 41491, with spacing going from 410' to
1164' going west. (see attached map)
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Mr. Pannell states that outdoor advertising is very effective and
is an important source of information for the traveling public.
National polls show that 90°; of the traveling public rely on
billboard signs to direct them.
Question on whether or not the billboards will be used for Laurel
businesses?
Mr. Pannell states that the 5 billboards will not necessarily be
used for Laurel businesses but will be used for businesses going to
the west, north or south of Laurel.
Gary Temple spoke in favor of the proposed billboards. He is not
a paid endorser but wants the board to hear his viewpoint. Gary
owns Meadowlark Gallery in Laurel.
In 1990 he tried various forms of advertising, and had little
success until he advertised with a billboard. He found it to be
very effective.
Mr. Temple feels that the board has to keep an open mind when
looking at this application.
He states that Cal Cumin, Laurel City Planner, has a hidden agenda.
He goes on to state that Cal is a member of Scenic Montana which is
an organization that wants to ban all billboards.
Mr. Temple goes on to say that the proposed billboards are in a
perfect spot to attract people coming into Laurel.
Mr. Temple feels that we need to start promoting business and these
billboards are a great way to accomplish that.
A question by the Board on who specifically, from Laurel, wants to
use these billboards?
No one answered the question.
The public hearing was closed at 8:20 p.m. by a motion from miles
Walton, second by Gerald Shay. Motion carried.
Discussion.
Gerald Shay is not an opponent of billboards and finds them helpful
when he -travels but he states that having 5 signs (10 faces) in
less than a mile is hard to swallow. He is against the large
amount of billboards
Laurel Haggart went out and look at the billboard and thinks this
would be a terrible idea for Laurel.
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0 Betty Hart feels that this is a double edged sword and feels the
billboards would do a real disservice to Laurel.
Kurt Baltrusch states that businesses need a way to get the word
out, but on the other hand he has a problem with the amount of
billboards in that area.
Ziggy states that billboards are helpful when you are traveling.
He feels they are a necessary evil whether they are a blight on the
landscape or not. He suggests the board look at the options Cal
listed (see attached) and delay the decision on the application for
30 days instead of denying it and making the applicant wait for a
year before being able to come back. If the board chooses to do so
then some conditions could be put on the applications, such as
allowing less billboards.
Motion by Gerald Shay, second by Kurt Baltrusch to delay the
applications for Special Review for Lamar Outdoor Advertising until
the June 3, 1999 meeting. Motion carried 8--1.
Before the June 3, 1999 meeting it was suggested that The Laurel
Revitalization Organization be contacted regarding their thoughts
on billboards and also looking into the policies that Billings has
on billboards.
Motion by Clarence Foos, second by Gerald Shay, to table the
review of the Home Occupation application until the June 3, 1999
meeting. Motion carried 9--0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Cheryll Lund, Secretary
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WORKS: 628-x796 TER OFC: 628-7431
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OURT: 628-1964 P.O. Box 10 FAX: 628-2241 Laurel, Montana 59044
PLANNING BOARD
DEPARTMENT
APPLICATION FORM- SPECIAL REVIEW
The undersigned as owner or agent of the following described
property requests a Special Review as outlined in the City Zoning
Ordinance:
Legal Description:
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ATTACH MAP SHOWING DIMENSIONS, ACREAGE AND LOCATION OF
Owner of Tract
Mailing address:
Phone Number:
Attach site plan: L?-
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Time Schedule for development:
9401
Special Review request:
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I understand that the filing fee accompanying this application
is not refundable and that it pays part of the-cost in processing.
Also, that all information resent nd orrect.
Petitioner's Signature:
Petition No.:
Fee paid and date:
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City Of Laurel is an EEO Employer
Equal Housing Opportunity
CITY HALL
115 W.1STS
PUB WORKS: : 628-4796 City of Laurel
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TE: OFC: 628-7431
OURTR
628-1964 P.O. BOX 10 R1E=L
FAX: 628-2241 Laurel, Montana 59044T^
PLANNING
DEPARTMENT
April 30, 1999
Chair and Members
Laurel-Yellowstone City-County Planning Board
POB 10
Laurel, MT 59044
Dear Planning Board:
Regarding the application from Flying Box Ranch Company for Special Review for five new
billboards: The Planning Board needs to close the Plannin Board meetin and re-open as the
City Zoning Commission--and then o Den the ublic hearin .
Chapter 17.68 of the Zoning Ordinance discusses Special Reviews and states that "Although
each zoning district is primarily intended for a predominate type of use, there are a number of
uses which may or may not be appropriate in a particular district depending upon the
circumstances of the individual case." There follows several examples of things to consider
which for this application include: the location, nature of proposed use, character of the
surrounding development, and potential environmental effects:
1. The location: the area in which the billboards are proposed is the east entrance
to Laurel; it is basically the first part of the community seen by people on the interstate
coming from the east.
2. Nature of proposed use: introduction of large, multi-colored billboards on
presently vacant land adjacent to the interstate and community.
3. Character of the surrounding development: There are no billboards in this area
at present. The land is flat, vacant, and agricultural. The backdrop to the land is the rail yards
and residential land uses beyond the rail yards. The site is zoned Light Industrial.
4. Potential environmental effect: The issue of the environmental effect of
billboards is a public perception issue that is going to become more and more contentious. I
believe Billings will probably soon consider modifications to its billboard allowance provisions
and a possible moratorium on billboards. The new CTEP program administered by the
Montana Department of Transportation, which Laurel is using to develop its Fireman's Park
Cabin, South Pond, and the Canyon Creek Battlefield sites, has a provision for providing
Federal assistance (matched with local monies) to actually remove billboards (a very difficult
process).
City Of Laurel .is an EEO Employer
Equal Housing Opportunity
After the public hearing, (close the public hearing before making recommendations and
decisions) the Zoning Commission (see 17.68.040) shall make a recommendation to the City
Council to:
1. Grant the application for Special Review;
2. Deny the application,
3. Delay action on the application for a period not to exceed thirty days; or
4. Grant the application subject to conditions and recommendations and the give
the reasons therefore.
5. (The Zoning Commission can also recommend to the City Council that it hold
or not hold an additional public hearing--which is at the Council's discretion.)
My recommendation is that the applications be denied. Laurel is just starting to try
and promote its sense of community pride and place. An important part of this sense of pride
and place is how the community looks--both to those who live here and to those who drive
the interstate by here. The construction of five large billboards at the east entrance to the
community--where there are none now and where the view is presently of the larger
community and open space--is not conducive to enhancing the image of Laurel as a
community that cares about itself.
Laurel needs additional time to develop and define its sense of place and the new
planning efforts that are under consideration (the downtown planning effort and the new
transportation planning grant that has been applied for). Laurel also needs time to consider
methods of how to plan the entrances to the community--such as that from the east. Approval
of these billboards at this time will largely dictate how the east entrance area is perceived
regardless of future design provisions desired by the City.
It is in the interest of Laurel to deny these applications at this time in order to allow it
to develop appropriate procedures for dealing with the entrances to its community (a process
it has currently started) and for billboards specifically. It currently has no provisions for
considering or establishing size, number, spacing, lighting, and the other characteristics of
outdoor advertising. Granting approval of these applications at this time would largely negate
the effort to influence such facilities in the future. Once billboards are erected it is almost
impossible to remove them, regardless of subsequent location and design control efforts.
It is important that Laurel completely understand the implications of the new
billboards--both Federal and State regulations and provisions. Laurel should also, as
requested by the City Council, try and coordinate its zoning regulations with the larger,
Billings and Yellowstone County Unified Zoning Regulations. Laurel needs to wait and see
what the larger area is going to do about billboard control before it makes decisions that will
remain in effect over a long period of time.
Denial of these applications does not prevent the applicant from coming back to Laurel
in one year and re-applying for approval--a time frame in which Laurel will be better prepared
to add the ton -term, pertinent issues involved.
Cal Cumin, AICP
Planning Director
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OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
MONTANA
March 16, 1999
Zoning Commission
City of Laurel
P.O. #10
Laurel, Mt. 59044
Re: Special Review For Proposed Outdoor Advertising Sign Structures To Be
Built On Interstate #90 East of Laurel
Dear Zoning Commission:
The subject Special Review is requested to allow Lamar Outdoor to lease and
build five (5) sign structures on Mr. Gill Burdett's land north of the Interstate.
These sign structure locations qualify under Montana Law for highway areas
under the jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Transportation. The
attached site plan shows the locations of the sign structures moving west
from the East Laurel Inter-Change #437.
Each of the proposed sign structures will be built on a center mount single
pole with the sign faces back to back in a V configuration with a fifteen foot
(15') spread between the faces away from the highway. The sign faces will be
ten feet six inches high (10'6") by thirty-six feet (36') wide or three hundred
seventy-eight (378) square feet in area. Montana State Law allows a
maximum sign size of six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet, so these
sign faces are approximately forty-four percent (441%) smaller in size than
allowed. The tops of the sign faces will be set at thirty feet (30) off the
centerline of the adjacent highway to also comply with State Law.
We are now using computer generated painting on vinyl sheeting for sign
faces rather than the traditional painting of four feet by eight feet (4'X8')
• plywood sheets. The new process allows the sign face to project far better
color and photographic reproductions of people's faces. Installation of the
BILLINGS: 315 MAIN ST. - BILLINGS, MT 59105 - (406) 252-7181 - FAX (406) 252-7690
GREAT FALLS: P.O. BOX 1067 - GREAT FALLS, MT 59403 - (406)-453-6591 - FAX (406) 453-6592
HELENA: PO. BOX 151 - HELENA, MT 59624 - (406) 442-0387 - FAX (406) 442-0365
sign face is accomplished by stretching the vinyl sheeting over a steel face of
a similar dimension. The attached photographs show the fabrication and
appearance of the sign structure described. During the Public Hearing, we
would be pleased to respond to questions concerning our industry and the
sign construction we are proposing.
Sincerely
Jim Pannell
Lease Manager
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