Community Meeting Minutes

Highland District Council

Community Development Committee Meeting

April 13, 2010

Meeting Minutes

Committee members present:           Tia Anderson, Shawn Bartsh, Greg Campbell, Ryan O'Connor, Mark Forsberg, Bill Rosenbloom, Kathy Soderberg, Marilyn Tamsky

Staff:                                                    Kathy Carruth

                                                            Dennis Rosemark, aide to Councilmember Pat Harris

6:30  Meeting called to order by Vice Chair Tia Anderson

1. Children's House Montessori

        Location     1194 Randolph Avenue

        A. Request for Parking Variance     

         Melissa King, Debbie Ethen and Mary Holisak, of Children's House Montessori appeared requesting support for a parking variance; they plan on constructing a 350 square foot addition in space previously used for a play area in order to meet increased need for pre-school space.  One parking space per employee is required; they currently have 16 employees. That number would not change. Seven off- street parking spaces are available, under the current rules they would need 16, for a variance of 9 off-street parking spaces. Their employees currently park on the street; that would not change after the addition.

         Surrounding neighbors were notified of the request by the City; One resident came and had no objections to the variance, but did have concerns about access to the alley.

            Upon Motion, the committee voted to recommend approval of the variance.

        B. Alley Access - signage requested

             A resident appeared expressing concern about vehicular access to the alley next to Children's Home. He said cars park close to the alley making it difficult for vehicles such as trash haulers to get into and out of the alley.  The matter was discussed and it was suggested that signs be posted on either side of the east end of the alley prohibiting parking adjacent to the alley. Dennis Rosemark agreed to assist Children's Home in working with Public Works to look at the issue.

            Upon Motion, the committee voted to request that signs posted on either side of the alley prohibiting parking next to the alley and that Children's Montessori work with the City Public Works towards this end.

2.Jimmy Johns;  Brent Wulff owner;

            current location:                  2053 Ford Parkway                                                 

            proposed location:             2030 Ford Parkway [Embroide Me space]

Brent Wulff came before the committee asking for support for a parking variance; He would like to move his business across the street to a space that has more parking than his current location. He is asking the City to grant him a variance of the off-street parking requirements in order to convert a retail space [Embroide Me] into a restaurant.  The change from retail to restaurant requires 3 additional parking spaces and none are available, for a variance of 3 spaces.

Upon Motion, the committee voted to recommend the variance.