Planning Commission Minutes 2015 08 13

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes August 13, 2015 Page 11 of 22 McCartney says we have public nuisance standards in the LMC that we use for any property. We are on a complaint -driven basis because of limited Staff to go out property by property. If it was brought to us as a complaint, we would go out and enforce the Code. Russell says there is a mechanism for a neighbor or community member to come out and say "this is a problem". Could we include a condition that is related to noise? McCartney says we have a noise ordinance that we apply to a building contractor. There are hours. We can use the same type of standard. The PC can add a condition. Russell asks about the appendix and the applicant's submittal of a sign on the property that says No Dumping. Is that an issue on this site currently? McCartney says I am not aware of it. We have received no information. Summary from Applicant: Mary Ann Heaney says our bylaws and guidelines will prohibit any kind of electronic equipment in the garden, so no boom boxes. If they want ear pods, they can bring them. We think this is a real asset to the community. In discussions with Boulder County and Growing Gardens who manage the Kerr Garden, they have absolutely no plans to expand that garden. If there are empty plots this summer, it is the first time in years. Every year, I call and ask "how backed up are you?" and "I'm just making sure that we are still on track." I think this is a real asset to the City of Louisville and that is the way most cities look at it. You are taking a piece of land and bringing citizens together in an activity that takes very little management and time by the City. We are bringing a new type of recreational activity for which citizens are almost completely responsible. I think this is something really good for the City of Louisville. Questions from Commission for Applicant: Tengler asks if someone signs up for a plot Year 1, do they get that in perpetuity until they decide to not use it anymore? Is there a lottery every year? Heaney says most gardens work that way. Again, once the first group of gardeners is selected, they can refine the bylaws to determine that. Tengler asks in the selection process, will you make any allowances for low income families or any other charitable organizations so they get prioritized, or is there an allocation for groups like that? Heaney says we have discussed the entire process. We have talked about having scholarship gardens of people of lower income who need it. We discussed a certain percentage of plots, but we will see how it shakes out with the first people who apply. Closed Public Hearing and discussion by Commission: Tengler says it is obvious from the letters that there are some strong feelings on both sides of this issue. The comments from the neighbors deal with the things we hear about on a regular basis in PC ... noise, traffic, potential for trespassing. They are legitimate concerns. By the same token, I think there is a lot of public benefit to something like this. The communal aspect of it, the general benefit especially if we are looking to provide plots allocated to low income families, and to charitable organizations. I think in general, I am in favor of this. I would like to consider as a condition, some sort of traffic controls. It could be a four-way STOP or four official crosswalks so we can allay some of the concerns about the traffic. In a couple of the notes and a couple of the public comments, there is a notion of this being green space. I object to that. This is an empty corner lot with thistle and weeds. It is not open space and while it may have been a benefit to the residents in that area, it is not designated as such. It is not a park and it is not open space. I think this is one where we look at the greater public good rather than a personal convenience for 20 or 40 houses in that area. Moline says I think this is going to change this corner a little bit. I think it is a change that takes public land and does something with it that enriches the community beyond what is there now. I really think this is going to be a benefit to the neighborhood and the City as a whole. I am