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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CC - 03/14/2011 - 03-14-11 W.S. Mins (Migrated from Optiview)Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 1 of 9 This summary is provided as a convenience and service to the public, media, and staff. It is not the intent to transcribe proceedings verbatim. Any reproduction of this summary must include this notice. Public comments are noted and heard by Council, but not quoted. This document includes limited presentation by Council and invited speakers in summary form. This is an official record of the Milton City Council Meeting proceedings. Official Meetings are audio recorded. The Work Session of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton was held on March 14, 2011 at 7:10 PM, Mayor Lockwood presiding. Council Members Present: Councilmember Karen Thurman, Councilmember Zahner Bailey, Councilmember Bill Lusk, Councilmember Burt Hewitt, and Councilmember Joe Longoria. Councilmember Tart was absent/excused from the meeting. Mayor Lockwood: • Work Sessions are an informal setting to update Council on business items. • No votes will be taken during these sessions. • There are two (2) items on our Agenda tonight. • Public comment is allowed that is germane to an Agenda Item. • If you wish to speak you are required to fill out a comment card and turn it into the City Clerk pow staff. • Public comment will be allowed for a total of 10 minutes per agenda item and no more than 2 minutes per person. • Public comment will be heard at the beginning of each Item. • Once the item is called, no other comment cards will be accepted. Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item #1. 1. Discussion of City of Milton Strategic Planning Staff Overview, Vision and Mission Strategies. (Presented by Frank and Alysin Foster, The Centre for Strategic Management) City Manager Lagerbloom: • Lynn and I got drafted to provide the first update for the Strategic plan. • We have worked through that process and we are not done, but we are here to bring information so we know if we are going in the right or wrong direction with the group. • Some of the assumptions that we are making is the vision we have created remains is not something that this group is changing or modifying. • We have worked with the mission statement and it is something that will last the duration of this three year plan. • After the three year plan it will be modified to match the future issues. OWN • As we work through this we have gone through an environmental scan. • We are trying to figure out where we are today and what might potentially attack the plan and am" what is going on in the area that might influence how we get to our strategies. • We have tried to figure out what strategies we can put into place to clear up the gaps. • We tried to figure out where the consistencies are in the groups and where the differences are. Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 2 of 9 • Your vision statement is Milton is a distinctive community based on small town life and heritage ""4 while preserving and enhancing our rural character. • The vision statement is something we have kept off limits. • The Mission statement is something we want that works with this three year plan. • I feel that the mission statement will need some work. • We wanted to make sure that value, transparency, responsive, and responsible are four words we wanted in the statement. • Some of the groups liked "active partnerships" and we will continue to work on them as we put strategies together. • The first strategy that came out is to build relationships. • The strategy definition was to build lasting relationships that create and maintain Milton's sense of community. • There were a lot of things that we need to promote communication and relationships to keep citizens informed. • We need to find out where the right partnerships are between private and public organizations. Lynn Tully: • The next strategy included the protection and preservation of open space. • The definition that we came up with was actively promoted the rural character of Milton through protection and preservation and acquisition of open space. • Most of the comments surrounded creating an open space plan. • Creating specific areas for preservation and then finding ways to make that preservation happy. • That might involve several things such as conservation subdivisions, rural protection areas, or green space purchases. City Manager Lagerbloom: • The third strategy is the easy button strategy. • One thing we want to work towards is showing people that working with the government can be a pleasant experience. • This strategy is to provide quality services through professional staff in a fiscally responsible environment while maximizing resources. Lynn Tully: • The fourth strategy is to promote the equestrian lifestyle. • We couldn't come up with a perfect definition to describe who our equestrian people are. • Supporting both the equestrian culture and community through preservation and promotion. • We talk about establishing infrastructure specifically for the equestrian community. • We are trying to create a specific equestrian trail plan. • Promoting events that are equestrian related. • Potentially co-sponsored by the city. • Reducing fees for equestrian licenses. City Manager Lagerbloom: 0 Our final strategy is structuring economic growth. Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 3 of 9 • The definition was to create a climate for success. • This really took a couple of different directions. • It is in a place where the notion behind it is we welcome growth that will enhance Milton. • We want businesses to thrive here. • We want to be able to structure that so that Milton and Business owners are successful. • We had more than just five strategies but we want to stay at a manageable number. • The team has worked well together so far. • We appreciate our citizens on this committee. Councilmember Zahner Bailey: • Having heard the presentation from Lew Oliver, it feels that there would be a disconnect if we don't have Lew as a part of the strategic process given that these items tie directly in with what we are doing with Crabapple and also transfer development rights. • I hope we can engage Lew sooner not later into this process. • I believe that we have the right ideas but I hope we have the ability to provide more specific input. • When we think about our community, could we have any horse camps as a part of recreation? • I think we could do some horse programs this summer to promote our equestrian community. • Under creating a climate for success, when developing nodes of opportunity, does that mean 'OM commercial nodes beyond our comprehensive plan or the nodes we have already identified as part of the master plan? Carter Lucas: • It was a general comment. • We had talked about developing a small town rural character and how can we do that around the highway 9 area, Crabapple area, and Birmingham area? • We thought to recognize that there are different areas and how can we capitalize and to let each area be individual. Councilmember Lusk: • I would like to commend the group that came up with these strategies. • Under providing responsible and responsive government embodies everything that we are talking about. • It amounts to listening to the community and make it happen. • I think we are on the right track and I would like to see us move forward on this. Councilmember Thurman: • What exactly is the procedure with going forward now? • Where does it go from here? • When does it come back to council? • When does it become a policy type thing that the Council needs to handle? No" • It seems like the mission should be more of a policy that the council would deal with. • I would like for us to look at what the reasons are for us losing part of the equestrian community? • What are the reasons they leave Milton? Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 4 of 9 City Manager Lagerbloom: wat • There are two more opportunities at a minimum that we will come back to council. • This group should look at validating the mission. • Right now the missions will need some work to have this work off of each other. • In the next 30-90 days is when this will be more of a decision of policy. Councilmember Longoria: • The goal here is to come up with strategies that we want to execute. • The idea is to get a lot of input from citizens and staff. • Are there many more steps to this process? Frank Foster: • We are going to take a look at the items and look to see if we missed anything. • The next step is to prioritize to see what can be done realistically in year one, year two, and year three. • The third step is to look at dollar figures to see how many projects we can fund. • We do not want to build a plan in a vacuum. Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item #2. Discussion of Proposed Text Amendments: RZ10-06 — To Amend the City of Milton Zoning Ordinance, Section 64-1820, Landscaping Business, Plant Nursery or Garden Center with Indoor Retail Component. RZ10-08 — To Amend the City of Milton Zoning Ordinance, Section 64-1, Definition for Landscaping Business. (Previously Discussed at Special Called Work Session, December 20, 2010) (Presented by Lynn Tully, Community Development Director) Lynn Tully: • We did have a lot of discussion regarding if we should include landscaping businesses in the AG -1 zoning district as a special use permit. • There was concern that you all wanted to send this back to the planning commission to get some additional input with your specific questions. • Eleven questions were brought back to the planning commission and we have recommendations. • With comparison to other neighboring jurisdictions and how they handle landscaping businesses. We had looked at some other areas including areas outside of Georgia. • We found that those that were further out and more rural permitted landscape businesses and AGA. • Landscaping businesses to the south such as Roswell and Alpharetta, they do not have an AG -1 district but they do allow them in C-1 district. • The planning commission stated that the definition was clarified but did not expand. • Planning commission was satisfied with the development standards in the use permit and at your discretion you are allowed to add additional conditions. Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 5 of 9 • The planning commission believes that based on the specific request, additional requirements could be placed on the applicant in regards to storage and will be at the discretion of the council. • The planning commission identified the need of a map that would classify roads. • The planning commission stated that the equipment needs to be garaged or screened including items like a dumpster but additional conditions are able to be applied based on the application by council. • Screening versus buffering of parking and storage areas would be helped by the conditions. • You can add additional screening and covers as necessary. • The hours of operations being consistent with the noise ordinance were a topic that was necessary. • The noise ordinance stands at hours of operation from lam to 9pm and material deliveries at 7:30am to Spm. • When addressing the number of commercial vehicles and if they should be garaged or screened, planning commission felt that these vehicles need to be screened or garaged. • The definition as it stands does allow for residents to stay on the property of the business but it doesn't require that. • The planning commission did have an recommendation which was to approve the planning commission amendments to the use permit for landscape businesses with some changes recommended by the city attorney and to explain to the City Council the planning Commissions reasons for the amendments, or to delete landscaping businesses from AG -1 completely and only to allow it in C - l. Councilmember Thurman: • Do some of our landscape businesses grows their own plants and sells? Lynn Tully: • Green houses are allowed and can be used for plant propagation. Councilmember Longoria: Is there a grandfather clause that protects established businesses? • I feel like we are building inconsistencies in the use of these properties. If a landscaping business is next to a residential home, the residential home would be allowed to build a shed or a barn but the landscaping company would have to have special permission. City Attorney Jarrard: • Legally they can continue to do business and be grandfathered in if they have been "legal" with the city such as having a business license etc. Lynn Tully: • Auto repair, restaurants, keeping of animals, funeral The only exclusions are specifically listed. homes, retail or wholesale shops, motel type establishments, taxi services or any other occupation found incompatible with the intent of this ordinance. Councilmember Thurman: 0 Where is the line of being too heavy handed on citizens? Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 6 of 9 Mayor Lockwood: • Would the planning commission's alternate suggestion of allowing them in AGA with the twelve standards included? Lynn Tully: • There is a potential to still have loopholes. Councilmember Longoria: • Does the ratio between the lot size and the building come into play? Lynn Tully: • We did not included the ration but we could. • Using the ratio would make it more difficult for code enforcement. Councilmember Zahner Bailey: • What I understand is that our citizens want to regulate against misuse. • It's not the small places that would be the issue. • Our citizens don't want to open the door to commercial companies. • It is more likely for larger pieces of property to misuse the property. Mayor Lockwood: • We need a direction of either leave it alone, eliminate landscaping businesses entirely, or use the planning commission recommendation. Lynn Tully: • We will have to put this up for public hearing. • We brought this at a work session so we could have this discussion. • We can take it as it is with the planning commission's recommendations and bring it back for a public hearing. • If you have another direction that you need us to go in other than the options that have been presented, I would need to know. Mayor Lockwood: • I am in favor of using the planning commission's recommendation. Councilmember Thurman: • I would prefer the actual square foot be decided on per case. Councilmember Longoria: • I am mostly concerned about existing business. • I wouldn't want to restring anyone that has been doing this for years. • I would be in favor of looking at what the planning commission has made. Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 7 of 9 vow* Councilmember Hewitt: • I'm in favor of the first option but I would like to look into hours of operation. • I think we should tighten it up on the closing side. Councilmember Zahner Bailey: • I would agree that 9pm is too late for dumpsters to be dumped and commercial vehicles unloading next to a residential property. • I support the work of the planning commission's suggestions. • I would suggest that we need to bring both options forward from the planning commission again. • 1 think we need to address the number of commercial vehicles. • I would look to our staff to address the commercial vehicles on what is reasonable. • I think we need to look at the additional options by staff. • Knowing the concerns of the citizens, I suggest that we go back and find more additional detail on both suggestions. Lynn Tully: • This subject is so application specific. • There are opportunities for this to either be no problem or a pain daily to their neighbors. • It all depends on that specific application, the business, and how fast it grows. • You can't define specifically what the issue will be in the long run. • I don't see us being able to completely define what the issues will be. • Our twelve standards are better than the ones we had before. • I believe it would be easier to say they were all in C-1 and no agricultural to make it easier on staff. • Unfortunately, it doesn't mean it will make it right. • The advantage from my prospective is that it would be easier for Code Enforcement. Councilmember Thurman: • We can't go forward with an agenda item that says we will vote for either C-1 or the other. City Attorney Jarrard: • It would be possible to put two agenda items on, one to advertise for this modification and one would be to strike the landscapes from AG -1 all together. George Ragsdale: • It seems to me that we are missing some points. • The way we tried to do this was to avoid building this in a box. • C-1 as an alternative was offered so council could advocate completely. • It was written to give you all discretion for every application that comes before you to decide what makes sense on a case by case application. Now • They are not all the same. They are all different sizes, and all in different locations. • We believe that there are some people operating these businesses without a license or a permit. *00 • That was the reason for this change in ordinance. Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 8 of 9 Councilmember Zahner Bailey: now • Could we have staff look at this and figure out if there are any limitations to commercial vehicles? • I think if we are going to adjust this we need to put into consideration that no one wants to live next to a tractor trailer. Councilmember Thurman: • I think while we are changing items we really need to look into changing the times of operation. Mayor Lockwood: • I wanted to the planning commission for their work and I appreciate Frank and Alysin for your work as well. City Manager Lagerbloom: • We need to advertise one or two things. • Either we advertise that we are going to make an amendment to the zoning code or an advertisement that we are removing landscape businesses from AG -1. • I need to get a general majority to find out if council wants to advertise just this one, just the C-1, or advertise them both. Mayor Lockwood: • I say we advertise the first idea with Planning Commission's recommendation. Councilmember Hewitt: • I say we advertise with the Planning Commission's recommendations. Councilmember Longoria: • I also say we advertise with the Planning Commission's recommendations. Councilmember Zahner Bailey: • I support what the Planning Commission put forward. City Attorney Jarrard: • I am fine with this. • I want to make sure that I give the right instruction. • I think if you all get to the meeting and you decide you don't like what is before you, we can go back to option two. Councilmember Thurman: • I want to see what Planning Commission recommended as far as the list of stuff and add the items we added tonight such as the hours of operation etc. City Manager Lagerbloom: • The council packages for next week, we wanted to have them ready for you tonight. • We have four or five IGA's which are critical to the programming that we want to deliver this spring. • You will have your packages tomorrow morning. Work Session of the Milton City Council Monday, March 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm Page 9 of 9 After no further discussion, the Work Session adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Date Approved: April 11, 2011. — �n- Sudie AM Gord n, City ClErk Joe Loc l 'o d, Mayor