Buffalo Wyoming Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 9/24/2008
Oct 8, 2008
Recorder: AB

RECORD OF THE MINUTES OF CITY OF BUFFALO, WYOMING
PLANNING COMMISSION

September 24th, 2008

Present from the Planning Commission (PC) were Steve Reimann, Craig Cope, Bill Cooley, Jim Martin, and Kate Harness.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of the Agenda for 9-24-08
3. Approval of Minutes from 8-27-08
4. Preliminary Plat—Resubdivision of a portion of Tract 2, Tract 3, and a portion of Tract 4, of the Esponda Addition to the Town of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming.
5. County Subdivision—Sketch Plat—Myer’s Minor Subdivision
6. October Meeting Date
7. Adjourn



Chairman Reimann called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.

Chairman Reimann asked that a Public Comment period be added to the agenda after agenda #5.
Mr. Cope made a motion to approve the amended Agenda.
Mr. Cooley seconded the motion.
Chairman Reimann called for further discussion.
There was none.
The motion carried, with all present voting aye.

Mr. Cooley made a motion to approve the Minutes from 8-27-08 with corrections.
Ms. Harness seconded the motion.
Chairman Reimann called for further discussion.
There was none.
The motion carried, with all present voting aye.

The fourth item on the agenda was: Preliminary Plat—Resubdivision of a portion of Tract 2, Tract 3, and a portion of Tract 4, of the Esponda Addition to the Town of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming.

The City Planner offered background on this issue. This item has been presented to the Commission and the City Council as a Sketch Plan and received tentative approval by the City Council. It was determined that a sewer easement agreement was necessary. The request is to split the existing three lots which run north/south and create two lots. The sewer easement agreement is a requirement of the preliminary phase for review by the City Attorney for the Final Plat.

Chairman Reimann asked if the City Council raised any specific questions or concerns.

The City Planner replied that they had not.

Mr. Martin asked where the utilities were located on the property.

Keith Neustel, representing the Applicant, described the locations of the utilities.

Mr. Cope made a motion to approve the Preliminary Plat of the “Resubdivision of a portion of Tract 2, Tract 3, and a portion of Tract 4, of the Esponda Addition to the Town of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming, stipulating that prior to the approval of a Final Plat, the City Attorney will receive a copy of the proposed sewer easement agreement, the Planning Commission will receive a copy of the City Attorney’s comments.
Mr. Cooley seconded the motion.

Chairman Reimann called for further discussion.

The Applicant asked what the remainder of the process would entail.

The City Planner replied that the City Council would receive the Final Plat in ordinance form following the Planning Commission’s recommendation. Ordinances require three (3) readings.

The Applicant asked about advertising costs.

The City Planner replied that the Mayor has decided that Public Notices for the Planning Commission and the City Council could be advertised concurrently.

Chairman Reimann called for further discussion.
There was none.
The motion carried, with all present voting aye.

The fifth item on the agenda was: County Subdivision—Sketch Plat—Myer’s Minor Subdivision

The City Planner described the location of the proposed Minor subdivision and highlighted the surrounding properties as well as the distance from the City boundary.

A meeting was held between the County Planner, the City Planner, and the Applicant’s Engineer, Josh Johnson, and it was decided that the Applicant would present the Sketch Plat to the City first before proceeding through the County’s subdivision process.

The purpose of tonight’s meeting is to determine what requirements the City would request of the Applicant for preparation of a Final Plat.

The Applicant asked for further description of the City boundary.

The City Planner noted that the proposed subdivision is located ½ mile from the City’s boundary.

The City Planner explained that the request is essentially a lot split however the City’s current code requires that it be classified a minor subdivision.

The City Planner added that it would likely be ten (10) years or more before the property would be annexed into the City.

The property is adjacent to a county subdivision, the Livestock Market Park; the area is subdivided into roughly 2 acre tracks. The surrounding roads are County, gravel roads. The area has urban densities.

Mr. Martin asked where the closest lift station was located.

The City Planner noted that the closest lift station was located near the Exxon property, to the north.

City sewer is being planned in connection with the Joint Powers Commerce Park board and their property. A forced main could be a future possibility of that project.

The City Planner noted that connector agreements are a possible requirement of the current request, should lines be constructed within 100 feet of the property.

Chairman Reimann asked if the Commission could make a requirement for the Applicant to connect to the water and sewer if they are not in the City.

The City Planner replied that current City code does allow the City to sell water outside of the City limits. Sewer requirements could be recommended however the City Planner offered that requiring the Applicant to connect to the sewer main may be applying too much of the subdivision regulations in this case.

Mr. Cope asked where current the sewer main is located.

The City Planner described the approximate location.

Chairman Reimann asked if the City Planner recognized any concerns to not require the Applicant meet the current subdivision road requirements.

The City Planner noted that current roads in the area are constructed at County standards; there are no City-quality streets in the area. Therefore, requiring the Applicant to meet City standards may be burdensome. The City Planner noted that the City would have the future option to require a Special Improvements district in the area at the time of annexation.

Mr. Martin asked about the possibility of a utility easement agreement along the lot split.

The City Planner noted that was a possibility and would be dependent on how utilities were proposed for development.

Mr. Martin asked about access to the property.

The City Planner noted that access would be addressed by the County during subdivision review. The City Planner did not foresee any problems with access.

Chairman Reimann asked if the proposed, future City Subdivision Code affect this request.

The City Planner replied he didn’t think it would. The City Attorney may have a different opinion. The City Planner noted that the proposed Code would require a simplified process for lot splits.

Chairman Reimann asked if the City’s jurisdiction has been confirmed at one-mile from the City boundary.

The City Planner noted that it had been confirmed and is regulated by State Statue.

The Applicant asked if the City boundary is legally set at the Greenleaf Estates addition.

The City Planner noted that Greenleaf was a legal addition to the City when leap-frog development was allowed by State Statue. The addition was encouraged and adopted by the City for reasons of economic development.

The Applicant asked for further detail on the process that is required for the current request, and expressed frustration at the length and complexity of the process so far.

The City Planner noted that the current process is not ideal and is being re-written. The process is lengthened when both the City and the County are required to examine the proposal.

The Applicant’s Engineer noted confusion as well at the process.

The City Planner asked what the Applicant’s thoughts were about connector agreements.

The Applicant replied he was open to connector agreements, with the stipulation that fees were reasonable.

The City Planner noted that a sewer connector agreement would be fairly straight-forward. A water agreement would be more difficult since City Code does not currently allow water to be sold outside of the City limits, and therefore an agreement would need to include the stipulation that it would be dependent on a change in City Code.

The City Planner noted that there was no formal action of a Sketch Plan however the requirements for the Final Plat needed to be established by the Commission.

The Applicant also asked what was required for the Final Plat application.

The Applicant’s Engineer pointed out there was not a Preliminary Plat phase for a Minor subdivision.

Mr. Cope noted that water and sewer appeared to be the critical requirements for the City given future growth patterns.

The City Planner added that water and sewer agreements could be drafted to address these items.

Chairman Reimann asked if a connector agreement could be added to the Final Plat.

The City Planner replied that was a possibility but agreements have not appeared on any known Final Plats to date.

Chairman Reimann asked if the proposal was in agreement with the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

The City Planner noted the proposal was in agreement with the Comprehensive Plan.

Chairman Reimann asked if the Applicant was comfortable with the Planning Department drafting a letter regarding the terms of the Final Plat and agreements.

The Applicant replied he was.

The Applicant’s Engineer asked for a review of the terms/requirements of the Final Plat.

Chairman Reimann asked if the City Planner wanted the Commission to specify the requirements.

The City Planner added he would draft a letter that reflects the Planning Commission minutes.

Mr. Cope made a motion to direct the Planning Department to write a letter to the County and the Applicant based on the Planning Commission’s discussion.
Mr. Martin seconded the motion.
Chairman Reimann called for further discussion.
There was none.
The motion carried, with all present voting aye.

Chairman Reimann opened the Public Comment.

There were no members of the public present.

Chairman Reimann asked for an update on the street construction on Fort Street, the sewer construction on North Main, and the development Buffalo Ridge from the City Planner.

The City Planner updated the Commission on these City projects.

October 28th is the next Planning Commission meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 6:08 pm