HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Planning and Zoning Commission - 3/6/2007 DRAFT MINUTES
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
March 6, 2007
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE
REGULAR SESSION AT OR AFTER 6:00 PM
1. Call to Order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Present: Chair Pete Bistany
Vice Chair Doug McKee
Commissioner Bill Adler
Commissioner Ray Paolino
Commissioner Clark Reddin
Commissioner Teree Bergman
Commissioner Honey Pivirotto
3. Call to the Audience (Non Agenda Items Only)
Opened and closed with no speakers.
4. Approval of minutes for December 5, 2006.
Commissioner Adler MOVED to approve the December 5, 2006, minutes as written.
Commissioner Bergman seconded the motion. Motion carried 7 yes,0 no.
5. Approval of minutes for February 6, 2007.
Commissioner Adler MOVED to approve the February 6, 2007, minutes as written.
Commissioner Paolino seconded the motion. Motion carried 7 yes, 0 no.
6. Public Hearing: OV8-07-01, The Planning Center, representing, Tucson Electric Power
(TEP), requests approval of a conditional use permit to allow for the replacement of
existing power poles and electric utility wires, located along the west side of La Cholla
Boulevard between Lambert Lane and Owl Head Place, and for a pole replacement on
Lucero Road, east of La Cholla Boulevard.
Applicant: Lawrence Lucero, 1 S. Church. Tucson Electric Power Manager of Government Affairs
gave a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the Planning Center.
Ms. More clarified that in the staff memo to the Commission staff mentioned a possible franchise
agreement with Tucson Electric Power(TEP). TEP, Staff and Town Council had a Study
Session, and Town Council has asked staff to look into it further but has not adopted a franchise
agreement.
Mr. Lucero said that OV Circuits#7 (Overton and La Cholla)and#24 (Rancho Vistoso) are
currently overloaded. The Circuit#7 would be corrected by taking out the wooden poles and
replacing with 9 metal poles and better wiring. This would take the extra burden off of Circuit#24
and enable TEP to provide better service. This would give the ability to switch circuits if needed
and would make the system much more reliable.
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Don McAdams, TEP Engineer, said during construction TEP has the ability to de-energize the
line and spread the line out to put up the new pole. This shouldn't cause any outages.
Mr. Lucero replied to questions from the Commissioners:
-The lines being installed are sufficient to take care of load as built out.
-The steel poles sustain more load than two wooden poles.
- Road widening is about 5 years out, at which time under grounding will be addressed.
-9 poles in the middle are being replaced. The two on the ends are not.
- Under grounding isn't possible at this time.
- Steel poles don't suffer damage as wooden poles do.
- Poles are currently at a safe distance from the roadway in the ROW.
-Going underground was not factored into this proposal.
-When rates are discussed with the Commission, they don't contemplate differential rates in their
franchise territory.
-There will be other opportunities for partnering for under grounding lines in a couple of years.
- Regardless of jurisdiction, it is important for all customers to have high reliability.
Mr. McAdams said based upon low densities expected from the Oro Valley General Plan, this
project(Circuit#7) will allow double capacity on the circuit and we should be able to
accommodate all future customers. Circuit#24 still has room to grow.
Ms. More stated that Public Works advised that the intersection improvement at La Cholla and
Lambert is a spot improvement. Roadway widening is not planned at this time.
Bayer Vella gave the staff report focusing on practicality and feasibility.
The Commission and staff discussed funding for undergrounding, whether TEP, the Town, or
some combination of both should cover costs.
Safety issues relating to power pole location in the right-of-way were discussed.
PH opened and closed at 7:00. There were no speakers.
MOTION: Commissioner Pivirotto MOVED to recommend approval of OV8-07-01,
Conditional Use Permit for the replacement of existing power poles and electric utility
wires, located along the west side of La Cholla Boulevard between Lambert Lane and Owl
Head Place, and for a pole replacement on Lucero Road, east of La Cholla Boulevard.
Commissioner Bergman seconded the motion.
AMENDMENT TO MOTION: Commissioner Paolino MOVED to amend the motion to
include the condition that TEP shall pay "fair share", as determined by Town Council, of
under grounding when La Cholla Boulevard is widened. Commissioner Adler seconded
the amendment to the motion. Motion failed with 3 yes,4 no. Commissioners Bistany,
Bergman, McKee and Pivirotto voting no. Commissioners Paolino, Reddin and Adler
voting yes.
The original motion carried 6 yes, 1 no. Commissioner Adler voting no.
7. Study Session, OV7-06-04, Town Staff requests amendments to the Oro Valley Zoning
Code Revised to address zoning districts, requirements, and uses associated with
religious assemblies and institutions
Ms. More said this study session's purpose is for staff to interact with the Commission to gather
ideas associated with this proposed code amendment.
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Mr. Vella gave the staff report. He talked about the comments resulting from the first public open
house regarding this issue.
Chair Bistany presented a copy of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of
2000 (RLUIPA)with full text which he asked to be copied and sent to the Commissioners.
Mr. Vella said he wanted to make it very clear that the Federal law is the driving force in this draft
and the entire code draft before the Commission has been vetted by Legal.
Attorney Andrews stated that the government cannot pass laws to substantially inhibit your right
to religious freedoms.
Comments by the Commission:
-Were neighborhood associations included in the stake holder meetings?
Noticed but didn't attend.
- Do other municipalities have conditional use permits (CUP) in their zoning codes?
Yes, some do.
- Potential for religious establishments locating in residential neighborhoods where they are out of
scale with surroundings.
- Need to handle traffic generated by larger churches.
- Explore making a distinction between a residential zone and established neighborhood.
- Parking and size are issues.
-There should be a distinction between a church building on vacant land and buying existing built
land.
- Hours of operation and noise should be addressed.
- How to justify additional heights?
-The range of ancillary uses, especially school usage.
- Narrow yard setbacks.
-Consider varying standards according to residential zone.
- If a church acquired an existing residential property, would the law allow a CUP for transition
from an existing use to a new use?
-Why not include conditional uses in all the districts?
-Why is it not allowed in TP zone?
-Are there any undeveloped areas where grandfathered uses might occur for churches to be
located?
-Concern that large subdivisions have a required church site set aside in the future.
Paul Parisi, 363 Sunburst Place, suggested that the amendment be put
on the consent agenda with Town Council, change conditional use to permitted use. Send it to
Town Council and have them talk to the Town attorney.
8. Study Session, OV7-06-03, Amending Section 22.2 General Plan Amendment Procedures
and portions of Section 22.3 Amendments and Rezonings, of the Oro Valley Zoning Code
Revised.
Jill Manion gave the staff report. This item was initiated by staff in order to address Growing
Smarter legislation.
Questions and concerns from Commissioners:
- initiation process,
-application for plan amendments,
-due process considerations,
- holding study sessions prior to public hearings,
-getting advance notice of applications to the P&Z Commission,
- notice provisions,
- hearing all applications together,
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-concurrent(or not) hearing of plan amendments and rezonings,
-clear differentiation between major and minor amendments, and
-applying conditions on plan amendments.
9. Future Agenda Items
10. Planning Update
- Miller ranch rezoning Town Council heard and approved subject to conditions. The
proposed CC&R's were wrapped into the Exhibit A as part of the ordinance.
-We are in middle of budget season, and are trying to coordinate the work plan with budget. It is
best to consider the Work Plan in the fall to have input into the budget process, which is in
January/February/March.
-There is about$150 available for Planning and Zoning training. We will be trying to do some in-
house training to provide boards and commissions with free continuing education hours.
11. Adjourn Regular Session at 10:00 p.m.
By acclamation.
Prepared by:
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Diane Chapman, Office Specialiā¢
NOTE: A complete audio of the above meeting is available at www.townoforovalley.com for one
year after meeting date.
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