2012-02-15 PC Minutes1
UNAPPROVED
PLANNING and ZONING COMMISSION
APPROVED MINUTES
February 15, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kocon called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Kocon, Lindberg, Olson, Totman, and Edgren were present. Council
representative Dan Wagner was absent.
Staff members present: City Planner Al Brixius, and Zoning Administrator/Building Official Jon
Sutherland.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The agenda was approved as submitted.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 11, 2011
Totman moved, second by Lindberg to approve the October 11, 2011 meeting minutes with the
correction that Dale Edgren was in attendance and was not absent. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
REPORT FROM STAFF: City Planner Al Brixius introduced a Visioning Study and Goal
Setting Report that was authorized by the City Council to undertake. Brixius added a 3 page
handout to the packet as follows;
TABLE 1- POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD, HOUSEHOLD SIZE.
TABLE 3 – AGE CHARACTERISTICS 1990, 2000, 2010.
TABLE 4 - MEDIAN AGE 1990, 2000, 2010.
Housing Units by Type 2000 – 2010.
Brixius introduced and reviewed the background and history behind the Visioning Study. In
December 2011, the City Council approved the undertaking of a community visioning study
intended to identify the issues and opportunities that city will face with regard to land use,
transportation, utilities, and community services over the next 20-30 years.
The Vision Study was identified as a tool to for the City Council to identify and prioritize future
land use, development ambitions and community investments for the City. The Council will
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collectively define the City’s vision for the next 20-30 years, providing direction to staff with
regard to community priorities, policies, and goals.
Brixius reviewed his report and the maps, handouts, graphics, the history of the subdivisions in
the City, and discussed the amazing population growth over the last 20 years. He posed the
questions - What do we want to do with the remaining land? How should we look at future
growth, and uses for the land. Brixius stated we should be proactive for industrial growth if we
want to have a balanced community.
F. Kocon questioned Brixius as to why the industrial development has lagged behind the city’s
residential and commercial growth.
Brixius responded by saying that many issues effect industrial growth. Based on the
conversation with the property owners in northwestern Albertville the lack of the C.R. 19
interchange has reduced the viability of the land in this area of the community for industrial and
commercial growth. The southwest industrial park it may be the lack of large industrial lots.
The city’s lots along 52nd street range in size from 2 to 3 acres. This may deter development
interests. Economic Development is very competitive among cities as such the Albertville will
need to define its program for economic development marketing and potential incentives.
Brixius discussed the social profile and the changes from the 1990’s to the 2010 stating there has
been a slight reduction in the work force. He discussed life cycle housing and that as we mature
we should consider more live cycle housing and that with the visioning process we will discuss
more about the housing types and programs due to the cycle. Brixius commented that a vacancy
rate about 5% is normal.
Sutherland commented that foreclosures affect the vacancy rate and questioned if the 5%
included foreclosures. Brixius responded that the statistics are based on the census, the visioning
process will ask questions and seek input and this issue will be evaluated with the process.
Brixius reviewed the zoning and discussed the larger undeveloped properties in the city and
explained various access and development issues that impact them such as ingress, egress,
adjacent uses, street layouts and future connections. He noted the visioning would include
seeking input from neighboring communities and understanding the adjacent zoning, uses,
connections and transportation issues.
Brixius identified the steps in the Visioning Process and explained the planning commission and
the City Council’s roles in the Visioning Process.
The Council has approved the work program as noted in the staff report. Brixius noted the
Planning Commission will be an integral part to this visioning process.
Brixius reviewed the inventory process and stated the inventory will give the Council and the
Planning Commission a snapshot of existing conditions within the City providing a base of
information by which future plans can be made. It will provide a basis for identifying community
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issues and opportunities. The inventory will be gathered using existing City map information
and the 2010 Census.
Brixius discussed the Tactics Interview process; NAC will conduct 30-45 minute interviews with
City staff members Property Owners, and the City Council and Planning Commission to identify
community issues and opportunities. NAC will prepare an Issues and Opportunity Summary and
Issues Map. This summary will identify both majority and minority opinions on each topic
issue. This information will be shared with each interview participant.
Brixius reviewed Workshops and Goal Setting. NAC will conduct a workshop with the Council,
Commission and staff to review the Issues and Opportunities Summary to identify the most
pressing concerns and goals for the City and rank them in priority order. The workshop group
will also be asked for ideas to implement the identified goals.
The community priorities will be added to the Issues Summary Report. NAC will work with
staff to prepare a summary of the next steps for implementing the community goals. The City
Council will be asked to review the final document and formally adopt the document as the
foundation for future decisions. The process gives everyone a voice, both individually and
collectively, in defining the future vision for Albertville
Brixius inquired about scheduling times for appointments for interviews, it was determined that
commissioners should contact Bridget Miller, and or Jon Sutherland for scheduling interviews.
OTHER BUSINESS None
ADJOURN
Totman moved, second by Olson to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
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Jon Sutherland Recording Secretary