City Planning Board MinutesMonday, September 11th, 2017
City Hall, Council Chambers
Meeting Called to Order: 6:00pm
Attendance:
Board: Kristin Smith, Gary Neff, Kenny Rayome, Virginia Kocieda, Jennifer Nelson, Marvin Sather
Public: Gary Armstrong
Review & Approve Minutes:
Kenny Rayome motioned to approve the minutes from 06-12-2017; Marvin Sather seconded the motion. Motion carried
Discussion on Highway Commercial District
A. What does the use pattern look like?
B. Look at what other similar sized towns are doing; looking at their highway section codes
C. Land use and design; Looking at purposed business and highway district: Highway Commercial – 9th street is central from Les Schwab’s to South to Maple (one street south of cedar)
a. Tiered uses?
b. Marvin Sather mentioned he liked the organization of Red Lodge; had same structure for every part of town; clear and specific
D. Parking Standards
a. Kenny Rayome: mentioned parking standards for customers on the highway; no parking on highway
b. Jennifer Nelson mentioned difference between downtown and highway: access to highway; limited in downtown whereas access is needed in highway section
c. Kristin Smith mentioned downtown section is pedestrian focused; more progressive communities have decreased parking to increase pedestrian activity and offset with bike racks (for example)
d. Determination by square footage or number of employees
e. Gary Neff mentioned that these ideas are good for the future but what about now?
i. Kenny Rayome mentioned that there is nothing that can be done for “the now”
ii. Cedars Restaurant and Bar is good example of increased parking in highway district business with ease to enter establishment and highway; nice signs
iii. McDonalds: bad example with dangerous entrance/exit
1. Part of the issue is highway permitting
E. Large Setbacks
a. Usually setbacks are in areas with high speeds
b. Work with inspectors
c. Business needs labeled entrance(s)/exit(s)
d. Example: Venture Inn entrance/exit; not very clear where the entrance(s)/exit(s) are
e. Use of Landscaping can help to structure the anatomy of the parking lot, entrance(s)/exit(s)
F. Height Restrictions of Buildings
a. General topic of discussion: if a larger hotel company wanted to build a large hotel in Libby to accommodate recreational visitors, where would it be; what would it look like
i. Something to think about since future of Libby’s economic growth emphasizes recreation/working with natural resources
b. Kenny Rayome mentioned a potential location could be behind Town Pump
c. Gary Neff mentioned the potential of a block being bought; designed however the buyer wants could happen now without revised code(s)
d. Need to make sure set-back is in proportion to height; need to prevent ability of building to take away view(s)
e. Current example of construction blocking view: Torgie’s addition was mentioned
f. Marvin Sather mentioned the need for a building to act like a convention center
g. Stream sediment (alluvial) – can certain areas sustain the weight of 6-story buildings? (Example: Torgie’s parking area)
G. Start with MAX: 45 feet as the height, but higher if certain conditions are met
H. Landscaping
a. Grates for storm-water – turning slates perpendicular to sidewalks
b. Used to directed people and cars
c. Want more land adoptions
d. Gala benifield 2015 the beacon article about “central calling area” in Libby
I. Bulk (size of building; bulk or foot print)
a. Kenny Rayome mentioned that designs should be in “good taste”
b. Example: Reserve street in Missoula, MT
c. Having buildings closer to highway affects driving speeds and brings in community
d. Referenced Dillon’s code as an example for dimensions to use, Hamilton’s code as well
e. Discussion on how big buildings should be and balancing with setback; variances and how they may impact
J. Loading and unloading
K. Tiering exclusions/inclusions between downtown vs. highway
a. Example. Car lots
L. Topic for next meeting – list of uses that apply for Libby AND definition of decorative
Comments from the public on items not on agenda: none
Other comments from the board:
Next Meeting: October 9th, 2017
Adjournment: 7:21pm