Landscaping revision made to PUD and sent to council for approval
It?s another step toward construction as members of the Rogers City Planning Commission reviewed the ?planned unit development (PUD)? Monday for the Lakeview Residential Renaissance Zone property in the northeast section of the city. Commissioners reviewed the PUD, made some revisions, and have sent their recommendation to the Rogers City Council for their approval.
The Community Development Authority is still in place as the developer of the project, which includes 20 parcels along Lakeview Boulevard, but according to city manager Rob Fairbanks, that may change in the next three to four weeks. ?More than likely this will go to the city council as the CDA being the developer,? said Fairbanks. ?The city council has the last say on this, which is a little check and balance.? City officials anticipate construction of the first home in the lots to finally get underway this summer.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER John Bruning told commission members the PUD hadn?t changed much since a public hearing last fall, which was attended by 10 members of the community. There were no members of the community present Monday in council chambers at city hall. Bruning reminded members that there were questions about the general style of the houses and the environmental issues at the public hearing, but for the most part, ?It?s (PUD) the same as it was.? ?I don?t think there have been any changes since you saw this at the time of the public hearing,? said Bruning. Fairbanks said a landscaping plan was added, which prompted several questions from commission members.
OWEN LAMB OBJECTED to a restriction which would have prevented the owner of a home from planting a shade tree in back of the house. ?If I have windows at the back of my house and the sun shines from that direction, I want to be able to plant a tree…to shade those windows, to keep the sun off the carpet, so the carpet doesn?t fade.? Lamb said it?s a situation he can relate to because it?s happening at his residence right now. ?But this thing says I can?t plant a tree right now,? said Lamb. ?I don?t know why??
?I?m looking at this, after having reviewed another site condominium projects, where they are providing a six foot easement for power, cable and telephone,? said Fairbanks. Lamb believes there?s a enough space, and Fairbanks agreed, and with the easement, noted the change.
ANOTHER QUESTION was posed in regard to the front yard being raised above the Lakeview sidewalk/trail, which according to the PUD is seperated by a 12 to 24 inch slope. ?The reason for the elevated yard, in this case, is two fold. This gets it out of any groundwater. It also raises the building, so as you are walking by on the sidewalk, you?re not looking in front windows as much and it gives it a different presence,? said Fairbanks. ?Whatever is excavated in the basement is going to be used. The yard is going to be basically 12 inches higher,? Fairbanks continued. ?How you do that in a topographical layout will be determined after you determine the cut an
ENGINEER PAUL WARWICK has analyzed the situation with the ground water, and has determined there will be a two foot cushion in a worst case situation.
?If Lake Huron raises to its 1987, 100 year high, we?ll have a two foot cushion,? said Fairbanks. Lamb also questioned the eight foot driveways, which will be changed to a minimum of eight feet, to allow for two vehicles.
Final drawings are not completed and the attorney still need to go over the PUD, but Fairbanks said he would incorporate some of the proposed changes made. The recommendation was approved on an unanimous vote.
Planning Commission meetings are conducted the fourth Monday of every month. The next council meeting is April 7.