May 2, 2011                                      
PLAN COMMSSION                                             
7:00 p.m.

 
Mike Weinkauf called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with Paul Beere, Chris Johnson, Tom Rowntree and Mark Tamblyn present; Maureen Eckert and James Joseph were absent.
 
Sandi Swan, Secretary and Jonathan Schattner, Zoning Administrator were also present.
 
Johnson moved, 2nd by Tamblyn to approve the minutes of the March 7, 2011 meeting as printed.  Motion carried.
 
Public Hearing:
Application for Conditional Use Permit to operate a therapeutic equine assisted riding center for children/adults with disabilities at 2623 Maple Road Owner/Applicant: Curtis & Jennifer Pape / Willow Creek Ranch, Inc. Parcel# 176031904002010

 
Schattner supplied a site map showing the proposed location of the riding center. The property is zoned A-2 and is approximately 5.21 acres. In addition to the 5.21 acres there are two parcels to the south that will be leased by the applicant for pasture purposes. There are approximately eleven horses on site. The site plan indicates that there will be a sandy arena east of the residence and to the east of the riding area there will be a parking lot for clients and volunteers participating in the riding.  This conditional use was approved in the Town of Rochester in September 2007; however the use was discontinued due to the applicant moving to a different location outside of Rochester.
 
Jennifer Pape spoke on her behalf. Jennifer stated that when they started out in September of 2007 they had three riders and three horses. Their program quickly went from three to seventeen participants diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and traumatic brain injury. With the growth of the program a property became available that could provide indoor riding facilities. Due to the sale of selling that property they are now back on the property on Maple Rd.
 
There are currently seven program horses with eleven horses total on the property. They currently have 40 clients ranging from three years old to seventy-seven years old. Their program will run seasonal from June until October. The hours will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30. p.m.
 
Weinkauf questioned if she has to be certified to do this program. Jennifer stated that she is certified and does continuing education to keep her certification current.
 
Johnson asked about bathroom facilities. Jennifer stated that they will have handicapped accessible portable restrooms available and they have a walk-out basement with a bathroom that is accessible to the arena. Plans are underway to have a permanent handicap accessible bathroom in the residence.
 
Weinkauf asked about waste. The horse manure will be managed in two 8’x8’x5’ compost piles; one in each pasture; pasture one and pasture two as indicated on the site plan. The manure will be picked up on a daily basis and place in compost piles. The manure piles will be rotated and actively turned over with a skid loader.  The manure will be removed from the property by a local contracted farmer by dump truck on an as needed basis.  
 
Tom Rowntree questioned if she will be able to maintain grass in the pastures all year round. She stated that they are rotating the horses to maintain continued grass growth.
 
There were no other comments from the public.
 
Johnson moved, 2nd by Beere to adjourn the public hearing at 6:16 p.m. Motion carried.
 
Action Items:
Application for Conditional Use Permit to operate a therapeutic equine assisted riding center for children/adults with disabilities at 2623 Maple Road Owner/Applicant: Curtis & Jennifer Pape/Willow Creek Ranch, Inc. Parcel# 176031904002010
 
Johnson moved, 2nd by Tamblyn to recommend approval of the conditional use permit application to operate a therapeutic equine assisted riding center for children/adults with disabilities at 2623 Maple Road to subject to the recommended conditions of the zoning administrator as follows:
 
1.         Before beginning this project, the applicant or project manager must obtain a zoning permit card from Village Zoning Administrator, after paying the zoning permit fee of $125.00.  These conditions must be kept at the project site at all times until the project has been completed.
 
2.         Failure to comply with the terms and conditions stated herein could result in citations being issued and/or the approval/permit being revoked.
 
3.         This approval will expire November 2, 2011, unless substantial work has commenced following such grant.  If this office determines that no substantial work has commenced, the project may not occur unless the Rochester Village Board and Village Planning Commission grants a written extension.  Written extension requests must be submitted to this office 30 days before permit/approval expiration.
 
4.         The proposed equine-assisted therapeutic riding classes shall be located and operated in accordance with the submitted plans and documents received Village of Rochester, on April 4, 2011.
 
5.         The applicants must comply with the provisions of Article VII, Division 4, Performance Standards of Chapter 20, (Zoning) of the Racine County Code of Ordinances, adopted by the Village of Rochester on November 4, 2008.
 
6.         The applicants must allow the Zoning Administrator or a Village employee full and unlimited access to the project site at a reasonable time to investigate the project's construction, operation, or maintenance.
 
7.         Prior to the issuance of the zoning permit, the applicant/owner must contact the Racine County Code Administration office to determine if the existing sanitary system located at 2623 N. Maple Road is adequate in size to support the existing residence and the proposed agricultural/commercial use on this property.  The contact person is Brian Jensen, Senior Code Administrator, and he can be reached by telephone at (262) 886-8475. 
 
8.         The facility must maintain its NARHA certification.  A copy of this certification shall be submitted to the Village of Rochester for inclusion in their file.
 
9.         The facility must procure and maintain liability insurance.  A photocopy of such insurance policy/rider must be provided to the Village of Rochester for inclusion in their files.
 
10.         The owners/applicants must comply with the manure management plan outlined in their written request dated March 21, 2011. The Village of Rochester Public Works Manager has reviewed this manure management plan and has no objections.
 
1.      There is a drainage ravine in the middle of the property flowing from the north to the south.  This area is presently fenced on both sides to keep the horses from entering this area. It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that these fences are properly maintained to keep the horses from encroaching into this drainage ravine.  A buffer zone around this area must be incorporated to prevent the horses from stripping the vegetation that could cause soil erosion.  By keeping the horse out of this buffer area, manure will not wash into the stream. The buffer must be a minimum of 15 feet on each side of the drainage ravine and must be kept in a permanent vegetative condition. 
 
12.       A complete and thorough maintenance program must be established to insure attractiveness.  The continued positive appearance of buildings and property is dependent upon proper maintenance attitudes and procedures.  Maintenance programs must be established that include watering, maintaining, and pruning all landscape planting areas; cleaning up litter and emptying trash containers in a timely fashion; sweeping, cleaning, and repairing paved surfaces; replacing broken and vandalized parts; replacing burned out light bulbs; and cleaning, painting, and repairing windows and building facade.
 
13.       Parking must be provided as shown on the submitted site plan.  Each automobile parking space must be a minimum of nine feet wide and 180 square feet in area, exclusive of the space required for ingress and egress.  Handicapped spaces must be provided in accordance with State requirements.  Aisles and spaces must be clearly marked.  The driveways serving this operation must be located according to the submitted plan.  The driveways and all parking areas must be maintained in all-weather, dust-controlled condition.
 
14.       Any advertising sign on this property must conform to the Village of Rochester Zoning Ordinance and will require a separate zoning permit(s) prior to installation.
 
 
15.       The applicant must obtain all necessary federal, state, and local permits, approvals, and licenses and comply with all applicable codes and regulations.
 
16.       No additions, deletions, or changes may be made to the project, site plan, or these conditions without the Village of Rochester Planning Commission and Rochester Village Board, prior approval.  All addition, deletion, and/or change requests must be submitted to this office in writing.
 
17.       Your accepting this approval/permit and beginning the project means that you have read, understand, and agree to follow all conditions.  Therefore, Curtis and Jennifer Pape, Willow Creek Ranch, Incorporated, and their heirs, successors, and assigns are responsible for full compliance with these conditions.
 
18.       It is the property owner's responsibility to inform any subsequent owner or operator of these conditions.
 
Motion carried.
 
Site Plan Review: Amendment to Parking Lot Landscaping Plan: 201 & 203 W. Main Street Owners/Applicants: Community State Bank & Village of Rochester Tax Parcels: 176031911201000 & 176031911202000
 
Schattner explained that this in an amendment to do different plantings around the perimeter of the parking lot located south of the existing bank and Village Hall. Also, the bank is not going to bear the costs for installing the planting along the west line of the Village of Rochester property, approximately 30 ft. It would cost the Village $225 to have Skyline Landscape design, LLC perform the work. Chris Birkett submitted a list of plants that he could install in the Village portion at no cost due to them being split off from plants that are already on Village owned land.
 
 Schattner added that the original landscaping included two lamp posts. There was only one installed.
 
Discussion was held about the lighting. There is one lamppost located at the back of the parking lot and another that is located closer to the bank. The Village Hall has lights on the back of the building as well. Schattner questioned if that was enough lighting or would the Commission like to require that the bank install the second lamp post. After discussion it was determined that the lighting was sufficient; however; Schattner is to contact the bank about putting a shield on the lights to prevent complaints about the lights shining into the house just south of the parking lot.
 
Beere moved, 2nd by Tambyln to approve the amended landscaping plans subject to Chris Birkett planting the Village portion and the recommendations of the zoning administrator (as follows):
 
1)      The landscaping to be installed around the perimeter of the asphalt parking lot shall conform to the amended landscaping plan and plant list, prepared by Skyline Landscaping Design, Inc., received by the Village of Rochester, on April 20, 2011 and the written report prepared by Chris Birkett, Village Public Works Manager, received on April 27, 2011.       
 
2)      All landscaping plantings to be installed along the east line of the proposed parking lot shall not exceed a height of two (2) feet above the grade of the Front Street driveway at the street right-of-way line.
 
3)      All trees, plants and shrubs planted in the landscape buffer located around the perimeter of the parking lot must be kept in a healthy, growing condition.  In the event any of these plantings become damaged, diseased or die, it is the responsibility of the property owners to replace said tree, shrub or plantings with the same species. 
 
4)      The topsoil material placed in the south and west landscape buffer area shall not exceed the height of the concrete curb and shall maintain a 3:1 side slope to the property lines.  These proposed fill area shall not block any existing drainage patterns or back up water onto the adjacent property owners.
 
5)      Any further changes or revisions to this amended landscaping plan will require approval from the Village of Rochester Planning Commission, prior to installation.
 
6)      The property owners shall comply with the conditions mentioned above, as well as the original conditions approved by the Village of Rochester Planning Commission, on August 2, 2010.
 
Motion carried.
 
Beere moved, 2nd by Johnson to adjourn at 6:32 p.m. Motion carried.
 
Respectfully Submitted by,
 
 
Sandi Swan, Planning Secretary