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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/22/2020 Study Session Meeting Summary Minutes MARANA AZ ESTABLISHED 1977 MARANA TOWN COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana, Arizona 85653 Council Chambers, September 22, 2020 at or after 6:00 PM Ed Honea, Mayor Jon Post,Vice Mayor David Bowen, Council Member Patti Comerford, Council Member Herb Kai, Council Member John Officer, Council Member Roxanne Ziegler, Council Member SUMMARY MINUTES CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Honea called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM and directed the Clerk to call the roll. Mayor Honea, Vice Mayor Post, Council Members: Dave Bowen, Patti Comerford, Roxanne Ziegler (Excused),John Officer, and Herb Kai. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/INVOCATION/MOMENT OF SILENCE: Led by Mayor Honea. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Council Member Kai moved and Vice Mayor Post second the motion approving the agenda. Motion passes, 6-0. DISCUSSION/DIRECTION/POSSIBLE ACTION D1 Relating to Development; update, discussion, and possible direction regarding the Town's subdivision requirements for private and common on-site recreation areas (Jason Angell) Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 1 Development Services Director Jason Angell provided a PowerPoint presentation overview on the Town's subdivision requirements for private and common on-site recreation areas. Below are highlights of the presentation. (A copy of the presentation is available in the Town Clerk's Office for review.) Presentation Overview • Background • Draft Ordinance • Draft Design Manual • Examples • Next Steps Background: April 21 Council Feedback • No NUOS credit toward meeting requirement • Need to establish minimum standards in code, but should not over regulate for flexibility • Additional info requested regarding other jurisdictions' requirements compared to actual • Additional information was provided to council on May 13 Draft Ordinance: Highlights • Revises minimum square footage requirement • Based on average lot size • Applicable to subdivisions with 30 or more lots • Defines in-lieu option • Design manual reference Design Manual: Highlights • Recreation Area Plan (RAP) requirement and process o Preliminary plat o A la carte amenity point system options o Trails/trail connections - 25% credit cap o Use of drainage basins - 50% credit cap • Development Agreement o In-lieu option o Alternative amenity allowance Examples #1: Existing Standards • 31 acre site • 185 sf rec area per lot • 102 lots • 3.3 du/ac Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 2 • 0.4 acre park • 39% NUOS Example #2: Proposed Standards No credits • 31 acre site • 350 sf rec area per lot • 100 lots • 3.2 du/ac • 0.8 acre park • 30% NUOS Example #3: Proposed Standards 25% amendment basin credit • 31 acre site • 350 sf rec area per lot • 101 lots • 3.3 du/ac • 0.6 acre park • 0.2 amenitized basin • 30% NUOS Example #4: Proposed Standards 50% amenitized basin credit • 31 acre site • 350 sf rec area per lot • 102 lots • 3.3 du/ac • 0.4 acre park • 0.4 amenitized basin • 30% NUOS Example #5: Proposed Standards 25%amenitized basin credit + 25% trails credit • 31 acre site • 350 sf rec area per lot • 102 lots • 3.3 du/ac • 0.2 amenitized basin • 1.0 mile of paths/trails • 30% NUOS Council Member Kai inquired about Example #5 stating there would be more maintenance required in Example #5. He asked whether the Homeowner Association (HOA) would be required to pick up the extra cost to keep these amenities up to standard. Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 3 Mr. Angell replied stating Council member Kai is correct. Privately held recreational amenities so these would be maintained through HOA. Council Member Kai stated in Example #1 and #2 there is not as much for homeowner to worry. Mr. Angell stated that is correct. One or two centrally located parks do not have the trails in the connectivity maintenance. Mayor Honea stated these requirements would be in addition to a Park Impact Fee if Marana had a general regional park or something in the area. The houses would still pay that fee. Mr. Angell replied stating that is correct. Mayor Honea stated it is not open spaces not anything but park improvements within neighborhoods that are not public that are built by and maintained by the HOA. Example: A la carte points • Recreational area 0.5 to 1.0 acre • Minimum 5 points required • Alternative amenity allowance Mr. Angell continued with the example he rack rate that we have and what we looked at calculates out to a requirement of .8 acres. Using this A la carte menu as an example, they would be required to have a minimum of five points included within this. The town is suggesting a baseline the required column the green column here the parks are required to include this and no points would be given, as it is the baseline to establish. Therefore, parks would have to include a bench or picnic table, a pet waste station, trash receptacle, landscaping, shade structure, and a bike path. The developer could select from the list of amenities that is included to develop that five points. Perhaps they may wish to install the playground equipment and receive three points for it, a turf area, and a BBQ grill. Using those as an example, maybe the park in Example #5, they would put the playground structure there in that high and dry area. They have a bench or a grill area that is also included. If the playground structure meets the requirements for a detention basin area, they could also move that down in that location. The A la carte approach intention are the more expensive items to build to maintain that have that ongoing maintenance like a pool or a pool house, those are obviously greater points. In the example or in the in the ordinance, we break it down based upon zero (0) to quarter acre, quarter to half acre, half to one acre, 1 to 11/2, two and above. The larger the park the more points that are required to amenitize. They are allowing the developer to decide what type of amenities need to be included in those recreational areas based on the demographic that they are trying to achieve within the neighborhood. Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 4 Next Steps • Refine draft code and design manual with Council feedback • Stakeholder outreach and input • Adoption process o Planning Commission - November o Town Council - December The next steps that we would have is based upon the discussion we had this evening the feedback we received from you, staff would refine the draft ordinance and manual. Then schedule a meeting with those same stakeholders, the builders and developer community, gathers some additional feedback from them, and let them know where things currently stand update them on the conversations that Town staff has had with Council. Then, the plan would be to proceed to the approval process, which would go before Planning Commission in November, and then back to Council by the end of the year in December for final review and consideration. Mayor Honea stated he likes the breakdown by average lot size or square footage; however, does not think 350 is probably high enough it should probably be four (4). He believes there should be one more break like four (4) and under should probably be five (5). His reasoning for the change is if you have for R4 lots, that is three lots at 12,000 square feet, or six lots and only two lots is 12,000 square feet. To lump R4 or 3.5 fives with R6, you could end up with 50 to 70% more lots on the smaller sizes within that demographic. He likes the concept; however, believes it should be split once more for some of those smaller lots. He is not sure that footage is high enough. If he were a land developer, he would want to have zero. The whole reason we did this was not to necessarily pacify that group and I think the square footage for under six (6) should be four (4), and under four (4) should be five (5). He understands if other Council Members does not agree with that concept. However stating the idea behind this, Marana started with a project by the mall and we disagreed over many issues. It also gives that land developer home builder an idea of the minimal requirements that they need to come in and build project. This is aside from impact fees on parks for regional parks or regional trails or anything else. The buy-down amenity is great. He commented on whether the Town still handles specific plans, that Marana may be exempt. This is more for those projects such as the new KB project 150 homes. Building public amenities are important to maintain the level of our community. He restated that he does like the concept with a shopping mart, but believes the square footage is too low. He expressed concerns with having .8 acres four 100 houses, as that is not a lot of dirt. He is not looking for 10 acres for 100 houses, however, would prefer more room to do something. Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 5 He would prefer four (4) and going to five (5) under four (4), as under four (4) we would have a much more dense housing population. Children will need more park area to play in the backyard. Once you get to R8, the lots are large enough for a pool, a trampoline, a swing set or a barbecue. As the lots become larger, he would not be focusing on improved amenities; however, for smaller lots, the request should be bigger. Vice Mayor Post stated he agree with Mayor Honea on the smaller lot sizes, as we are seeing a lot of those. The smaller they get the more open space and increased outside amenities they need. He asked when discussing lot or clustering, the space at is left is essentially open space. Unless developers build amenities on that open space, he ask whether it is considered an amenity. Mr. Angell replied stating that is correct. The NOUS would not count towards the open space or the recreational requirements. Vice Mayor Post asked if the developer built trails, and improved those trails, would that not count. On the other hand, would they have to build sidewalks and arcades in order for it to count? Mr. Angell stated the way that the draft is presented they could do some natural trails in that area--natural maintained earth trails in that NOUS area. If it is not to be designated as NOUS for whatever reason, the developer decided they were not going to build in that certain area they could do a paved area. However, if it were NOUS, it would have to be a natural earth trail. Vice Mayor Post stated as far as using a portion of the drainage, do you have some hard and fast rules on the placement of amenities so to avoid having all amenities placed in the drainage. Mr. Angell stated that is correct. There is not only design requirements that they would have to meet so that it is easily traversable for an individual to get in and out of that area to enjoy those amenities, but it also puts a limitation of 50% maximum that they could put down into the detention basin. If they want to do more that, that is great, but we are only going to give them 50% credit towards their overall recreation requirements. Thereby half of their overall record has to be high and dry. Vice Mayor Post inquired about multifamily dwellings asking whether Marana does this include that type of development as well. Mr. Angell stated the Town does have a requirement for multifamily and townhomes that exists in our code. We are not touching that portion of that, as it will still exist as a requirement in our current code. Town staff will carry forward that into the existing ordinance. Vice Mayor Post asked whether the language in the Code is strong enough, as it is easy to get a couple 1000 apartments in very little park space. Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 6 Mr. Angell stated it has been the Town's experience with multifamily dwellings they provide satisfactory recreational amenities. Many of those multifamily units that we see in the community may contain indoor amenities as well. Those developments may have a clubhouse, a fitness facility as well a pool and pool amenities. In our opinion, they would they would be exceeding the recreational requirements just based upon what we have in our community. Vice Mayor Post asked whether the Town looks at it from a viewpoint of how big some of the apartments. Many have three bedroom apartments to provide for a larger family and those larger families may need more outdoor recreation space. Mr. Angell replied stating this is ordinance is written it is based on per unit in a multifamily complex. It does not get into the bedroom count whether it is a 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, a loft or similar. It just says multifamily calculated per unit. Council Member Officer stated he likes where we utilizing more of the open space for earth trails. He continued stating Mr. Angell said as utilizing that and even the retention basis. He drives around the different communities and see some of those communities with open space whereby there are no controlled trails in it. Overtime they were great when they were completed, as nobody was in there. Now everybody that does not need to be there enter in there, but no one enters to maintain afterwards. Those that have just a small amount of use in them, does away with those that are supposed to be in there being there. He continued stating he does like the descriptions like as provided in four (4) and five (5) where a percentage of 15 percent 25% is utilized. That means they will maintain it despite being a basin. He is concern about weed control on trails and not be overtaken by growth that it becomes part of the earth. He agrees with Vice Mayor Post in the term that he used concerning flexibility here. He does not believe the numbers should not weight the Town, as we need to make it attractive for builder's developers to come to these other areas. Council Member Kai stated he concurs with Mayor Honea and Vice Mayor Post concerns that were stated, and said the keyword is flexibility. He mentioned several areas of where residential housing is occurring stating there are different situations, and does not believe the Town should settle in on those numbers, as we need to make it attractive for developers to come into these areas. It is not a one size fits all, and encouraged staff to have some flexibility to move things around when necessary. Mayor Honea open the meeting to receive public comments. The following individuals submitted written comments or provided comments in person during the meeting. Mark Johnson provided written comments stating Tortolita Alliance has reviewed the materials and supports the initiative to upgrade the provisions; however find that the Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 7 proposed Recreational Area Requirements inadequate and suggested some changes (submitted comments are on file in the Town Clerk's Office.) Connie Steinman provided written comments supporting the letter from Tortolita Alliance related to the proposed updates to Marana's Recreational Area Code. Carol Lowell provided written comments supporting the proposal letter from Tortolita Alliance. Evelyn and Doug Belzer provided written comments in support of the letter submitted by Tortolita Alliance stating he supports the 30% NUOS requirement in conjunction with on-site recreational area. Mr. Angell stated he appreciates the comments from the Council and staff will make those changes according to the timeline for this year, as well as for the Planning Commission as well. No motion, discussion item. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03, the Town Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, to discuss certain matters. El Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A), Council may ask for discussion or consideration, or consultation with designated Town representatives, or consultation for legal advice with the Town Attorney, concerning any matter listed on this agenda for any of the reasons listed in A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A). FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Notwithstanding the Mayor's discretion regarding the items to be placed on the agenda, if three or more Council members request that an item be placed on the agenda, it must be placed on the agenda for the second regular Town Council meeting after the date of the request, pursuant to Marana Town Code Section 2-4-2(B). ADJOURNMENT Mayor Honea asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Vice Mayor Post, moved and Council Member Kai second the motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion passes, 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM. Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 8 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes for the Study Session Meeting of the Marana Town Council meeting held on September 22, 2020. I further certify that4i- orum was present. 11111° Cherry L. Law on, Town Clerk MARANA AZ ESTABLISHED 1977 Study Session Summary Minutes 09/22/2020 9