Planner Johnson presented to the Plan Commission and to those interested parties in attendance the Finding of Fact prepared for the Werner petition.

Planner Johnson stated that the application was to amend portions of the M-1 Manufacturing Zoning District text. The requested amendments occur in Section 17.17 M-1 Manufacturing District; Sub-Section 4, Lot, Yard, and Building Requirements. The application requests that the principal building rear yard setback be amended from a minimum of 25 ft to a minimum of 10 ft and the percentage of lot coverage be amended from 30 percent to 50 percent.

Planner Johnson went on to say that the properties located at 512 Franklin Street, 512 Salisbury Street, unaddressed property west of 424 Division Street, 4225 Hawthorne Drive, 4141 Hawthorne Drive, and Village of Newburg Sewerage Treatment Plant located on Municipal Drive in the Village of Newburg were currently zoned M-1 Manufacturing District and the collectively the properties were either planned for Mixed Use or Industrial and had wide variety of adjacent existing land uses and zoning designations.

Planner Johnson stated that the proposed zoning text amendment is consistent with the sprit and intent of the Village’s Comprehensive Master Plan and that these consistencies are both with the Comprehensive Master Plan Goals and the descriptions of the two future land use categories. By adjusting the bulk requirements of the M-1 Manufacturing District, the Village will have the opportunity to accommodate new growth and economic development while maintaining the small town atmosphere and country setting of the Village along with improve the visual quality of the commercial and industrial developments in the community by requiring a higher set of site plan and building design standards for new construction as suggested in the Industrial Development-Business Park future land use description.

Planner Johnson reported that the spirit and intent M-1 Manufacturing Zoning District is to promote the Village’s prosperity while regulating and restricting lot coverage along with the size and location of all structures in a zoning district specifically created for the manufacturing uses in the more congested industrial areas of the central village. The proposed text amendment for the M-1 Manufacturing District of reducing the principal building rear yard setback by 15’ and allowing an increase in lot coverage by 20 percent has become necessary not because of changing circumstances but because of a critical review of the M-1 Manufacturing District lot, yard and building requirements brought forth by Mr. Werner petition.

Planner Johnson confirmed that the proposed zoning text amendment is one of the steps that will work towards the achievement of a number of the Village’s Comprehensive Master Plan Goals while refining the current Village Zoning Code regarding the actual circumstances of the M-1 zoning district. The Comprehensive Master Plan Goals that the proposed zoning text amendment works towards achieving includes General Land Use, Economic, Fiscal Performance and Administrative goals. While the refinement of the Village Zoning Code creates a district more in tune with the original intent of the M-1 Manufacturing District, permitting existing manufacturing uses in the more congested industrial areas of the central village.

Therefore the proposed text amendment to the Village Zoning Code is consistent with sprit and intent of the Village’s Comprehensive Master Plan and the Village’s Zoning Code, as said by Planner Johnson.

Planner Johnson recommended to the Planning Commission that they approve the adjustments to the M-1 Manufacturing District’s Lot, Yard, and Building requirements as follows:

Mr. Edward Werner spoke for both Werner Fabrications and Paulsen Mechanicals and introduced Scott Paulsen to the Planning Commission.

Mr. Werner stated that the proposed uses fit the zoning district and that the appearance of the building will have a long lasting positive effect on the Village now and in the future. Further, Werner stated that they may place a sculpture that they will create on site as part of their landscaping plan.

Plan Commissioner Chairperson Heili opened the hearing for public comment.

Milt Wilkens, 4141 Hawthorne Drive; Newburg. Stated that he supports the proposed amendments and said that he was on the Board when the Zoning District was originally created.

Margaret Cohen, Newburg Real Estate Agent. Stated that she has had a hard time selling the property because most of the potential buyers have been interested in developing the property located west of 424 Division Street as residential and that she supports Werner’s application.

Lee Delcore, 916 Steepleview; Newburg. Mr. Delcore expressed concern regarding potential stormwater issues.

Plan Commissioner Chairperson Heili invited Mr. Werner to respond.

Mr. Werner stated that he would be working with the State and Village regarding his project and that he would be using the existing stormsewer that is adjacent to the property.

Plan Commissioner Chairperson Heili asked if there were any further public comments being none, closed the closed the Public Hearing.

Commissioner Miller questioned the increase of the lot coverage to 50 percent. Planner Johnson stated that when he examined the downtown M-1 properties, these properties were already using nearly all of the available square footage of the separate parcels for out door storage or for parking. So, increasing the lot coverage to 50 percent was still less that what was occurring in practice.

Commissioner Beitz asked for clarification that the lot is currently non-conforming and the potential Werner lot, the parcel located west of 424 Division Street, would be developed with the lot coverage of 50 percent of the existing non-conforming parcel size. Attorney Kiefer answered that Commissioner Beitz was correct.

Commissioner Beitz stated that the change in setback would not have any negative effects.

Commissioner Beitz motioned to adopt the Werner Finding of Facts, as presented by Planner Johnson during the Public Hearing and the adjustments to the M-1 Manufacturing District’s Lot, Yard, and Building requirements as follows:

Commissioner Miller seconded, motion passed.