Vice Chair Reddin called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

PRESENT:

Commissioner Alan Caine Commissioner Joe Hornat Commissioner Robert La Master Commissioner Scott Merry Commissioner Mary Caswell Commissioner Robert Swope Vice Chair Clark Reddin

Opened and closed without comment.

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Robert La Master Master and seconded by Commissioner Alan Caine Caine to approve the June 2, 2009, Planning Commission minutes as presented.

MOTION carried, 7-0.

 

Matt Michels, OV Senior Planner, presented the staff report. Mr. Michels stated the purpose of the text amendment is to improve the participation process and to achieve a better outcome.  Staff recommended approval of items in Exhibits A & B.

Discussion followed:
-Staff wants consistency
-Meetings would be separate from public hearings 
-The applicant should not be allowed to engage the public at the first educational meeting
-Planning Commission would be invited to attend

Public Hearing:
Dick Honn, resident, opined the Town needs to get started and apply the process as soon as possible.

Bill Adler, resident, said the purpose is to try to get neighbors to understand what has already been decided and move toward agreement and away from opposition.  It is a mistake to allow an applicant to attend an educational meeting.  Mr. Adler is opposed to an outside mediator.

The public hearing was closed and discussion continued:
-This is a great start
-Important to have definite metrics
Commissioner Merry moved to strike Item C (the project/proposal is not controversial, consistent with similarly situated property or not substantially affecting land use, streetscape or views) in it’s entirety because it is subject to interpretation, and to move paragraph B.2.b (If any portion of a subdivision falls within the required notification area may be required to notify the entire subdivision if the impacts proposed would affect the entire subdivision) to F.4.b

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Scott Merry Merry and seconded by Commissioner Joe Hornat Hornat to approve the text amendment to Section 22 as outlined in OV7-09-06, with the following change to Exhibit A, that B.2.c be struck and B.2.b be moved to F.4.

MOTION carried, 7-0.

 

Dee Widero, OV Zoning Program Supervisor, presented the staff report.

Discussion followed:
-A letter was sent out to all business owners because of complaints
-Most lights in wall signs are not out as per code
-Oro Valley standards exceed the dark skies ordinance
-In general a retail consumer business is not limited to hours of operation

Public Hearing:
Judy Butcher, non resident, representing a bank, is in favor of the proposed change. 

Al Cook, resident, small businesses need signs on as much as possible.  Oro Valley needs the sales tax.  We need to look at the sign code in its entirety.

Bill Adler, resident, the sign code isn’t the problem, the problem is the economy.  To change this temporarily makes more sense.  85% of the signs are on and we are not enforcing the sign code.  If we want to enforce the sign code we go to the Council and ask for the resources.  If the language should be changed, let the citizens of Oro Valley change it.

Doug McKee, resident, requested an exception to the sign code for barber poles. 

John Stebbins, non-resident, owner of Cowboy Copies, urged the commission to adopt a dusk to dawn sign policy.  Illuminated signs serve as a crime prevention tool. 

Bob Becker, resident, business owner, said it was important to have a lit sign on a building past the hours of operation.  The existing code is not business friendly. 

Lyra Done, resident, said it is heart sickening to see how many businesses are closing or already closed. 

Michael Quinn, resident, stated there is no communication.  Why are we not told a sign needs to be turned off?  We need the advertising. 

Public hearing closed.

Commission discussion followed:
-We need to support the businesses in Oro Valley
-10:00 p.m. is the least we can do
-Not enough people out late to support a dusk to dawn option
-The sign code is restrictive in good and bad times
-In the future consider different rules on certain corridors
-This is a bigger issue than what we can solve, suggest overall sign code be looked at 

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Robert La Master Master and seconded by Commissioner Mary Caswell Caswell to recommend that the Town Council adopt the proposed sign code amendment.

MOTION carried, 7-0.

 

Chairman Reddin called for a five minute recess.
The meeting resumed at 7:58 p.m.

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Joe Hornat Hornat and seconded by Commissioner Mary Caswell Caswell to elect Commissioner Reddin as Chairman for the Planning & Zoning Commission.

MOTION carried, 7-0.

 

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Scott Merry Merry and seconded by Commissioner Robert La Master Master to elect Commissioner Hornat as Vice Chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission.

MOTION carried, 7-0.

 

Sarah More, OV Planning and Zoning Director reviewed the following:
-Landscape Code Revision Committee completing it's work soon
-Draft Revisions to the rules of order will be brought back to the Commission
-ESLO project is moving forward 

-The order of business and P&Z rules 
-Developing representation from the Planning Commission to work on the General Plan

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Robert La Master Master and seconded by Commissioner Mary Caswell Caswell to adjourn.  The meeting adjourned by acclamation at 8:14 p.m.