During the next two Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts – on Aug. 17 and 24 – there will be a booth on the Riverwalk asking residents to share their input for the new City of Lowell Master Plan. At last night’s planning commission meeting, commissioners got a look at the information that would be presented and also ran through a survey that will be launched for community feedback.
The meeting ran just short of one hour, and all commissioners were present except Colin Plank.
Placement of Storage Shed Approved
Before discussing the master plan, commissioners first reviewed a site plan for a storage shed located at 414 E. Main Street. The review was tabled from last month so a representative of the business could explain how the shed was expected to be used.
The shed is apparently owned by All-Weather Seal, and Justin Young was present on behalf of the company.
“Basically, we had a storage barn we needed to get off our property for a few months,” according to Young. He noted that as far as he knew, nothing would be stored inside. “It’s basically storage of a storage barn.”
After quickly running through the site plan standards, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the placement of the shed with some conditions. Those conditions include that it must be removed by March 1, 2024, no hazardous or flammable materials must be stored inside, and it must be locked when not in use.
Community Feedback for Master Plan
The remainder of the meeting was spent reviewing how community feedback would be gathered for the master plan. Andy Moore, a planner with consulting firm Williams & Works, is heading up the project and provided an overview.
At the final two Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts on the Riverwalk, two planners from Williams & Works will be manning a booth where people can learn more about the master plan update and share their opinions.
There will be a board in the booth to allow people to place green, yellow and red stickers next to the types of new housing they would like to see in the community. The sample board presented by Moore included the following options:
- Single family home
- Courtyard community
- Tiny home or mobile home
- Single family home plus accessory dwelling (such as a mother-in-law suite)
- Townhome
- Low-rise apartment or mixed-use building
Later in the meeting, resident Eric Bartkus suggested having photos of each style of building – rather than drawings – to help residents envision what each would look like. He also suggested that high-rise apartments be added as an option. “I don’t personally want that for the city, but I think it should be in the mix,” he said.
Commissioner Tony Ellis said his concern with using photos was it could sway people’s opinion based on the specific building shown. He thought the drawings might provide more unbiased feedback.
Moore said he would see what he could find for photos as well as look into adding high-rise apartment buildings as an option. He added that a three-story limit was often seen in many cities because smaller fire departments may not have ladder trucks to reach higher floors.
Another board at the concert will ask visitors at the booth for their feedback on W. Main Street. Moore said this location was chosen since it is where much of the development in the city takes place.
In addition to the boards, visitors to the booth will be given 10 pennies that they can drop into jars to represent how they would like their tax dollars allocated. The jars will have the following labels:
- Sidewalks and trails
- Parks improvement
- Upgrade infrastructure (streets, water, sewer)
- River beautification and access
- Downtown beautification and placemaking
- Zoning and code enforcement
- Increased tree canopy
- Ground and surface water protection
- Create more attainable housing options
- Create more job opportunities
Commissioner Amanda Schrauben asked if there was a concern that many people at the concerts are from outside the city and how much weight should be given to the input of non-city residents.
Moore said he thought people from outside the city might be hesitant to participate in the booth’s activities, but if they did, “So what?” He thought many of those at the concerts likely lived in the nearby townships and probably shopped or worked in the city.
Next, Moore walked commissioners through an online survey that will be available for approximately a month. It includes 20 questions, and Moore estimates most people will be able to complete it within 10 minutes. The survey asks people to rate their priorities for the city in various areas such as housing, business and amenities.
“For me, it’s too long,” said Commissioner Marty Chambers. He didn’t know if people would complete the whole thing but added: “I know we can’t change it, and I don’t want to.”
Up Next: Review of CopperRock Site Plan for E. Main Street
At the end of the meeting, Chair Bruce Barker reminded commissioners to review the site plan materials for a development proposed for E. Main Street. CopperRock Construction is asking the city to vacate Horatio Street so they can build a mixed use building on a parcel that will combine the former Rollaway Fun Center lots with 112 Horatio Street. The proposed development will include 44 residential units and 3,800 square feet of commercial space.
The site plan is on the agenda for the September Planning Commission meeting, and Chambers asked if residents could be limited to one comment each at that time. He noted that the last time the issue was discussed, several people spoke more than once.
Barker replied they usually tried to limit comments to one each, but he also thought the conversation at the last meeting was good for everyone involved. “I’d rather have the comments than not,” he said.
Moore agreed, saying: “It’s always better to allow for more comments than fewer.”
The meeting adjourned at 7:55pm, and the next regular meeting of the Lowell Planning Commission will take place on Monday, Sept. 11, at 7pm in Lowell City Hall.
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