Minutes-08/04/2004

R .. Tiffin Planning and Zoning Commission August 4, 2004 A regular meeting of the Tiffm Planning and Zoning Commission was brought to order 6: 30 p. m. at the Tiffin Fire Station by Chair Steve Berner. Members present: Steve Berner, Ruth DeMuth, Melvin Reeve and Terry Richardson. Absent: Stephanie Surine. Also present: Mayor Glenn R. Potter, Councilmembers Karin Dils and Mark Petersen. Also present: Vic Zender. Motion Richardson, second Reeve to approve the printed minutes. Ayes: Reeve, Berner, Richardson and DeMuth. Absent: Surine. Motion carried. The Rolling Hills Subdivision requires an easement for sidewalk/ biking trail around the TIF Pond. It appears that the west side of the pond may be to steep for a sidewalk to be installed, the east side may have sufficient space. Dils suggested that the pond area be staked to see what kind of space really is available. Parks Commission has asked why the City of Tiffm is not providing park space in new subdivisions. If the developer does not supply this sidewalk area at to a grade suitable for future installation, it is possible that a second subdivision will be finished that does not have any park space. Members agreed that the east side of the pond should be placedin a grade to make a sidewalk possible. If the west side is too steep for sidewalk, the developer should be either required to do whatever is necessary to make sidewalk possible or the council should negotiate an alternate park area that can be used by the people of this part of the city. The developer- should be held to the terms of agreement. Members agreed that the council should persist in park efforts with the developer. Members advised that the city`attorney opinion on safety of spillway be sought by council. Best manner to proceed with spillway is really unknown to PZ members. Petersen asked if a cabled fencing on the spillway might help with safety. A chain length probably wouldn' t work. Members discussed tax abatement request made to the council by Joe Johnston. It was thought that the city needed all of the property tax money that it could get. The city is running all general requirements of the city with collection of $ 143, 000 tax money in the past year. An abatement up to$ 100,000 each year for up to 10 years requested by Johnston, would mean nearly$ 1 million of unreceived revenues. The current abatement paradigm currently under consideration by the council would probably mean a loss of approximately$ 600, 000 in revenues over 10 years. A second concern was for the' possibility of other citizens requesting abatements for specialized purposes. An onslaught of requests would be impossible for the city to sustain. While an assisted living project might be a good project, how would the city weigh how any project would be more or less deserving of not paying taxes. Finally, members considered that a failure of this assisted- living project might lay the building open to a now unconsidered use. If Mr. Johnston were facing bankruptcy or money flow problems, it would be difficult for the city to refuse an alternate use for the project when to do so would mean ruin for Mr. Johnston. Mr. Johnston has provided verbal assurance that the project would be used for this one purpose. Monetary issues could dictate uses now not considered.