Minutes-2 /18/1985

The Tiffin City Council met in special session on Monday, February 18, 1985 at the Tiffin fire station. Mayor Potter called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers present were Cox, Morgan, Runge, Spivey and Stevens. Also present were Attorney Greenleaf, Terry Bergeson, Mike Moore, Bill Runge, Glenn Snider, Mick Potter, LaVerle Michel. During community forum Mayor Potter presented petitions with approximately 85 signatures asking the Council to approve building permit for new post office at 321 Grant Street. Clerk read memo from Attorney Greenleaf stating that the proposed building meets zoning requirements in that a post office qualifies as a public building and public buildings are allowed in residential zones under Tiffin's zoning ordinance, and the public building does not need to be owned by the government. Michel asked if Bergeson had clear title. Realator Moore stated that Bergeson would have a clear title before he began to build. Michel asked for chain link fence between the proposed building and his mother's property on the south. Bergeson stated that had gone strictly by the specifications provided by the Postal Service and no fence was shown but he would talk with the contracting officer about providing fence. Spivey stated that the Council should favor the majority wishes but respect the minority. He asked for a minimum of parking spaces. Bergeson stated that he intends to provide six to eight parking spaces although parking was not provided on the specifications from the Postal Service at first. Potter asked if parking would be hard surfaced. Bergeson stated that it would not be hard surfaced, but would have a good base with crushed rock. Potter asked if Council could require asphalt. Attorney stated that hard surfacing of parking is not a requirement in residential zones and therefore Council could not require it. Attorney stated that the problem is that a public building is a special exception as a whole to the zoning ordinance. Parking spaces and surface requirements are not addressed. Not proper to require commercial parking requirements to this building because it is not in a commercial zone. City cannot impose any standard on parking. Zoning ordinance does not adequately address public buildings. Government can exclude themselves from zoning anyway, although at this point, that is not an issue.