Planning 2017-06-22 Minutes - Board of Architectural Review - Foster High School Expansion and Birth to Kindergarten

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Page 4 Public Hearing Minutes June 22, 2017 Ms. Klein said they came up with an alternative option on the service area at the meeting with staff prior to the hearing. They would like to work this out with staff, and for it to be approved administratively. Ms. Klein said she had copies of the presentation that she wanted entered into the record. III. PUBLIC TESTIMONY Roger Lorenzen , resident, said he is concerned with the drainage and the run off and where all the water will go. He said, during construction on the school football field, it resulted in major flooding of his home in the past and it took a few months to resolve. He also expressed concern with parking. He said the hilly area is the site of a red tail hawks nest and hopes that the ivy will be cut off the trees. Mr. Lorenzen also said he was curious why the design of the B2K access is only on the goat trail access and not circulating through the junior high, he said it seems like an unnecessary amount of congestion. Ron Lamb , resident, lives two blocks north of the site, is in favor of both projects. He said, he wants to emphasize the importance of the value of education in the community, and hopes the projects will be approved. Jonathan Joseph , resident, lives across the street from Showalter Middle School, expressed his concerns. He provided extensive comments regarding the traffic issues, the parking, and his belief that the crosswalks are unsafe. He said every time Showalter or Foster has an event, as well as during drop-off times at 8:00 am and pick-up times at 2:30 pm, he and his neighbors are affected by the parking. Mr. Joseph said during the recent graduation at Foster there were traffic issues and parking along sidewalks that were supposed to be for th pedestrians to walk. He said it made it extremely difficult for cars to pass up and down 46 Ave. South, and thth dangerous for pedestrians to walk. He also, shared a personal incident regarding being hit at 144 and 146 Ave South, several years ago. He said that the Variance approved in 1989 should be researched to determine the actual stipulations, such as parking. He also listed several sources of future development and activity that will cause the neighborhood to have more residents and vehicles to use these avenues of travel. He concluded by saying it’s extremely important to really look at the plan and determine how it will be used in the next 15 to 20 years, and how will it affect the residences. There was no further testimony. Commissioner Mann said she had much of the same concerns as Mr. Joseph. She said International Boulevard is zoned mixed use, and there will be a lot of development within a one-mile radius of the school, which will increase pedestrian traffic. She said there is also an increase in traffic due to the Light nd Rail, and they need to take a closer look at growth. She said 142 is within a short distance of the intersection of 144th with two drives at Foster High School; with buses coming and going and the other activity; there is a more immediate need to keep the traffic flowing in the area. She said she is very concerned about the parking and increased traffic. She said there is no projection of any increase in students, yet with the development around the area she thinks that it’s poor judgement. She said there is no thought for future expansion. And she thinks there should be consideration to the parking and the whole transportation movement in the area. Lindsay Brown , Assistant Planner, Department of Community Development walked through the modifications to the conditions that the staff and the applicant came to an agreement on in a meeting prior to the public hearing.