City of Geneseo Plan Commission met June 12

By Rock Island Today Reports

Aug 14, 2023

City of Geneseo Plan Commission met June 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

The Plan Commission of the City of Geneseo was called to order on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 6:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present:

PLAN COMMISSION PRESENT: Plan Commission Joe Bedford, Plan Commission Rhonda Ludwig, Plan Commission Morgan Thurman, and Plan Commission Julia McAvoy

PLAN COMMISSION ABSENT:

STAFF PRESENT: Building Inspector Rick Mills, City Administrator Brandon Maeglin, and City Clerk Paige Seibel

PUBLIC PRESENT:

1 Pledge of Allegiance

2 Roll Call

Meeting began at 6:00 PM

3 Public Comment

City Ordinance allows members of the Public to speak and give input up to 3 minutes during Public Comment, there can be no debate or action by the board at this time.

Brett Lohman, the owner of Lohman Insurance which is across the street from Scooter's expressed his concerns with the safety of the intersection that already exists he advised he has seen a lot of accidents at that intersection. He added if you are leaving out of the parking lot of Scooter's you would have many different points to look, especially in the morning with buses and parents getting their children to school.

Tim Smith - a neighbor advised that emergency vehicles that help surrounding areas go through that intersection and it could be a big safety risk.

4 Consent Agenda

4.1. Approval of previous Plan Committee Minutes

Joe Bedford moved, seconded by Morgan Thurman, Motion to approve the 03.29.23 Plan Committee Minutes as presented.

RESULT: Carried

MOVER: Joe Bedford

SECONDER: Morgan Thurman

AYES: Joe Bedford, Rhonda Ludwig, Morgan Thurman, and Julia McAvoy

5 Public Hearing

Rob Bowers the Director of Operations for Scooter's Coffee advised the Plan Commission that he too wished there was a way to have a 2nd exit, and he is disappointed that IDOT is telling them to take out the Route 6 exit. The planning process for this project has been ongoing between Scooter's, IDOT and the City for the past 10 months to get to this point. Rob went over the overall layout and signage for the building explaining it will be a one lane drive up, and there will be tree barriers on the North end to respect the neighbors behind them. Scooter's is a "morning brand company" meaning they are the busiest in the mornings, their hours include the following Monday - Friday 5am-8pm and Saturday & Sunday 6am-8pm. The busiest time frames, estimated cars to be between 40-50 per hour are a two hour window in the early morning however, which should not interfere with any bowling alley entry/exit traffic onto Oakwood. They plan on hiring 30 local team members with 3-4 being full time, the rest being part time. Demolition of the current structure would took place in early Fall of 2023. Plan

Commission Board member, Rhonda Ludwig, expressed that she has no problem with the Scooter's business coming to Geneseo but has a big issue with IDOT's decisions on ingress/egress. Administrator Maeglin explained that both the city and Scooter's have had multiple conversations with IDOT regarding this topic and they are firm in their position that having the single ingress/egress point on Oakwood is the best case scenario for reduction of potential accidents at the intersection. Rhonda advised that having the single ingress/egress point onto Oakwood Ave. puts the citizens at greater risk for accidents in that intersection. Rhonda raised the discussion of making the right exit lane a "right turn only" lane, and only allowing customers to turn right heading north on Oakwood. Rob stated that every Scooter's is the busiest during the first month of business, and that typically after 90 days the newness fizzles out and you can see what the real traffic will look like. Rob stated he will bring additional examples of traffic counts and how similar Scooter's locations work with one ingress/egress point to the City Council meeting on 06/27.

5.1. Open the Public Hearing

Joe Bedford moved, seconded by Rhonda Ludwig, Motion to open public hearing for Public input on the Scooter's Coffee Development Permit within the Highway Corridor Overlay District.

RESULT: Carried

MOVER: Joe Bedford

SECONDER: Rhonda Ludwig

AYES: Joe Bedford, Rhonda Ludwig, Morgan Thurman, and Julia McAvoy

6 Close Public Hearing

The board went on to close the public hearing at which Rhonda motioned to close the public hearing with McAvoy as seconder.

6.1. Close the Public Hearing

Rhonda Ludwig moved, seconded by Julia McAvoy, Motion to close the public hearing.

RESULT: Carried

MOVER: Rhonda Ludwig

SECONDER: Julia McAvoy

AYES: Joe Bedford, Rhonda Ludwig, Morgan Thurman, and Julia McAvoy

7 New Business Item(s)

Joe Bedford motioned to recommend approval of the HCOD Development Permit Application for Scooter's Coffee to the City Council at which there was not a second to the motion.

Ludwig motioned to adjourn the meeting, but then rescinded her motion for further discussion and lack of a 2nd.

The Commission continued discussion about sending the project to the City Council as not recommended for approval by the Plan Commission. Ludwig motioned, McAvoy asked for a pause to clarify what they were voting for. Maeglin explained to McAvoy, Ludwig's motion was to not recommend the approval of the HCOD Development Permit Application for Scooter's Coffee to the City Council.

7.1. Scooter's Coffee Application for HCOD Building Permit

These plans have been reviewed without issue by the City Engineer, Public Works Director, Electrical Director & City Building Inspector.

Rhonda Ludwig moved, seconded by Julia McAvoy, Motion to not recommend approval of the HCOD Development Permit Application for Scooter's Coffee to the City Council.

RESULT: Carried

MOVER: Rhonda Ludwig

SECONDER: Julia McAvoy

AYES: Rhonda Ludwig, Morgan Thurman, and Julia McAvoy

NAYS: Joe Bedford

8 Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 6:58 PM.

8.1. Move to close the meeting

Rhonda Ludwig moved, seconded by Joe Bedford, Motion to Adjourn

RESULT: Carried

MOVER: Rhonda Ludwig

SECONDER: Joe Bedford