Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Planning Commission Zoning Board met Aug. 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

1. Approval of Minutes:

Mr. Sheffer moved, seconded by Mr. Love, to approve the minutes for June 20, 2018.

The motion to approve the minutes passed with a unanimous voice vote.

2. Citizen Comments or Questions

There were none

3. Report of Officers, Committees, Communications

There were none

4. Public Hearings

PC 19-02 6:02 pm, - Olivia Jones-Martin is requesting a Special Use Permit for a Day Care Home I, located within an R-1-15, Low Density Residential, District at 1545 East Gary Drive. Ms. Litecky declared Public Hearing PC 19-02 open and asked Mr. Taylor to read the legal notice.

Travis Taylor, Senior Planner for the City of Carbondale, read the legal notice.

Ms. Litecky asked Ms. Brightharp to present the staff report.

Ms. Brightharp was sworn in and read parts A and B of the staff report.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions of staff.

Mr. Sheffer ask if all the calls and letters were in opposition. Ms. Brightharp responded that there was one letter of concern about the play equipment and the rest were in opposition.

Ms. Litecky asked if the applicant was present and wished to speak.

Olivia Jones-Martin, of 1545 E, Gary Dr. Carbondale, came forward to speak about the daycare she wishes to open at her home. The daycare is to provide income for herself. She previously received a letter about putting equipment out but it wasn’t for the daycare yet, as she fosters children and watches her grandchildren. She then notified the City

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions of the applicant.

There were none.

Ms. Litecky asked if anyone wished to speak in favor.

Mr. Burke A. Cawthon, of 1540 E. Gary Dr. Carbondale, came forward to speak. He was not opposed and came to find out more information. Mr. Cawthon lives across the street from where Ms. Jones-Martin wants to open up the day care and finds no danger with her property as it has a fence in backyard for the children. He finds that the daycare would help the people in the community.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions.

Mr. Sheffer asked which house Mr. Cawthon lives in. It was clarified that his house was

the house across the street and to the left according to the picture of property facing north.

Ms. Litecky asked Mr. Taylor to read the letters in opposition.

Mr. Taylor read six letters in opposition from Bruce and Sandy Pain of 809 S. Drury Carbondale, Linaya Germann of 813 S. Drury Carbondale, Laura Germann of 1547 E. Grand Carbondale, Michael McNerney of 825 S. Drury Ave. Carbondale, Kirk and Jocelyn Kerney of 1535 E. Gary Dr. Carbondale, Ron and Joyce Germann of 1554 E. Gary Dr. Carbondale.

Ms. Litecky asked if anyone wished to speak in opposition.

Ms. Marilyn Hogan, of 819 S. Drury Carbondale, came forward to speak in opposition.

Mrs. Hogan lives in the neighborhood and states that the property doesn’t look nice. She stated that she is also concerned about the property values if she decides to sell, she doesn’t think anyone would like to look at it. Ms. Hogan agrees with the letters that were read earlier, and believes that most of the neighbors do too.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions.

There were none.

Mr. Ron Germann, of 1554 E. Gary Dr. Carbondale, came forward to speak. Mr. Germann reiterated what he wrote in his letter to Mr. Taylor. Mr. Germann stated that he remained in Carbondale after his retirement and is concerned about the noise the daycare will bring.

Mr. Germann talked with Ms. Jones-Martin previously and said she had no job and no income when she made the application and now she currently has a full time job and can only have the daycare hours in the evening. When the toys and equipment in the backyard appeared, Mr. Germann and some other neighbors expressed concern and requested code enforcement to see what was happening. Mr. Germann stated that he was told by Mr. Taylor that there was no intention for a daycare center and that the toys were for foster children.

Mr. Germann also stated that the only person that is in favor of the daycare in the neighborhood had recently put their house up for sale.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions.

Mr. Burnside asked if Mr. Germann would be opposed with the toys and equipment that Ms. Jones-Martin has if she had multiple foster children, which would not be a business.

Mr. Germann said that he wouldn’t have a problem with that as there wouldn’t be traffic back and forth on the narrow streets.

Mr. Henson asked Mr. Germann how many more cars he expects to be on the street.

Mr. Germann replies he doesn’t know, about 6 to 8.

Ms. Laura Germann, of 1547 E. Grand Carbondale, came forward to speak. Ms. Germann wanted to reiterate her letter that was read earlier and if this business was approved, what/would to stop another small business from coming into the neighborhood. She also expressed concern over the increased evening traffic in the area. Ms. Germann also clarified that foster children and children that are only at Mr. Jones-Martin house for a few hours are two different things.

Mr. Sheffer clarified that with the special use permit, you can control and put restrictions on the permit. Mr. Burnside clarified that it would be 6 children for the permit including any foster children that are in the house.

Ms. Caroll Buitrogo-Long, of 1527 E. Gary Carbondale, came forward to speak. Ms. Buitrogo-Long is not opposing the daycare, she just is more concerned about the traffic and all of the play equipment in the yard. Ms. Buitrogo-Long also expressed concern if that area is a good environment for a daycare and foster children.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions.

There were none.

Mr. Mike McNerney, of 819 S. Dury Carbondale, came forward to speak. Mr. McNerney also expressed concern about the additional traffic and parking in the neighborhood.

Mr. Sheffer suggested additional parking in the special use permit to help with the parking issue.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions.

There were none.

Ms. Hogan came forward again to address the additional parking issues as she has some knowledge about parking. Ms. Hogan stated that Ms. Jones-Martin needs to put in a culvert and pave the area for the additional parking. Ms. Hogan also stated that the fence in Ms. Jones-Martin’s yard doesn’t go all around the yard and is a safety issue.

Ms. Litecky asked staff about the additional parking. Ms. Brightharp answered that the parking issue was addressed in the staff report analysis when discussing a previous case.

Ms. Jones-Martin can only have 4 children because of insurance purposes, short-term parking is available for 2 additional cars in the driveway and on street parking as shown in pictures in exhibit B. Mr. Taylor also talked about expanding and paving the driveway if needed.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions.

There were none.

Ms. Sarah Heyer, of 1442 E. Gary Dr Carbondale, came forward to speak. Ms. Heyer stated that maybe some of the neighbors are nervous about the daycare because of some recent brake-ins to cars and garages. Also there are some cars that drive fast on that road and it is a safety concern for the children.

Ms. Litecky asked if there were any questions.

There were none.

Mr. Germann returned to ask if Ms. Jones-Martin would have to have any additional lighting on the outside of the house because of the late hours she will be watching the children.

http://explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08152018-588