RecordingTranscript availableAnalysis ready177:37

January 30, 2025 Bloomington Planning Commission Meeting

Bloomington City CouncilFriday, January 31, 2025
Watch on original source

Conditional Use Permit for Adult Daycare Center

City Code Amendment for RS One and R1A Zoning Districts

Sign Code One Year Look Back Amendments

Review of The Heights Housing Improvement Area (HRA) and Tiff District

Full Document Analysis

Votes (4)

Conditional Use Permit for an Adult Daycare Center at 9000 Old Cedar Avenue

Motion Carries (Approved)

Dissent: None

Moved by Commissioner Cooked It [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]

The discussion centered on the proposed adult daycare's operational details, including participant capacity, caregiver numbers, and transport methods. Staff addressed a piece of correspondence about traffic, deeming it not a concern, and noted compliance for parking while outlining conditions for landscaping and lighting. The applicant emphasized the goal of revitalizing a vacant building.

City Code Amendment for RS One and R1A Zoning Districts

Motion Passes (Approved)

Dissent: None

Moved by Commissioner Mcgovern [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]

The extensive discussion covered the history of the amendments, including previous R1 updates, numerous study sessions, and a pause due to state legislation. Key changes proposed included amending the district intent, allowing two-family dwellings in RS One, and removing complex standards like median site width and prevailing setbacks. Commissioners expressed mixed feelings about the significant staff time spent on a small number of properties but generally agreed that the changes were reasonable, serving the 'higher end of the market' within the city.

Sign Code One Year Look Back Amendments (Study Item)

No formal vote, discussion to inform future ordinance drafting

Dissent: Commissioners were split on several policy changes, especially regarding the allowance and height of roof signs and the number of building signs on tall structures.

Moved by No formal motion, study item for feedback · Seconded by No formal motion, study item for feedback

The study item involved reviewing 16 proposed amendments to the sign code. Key points of discussion included the addition of a 'Building Frontage' definition, the potential allowance of 'Roof Integral Signs' and 'Roof Signs' (currently prohibited), and adjustments to the size of directional and temporary multifamily leasing signs. Commissioners offered varied feedback, particularly on the aesthetics and potential for visual clutter with roof signs and multiple signs on tall buildings, while also valuing creativity and flexibility in signage.

Review of The Heights Housing Improvement Area (HRA) and Tiff District (Study Item)

No formal vote, discussion to inform future HRA and City Council action

Dissent: Strong opposition was voiced by Commissioner Cookson and Commissioner Curry, with Commissioner Mcgovern concurring with their concerns. Other commissioners expressed support or nuanced positions.

Moved by No formal motion, study item for feedback · Seconded by No formal motion, study item for feedback

The discussion centered on the consistency of the proposed Tiff District for The Heights condominium with the Bloomington Comprehensive Plan, with staff emphasizing goals related to preserving naturally occurring affordable housing and homeownership. Several commissioners voiced strong concerns about setting a precedent for 'bailing out' private properties that may have underfunded reserves, questioning the financial responsibility. Others acknowledged these concerns but supported the Tiff to prevent resident displacement and recognized the project's complexity and the narrow scope of the Planning Commission's role in the larger multi-body approval process.

Notable Quotes (11)

This is a building that has formerly served or is being used as an office building. We've owned it for I think about two years now and we're trying to put it and a useful use of it and reinvigorate that corner and we pleased that the department or the service are recommending approval and Um if there's any questions I'll be happy to answer.

— Mohammed [Timestamp]
Conditional Use Permit for an Adult Daycare Center at 9000 Old Cedar Avenue

I mean it sounds like there really isn't much of any traffic through the building on a daily basis. So although it sounds like the somebody gets a ton of traffic on the road which maybe something that we should look at at some point you understand what's going on there but I don't think this will have really I mean if there's any impact it's going to be super minimal. So I don't have any issues with it.

— Tricia Curry [Timestamp]
Conditional Use Permit for an Adult Daycare Center at 9000 Old Cedar Avenue

The broad scope or the broad intention of these changes was to increase opportunities for housing creation through infill development and other reasons kind of informing some of those changes.

— Planning Supervisor Johnson [Timestamp]
City Code Amendment for RS One and R1A Zoning Districts

I would agree. Thank you Madam Chair that it seem like a disproportionate amount of time spent for a very small portion of of the city here I don't have strong feelings on it it seems reasonable I don't mind that we have a couple of neighborhoods with larger lots it doesn't bother me. You know we talk about serving the entire market so I guess we'll serve the higher end of the market in this neighborhood and that's just fine and I'm I'm okay approving this this evening.

— Commissioner Cooked It [Timestamp]
City Code Amendment for RS One and R1A Zoning Districts

One commitment we made both to the business community but also the Planning Commission and Council because it was such a substantial departure from the previous ordinance we committed to doing a one year look back basically evaluation of the code as it was out on on the ground or in the wild if you will for that full first full year.

— Planning Supervisor Johnson [Timestamp]
Sign Code One Year Look Back Amendments (Study Item)

I'm supportive of this so long as we can't do billboards which is the understanding here I don't know you around South Loop and there's lots of different types of signage and what I've learned over time is we shouldn't be scared of it all has these giant signs and they look great. The Ac Hotel looks fine. You wouldn't even think it stands out at all if you didn't realize what we did. So I don't know. I want us to be a dynamic city that allows us to do creative things and be different than all these other suburbs. So I'm in favor of this.

— Commissioner Hooten [Timestamp]
Sign Code One Year Look Back Amendments (Study Item)

I also prefer to stay with one. I think it's visual clutter and I think one's enough and I believe me I appreciate that there's a struggling office out there but eventually that's going to correct itself whether people come back to the office a little bit or it's just the expansion of business and these buildings will fill up eventually and then we've made a decision that there's two sides on every building and 15 years from now when all these office buildings are full again or ten years from now whatever and we've stuck ourselves with two sides on every facade. And so like this Dairy Queen Building on the front like okay sure there's only one on this large broad side here but that short skinny side that's on 90 degrees where we're good with two on that side there probably we've stagnant like I just think it's visual clutter and I'm unsupportive of it. One is enough for me.

— Commissioner Cookson [Timestamp]
Sign Code One Year Look Back Amendments (Study Item)

This is a highly affordable community in the city and so we have really made a lot of efforts to come up with a financing package that will keep this affordable the residents who are living there and then affordable homeownership of course is also a goal of the plan and this proposal satisfies that goal as well.

— HRA Administrator Abe [Timestamp]
Review of The Heights Housing Improvement Area (HRA) and Tiff District (Study Item)

I hate to use the word bailout because really infers some things I don't mean to infer but are we the comprehensive plan suggests we should be bailing out condo buildings and like the other thing too is an ownership perspective... when you sign your name on the dotted line you're taking ownership of that and you have a to do your due diligence... and unfortunately that's the situation these residents have put them in.

— Commissioner Cookson [Timestamp]
Review of The Heights Housing Improvement Area (HRA) and Tiff District (Study Item)

I'm that there are ways for properties this to get assistance I think that's important I don't think people are born knowing how to own and manage property. I think that people make mistakes and the fact that there are ways for people to get help and to learn is good. I think that there are very valid reasons to be concerned about the perception this can create and the public that is not just a perception but that is reality that you know we are for all intents and purposes bailing out a private property that didn't do a good job of managing itself. But I think it's more to the story than that and I hope that we can be very clear when we when we tell this story, when we talk about this project that the whole story told and that it's not just the short, easy way of describing it.

— Commissioner White [Timestamp]
Review of The Heights Housing Improvement Area (HRA) and Tiff District (Study Item)

The way it's defined is that redevelopment is about addressing blight and so it may not necessarily be that it is construction of a building. It could be addressing that blight which is why you're hearing this being brought before you today.

— Attorney Task [Timestamp]
Review of The Heights Housing Improvement Area (HRA) and Tiff District (Study Item)

Ordinances & Resolutions (14)

Conditional Use PermitPermit

Permit type sought for the adult daycare center.

Resolution Approving a Conditional Use PermitResolution

Document adopted by the Planning Commission for the adult daycare.

City Code Amendment for Rs One and R1AOrdinance

Proposed changes to specific residential zoning districts in the City Code.

Chapter 21 of the City CodeOrdinance

The specific chapter of the City Code that is being amended for zoning districts.

Missing Middle Housing BillOther

State legislation considered in 2024 that could have impacted residential zoning.

Tree Preservation OrdinanceOrdinance

A city environmental standard evaluated in parallel with zoning changes.

Steep StandardsOther

City standards related to environmental protection.

Sign CodeOrdinance

The city's ordinance governing signs, subject to a one-year look-back review.

Master Sign PlanPlan

A type of application for comprehensive signage, proposed to shift approval authority.

Housing Improvement Area (HRA) ApplicationPermit

Application type submitted by The Heights condominium for financial assistance.

Tiff DistrictOther

A Tax Increment Financing district proposed for The Heights to fund renovations.

Redevelopment PlanPlan

The plan associated with the Tiff District for The Heights condominium.

Bloomington Comprehensive PlanPlan

The guiding document for city development, against which proposed plans are assessed for consistency.

Garage Inspection OrdinanceOrdinance

An ordinance currently being drafted at the city level to address structural issues in parking garages.

Transcript