Conditional Use Permit Request Sent Back To Planning & Zoning

A conditional use permit, turned down by the Trenton Planning and Zoning Commission, will be sent back to the commission for further consideration following action taken by the Trenton City Council on Monday night.
Council members voted 8-0 to send the permit request from Gabriella Chrisman back to the commission after receiving a revised plan from Ms. Chrisman that includes additional information not previously available at the planning and zoning hearing. Ms. Chrisman and Erma Newton had asked the commission to approve the permit to allow them to build an outdoor theater on property Ms. Chrisman owns at 2306 Oak St. and 2211 Stature St. The commission turned down the request, citing location of a business within an area that is primarily residential. Three persons who attended the hearing via Zoom expressed concerns regarding increased traffic, noise and late hours.
Ms. Chrisman, who attended the council meeting in person, said she had been working with an attorney and wanted to abide by the city’s zoning ordinance. She said she had “apparently given the wrong impression” regarding what she wanted to do in the area, noting that it was never her intention to have a large movie screen or generate a lot of traffic. She referred to the proposal as a “family atmosphere.” The revised plan presented at Monday night’s meeting showed a food truck being located in the area, with four to six picnic tables where persons could eat. A 100-inch “TV-type” screen would also be erected where persons would be able to view videos being shown. Hours of operation were listed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Code Enforcement Officer Wes Barone said the area was zoned as B-2, which does allow for small businesses located inside of buildings, such as attorney’s offices, insurance offices, etc.
Because there were changes to the plan from what the commission had received, the council unanimously agreed to have Ms. Chrisman send her revised plan back to the commission for reconsideration. Voting in person were Glen Briggs, Danny Brewer, Cathie Smith, Dave Mlika and Duane Urich. Voting via Zoom were Kevin Klinginsmith, Marvin Humphreys and John Dolan.
The council approved new written policies regarding water and sanitary sewer service connections. City Administrator Ron Urton, attending the meeting via Zoom, said the policies will help property owners when replacing service lines between the city main and the house, including reducing the cost and making sure the work meets city code. Under the new policies, the property owner would hire a contractor but materials would be purchased through the city. Permits will be required for excavation in the public right of way. In an effort to reduce street cut costs, TMU would have the option to use its boring device to go under the street and pull in new service lines.
Approval was given to a budget revision, allowing funds designated for overhead doors at the fire station to be used to complete the station’s north apron concrete project. Total cost of the project has been estimated at $27,000. The door project will be moved to the 2021-22 fiscal year budget.
In other business, the council:
• approved two ordinances, purchasing aggregate rock and sand from Norris Quarries in preparation for the 2021 city asphalt program. A total of 26,000 tons of rock is to be purchased at $17.10 per ton while 9,000 tons of sand will be purchased at a cost of $8.60 per ton. Urton said he intends to advertise for hauling of the rock and sand.
• approved an ordinance authorizing a work order with Howe Company for the lining of the existing sewer mains in the city of Trenton. Work in particular will include mains near the location of the new Orscheln Farm and Home building, however, Urton said the engineering firm will also develop plans for future sewer main work. The cost is $20,000 and will include design and bidding services as well as administration and project observation.
• approved an ordinance changing zoning of property at 3300 Pleasant Plain (location of the former Hope Haven building) from O-1, open space, to I-2, heavy industry. The planning and zoning commission had recommended the change to better fit future usage.
• approved an ordinance authorizing a contract with Asplundh Tree Experts for tree trimming at a cost of no more than $25,000.
• voted to advertise surplus property on the Purple Wave website.
• approved an ordinance revising the city code’s “table of permissable uses” regarding housing.
• heard brief comments from City Attorney Tara Walker, via Zoom, regarding the use of Zoom for city council meetings, in particular reminding members to temper “side comments” made during meeting discussions, which she noted are now more accessible to the public.
An executive session for legal and real estate was also held. Urton said the council voted 8-0 to authorize him to execute an agreement with a replacement contractor to install the temporary shoring for the 17th Street bridge project if Boone Construction continues to fail to perform this work. The amount for such an agreement would be announced at the time of execution.
City Clerk Cindy Simpson attended the meeting in person and Mayor Linda Crooks attended the meeting via Zoom.