Plan commission rejects moratorium

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

The Watertown Plan Commission Monday voted against establishing a building moratorium in the area of Welsh Road.

The overall feeling of the plan commission was that the decision on creating a building moratorium should be made by the common council.

Approximately 150 residents who live near Welsh Road have filed a petition with the city asking for a moratorium on new construction until the storm water problems in their neighborhood are fixed.

The last building moratorium that was put in place for the Welsh Road area expired in June of 2007.

Plan commission members also felt that in order to help resolve the flooding issues near Welsh Road there needs to be more development with retention ponds in that area.

ADVERTISEMENT

The city changed its storm water ordinance about a year ago and developers are now required to make sure that less water comes off a property than what was occurring before development.

“Any new development out there has to include detention ponds,” Mayor Ron Krueger said. “So any new construction that's allowed in that area has to confine storm water from their property into detention ponds on their property.”

“It seems to me that the only way we can retrofit these solutions is to approve more development and to make sure the new development meets all of the newer standards that we have that are tougher,” added city Planner Mike Slavney.

Krueger said the city recently purchased some land at the northwest corner of West Main Street and Welsh Road near Farm & Fleet and will be installing two detention ponds. He added the work could start in August.

The city is still in the process of negotiating with Bielinski Homes for 2 acres of land north of Old Settlement Drive that would be used for a detention pond.

Bielinski has proposed to build a subdivision between the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks and the realignment of Welsh Road and the company is making the proposal at this time because of the negotiations for the 2-acre parcel.

The common council voted against the final reading of an ordinance creating a planned unit development for the subdivision earlier this month.

Krueger said the proposed subdivision would have three detention ponds to help the storm water issues in that area.

“With their (Bielinski's) detention ponds, it's going to alleviate even some of the current problems because they will be taking the existing surface water on their present property and detaining it,” the mayor added.

Krueger also said that he was worried that a building moratorium could make it more difficult for the city to purchase the 2 acres from Bielinski.

“If we put a building moratorium in place, I think that they (Bielinski) can drag their feet and make it a little more difficult for us to purchase the land to develop the pond,” Krueger said.

In other action Monday, plan commission members granted a conditional use permit to Rovelio Cesar Gonzalez and Fabian Jorge Alamilla for commercial indoor entertainment.

Gonzalez and Alamilla are proposing to open an establishment, known as Salsa's Restaurant, at 311. S. First St.

David Seelman, the registered agent for Salsa's, said the restaurant would serve Latin American foods. He added the owners of the business have applied for a Class B malt and liquor license.

The building will also have a stage area for musicians who will mostly play on Thursday through Sunday.

The planned hours of operation for the restaurant are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Seelman said the restaurant may stay open later on specials occasions like New Year's Eve, Cinco de Mayo and the weekend of Riverfest.

Commission members granted the permit under the condition that the 110-person capacity limit for the building remains in tact.

The plan commission also approved the final plat of Heron Landing Phase 1, which is located on the south side of the city near Wal-Mart.

The first phase of the subdivision includes 34 lots for single-family homes and seven for duplexes.

The commission also granted a variance that will allow for properties on Beryl Drive to have a 25-foot setback instead of 40 feet. Commission members approved the variance because those buildings will not have driveway access onto Beryl Drive.

The entire 172-acre Heron Landing subdivision is expected to include about 235 lots for single family homes, 58 duplex units and 98 multifamily units.

Watertown assistant fire chief Mike Quint sent an e-mail to city building Inspector Joe Heimsch in May informing the city that the fire department is opposed to the Heron Landing subdivision.

“Due to the length of response time required for fire department units to reach this area, the Watertown Fire Department is voting no on the Heron Landing development that is proposed for the far south end of the city,” Quint said in the e-mail.

“To vote in favor of allowing development, of an area in which we are aware that we cannot access in accordance with nationally recognized response times, would be irresponsible and not in the best interest of the safety of the citizens who would live there,” he added.