CITY OF CRESTVIEW HILLS

MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

NOVEMBER 14, 1999

CALL TO ORDER - With the Pledge of Allegiance and a silent prayer, Mayor Paul W. Meier called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

ROLL CALL - Present were Messrs. Ralph Laird , Joe Price, Harold Ries, Joe Maloney, Frank Sommerkamp and Mrs. Robin Huller.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - It was suggested that New Business item C) Zoning Text Amendment be added. Approved as amended. Ayes carried.

Motion: Mr. Sommerkamp ??Second: Mr. Maloney

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Accepted as submitted. Ayes carried.

Motion: Mr. Ries ??Second: Mr. Maloney

CITIZENS AND GUESTS

None were acknowledged.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Finance

Linda Chapman of Rankin and Rankin, Co. presented the results of the FY 99 financial audit. Ms. Chapman remarked that the City is in excellent shape; it has the resources to finance several future projects without asking for bond sales, the general fund is healthy, and there is enough in reserves to carry the City for more than the required six months should an emergency situation arise. Ms. Chapman went through the written report page by page with Council. Upon completion, Mr. Laird made the motion to accept the audit as presented, seconded by Mr. Ries. Ayes carried.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Celarek reported on the following:

  1. The Sanitation District No. 1 of Kenton County will be sending a ten-question survey to residents asking about their concerns and quality of service.
  2. The Municipal Govt. League of Northern Kentucky will have its annual dinner November 20th at the Embassy Suites in Covington at 7PM.
  3. The Cinergy Community Leadership Conference was held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center on November 9, 1999 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Four representatives from Crestview Hills attended.
  4. Arden Courts, the Manor Care project has had significant movement. Land was purchased from the Hemmer Corp. approximately six months ago and application was made for a building permit for the 64-unit Alzheimer's facility. According to the developer, digging should begin within the month.
  5. The Grand Court project has shown no significant movement in the past five months. This is the 123 unit assisted living facility that would be located near Thomas More Parkway and Legends Way. The conditional use permit could expire December 2, 1999. If work of some type has not commenced by that date, a Board of Adjustments meeting will be called to discuss the conditional use permit attached to the lot.
  6. There has been an amendment to the contract with the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission to include inspection of:
    1. outside parking lots
    2. retention basins
    3. retaining walls
  7. The Northern Kentucky County and City Administrators Association will meet at the Crestview Hills City Building on November 19th at Noon. The guest speaker will be Charles Meyer who is the acting engineer for the 6th District of the KDOT.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Economic Development

Mr. Celarek introduced John Finnan, President of the home office of People's Bank, located in Crestview Hills. Mr. Finnan explained that an addition is needed to the bank, as the current facility is full. Volume of business for the bank would indicate a need to expand and add employees. An artist's rendering of the addition with the current building was shown to Council. The addition is an exact duplicate of the existing building. The State of Kentucky extended permission to remove the existing wire fence along Dixie Hwy. and put up a three-rail white "horse" fence upon completion of the project. People's Bank has also met with the Mansion Place Homeowner's Association and the Lookout Farm Homeowner's Association from which the plan was received with enthusiasm.

Mr. Celarek noted that a commercial building should not be within ninety feet of the property line. The current plan calls for the addition to be built within seventy-two feet of the property line. Therefore an application to the Board of Adjustments will have to be made for an eighteen-foot variance. It should be noted that staff recommends the variance. The project exceeds green space requirements.

Mr. Richard Lonergan brought to Council's attention that in the original stage I development plan for the Historical area [in which People's Bank is located] called for commercial density at 1900 sq. ft. per acre. Upon completion of the addition, the reality would be approximately 4,600 sq. ft. per acre. Mr. Lonergan suggested an amendment to the stage I plan be made to reflect what the actual square footage per acre in that area would be.

Mr. Celarek mentioned that the project would not begin immediately but should start within the next twelve months. Mr. Price made the motion to accept the addition to People's Bank contingent upon approval of the eighteen-foot variance by the Board of Adjustments. An amendment should also be made to the stage I plan density to reflect current developments in the HLC zone. Motion seconded by Mr. Sommerkamp. Ayes carried.

B. Economic Development

Mr. Celarek introduced Mike Hargis with the Hemmer Corp., who noted there were a larger number of presenters at the Economic Development meeting. Mr. Hargis announced that this was a revision to the stage I and stage II plans originally approved in June. The economics of the project did not work well as this has been a difficult site on which to work. The site needs to be plateaued to create the ability to footprint. The revetment originally was 28' and higher in places and approximately 70' from the building. The approved plans call for a two story, 120 unit building; the modified plans require a three story, 120 unit building which would allow the footprint to be reduced, the footage and height of the revetment, and slightly more green space along Centreview Blvd. The height of the retaining wall would reduce to 11' from 28' on the south side of the building, and to 11' from 23' against the property line near Centreview Blvd. The wall would be within 20' of the building, rather than 70'.

Mr. Hargis believed that the amended plans are better economically, visually, and architecturally. The building will have the same number of parking spaces, the same brick, and the same bronze standing seamed metal roof. NKAPC recommends approval with consideration to landscaping details, the size of the monument sign, and dumpster screen details. It was reported that the dumpster is toward the back of the building with an 8' wall surrounding it. There is also railing at 22" along the revetment where height reaches 48" and above.

Mr. Sommerkamp recommended passage of the amended stage II plans for Waterford, and minor change to RP-1 stage I plan contingent upon the developer meeting recommendations by staff and NKAPC. Motion seconded by Mr. Ries.

Mayor Meier inquired about utility placement and was assured by Mr. Hargis that the majority of the new service would be underground. Ayes carried on prior motion.

NEW BUSINESS

B. Communications

Mayor Meier reminded residents the Richard Murgatroyd, Kenton County Judge Executive, and members of the Fiscal Court will hold a Town Meeting at the Crestview Hills City Building on November 13th from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.

C. Zoning

Mr. Celarek stated that three residents attended the Economic Development meeting to give the history on detached garages. It is believed that there was a deed restriction in the Old Crestview Hills area that prevented detached garages, however, nothing was ever found in the zoning text. The current zoning text is unclear and interpretation is gray. There are two detached garages being built in the City that will be "grand fathered" in. The text amendment is complex and will be handled through the City Attorney.

The garage on Druid Ln. must meet three conditions: 1) the attic will be for storage only, 2) no plumbing on the second floor, 3) no habitation at all in the building. There was discussion on a possible clarification (point F) on accessory buildings. The Mayor was not in favor of this. Mr. Sommerkamp suggested the proposed changes go through the City Attorney, NKAPC, and Mr. Celarek before a final draft be issued for approval to members of City Council. Mr. Price noted it should be reviewed at December's meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Public Works- Mr. Sommerkamp commented that the next Public Works Committee meeting will be held at the City Building on October 21, 1999 at 10 AM. Public Works projects under way at this time are as follows:

  1. Widening the intersection radius at the intersection of Thomas More Parkway and the Quast building and Four Seasons. The project is 90% complete and has improved the turning radius into the two buildings.
  2. Widen Horsebranch Rd. to 3 lanes at Orphanage Rd. to allow a right turn lane. Mr. Berling is waiting for KDOT to reply to possible funding assistance for the turn lane and traffic signalization at that intersection.
  3. The Dixie Hwy. sidewalk project. Mr. Berling has met with KDOT and the project is in the bidding process with the plan revision from last month to add curb and gutter requirement on the north end. The revision is expected to add approximately $25,000 to the bid. The sidewalk is expected to be complete by May 15, 2000.
  4. Varsity Court has some paving failures. The sub grade and sewer ditch has settled or shrunk and the paving has cracked and dropped. Adding bituminous paving over the south lane of the street has temporarily repaired the surface. A more permanent solution is being considered.
  5. The Legends Way storm sewer plan was revised to go through Thomas More College property. The work was completed as of October 14, 1999. The old headwall will be removed from Legends Way.
  6. Plans and permits are underway to widen Thomas More Parkway to allow two right turn lanes onto northbound Turkeyfoot Rd. A letter was received from a College Park resident expressing concern that a second turn lane might negate anyone trying to turn left from Fraternity Ct. onto northbound Turkeyfoot Rd. Possible traffic signal synchronization and limited stuttering was discussed to allow turns to be made at different times in the signal cycle.
  7. The sidewalk on the west side of Legends Way will be reconstructed to eliminate the pond of water and silt.

Police Authority- Mrs. Huller informed Council that the computer link with Kenton County dispatch is underway. This will allow the Police to respond quicker resulting in greater safety.

Fire and Safety- Mrs. Huller noted that letters have been received by residents of the City by Trans Care for membership. The letters are to be ignored as the City covers the cost of annual membership to Trans Care for all residents.

Recreation- Mr. Price stated that an adhoc committee has been formed to better plan recreational events, activities and green space in the City. The sub-committee shall hold a meeting November 17, 1999 at 4PM and will continue to meet monthly until the recreational and green space needs of the City have been identified. The committee is also working on survey questions for distribution to residents at a later date. It is Crestview Hills' night at the Cincinnati Cyclones Saturday, November 20 at the Firstar Center. A puck will be given to the first 5,000 in attendance. Tickets are on sale for seven dollars at the City Building.

Telecommunications Board- Mr. Celarek reported the sale of Intermedia Cable to Insight Cable. There should be no immediate changes to residents or franchise fees to the City. The Insight logo has replaced the Intermedia logo on the Cable Board trucks. Mike Withiam is no longer with Insight.

Communications- Mrs. Huller enlightened council that the City will host a Millennium tree lighting ceremony on Friday, December 3, 1999 from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM. This was noted in the most recent issue of the Eagle's View newsletter, along with a calendar that will be sent to all residents.

After general conversation, motion to adjourn made by Mr. Laird, seconded by Mr. Ries at 8:42 PM.