Lisa Stephens, Councilwoman | City of Greenville Website
Lisa Stephens, Councilwoman | City of Greenville Website
City of Greenville Planning Commission met Feb. 24.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
1. ROLL CALL
Committee Members Present: Planning Commission Member Brent Shaw, Planning Commission Member Chance Vohlken, Planning Commission Member Eugene Holt, Planning Commission Member Jack Chism, Jo Keillor, Planning Commission Member Nate Wieland, and Planning Commission Scott Darnell
Committee Members Absent:
Staff Present: City Manager Jo Hollenkamp, GIS Specialist Brad Iberg, City Clerk Jody Weiss, Chief of Police Bryan Waugh, Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Ketten
Public Present: Susan & Jeff Hemker, Kirk Langham, Louanne & Tom Theiss, Kenny Hampton, Cindy Collier, Steve Crawford, David Ulmer, Elliot & Cynthia Wiegand, Robert & Diana Scharp, Carrie Dunn, Kim Taylor, Joseph & Ammari Bourgeois, Mark Corbus, Samantha Pawlin, Suzanne Ford, Nancy Hanratty, Susan Bryant, Scott Crothers, Catherine Perkins, Russell & Debbie Blurton, Janice Myers, Bill Schottel, Henry Hollenkamp, Jeff Wade, Julie Lambert, Richard Crouch, Brenda & Oval White, Mike Reeves, Laurie Timmermann, Judy & Daryl Cox, John & Diane Stanton, Richard Huston, Brandon Schisler, Chris Cook, JoAnn Rokita, Lydia Shalanko, Nicole & Elmer Kough, Judy DeWerff, Lloyd Summerlot, John King, Robert Rodgers, Jim Boyd, Janelle DeBlois, Lynn & Debbie Pumphery, Rick Clanton, Sarah & Kyle Littlefield, Alice Blumberg, Jeff Leidel, George Barber
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
3.1. Approval of January 27, 2025 minutes
Motion to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2025 meeting.
Motion by Chance Vohlken, seconded by Brent Shaw
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Chance Vohlken SECONDER: Brent Shaw AYES: Brent Shaw, Chance Vohlken, Eugene Holt, Jack Chism, Jo Keillor, Nate Wieland, and Scott Darnell |
5. MATTERS OF CONSIDERATION
5.1. Rezoning proposal for the City of Greenville code.
City Manager Jo Hollenkamp started the public meeting by addressing mis information that has been spread through gossip and social media. Churches are allowed in any zone. Property taxes are not determined by your zone, but by value and use. She again emphasized zoning does not determine the amount of your property taxes. Playground equipment as in backyard children's play equipment is allowed anywhere. This verbiage was regarding large playgrounds like in Kingsbury Park. HAM Radio Towers are permitted anywhere as governed by the FCC. She also stated that a lot of people are more protected by the uses in the new code than in the previous code. She emphasized that the zones went back to their zoning that was in effect in 2012, before the current code went into effect.
Lydia Shalanko - 319 North St - Has a historic home and would like to keep the neighborhood historic. She does not want apartments being built, especially in the open land in front of the Montrose Cemetery. It was pointed out her home is zoned the same as it was in 2012.
Judy Cox - 340 N Third- Their neighborhood is lacking upkeep. The brick streets are becoming hazardous as people are falling when trying to walk on it.
Amarri Bourgeois - 305 N Fourth - From NU to R3 - Why? - Doug Raterman explained that we went from the previous 2012 zoning, so nothing changes. He added they are trying to get more control of the 4 main categories. They removed uses that do not fit in Greenville's plans.
Mrs. Bourgeois then asked about the plan for transparency. Hollenkamp said there was a direct mail piece to 1,643 impacted property owners, a 2nd direct mail piece to 150 property owners that corrected in a mistake in their previous letter, Facebook postings, a newspaper ad that ran for multiple weeks, a radio ad that ran multiple times, and a city website posting and public notices were put out to the community. There is not much more transparency that can be done. Hollenkamp went on to say that developers look at our website and the zoning to see if they have any projects that fit our city code. The intention is to make it easier for them and for existing homeowner, and new property owners to decipher the codes.
Jeff Wade - 1620 S 4th St - has 4.5 acres that is approved as a non-conforming use of agriculture. Currently the ground is being farmed. Vohlken said as long as the property is being farmed, everything stays the same. If you choose to make it into three parcels, you can put a duplex on it. Hollenkamp said you can also do a zero lot line structure, much like a row home. If necessary, a zoning change could be done, however, we do not do spot changes.
Sara Cook - 302 Woodlawn - asked what is the point of doing this now? Hollenkamp explained as part of one of her goals, the City Council asked that she remedy the City Zoning Code, as the current one is not made for a city of our size. Current code is geared towards a city the size of Columbia, IL, or Effingham, IL.
Cook then asked if a dormitory could be put in her zone, and the answer was yes, it is a permitted use, however this is a current permitted use in Urban Neighborhood and is also what was permitted in the 2012 code. Hollenkamp said the majority of the cases is a name change only.
John King - 712 Ash - Read letter and is being attached for the record. Amateur radio is exempt as it is monitored by the FCC. Hollenkamp said that Amateur radio is allowed per the FCC guidelines and therefore is presumed to be allowed in all zones.
Joseph Bourgeois - 305 N Fourth St - Feels this is being done to benefit the college. He said everything revolves around the college. His taxes are up, not because of the dorm, but because property values are increasing. Hollenkamp pointed out that property values have skyrocketed since 2020 along with construction costs. People are happy when they can sell their home for more than they expected, but are upset when they have to pay higher taxes due to the increased value. She also said that unfortunately, you can't have it both ways. Vohlken explained every time a home is sold for a massive amount rather than the appropriate amount, it increases the value of their neighbors homes. He added that as far as the last college project, he felt hoodwinked.
Robert Rodgers - 114 Sunset Point - This code is more for developers and not for residents. What about no tents? Can a family not put up a pup tent in their backyard if they want to camp out? Hollenkamp said the tent verbiage is for someone wanting to LIVE in a tent. Rodgers added the City does not play "fair" and wants to control every nit picky thing. He had previously pointed out that churches were not allowed and that has been resolved. He also was adamant that "playground equipment" meant children could not have a swing set or playground in their backyards, and this was quickly debunked. He went on to make remarks about the "war zone".
Richard Huston - 315 N Fourth - Wants to know the rationale for changing his residence from Urban Neighborhood to R3 Multi Family High Density. He asked why not keep it R1. Hollenkamp looked up what his previous zone was, and it was R3 back in 2012. Vohlken advised that the neighbors in this area could apply to rezone to R1, and it was advised to bring together as a group and apply to rezone with the Planning Commission.
Amarri Bourgeois - 305 N Fourth - Asked if this change was due to a large business coming to Greenville and if any upgrades to the roads are in the books, and Hollenkamp said that rezoning was not because of any business and she knew of nothing for that area.
William Schottel - 1004 Ridge Ave - purchased Ollie Schaefer's old place. He intentionally bought it because it was zoned Resource Protected, and asked if it is now going to Commercial Neighborhood? Is the City trying to develop that area with shopping strip malls or convenient stores? It was confirmed by Brad Iberg that it was being rezoned to Commercial Neighborhood. Vohlken again said he can apply to the zoning board to have this property rezoned. Vohlken added that the commission was aware before this meeting that there might be changes to the code.
Samantha Pawlin - 623 E South - Her home is Urban Development and is going back to Single Family R1. She feels this limits the residents to make houses into apartments. She added to consider why - HOPE. She stressed that people should not be afraid of having apartment neighbors.
Hollenkamp again emphasized this new code is to be a portal for both residents and developers and have one easier to navigate source of information.
Bill Johnston - 734 E Main - His home is going from Urban to R1. He feels this change is more helpful to contractors than it is for residents.
Hollenkamp added that R1 also will put a limit on recreational vehicles parked in the driveway or yard. The new code will allow only 2 recreational vehicles, whether it be a boat, camper, ATV's, trailers, etc.
Elmer Kough - 1012 N Idler Lane - Home is currently Residential Estate and is being changed to R1. The home sits on 5 acres and has several recreational vehicles. Hollenkamp suggested that they do a 2 plus acres Memo of Understanding with the City. Vohlken said we do not go out and look for violations, but is neighbor driven. If you have received no complaints, you are good.
Deborah Blurton - 413 E Main - Are we doing this to get some sort of new business in town? Hollenkamp said no.
Judy DeWerff - 422 W Harris - is concerned that if her zone is R2 it will increase traffic as well as driveway and parking. Hollenkamp noted that she is currently zoned commercial general and that is not changing, but if it were changed to R2 she would be better protected.
Lloyd Summerlot - 503 W Washington - going from Urban Neighborhood to R2 - Zone is same as it was in 2012. Vohlken said the density numbers are the same or better from R1-R2.
Katie Perkins - 1017 N idler - can see how the information is confusing to people. She is also Residential Estate going to R1 and would like some sort of protection that Residential Estate covered. She added that this is being based on common sense. Allowable uses in Residential Estate are not allowed in R1. She is concerned about that. Hollenkamp asked which uses was she concerned about because under residential buildings the uses that change are: accessory apartments and accessory dwellings change to conditional, congregate living services go from conditional to not allowed, dormitories, duplexs, and life care services are no longer allowed,.....Katie interrupted Hollenkamp and said that she was not prepared to go through the list tonight but that there are discrepancies in the matrix table and she will forward it to Hollenkamp.
Janet DeBlois - 719 Eastern - does not live in town but owns two homes, one is at 719 Eastern. Are the setbacks changing? Hollenkamp gave the existing setback and new setback information.
Jeff Hemker - this is the most improved zoning he has seen in a very long time. Costs of buildings and cost of rent will continue to rise. He suggested building homes on infill lots.
Suzanne Ford - 519 N Locust - is a young veterinarian who wanted to rent in Greenville, but there was nothing available. Why are residents so against apartments in certain areas? Not a lot of apartments are available and would like to see some closer to downtown.
Chris Cook - 302 Woodlawn - had questions regarding storage sheds and garage sizes. Jeff Ketten explained a shed cannot exceed 60% of the principal building and a shed height cannot exceed 15 feet. Hollenkamp said she or Jeff will get back to him once he has determined exactly what he wants to build.
Chance Vohlken wanted to thank everyone for showing up and doing their civic duty. He encouraged anyone who has concerns or specific questions to please reach out to the Planning Commission or city staff.
Motion by Chance Vohlken, seconded by Jo Keillor, postpone to a date certain for staff to present changes to Planning Commission on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Chance Vohlken SECONDER: Jo Keillor AYES: Brent Shaw, Chance Vohlken, Eugene Holt, Jack Chism, Jo Keillor, Nate Wieland, and Scott Darnell |
6. ADJOURNMENT
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Chance Vohlken SECONDER: Brent Shaw AYES: Brent Shaw, Chance Vohlken, Eugene Holt, Jack Chism, Jo Keillor, Nate Wieland, and Scott Darnell |
Alerts Sign-up