Altoona City Council Meeting - September 26, 2024

The Altoona City Council met on September 26, 2024, to discuss a capital budget amendment, an agreement amendment for the Lake Road Townhomes, a HUD grant application, and the first phase of the zoning code rewrite. Public comments raised concerns about construction dust at Whitetail Woods, the condition of the Lake Road property, and traffic safety on Highway 12.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizen Participation Period:

  • Kim Lynham (6789 Mal Creek Road) stated problems at Whitetail Woods, including power lines pulled down, a grass fire, and road damage from a subcontractor.
  • Mike Vaughn (2103 Moonlight Bay Drive) commented on the mess from the Lake Road property, requesting cleanup before the building permit ends.
  • Mike Sheehan (274 Pine Drive) presented a petition with 100 signatures requesting traffic lights at the Hillcrest Estates and Highway 12 intersection, citing safety concerns.
  • Charlene Lynham (6789 Mal Creek Road) detailed ongoing dust issues from the Whitetail Woods development, stating health impacts and that the erosion control plan is not being followed. She urged the council to hold the contractor and developer accountable.
  • Staff (Christian Hupert) responded that dust control measures are being taken, including watering haul roads and planning to seed the site, but acknowledged dust is inherent in construction.

• Public Testimony on Lake Road Townhomes:

  • Carolyn Carlson (2204 Moonlight Bay Drive) asked for clarification on the request.
  • A resident (2196 Moonlight Bay Drive) opposed converting to rentals and argued the next phase should not be built.
  • Kim Lynham (6789 Mal Creek Road) warned that changing the agreement would set a precedent for the Whitetail Woods development.
  • Another speaker argued that listing prices are too high and the developer should lower prices rather than convert to rentals.
  • A speaker stated the area is zoned for single-family homes and should not become rental units, urging the council to deny the amendment.

Discussion Items

• Approval of Minutes: The council approved the minutes from the August 22, 2024 meeting.
• New Business - Item 2: Lake Road Townhomes Agreement Amendment: Mayor Pratt recused himself. Councilperson Beer chaired the item. Tom Toy, the developer, requested permission to rent the units if they remain unsold after four months of good faith marketing, citing high interest rates and inflated costs. The council discussed the request; several members expressed reluctance to change the agreement. Councilperson Stuber stated he was not in favor from the start and would vote no. A motion to not approve the amendment was made and carried. The developer retains the right to rent month-to-month per the original contract.
• New Business - Item 1: Resolution 9A-24 (Capital Budget Amendment): Finance Director Tina Nelson presented a $1,413,000 amendment to align the 2024 capital projects budget with carryover from 2023 and new items (e.g., library air conditioning, property acquisition). The council approved the resolution.
• New Business - Item 3: HUD PRO Housing Grant Application: Planning Director Taylor Greenwell presented a grant opportunity to fund a range of housing-related tools. The council gave permission to apply, with direction to maximize flexibility and leverage with existing affordable housing funds. Emphasis on making the application as strong as possible to receive points for leverage.
• New Business - Item 4: Zoning/Development Code Rewrite Phase I Update: Taylor Greenwell provided a detailed overview of proposed changes to the city's zoning districts. Key discussion points included:
  • Reductions in minimum lot sizes and setbacks to allow more diverse housing types.
  • Debate on front yard setback of 10 feet vs. 15 feet, with council preferring 15 feet to allow off-street parking.
  • Allowance of neighborhood commercial uses in R1 districts as conditional uses.
  • Removal of triplex and quadplex as allowable uses in R1, with these uses shifted to R2.
  • Addition of new districts: Neighborhood Mixed Use, Downtown Mixed Use, Flex Industrial, and Heavy Industrial.
  • Regulation of accessory structures, drive-throughs, and garages.
  • Council members provided feedback, with consensus on several points (e.g., 15-foot setback, removing the cap on building height in the Downtown Mixed-Use district, and not requiring garages to be recessed). The next phase will focus on design standards and sign regulations.

Key Outcomes

• Vote on Lake Road Townhomes Amendment: Motion to not approve the amendment passed (voice vote, no opposing votes noted). The existing agreement remains in effect; the developer may still rent units on a month-to-month basis if unsold after four months, but must continue marketing for sale. No change to the 66% affordable requirement.
• Resolution 9A-24 Approved: The $1,413,000 capital budget amendment passed unanimously.
• HUD Grant Application: The council authorized staff to submit an application with emphasis on leveraging existing funds to maximize points. Staff to work on the application over the weekend.
• Zoning Code Rewrite: Staff will incorporate council feedback, including: 15-foot front setbacks for R1, R2, and R3; triplex and quadplex uses moved from R1 to R2; removal of height cap on Downtown Mixed-Use; and no garage recession requirement. The draft will return to the Plan Commission and Council before final adoption, expected early spring 2025.
• Swearing In: New police officer Tanner Hoverscholm was sworn in.

Miscellaneous

• The council discussed rescheduling the October 24 meeting to October 22 to accommodate the League of Wisconsin Municipalities conference.
• The River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival was announced for the upcoming Saturday.