Minutes 01/25/1977 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

_!_23 January 25, 1977 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it authorizes the City Manager to submit an official applica' tion on behalf of the City to keep America Beautiful Incorporated to make the City of Ports- mouth eligible to be selected to participate in this worthwhile program." Ayes: Barnes, Early, Elliott, Holley, 0ast, Wentz, DAvis Nays: None 77-16 The following report on recommendations made by the Ad Hoc Committee concerning off-site drainage: "I have reviewed the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Off-Site Drainage dated December 21, 1976, and make the following recommendations: A) That the proposed changes in the Ad Hoc Committee's report be referred to the City Attorney's Offiee for drafting the proper amendments subject to the recommendations made herein. B) Since the general consensus of the Committee indicated that the present off-site drainage ordinance is detering industrial and commercial development, item 2 of their report should be used as the basis for amending the Code. ThiA recommended change will not eliminate the requirement for internal drainage systems now required by the Code. The utilization of open ditches in commercial and industrial areas only will be based on approved drainage plans indicating the increased run,off in order that a determination can be made to insure safety regarding storm water run-off. c) Item 3 recommends that all developers be encouraged to provide retention facilities which in my opinion would not be enfoCceable. In lieu of using the wording "encourage that this be changed to "required where feasible", based on land size, engineering feasibility, etc., ~to provide retention facilities to reduce storm water run-off. D) In order for recommendation #4 to become administratively enforceable, it should be modified to read as follows: "If in the opinon of the City Engineer, the additional drainage flow from a proposed development would be hazardous or dangerous, no building permit will be issued. In order to qualify for a permit under these conditions an approved drainage plan must be submitted and approved by the City Engineer together with ~a commmitment for construction by the developer and/or the City." E) Items 5 and 6 of the report would require a policy change by the City Council. Even though the City reserves the right to appropriate funds for %he construction of drainage facilities, we have in the past been utilizing a priority list which is heavily residential-area oriented. I am including for your information a breakdown of the total land values in the City of Portsmouth by categories such as residential, ~ommercial, and industrial. Based on this information, it is my recommendation that we review our overall priorities in order to determine if we can reach a compromise in the allocation of our financial resources. I do not recommend that we abolish off-site drainage improvements for proposed residentia developments within the City of Portsmouth. The two main reasons for this position is the large amount of residential property currently in existence, as well as the remendous back- log of drainage and curb and gutter projects currently needed in residential areas. To aban- don this requirement for residential property in my opiion would only increase the demand on the part of the City for drainage and curbs and gutters as soon as those areas are sold to individual home owners. In connection with this it would appear that a long range land use plan for the City should be developed outlining those areas of the City that will be designate residential, commercial Or industrial property. Upon completion of an overall land use plan a policy could then be established for the allocation of resources to encourage development within the zoning and land use that has been approved." Motion of Mr. Early and seconded by Mr. Oast, the matter to be referred to the City Attorney for proper handling for consideration at next Council meeting (February 8 1977) and was. adopted by the following vote: ' ' Ayes: Barnes, Early, Elliott, Holiey, Oast, Wentz, Davis Nays: None 76-500 - The following letter presented on Open Space Report previouSly!sUbmitted by the City Manager from the Parks and Recreation Department: "At the December 14, 1976 meeting, the City Council referred the Recreation and Open Space Study to the City Manager for review and recommendation at the second meeting in January A specific question was raised regarding the City's financial ability to fund the proposed improvements, particularly in light of the recent, temporary hold on but essential capital prqjects. Prior to address~g~ the specific financial &uestion, I would like to make a ±ew general comments. ~ ~ The study before you is the product of many hours of research and careful deliberation. A rough draft of the study was widely distributed to city and school officials, citizen groups and other interested persons. Public Hearings on the draft were held in each of the four recreational districts. A comprehensive inventory has been ma'de Of all recreational facilities within each of the eighteen identified communities, and hopefully, d,?