MONROE - Monroe Clinic returned to the City of Monroe Plan Commission Wednesday night to get approval for its northeast parking lot.
The lot is being enlarged, but area residents' request for a buffer zone created a dilemma for the Clinic.
The south side of the lot, next to residential property, will be between 20 (eastern most end) and 24 feet wide, and filled with dense greenery. Lights will not be located on the south side of the lot, but rather on the islands within the lot. They will have photo cells or timers to turn them off at night.
A fence between the properties will be replaced after construction is finished.
To accomplish the buffer zone, Monroe Clinic is also requesting the parking spaces within the lot to be 9 feet wide, rather than the regulation 9.5-foot width.
The narrower spaces allow an extra 47 parking spots, which the clinic says is critical to the plan for a proposed new hospital.
The City Council will be looking at a change in city code for parking spaces, which will allow a condition to be placed on parking space sizes. A public hearing for the code change is Sept. 2.
The commission unanimously approved Monroe Clinic's requests and sent a resolution for a conditional use permit to council, on a unanimous vote of 4-0, with Ron Spielman abstaining. John Frantz was absent; Keith Ingwell was alternate.
The southern parking lot lights being placed back from the southern property line, and tuned off during the night, will create a dark area in the lot.
But Monroe Clinic President and CEO Mike Sanders said employees will be directed to park in the northwest corner of the lot where lights will remain on. The procedure will reduce noise and lights by neighbors' property, and still provide employees safety. Fewer than 100 spots will be needed for night shift, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
However, a prior conditional use for the original lot was made in 1992, which restricted nighttime use. The Clinic will return to the commission at a later date seeking to amend that use.
The commission also approved by a 4-0 vote an easement from Monroe Clinic for storm sewer installation in the 2200 block of Fifth Street. Spielman abstained.
The commission approved an easement in St. Clare Court for power lines to install a street light.
The lot is being enlarged, but area residents' request for a buffer zone created a dilemma for the Clinic.
The south side of the lot, next to residential property, will be between 20 (eastern most end) and 24 feet wide, and filled with dense greenery. Lights will not be located on the south side of the lot, but rather on the islands within the lot. They will have photo cells or timers to turn them off at night.
A fence between the properties will be replaced after construction is finished.
To accomplish the buffer zone, Monroe Clinic is also requesting the parking spaces within the lot to be 9 feet wide, rather than the regulation 9.5-foot width.
The narrower spaces allow an extra 47 parking spots, which the clinic says is critical to the plan for a proposed new hospital.
The City Council will be looking at a change in city code for parking spaces, which will allow a condition to be placed on parking space sizes. A public hearing for the code change is Sept. 2.
The commission unanimously approved Monroe Clinic's requests and sent a resolution for a conditional use permit to council, on a unanimous vote of 4-0, with Ron Spielman abstaining. John Frantz was absent; Keith Ingwell was alternate.
The southern parking lot lights being placed back from the southern property line, and tuned off during the night, will create a dark area in the lot.
But Monroe Clinic President and CEO Mike Sanders said employees will be directed to park in the northwest corner of the lot where lights will remain on. The procedure will reduce noise and lights by neighbors' property, and still provide employees safety. Fewer than 100 spots will be needed for night shift, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
However, a prior conditional use for the original lot was made in 1992, which restricted nighttime use. The Clinic will return to the commission at a later date seeking to amend that use.
The commission also approved by a 4-0 vote an easement from Monroe Clinic for storm sewer installation in the 2200 block of Fifth Street. Spielman abstained.
The commission approved an easement in St. Clare Court for power lines to install a street light.