HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-12 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, October 12, 2017—Oak Park Heights City Hall
Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance:
Chair Kremer called the meeting to order. Present: Commissioners Kremer, Giovinazzo,
Freeman, VanDyke and White; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards, and City
Councilmember Dougherty.
II. Approval of Agenda: Commission consensus was to accept the Agenda as presented.
III. Approval of September 14, 2017 Meeting Minutes: Commissioner Freeman, seconded by
Commissioner White, moved to approved the Minutes as presented. Carried 5 - 0.
IV. Department/Commission Liaison/Other Reports: Council Liaison Dougherty reported that
City Council approved the Accessory Structure Ordinance amendments.
V. Visitors/Public Comment: None.
VI. Public Hearings: None.
VII. New Business:
A. Small Cell Technology:
City Planner Richards reviewed his October 5, 2017 Memorandum regarding
legislative changes made allowing small cell wireless equipment to be placed on City
owned infrastructure in the public right of way and changes the City needs to make to
Ordinance 704 Regulation of Public Rights of Way as well as the development of a
Small Cell Wireless Provider permit application and review of Ordinance 401.15,
Section P.Antennas to add the regulation of small cells on private property.
Richards noted work to the end by the City of Bloomington, which, among others,
will be used as an example to create new language and materials for Oak Park
Heights and reviewed the upcoming work plan for the matter, anticipating City
Council approval review in January, 2018.
Discussion ensued as to the size and scale of the technology and the desire to see
increased/improved service without the addition of more tower type structures. City
Administrator Johnson noted that the visual impact of some of these structures can
pose a challenge and that each of them require a power source and some type of hard
wired connection that required line being placed in public right of way land areas.
Continued discussion was had as to how small wireless technology companies act
and operate in the public right of way, locations potentially affected, revising
ordinance language versus creating a new ordinance, the creation of an application
and the City securing its right to be able to enforce its regulations.
Planning Commission Minutes
October 12,2017
Page 2 of 3
B. 2018 Meeting Calendar& Commission Liaison Schedule:
Chair Kremer noted that he was including the consideration of the changing the
meeting time up from old business as part of this discussion.
The meeting dates as presented were found acceptable.
The matter of a Commission Representative to the City Council meeting was
discussed as to whether or not the practice should be continued, did Commissioners
find it valuable to them, did the City Council find it valuable, and it was noted a
change to this role would require an amendment recommendation to the Planning
Commission Bylaws.
Consensus was to have each Commissioner have a turn at Commission
Representative and then have the matter revisited. A Commission Representative
schedule was established for the months of October, 2017 through January, 2018,
with Commissioner White having already served in such capacity, specifically:
October 24, 2017 Commissioner VanDyke
November 28, 2017 Commissioner Giovinazzo
December 12, 2017 Commissioner Freeman
January 23, 2018 Commissioner Kremer
The matter of amending the meeting time from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. was a matter
of consensus and a motion was made by Commissioner White, seconded by
Commissioner Freeman to recommend the City Council amend the Planning
Commission Bylaws accordingly. Carried 5 -0.
VIII. Old Business:
A. Oak Park Heights—Comprehensive Plan 2018:
City Planner Richards reviewed and discussed his October 5, 2017 Memorandum,
noting earlier information being redistributed for the benefit of new Planning
Commissioners. Richards noted revisions to the material based on comments of the
Commission and discussed the same. He reviewed the Housing Section and the
information contained therein as required by Metropolitan Council requirements.
Richards noted the Transportation Plan section handed out as part of the evening packet
materials and reviewed the same. Discussion ensued as the vehicle traffic volumes and
the approximate changes as a result of the St. Croix River bridge opening,whether or
not something should be included as to the intersection volumes on Hwy. 36 and their
future use as part of this section. Commissioner Freeman noted that some actual data
for traffic volume would be useful for Hwy. 36 in discussing the roadway use/change in
the future. Richards discussed the Traffic Analysis Zone map and forecast derived from
Metropolitan Council on that map.
Planning Commission Minutes
October 12, 2017
Page 3 of 3
B. Consider Change to Time of Planning Commission Meeting: This was discussed in
New Business B.
IX. Informational:
A. Upcoming Meetings:
• Tuesday, October 24, 2017 City Council 6:00 p.m./City Hall
• Thursday, November 9, 2017 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m./City Hall
• Tuesday, November 28, 2017 City Council 6:00 p.m./City Hall
B. Council Representative
• Tuesday, October 24, 2017—Commissioner VanDyke
• Tuesday, November 28, 2017—Commissioner Giovinazzo
• Tuesday, December 12, 2017—Commissioner Freeman
X. Adjourn. Commissioner Freeman, seconded by Commissioner Giovinazzo, moved to
adjourn at 7:43 p.m. Carried 5 —0.
' ectfully submitted,
Ju ie ' tman
Pla i g& Code Enforcement
Approved by the Planning Commission: 11-09-2017/5-0