Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-10 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, May 10, 2018 – Oak Park Heights City Hall I. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance: Chair Freeman called the meeting to order. Present: Commissioners Giovinazzo, Kremer, and White; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards, and City Councilmember Liljegren. Absent: Commissioner VanDyke. II. Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Kremer asked that “Business Closures” be added to New Business. Commissioner Giovinazzo, seconded by Commissioner Kremer, moved to approve the Agenda as amended. 4-0. III. Approval of April 12, 2018 Meeting Minutes: Commissioner Kremer noted typographical correction needed at the second to last paragraph on page 3 of the Minutes. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner White, moved to approved the Minutes with the mentioned correction. Carried 4- 0. IV. Department/Commission Liaison / Other Reports: None. V. Visitors/Public Comment: None. VI. Public Hearings: A. Public Storage – 5710 Memorial Ave. N.: Consider Galloway & Company request for Planned Unit Development Amendment, Conditional Use Permit and Design Guidelines Review for proposed redevelopment, including demolition of an existing building and its replacement with a 3-story building. City Planner Richard reviewed and discussed his May 2, 2018 Planning Report related to the request. Brief discussion was had as to the removal of the caretakers cottage. Chair Freeman invited the applicant to speak. Zell Cantrell - Galloway & Company introduced himself and noted the Dan Matula, Vice President of Development for Public Storage was also in the audience. He noted that he felt City Planner Richard’s report was thorough and that he and Dan were both available to address any questions. Planning Commission Minutes May 10, 2018 Page 2 of 6 Dan Matula – Public Storage introduced himself as Vice President of Development for Public Storage and stated that they very excited to be before the Commission and happy to address any questions the Commission has. He noted a couple of comments as to conditions 1 and 2 of the planning report. He noted that in regarding to condition 1, they do have some questions and concerns regarding condition and they intend to have some dialogue with the City Council as to the condition. He also noted that with regard to condition 2, he thought that the connection charge amount was $102,714 rather than $104,714 as noted. Chair Freeman inquired as to the rationale for increased signage. Mr. Matula discussed that they felt that there may be value in placing signage with the height of the building and that if it turns out that there is not value in having it, they will not be utilizing it. Brief discussion ensued as to bicycle traffic and bike rack placement. Chair Freeman opened the public hearing. and invited public comment. There being no visitors from the audience, Chair Freeman closed the public hearing and invited further discussion from the Commission. City Planner Richards noted the handout of the building materials that was provided the Planning Commission, at their seats, for the meeting. Discussion ensued as to what kind of market study was undertaken to determine the improvements to the site, signage and the process for requesting deviations from City Ordinance. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Giovinazzo, moved to recommend City Council approval, subject to the amended conditions of the May 2, 2018 Planning Report, specifically that: 1. The applicant shall agree to escrow sufficient funds, as specified by the City Engineer, to complete the improvement of Memorial Ave. N. to an urban section, including all trails or sidewalks or agree that the City will complete the work and petition for the public improvement, waiving notice of public hearing and assessments, as required under Minnesota Statue 429. 2. With the expansion of the facility, including a new building with a fire suppression system and restrooms, the sanitary sewer and water connection charges will be required. At the time of the last expansion in 1999, the connection charges would have been $102,714. Currently, the charges are 149,580. The Applicant has requested that the connection charges be based upon the 1999 rates and not the current rates. The City Council would need to consider this request as part of their approvals. 3. All grading, drainage, erosion control, and utility plans are subject to the review and approval of the City Engineer. Storm water plans are also subject to the review and approval of Brown’s Creek Watershed District. Planning Commission Minutes May 10, 2018 Page 3 of 6 4. The existing water well shall be capped and if required by Washington County, the septic system shall be abandoned. The Applicant shall verify with Washington County if the septic system has already been abandoned. 5. All light fixtures shall be full cut off, compliant with height requirements and be consistent with Section 401.15.B.7 of the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to lighting requirements. 6. All signs shall be designed to comply with Zoning Ordinance requirements for internal illumination. 7. The Planning Commission was favorable to the building design and building materials. 8. All mechanical equipment on the roof or upon the site shall be fully screened in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. 9. The landscape plan shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Arborist. 10. No retailing, wholesaling, manufacturing, repair or other such activity other than storage is to occur on site. 11. Fire access and water supply shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Chief. Carried 4 – 0. B. Continued: Holiday Inn Express – 5921 Memorial Ave. N.: Consider Madison Hospitality Group request for Design Guideline Review and Conditional Use Permit for reduced front yard setback, reduction to required number of parking stalls, increase to number of wall signs, and to exceed a building height of 35 feet, for 4-story hotel. City Planner Richards noted that a public hearing was held at the April 12, 2018 Planning Commission, at which time the Commission continued the public hearing with a request that the applicant to provide the following information: • Drainage calculations for the site; • Perspective diagrams showing the Holiday Inn Express building with adjacent Stillwater Motors and Century Motorsports building elevation; and • A revised site plan showing proof of parking or a plan that would show how parking would be addressed during high occupancy time. Richards reviewed and discussed the May 2, 2018 Planning Report regarding the same. Planning Commission Minutes May 10, 2018 Page 4 of 6 Chair Freeman opened the public hearing and invited discussion. Discussion ensued as to the perspective of elevation site lines, the rationale for a 35- foot building height limit requirement and it relevancy, the layout of some of the parking being very tight and the number of spaces overall, overflow parking concerns of Century Motorsports, number of wall signs and their placement. The applicant noted that the sign placement is about exposure and location. Elevation differences between the proposed building and those in the area were discussed, with some concern expressed. Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, MN was noted as an example of a taller structure with lower structures around it and also that the water tower planned for the area would have been taller. Chair Freeman stated that he didn’t have a problem with the building – just that he feels it is too tall for the area. With regard to the Conditional Use Permits, they would make separate recommendations for each of them. Kirk Schultz – Madison Hospitality Group introduced himself and stated that they were excited to be before the Commission as well and do have a bike rack. Mr. Schultz stated that he understood concerns regarding the height at the location and expressed that they are working to make a valuable contribution to Oak Park Heights and get the best place they can at the site. He noted security concerns from Stillwater Motors and that those are something that they certainly can work with as a good neighbor. Schultz noted some considerations as to the elevations at the site and the pointed out that a flat roof is proposed for the structure. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, it was closed. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Giovinazzo, moved to recommend City Council approval of the Conditional Use Permit for reduced front yard setback. Carried 4 – 0. Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner Kremer, moved to recommend City Council approval of the Conditional Use Permit for reduction in number of parking stalls. Carried 4 – 0. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner White, moved to recommend City Council approval of the Conditional Use Permit to exceed building height requirements. Failed 2 – 2; Freeman and Giovinazzo opposed. Commissioner Giovinazzo, seconded by Commissioner White, moved to recommend City Council approval of the Conditional Use Permit for number of wall signs. Carried 4 – 0. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner White, moved to recommend City Council approval of Design Guidelines/Site Plan Review. Carried 4 – 0. Planning Commission Minutes May 10, 2018 Page 5 of 6 Conditions specific to the approvals are as follows: 1. The applicant shall agree to escrow sufficient funds, as specified by the City Engineer, to complete the improvement of Memorial Ave. N. to an urban section, including all trails, sidewalks, or agree that the City will complete the work and petition for the public improvement, waiving notice of public hearing and assessments, as required under Minnesota Statute 429. 2. The sidewalk from the main entrance to the hotel should be extended at this time to the roadway pavement. When Memorial Ave. N. is reconstructed, a sidewalk will be added along this roadway. 3. All grading, drainage, erosion control, and utility plans are subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. Storm water plans are also subject to review and approval of Brown’s Creek Watershed District. 4. All light fixtures shall be full cut off, compliant with height requirements, and be consistent with Section 401.15.B.7 of the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to lighting requirements. 5. The Planning Commission was favorable to the proposed lighting of the building’s architectural features and proposed light fixtures. 6. All signs shall be designed to comply with Zoning Ordinance requirements for internal illumination. 7. The Planning Commission was favorable to the building design and building materials. 8. All mechanical equipment on the roof or on the site shall be fully screened in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. 9. The applicant shall provide a snow removal plan or indicate if the snow will be hauled off site. No parking stalls shall be used for the storage of snow. 10. The landscape plan shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Arborist. 11. A bike rack should be identified on the site plan and placed on site. City Planner Richards clarified that the failing motion regarding as to height was contextual to the area and that it wasn’t too big, but simply too tall. Chair Freeman indicated that this was accurate and added that if City Ordinance did not specify the height criteria as it does, he would not have an issue with it and added that he felt that it was a policy matter that the City Council would need to address. Commissioner Kremer stated that he agreed with Chair Freeman’s comment. Planning Commission Minutes May 10, 2018 Page 6 of 6 C. Continued: Oak Park Heights – Comprehensive Plan 2018: City Planner Richards updated to the Commission as to the work the City Engineer is doing, noting that he anticipates the materials to be ready within the next couple of weeks and will forward it on. Richards also asked the Commission to please forward any thoughts or comments they may have. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Giovinazzo moved to continue the public hearing. Carried 4 – 0. VII. New Business: A. Business Closures: Commissioner Kremer noted that a number of businesses are or have closed in the City and that he heard a rumor that Applebee’s may close. Discussion ensued as to closures in Oak Park Heights and as to some of those buildings being under new ownership. News coverage as to closures such as Herberger’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Burger Kings was noted and some discussion as to causes for the closures including changing shopping habits, general turnover cycles for some types of business and economy impacts. Commercial growth in Woodbury was pointed out and noted that much of the new growth is boutique style shopping and relocations of existing businesses within Woodbury. It was asked if the Commission or City should be doing something and that staff should have some conversation with regard to closures and perhaps consider a policy with regard to businesses that go vacant for a defined period of time, etc. VIII. Old Business: None. IX. Informational: A. Upcoming Meetings: All Meetings at City Hall – 6:00 p.m. Unless Noted Otherwise • Tuesday, May 22, 2018 City Council • Thursday, June 14, 2018 Planning Commission • Tuesday, June 26, 2018 City Council • Thursday, July 12, 2018 Planning Commission • Tuesday, July 24, 2018 City Council B. Council Representative • Tuesday, May 22, 2018 – Commissioner VanDyke • Tuesday, June 26, 2018 – Commissioner Freeman • Tuesday, July 24, 2018 – Commissioner White X. Adjourn. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner White, moved to adjourn at 7:15 p.m. Carried 4 – 0. Respectfully submitted, Julie Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Approved by the Planning Commission: 06-14-2018 / 5-0