HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-12 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Thursday,November 12,2020—Oak Park Heights City Hall
Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance:
Chair Freeman called the meeting to order @ 6:00 p.m. and welcomed new Planning
Commissioner, Tyler Husby.
Present: Commissioners Husby, Van Denburgh, VanDyke and White; City Administrator
Johnson, and City Planner Richards. Absent: City Councilmember Liaison Representative
Liljegren.
II. Approval of Agenda:
Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner Van Denburgh, moved to approve the
Agenda as presented. Carried 5-0.
III. Approval of October 8, 2020 Meeting Minutes:
Commissioner Van Denburgh, seconded by Commissioner VanDyke,moved to approve the
Minutes as presented. Carried 5-0.
IV. Department/Commission Liaison/Other Reports:
City Administrator Johnson reported that following the decision of the City Council to
return to Zoom meetings, the Planning Commission will do the same with their upcoming
meetings. Chair Freeman and Commissioner Van Denburgh noted that they were not in
favor of moving to zoom meetings.
Johnson also noted that Metropolitan Council reached out for some feedback as to their
comprehensive planning process. He noted the Council/Commission joint communication
to Metropolitan Council in 2019 and that he resent that communication to them. Johnson
will share the Metropolitan Council communication with the Commission via email and
asked that they provide some feedback,to Metropolitan Council, if they had some time to do
so.
V. Visitors/Public Comment: None.
VI. Public Hearings:
A. Lowe's Home Center, LLC—5888 Nova Scotia Ave. N.: Consider request for
Planned Unit Development Amendment to Allow Garden Center Expansion.
City Planner Richards reviewed the November 5, 2020 Planning Report to the request
seeking a Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow expansion of the garden
center and to add a gate at the rear drive aisle. Richards provided an issue analysis and
discussed the same.
Planning Commission Minutes
November 12,2020
Page 2 of 3
City Administrator Johnson provided some background to the request, related to earlier
approvals for storage heights and ongoing issues with storage,particularly in the
Spring. Johnson noted that when the site was originally developed, the housing
surrounding it was not in place. The City does receive calls with regard to noise, light
and visual nuisance of storage to the rear of the building. Johnson expressed that the felt
the created screening would assist in reducing these issues.
Chair Freeman asked the applicant if they had anything they would like to address
before the Commission and invited them to speak, if so. The applicant indicated that
they had nothing to add to what had been reviewed.
Chair Freeman opened the public hearing at 6:13 p.m. and invited visitor comment.
There being none, Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner VanDyke, moved
to close the public hearing. Carried 5-0.
Brief discussion ensued as to the current parking lighting and the original PUD and
CUP approval conditions remaining in effect. Chair Freeman inquired if the applicant
had any issue with the Planning Report conditions. They indicated that they did not.
Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to recommend
City Council approval of the request, subject to the conditions of the November 5, 2020
Planning Report, specifically, that:
1. All light fixtures shall be full cut off and be consistent with Section 401.15.B.7
of the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to lighting requirements. No light source
or combination thereof which cast light on adjacent property shall exceed four-
tenths (0.4) foot candles as measured at the property line. The maximum height
above the ground grade allowed for light sources mounted on a pole shall not
exceed twenty-five(25) feet.
2. All gates and fencing shall be constructed with tubular steel. No chain link
fence shall be allowed.
3. No merchandise or storage of items shall be stored above the garden level fence
on the west side of the building.
4. All conditions of the PUD approvals granted on November 22, 2005 and the
CUP granted on June 19, 2007 shall remain in effect and will be enforced.
Carried 5- 0.
VII. New Business:
A. 2021 Meeting Calendar& Commission Liaison Schedule:
Commissioner Van Denburgh, seconded by Commissioner Husby,moved to adopt the
schedule as presented. Carried 5-0.
Planning Commission Minutes
November 12,2020
Page 3 of 3
VIII. Old Business: None.
IX. Informational:
A. Upcoming Meetings: Meeting list packet enclosure noted.
B. Council Representative:
The remainder of the 2020 and the 2021 proposed schedule were reviewed and
discussed. The remainder of the 2020 schedule is as follows:
• Tuesday,November 24, 2020—Commissioner VanDyke
• Tuesday, December 7, 2020—Commissioner—Freeman
Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner Van Denburgh,moved to amend
the 2021 schedule rotation to commence with Commissioner Van Denburgh for the
month of January. Carried 5 —0.
X. Adjourn: Commissioner VanDyke, seconded by Commissioner Van Denburgh, moved
to adjourn at 6:21 p.m. Carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
J ie Hultman
P ng& Code Enforcement
Approved by the Planning Commission: 02-11-2021 /5-0