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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-14 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday,October 14, 2021 Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance: Chair Freeman called the meeting to order @ 6:03 p.m. Present: Commissioners Freeman, Husby, VanDyke and White; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards, and City Councilmember Liaison Representative Dougherty. Absent: Commissioner Van Denburgh II. Approval of Agenda: Commissioner VanDyke, seconded by Commissioner White, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 4-0. III. Approval of September 9, 2021 Meeting Minutes: Commissioner Husby, seconded by Commissioner VanDyke, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 4-0. IV. Department/Commission Liaison/Other Reports: None. V. Visitors/Public Comment: None. VI. Public Hearings: A. DRF Stillwater Dental LLC: Review and consider requests for Preliminary & Final Plat and Site plan/Design Guidelines Review related to property redevelopment to allow a clinic/office for Park Dental—St. Croix Valley, located at 13961 60th St. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the October 6, 2021 Planning Report to the request, provided an issue analysis and discussed the same. Richards stated that staff recommends approval, subject to proposed conditions. Brief discussion ensued as to building design with the access at the backside, B-4 Zoning District use for Phase II and allowances and traffic considerations. Chair Freeman invited the applicant to address the Commission. Ross Hedlund—DRF Stillwater Dental LLC stated that with regard to fire equipment access within the traffic circulation plan, the civil engineer has been working with the Fire Chief and noted that he believed the matter has been resolved and would confirm that. Mr. Hedlund noted that he had SRA Architect Jonah Ritter with him to assist with any questions and discussed the plan to the site, including the proposed four-sided architectural style of the structure, rear entry to the building. Planning Commission Minutes October 14,2021 Page 2 of 4 Mr. Hedlund indicted that phase II is planned for Spring of 2023, once Park Dental has moved into the new building and as of yet, the new use for phase II has not been set, but that they are seeking complimentary tenant use such as dermatology or pediatric use. Mr. Hedlund and Mr. Ritter engaged in discussion with the Commission as to phase II uses, where it was clarified that if the use falls within those permitted by the sites zoning district, they would not be required to return to the Commission for review approval with regard to the use and that this should be clarified in the recommended approval conditions. The existing building and the new building placement as shown in the plans was noted and how the transition was to occur was discussed. Mr. Ritter noted that the site will be very tight—he thought about a 6-foot transition— and that the layout for the site with the new construction is something that they did walk through as part of their planning process for the project. Mr. Ritter shared a materials board with the Commission, showing samples of the proposed materials for the new structure. Chair Freeman opened the public hearing at 6:22 p.m. and invited public comment. There being no visitors to the public hearing, Commissioner VanDyke, seconded by Commissioner Husby,moved to close the public hearing. Carried 4-0. Discussion was had as to the requirement for multiple parcel combination being required to be platted. City Planner Richard noted that the current provision within City Ordinance required that the combination of more than two parcels does require platting and that the provision could be changed if the Commission desired to pursue that. Signage was discussed, wherein Mr. Hedlund did note that they would like to have one and that this was being worked out as was the retaining wall and site infiltration with the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization. Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to recommend City Council approval of the request subject to the amended conditions of the October 6, 2021 Planning Report, specifically,that: 1. The Preliminary and Final Plat shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer and City Attorney. 2. The second phase of building construction will not require additional review by the City unless the site or building plans change as it relates to footprint, height, window and door placement, or building materials. 3. The site plan shall be subject to review and approval of the Fire Chief. Planning Commission Minutes October 14,2021 Page 3 of 4 4. Access from 60th Street N., shall be subject to review and approval of MnDOT. 5. The applicant shall provide a snow removal plan or indicate if the snow will be hauled off site. 6. The landscape plan shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Arborist. A tree inventory of existing significant trees and tree protection plan shall be required. 7. All grading, drainage, erosion control, and utility plans are subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. Stormwater plans are also subject to review and approval of the Middle St. Croix Water Management Organization. 8. 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. Outdoor lighting for the parking areas shall be turned off one hour after closing, except for approved security lighting. 9. All mechanical equipment on the roof or on the site shall be fully screened in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. 10. All signs shall be designed to comply with the Zoning Ordinance requirements for size,number and illumination. 11. The Planning Commission was favorable to the building design and building materials. 12. A bike rack shall be installed near the rear building entrance. Carried 4-0. B. 2018 Oak Park Heights Comprehensive Plan Amendment: Review and consider amendments or deletions to certain elements of the 2018 Oak Park Heights Comprehensive Plan, generally relating to Transportation Elements and City Annexations lying to the west of Memorial Ave. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the October 6, 2021 Planning Memorandum as to the request for amendment to clarify the language intent. City Administrator Johnson discussed the language and annexation of property from Stillwater Township to the City of Stillwater and how the language in the Oak Park Heights Comprehensive Plan, transportation section, is being mis-interpreted by outside parties and used by them to suggest that the City of Oak Park Heights supports a particular roadway extension that the City does not in fact support. The purpose of the amendment request is sought to clarify the intent of the existing Comprehensive Plan. Planning Commission Minutes October 14,2021 Page 4 of 4 Chair Freeman opened the public hearing t 6:43 p.m. and invited public comment. Jim Kremer— 5475 Oakgreen Place N. — introduced himself and noted that he was part of the Planning Commission when the current comprehensive plan was drafted and that these issues were discussed. He stated that he did not feel that anything in the position of the Planning Commission or the City Council had changed, since its adoption, with regard to the roadways and that Washington County & developers have been told no to the City building a roadway to accommodate expansion in land annexed into the City of Stillwater. Mr. Kremer expressed that the language clarification was an oversight, when the plan was being reviewed and updated and that he felt the request was not a change but more a matter of housekeeping to clarify the language intent and that he supports the proposed amendment. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner VanDyke,moved to close the public hearing. Carried 4-0. Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to recommend City Council approval of the amendments as presented within the October 6, 2021 Planning Memorandum. Carried 4- 0. VII. New Business: None. VIII. Old Business: None. IX. Informational: A. Upcoming Meetings: Noted. B. Council Representative: • Tuesday, October 26, 2021 —Commissioner VanDyke • Tuesday,November 23, 2021 —Commissioner Van Denburgh X. Adjourn: Commissioner VanDyke, seconded by Commissioner Husby,moved to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. Carried 4-0. Respectfully submitted, J ie Hultman Pl: ing & Code Enforcement Approved by the Planning Commission: 11-18-2021 /4-0.